Light & Dark

There is a point along the tour, at Carlsbad Caverns, NM, where they turn off all of the lights on the path and you are left with between 15 and 25 other people, standing in pitch black darkness. The kind of dark that reminds you of inkwells. The kind of dark that reminds you of Bilbo Baggins' first encounter with Gollum in "The Hobbit." The kind of darkness where you could smack yourself in the face and never even see your hand. That's darkness.

There is also a point, upon waking up, when your eyes are still adjusting to being open and any sort of light makes you squint as though you're trying to read the Bible written on a grain of sand. One time, one of my roommates opened the blinds on me while I was attempting to wake up (we were about to embark on a roadtrip to Houston / Austin) and temporarily blinded me. I wasn't able to hold my eyes open for more than 30 seconds for what seemed like forever, but was more like 10 minutes. Even afterwards, I squinted until we were outside of Winters, TX. That's light.

Isn't it great to know that God is over both of those polar opposites?

In Psalm 74v.16, the Psalmist declares, "Yours is the day, yours also the night..."

This is such an encouragement to remember. In our seasons of great brightness, as well as darkness of the soul, God is sovereign and in control. When we feel that we, even as God's children, are at the lowest point we could come to, are fed up with waiting on God, and can't see how He could possibly work our situation for His glory (or if He's even there), we must remember that God is over the darkness. There is nothing that has escaped His Divine plan. When we feel that life as we know it could not get any better, our marriages and kids are doing incredible, the money is really coming in, and we are in the best seasons of spiritual growth, we must remember that God is over the light. It's not for our comfort, but for His glory.

This particular verse just reminds me of this truth: God is in control. He works all things for His glory in accordance with His will. The seasons that we go through are similar to those that everything else goes through... budding growth, periods of abundance, hardships, bleakness and then budding growth. In the midst of all these seasons, though, is the constant glow of the hope that we cling fast to... the fact that our Saviour is risen and will never leave us nor forsake us.

Stupid Animal

There are many different things you can mean when you call someone an animal. For instance, when you call someone "an animal" in regards to football, you're talking about one mean guy out there on the gridiron. When you call someone a "pig" talking about their eating habits, then everyone knows that that person eats a lot and in a sloppy manner. Then you've got things like "curious as a cat," "sick as a dog," "swam like a fish." Great similes. 

The thing about animals, though, is that if they are domesticated, they know their master. Ultimately, I think, all animals know their true Master, as well. Yet, unlike our bi- and quad pedal friends, we often do not.

"The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know; my people do not understand." (Isaiah 1v.3)

Sometimes I feel like the stupidest of all animals, in that I so often lose sight of what the Lord has done, is doing, and has promised to do. I think that, somehow, the things that keep me nourished and going come from myself, rather than from the Provider. Unlike most animals, I kick and buck, at times, because at those times I really don't know the Lord very well.

There are plenty of times when a talking donkey has much more intelligent things to say that me, probably because he's better at following and trusting.

Toil and Trouble

So, the past week has not been the greatest. Although I'm excited to be living in the Dallas area, there have been several times of sadness and home-sickness. I've been pretty stressed about support-raising and simply going on staff with NEXT. I'm trying to get into a rhythm when it comes to being at the office, hopefully finding a place to work out, and simply the ins and outs of the Metroplex. We know that we're supposed to be here, but still...

"You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again, you will increase my greatness and comfort me again." (Psalm 71v.20-21)

Now is one of those times that I feel that I'm walking through troubles and calamities, even though my troubles haven't been all that huge, compared to what many people go through. But, I can hold fast, like David, to the promises of a God who truly does raise us up from the depths of the earth.

It is at different points in times like these when I remember that sanctification is a process, one that sometimes involves quite a deal of pain and frustration. But, in the end, it is this process that refines us, through fire, to look more and more like the awesome one we serve, Jesus Christ. How I want to look like Jesus to this world!

May His glory be seen amidst all of the struggles that we, His children, are blessed to go through.

Pax per Pugna. Soli Deo Gloria.

Settling In

So it's been far too long since my last post.

I know I'm a slacker.

I will be posting more consistently again as we get completely settled in to living here, in Little Elm.

Until then...