Posted on 2008 12, 23 by Scott Turner
the winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year - this just happened 24 hours ago. the sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. the bottom line is that we are in the darkest days of the year right now (in our physical world). everyone has dark days (in the spiritual world) - days when it feels like we are surrounded by darkness, forgotten by God, hurting, alone and oppressed.
Jesus said, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer wander in darkness.” John 12:46
Jesus is the antidote to our dark days. on days when we are feeling discouraged, full of doubt, distressed or just down - remember what david said in I samuel 22:29, “You Lord are my light, you dispel my darkness.”
Jesus (the light) encourages us when we are down, guides us when we are doubtful, comforts us when we are stressed, lifts us up when we are down. How do we find this encouragement, comfort and strength - easy - in God’s word. “Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling.” psalm 119:105. when you are having a dark day - grab God’s word and and as you open it up it will illuminate you and flood your soul with light.
my prayer is that the darkness in your life will dissipate as the light of our savior shines on you. i pray the light brings warmth, healing, joy, strength, passion, wisdom, and life to you.
“…The darkness in our lives disappears and the new light of life in Christ shines in.” I john 2:8.
Posted on 2008 12, 12 by Scott Turner
emmanuel is usually only a word we hear and use around christmastime. it’s only used once in the new testament in matthew 1:23 - “behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel–which, when translated, means, God with us.” it’s only used a couple of times in the old testament. isaiah 7:14 says, (777 for you numerology geeks) - “the Lord himself will give you a miraculous sign. the virgin is going to have a baby. she will give birth to a son. and he will be called Immanuel.
emmanuel/immanuel reveals the simple truth that God sent Himself to this dark, broken, chaotic planet to rescue us from ourselves, sin and the evil one. e/i says it all - God surrounds us with himself… God is ever-present… God never leaves us or forgets us… God chooses to be near, to be personal and present… God is with us! e/i brings us such security, joy, strength, peace, hope - when we get ahold of the depth of this - everything changes. how can we fear if God is near? why would we complain if the almighty is within earshot? how can we get discouraged when we realize e/i is (literally) right next to us? when would it be appropriate for us to doubt when the creator is in the room?
when you understand e/i you understand everything you need to know. e/i is a way of life. e/i is an eternal promise to grab ahold of. e/i is everything. may we be more aware of e/i. no matter what the world, the enemy or anyone else throws at you, remember e/i.
“i’ve called you by name. you are mine. you will pass through deep waters. but I will be with you. you will pass through the rivers. but their waters will not sweep over you. you will walk through fire. but you will not be burned. the flames will not harm you. because i am God, your personal God, the holy one of israel, your savior. i paid a guge price for you. that’s how much you mean to me! that’s how much i love you! i’d sell off the whole world… trade the creation just for you.” isaiah 43
Posted on 2008 12, 04 by Scott Turner
“God is a bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live.” psalm 18:2 (msg) it is crystal clear that david believed in God, thought about God, imagined God, talked to God, sang to God and listened to God. david was totally immersed in God. in acts it reveals that david was a man after God’s own heart. david sang songs and wrote poems to God often. phrases like - God i love you, i live in you, i can’t live without you, i thirst for you, i run for dear life to you are a few expressions of david’s heart. david had a relationship with God that was authentic. david made his share of mistakes, but always sought God for mercy and help. david had plenty of enemies (some in his own house), but trusted God to defend him. david had many victories, but always directed the praise and glory upward. david purposed to obey God and live according to God’s law.
am i immersed in God? do i sing songs and write poems to God. do i seek and search and talk and listen to God often? am i a man after God’s own heart? God, help me have a deep, intimate relationship with you. be the bedrock under my feet, be the castle in which i live. be my personal and present God. i ask you to forgive me for trying to accomplish things on my own (pride) and for not seeking you with my whole heart (apathy). God i want to be immersed in you - i pledge to talk to you, listen to you, sing to you, cry out to you, seek and search for you, dance and look foolish for you, love others for you and inspire many for your glory.
my prayer: ”God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! …and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.” pslam 51 (msg)