Light Out of Darkness

 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”
made his light shine in our hearts to give us
the light of the knowledge of God’s glory
displayed in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6 (TNIV)

Attribution

Lightly, we say, "There's a light at the end of the tunnel."

And someone jokingly adds, "Hope it's not the train."

Reading the verse above, God said, "Let light shine out of darkness."  Until we came to know God's Son, Jesus Christ, our hearts were dark.  At that paramount moment when we saw the Light in Jesus' face, then did our hearts come out of the darkness and begin to reside in the Light.

What a joyous moment indeed!

With Barbie at Freshly Brewed Sundays

and with Deidra in

and with L.L. Barkat at

Absent Awhile

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,

bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

Dear Blog Friends,

We find ourselves travelling once again to assist our family with caregiving needs.  This will be our longest trip yet, and I'll miss being here with you.  

I have written ahead for some days, and reposted pieces on others.  We're not really sure what day we travel home, but it will be after May 1st for sure.

We carry this verse from Ephesians with us so we can not forget that decisions in this situation are not ours.  Our role is merely one of providing respite for the caregiver, and care for my husband's brother.  Decisions about his care and their situation are solely his wife's.  It is hard not to interject your own thoughts, feelings and opinions.  And I would ask for your prayers for us in this area.  

Our desire is to be humble and gentle, patient, and loving while with them.  It is not an easy task, especially for my husband whose brother is slipping away mentally and physically.

Thanks for being such good friends -- see you soon!

  

Photo credit:  FBC Hanover Youth

 Sharing with Barbie at Freshly Brewed Sunday: 

Freshly Brewed Sundays: {Constant Renewal}

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right
spirit within me."  ~~ Psalm 51:10

Cleanliness is next to Godliness -- how many times did she say that?  How did she think I'd forget?  My mom, the Queen of Repetition, said it over and over.  Small children don't get idioms, those phrases which often mean something other than what they say.

Yesterday as I cleaned my home, after many weeks of not being able to, I thought to myself, "Well, if cleanliness is next to Godliness, I just got a grand and glorious F!"

This morning our church choir sang a tantalizingly beautiful anthem based on the verse from Psalm 51 shown above.  As I listened to the words, I couldn't help but consider my heart as God's home.  Is my heart clean?  Is my spirit right and in tune with God?  Hard questions to answer.

I must be about cleaning my spiritual house, my heart, daily, perhaps hourly or more often, to retain a right spirit, a spirit in favor with God.  Gratitude overflows at the thought that God truly understands and accepts me flaws and all, and even when I'm not as clean and spiffed up as I should be.  He trusts me to set things aright, and I must not fail Him. 


So, dear friends, I want to assure you that God takes us in whatever condition we're in as long as we're willing to say, "I believe.  I have faith.  And ask His forgiveness."

~~~~~~~~~~

Linking up with Barbie over at Freshly Brewed Sundays.  Won't you follow the link and join us?

Freshly Brewed Sundays