A LIGHT IN THE DARK

A LIGHT IN THE DARK
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?Psalm 27:1 (NASB)

I remember well being small and afraid of the dark.  The dark was the place all things scary lived—a place of nightmares.  Countless times I woke screaming in the dark (my family can attest to this).  At the sound of my cries my mother would come and turn on the light, and the darkness fled away taking all its fearfulness with it.

Sometimes my mother would leave the hall light on and my bedroom door open ever so slightly. That light slipping in through the door was like a guard at the gate. In my little girl thoughts, the darkness lost its power and nothing that lurked in the dark could come near me as long as the light was on.  There were times I would wake during the night to find the light had been turned off and the door shut tight and the dark reached out and held my small heart in its fearful grip.

I did not like the dark! Truth be told, I still don’t.

Last night I was sitting in my office wrapping up a couple of things before heading home.  My phone buzzed and I saw a text from my husband.  I opened it and read.

Marc: Power is out

Me: How come?

Marc: Don’t know

Me: Is our neighborhood out or just our house?

Marc: Funny

Me: What?! Just wondering.

Marc: The neighborhood

Me: Stink!

“Ugh! I hate power outages,” I muttered to no one in particular. I sat quietly looking at the bird lamp tucked in the corner of my desk. It cast warm light beams across stacks of paperwork and I seriously considered staying at work until the power came back on. But that would be silly. And though I have been known to venture into the silly on occasion, I decided I needed to go home.  Besides, I thought hopefully, the power could be on by the time I get there.
So, clinging to the hope of restored power, I locked the door to my office and headed to the parking lot for the short drive home.

Hope grew as I turned on to the street before my neighborhood and saw lights from windows spilling cheerfully into the night.  As I approached the four-way stop at the corner leading into our neighborhood I smiled as I saw lights burning brightly in the houses directly across the street from where we lived. But as I turned onto our street, hope put on its running shoes and fled, disappearing into the darkness of our neighborhood.

I got out of the car and was immediately struck by the absolute silence. It was eerie. I stood in the driveway and looked at the houses across the street just as the moon ducked behind some clouds, taking her soft light with her. The darkened homes suddenly became slumbering giants; their windows like great eyes that had been closed and behind those closed eyes, shadowed creatures skulked. I shuddered inwardly as I scolded my too vivid imagination into submission. I turned facing my own house: DARKNESS everywhere! Have I mentioned that I don’t like the dark?

I headed up the stone walkway and heard rustling and the happy sound of wagging dog tails.  The darkness could not dim the enthusiasm of these two four-legged, furry, bundles of welcome. I found this rather comforting. Marc appeared with a flashlight and opened the door for me as I walked inside.  I had expected darkness, but to my delight found an oil lamp and several candles burning, their soft glow filling the living room with warmth and the fragrance of spiced cider and warm vanilla sugar.

A short time later we sat on the floor in the living room eating take-out by candlelight. It was true that we could not see very well as the darkness was heavy, but in the midst of the darkness we had light—not enough light to run—just enough light for where we were.  A couple of hours later the lights came on and chased the darkness away just in time for us to call it a night. I blew out the candles and turned out the lights—being sure to leave the hall light on so I could see as I prepared the house for slumber.

I turned out the hall light and climbed into bed. Marc and the dogs snored softly and I lay there in the dark and began thinking about just how dark the darkness was.  My imagination kicked into high gear and I began to hear noises and think about all manner of things hiding in the dark. I shut my eyes in an effort to quell my imagination but it was no use. I knew the darkness was still there, lurking just the other side of my closed eyelids.  A moment later my eyes flew open—funny how loud the dark can be.

My thoughts turned to other things concealed by darkness and what if thoughts taunted me from their hiding places. What if illness comes? What if unemployment is hiding under the bed? As if my own life didn’t contain enough what ifs to ponder, I began to think about my family and friends and continued imagining: What if… Fear stirred and I suddenly felt like the small girl I once was.  My heart cried out for help.

It was then light shone through the window and I realized that the clouds must have parted just enough to let the moonlight through. It was as if in response to my heart’s cry my heavenly Father had turned on the light and left heaven’s door open ever so slightly. I remembered how I once thought the light was a guard at the gate. The words David penned long ago in Psalm 27:1 came to mind, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”  I realized then that the Light was far more than a guard at the gate—He is my very salvation.  The LORD is my light and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).

Comfort replaced fear and my eyes became heavy as I whispered a prayer of thanks to Him who is the Light of the world and in whom no darkness dwells. As sleep tugged at my eyelids I thought of the light in the midst of the darkness, and smiled knowing that sometimes in life darkness decends, but the Light of the world is always with me. Sometimes He may provide enough light to keep running, and other times it may be as though He has left heaven's door open ever so slightly allowing just enough light for where I am.

Precious friend, are you surrounded by darkness? Are you imagining all the “what ifs” until fear wells up within your heart?
Read Psalm 27
Remember that even in your darkest hour the Lord is with you and His light will shine through the darkness as though He has left heaven’s door open ever so slightly. You may think you don’t have light enough, but He is more than enough.  His grace is sufficient. The next time darkness engulfs you and you think you see slumbering giants through the shadows and fear grabs hold of your heart, join your voice with David’s, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

An Original Conversations at the Well
© Copyright by Diana Morgan, November 30, 2012

HOPE FILLED PORTION

HOPE FILLED PORTION

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him."

Lamentations 3:24 (NASB)

Have you ever found yourself wanting something to happen so much that you become fixated on it?  You turn it this way and that way in your mind and even begin to imagine all the “what ifs” if it doesn’t happen?  It’s a bit like a dog gnawing a bone or worrying over his food dish…

“Do you dogs want breakfast?” Marc asked. 

Teddy and Gracie hurried to the hall closet where their containers of food are stored.  We measured their respective portions and we added water and stirred until a little gravy formed.  After all, who doesn’t love gravy?!  Teddy followed Marc and Gracie followed me, their tails wagging in anticipation.

Gracie and I reached the area where she is fed and she immediately sat down and lifted her gaze to my face.  I set her dish down at her feet, but her eyes never left my face.  She looked beautiful with her body perfectly upright, her graceful head turned upward, her eyes, hopeful.  I began counting in my head and when I reached the minute marker, I said the words she was waiting to hear, “You’re free.”  I didn’t need to tell her twice, as she immediately lowered her head and began to eat breakfast with great enthusiasm.

I headed to the dining room where Teddy sat waiting for Marc to speak those longed for words that would release him to eat.  I noticed that Teddy’s eyes were not fixed on Marc’s face.  Nope.  Not even a glance.  His eyes were fixed downward on his food dish.  Every muscle in his body was tense as he focused in on what he wanted. His head was bent downward and he began to drool.  Teddy didn’t look hopeful.  He looked worried.   When the time came, Marc said, “You’re free.”  Teddy dove into his food dish, devouring his breakfast and I wondered if he even tasted it as he gulped his food until it was gone.

It occurred to me that Gracie’s focus was on the provider while Teddy’s was on the provision.  Gracie’s focus inspired hope and a graceful demeanor of waiting; while Teddy’s caused him to be tense, drooling and bent in an unattractive, worried sort of posture.  A light seemed to come on in my heart as I hurried to talk to Him about it.

I arrived at the well a bit breathless as my words began tumbling out before I even sat down.  He listened intently as I described Gracie’s demeanor of waiting and Teddy’s posture of worry and how Gracie was focused on the provider and Teddy on the provision. 

“Lord,” I said excitedly, “people can be just like that.”  I waited for Him to join in the conversation about “those people”.  You know; the worried, bent ones with their focus in the wrong place. 

“I am your portion,” He said.

I felt His words touch my heart and I stilled beneath them as I waited there in the soft light of dawn.

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

I recognized the words from Philippians 4:19 as they rumbled through my soul, causing me to recognize myself as one of “those worried, bent people.”

“Tell Me.”

I tucked my knees up under my chin and began to share with Him about the thing I hoped would happen and the what if thoughts that had crept in about what would happen if that thing didn’t happen.  I saw myself clearly then…

The eyes of my heart had focused in on the thing hoped for—the provision instead of the provider.  My demeanor did not inspire hope, but a heart bent and worried.  And was that drool? 

“Ugh!”

“I am your portion.  Hope in Me,” He said.

He spoke from His Word and my heart gladly nestled down in the pages as He continued to speak from Lamentations 3.

Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.20 Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me.21 This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.22 The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him."25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.

Lamentations 3:19-25 (NASB)

He reminded me that He will supply all that is needed.  (Philippians 4:19)   He took my soul to task for focusing on the provision instead of He who is my provider.  “Fix your eyes on Me,” He reminded my often wandering, yet tender grandma heart in Hebrews 12:2.

“I am good to those who wait for Me, to the person who seeks Me. My compassion never, ever fails.  Open your eyes every morning and they are there, new for a new day.  My faithfulness is great—greater than your greatest, deepest need.  My lovingkindess never stops—not for a moment.  Seek Me.  Hope in Me. Wait for Me for I am good.”

A noise from outside caught my attention and I looked out to see the sun peering out from behind the early morning clouds as rain had begun falling.  The sunlight sparkled, causing the raindrops to glisten like twinkly lights. 

I turned my heart back toward Him as I began again to tell Him about the thing I hoped would happen.  This time, instead of focusing on the thing I hoped for, I turned my heart’s gaze upward to Him—away from the provision to my Provider.  I felt it—the change in my heart’s demeanor.  Instead of being bent, it was upright.  Instead of worried, hope filled. 

“Lord?”

“Yes?”

“Thank You for being my Portion.  My hope filled Portion!”

An Original Conversations at the Well

© Copyright by Diana Morgan, November 16, 2012

REACHING TOUCH

REACHING TOUCH
Reach down your hand from on high
Psalms 144:7 (NIV)

Jesus reached out his hand and touched
Matthew 8:3 (NIV)

Marc and I left the house while the desert still lay slumbering beneath a blanket of stars.  I was walking our 4-year old golden retriever Teddy while Marc walked our 5 month-old golden retriever puppy Gracie.  She was heeling nicely right by his side, not pulling ahead or falling behind.  I noticed as they walked that Gracie was constantly looking up at her master.  And then I saw it…Marc stretched his hand downward and touched Gracie’s nose.  Oh how she loved that.  She was practically prancing with joyful puppy feet. She constantly looked up and she also would stretch her head upward to meet her master’s hand that was constantly reaching down to touch her.  I carefully tucked the image into a quiet corner of my heart as we continued our walk.

A short time later found me sitting on the patio with His Book open in front of me.  I was reading some verses that talked about the Lord’s reaching touch.  I looked toward the east as the sun peered over the eastern mountains, its light chased night’s lingering shadows across the desert dawn.  The warmth fell across my face and I thought to myself that even the sun greeting the day is God reaching down to touch me with His kindness.  This thought reminded me of Marc and Gracie and I hurried to the corner of my heart and tenderly retrieved the image I had so carefully tucked away of a master’s reaching touch.  I took the image with me and hurried to the Well to talk with Him who said He would always be within reach of those who are His.  I found Him there just as He promised.

“Lord,” I began, as I rushed into His presence, holding up the image of Marc reaching down to touch Gracie’s nose while she joyfully reached up to meet the touch of her master.  “it reminds me of the way You reach down to touch my life—my very heart.  I love reaching back.”  My brow furrowed as another thought crossed my mind, “Lord, I sometimes get distracted and I forget to reach back.  Instead of lifting my heart to meet Your gaze and Your touch, I am looking at troubles or even the good things that You have provided.  I totally miss out on that sweet walk—Your touch that sends my soul to prancing.”

He took me to Psalm 144:7 and Matthew 8:3 that talked about His reaching touch.  Then we talked about the day ahead as the clock rudely announced it was time to get busy.  As I opened the door into a world filled with distractions, I felt it…His touch on my heart.  I looked up as He reached down.  His reaching touch set my heart to prancing.

An Original Conversations at the Well
© Copyright by Diana Morgan November 6, 2012

A KNOWN VOICE

A KNOWN VOICE
When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 10:4 (NASB)

It was a mild November morning as our group headed out on the bird walk.  My grandbaby Lillian was with me in her carrier as we followed my daughter Elizabeth toward the wetlands.

“There’s a yellow rumped warbler,” Elizabeth said.

“How do you know?” I asked.

“I heard its call,” she said.

I stood amazed at my daughter’s bird watching skill.  She can name almost any bird without seeing it, simply by listening to its song.  The air was filled with birdsong, but she was able to recognize and identify the song of a yellow rumped warbler.  You see, she knew its voice.

I tucked this moment away in my heart to ponder later…

I remember some 15 years ago when she first became interested in birding. She bought books about birds.  She bought tapes of bird calls. She got connected with other birders. She invested in birding equipment such as binoculars and a birding scope. She studied hard and took every opportunity to go on birding trips. She began volunteering at the Wild Bird Center where she helps care for sick or injured birds.

Elizabeth continues to hone her birding skills and enjoys sharing her love and knowledge of birds with others.  She co-leads a bird walk once a month; and I have been fortunate enough to go along on many occasions.  Her love of birds is contagious and I can’t wait for our next birding adventure.

Tonight as I sat thinking about these things I was reminded of Jesus’ words found in John 10:4.  I opened my Bible and read the words out loud.

When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:4 (NASB)

I suddenly became aware of His sweet presence and I settled deeper into my chair to have a conversation with the One whose voice I have come to love.  I decided to tell Him all about the bird walk.  Of course He already knew all about it.  He was there the whole time!

“Lord,” I said, a bit breathless as I began to share about all the birds we had spotted and how Elizabeth had identified the yellow rumped warbler just by the sound of its voice.

He listened to me intently as though He had all the time in the world.  Of course He transcends time and He created time.  I brought my easily distracted thoughts back from the bunny trail they were about to hop down.

“Lord, the way Elizabeth so easily identified the yellow rumped warbler by the sound of its voice reminds me of how I am to know Your voice.  You know, to distinguish it from all the other voices that noisily call for my attention.”

“It is important to know My voice. To listen to My voice above the fray of ‘world voices’ that will try to deceive you.”

I grew quiet as I thought about that.  Jesus was talking to the Pharisees when He said those words.  The Pharisees had loud voices and had deceived many and were blind themselves.  They didn’t recognize the Messiah’s voice.  I thought about how the mocking bird imitates the song of other birds, and likewise there are imposters who put words in God’s mouth.  They attach God’s name to all sorts of statements and beliefs that are contrary to what God has actually said.  It can be confusing.  How can we discern God’s voice from all the other voices rising out of a noisy world?

Knowing my every thought He asked, “How did Elizabeth come to identify birds by their song?”

I smiled as I said, “She studied and learned about bird behavior and bird songs and she spent much time bird watching.”

“Spend much time in My Word.  Learn about Me, My character, what I say and then you will recognize imposters—those false teachers because what they say is contrary to what I have revealed about Myself in the Bible.  Stay connected to other believers and keep close company with Me.”

I sat awhile longer at the Well.  His voice spoke clearly from the pages of His Word.  Before I knew it, I had to go take care of some tasks, but as I headed out the door into the world and voices fill the air, One voice was familiar and I smiled with instant recognition.  You see, it is the voice of my Beloved.  My Savior and I fall in step with Him through my day.  How do I know it’s Him, you ask. That’s easy.  You see, I belong to Him and I know His voice.  Joy!

An Original Conversations at the Well
© Copyright Diana Morgan November 4, 2012

A FRIEND'S REFRESHING

A FRIEND’S REFRESHING
A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

Have you ever been sick?  Have you ever been tired?  Have you ever been sick and tired?  You know, when your body sends your brain a message that you have been burning the candle at both ends and perhaps you need to stop for a good refueling.  But you ignore that inner prompting and keep right on burning both ends of the candle until you begin to sputter and fizzle and your light has all but gone out.   

I sat at the Well wrapped snugly in my favorite throw as I sipped my coffee.  I read the words about refreshing and being refreshed and decided to see how another version of His book put it…it’s helpful to have more than one translation handy when you sit at His feet.  The NASB put it this way…”he who waters will himself be watered.”

“It’s important to be well hydrated,” His voice thundered through the predawn stillness, stirring my heart awake.

I knew He was referring to hydration of the Living Water kind and not the temporary refreshing that comes from the kitchen tap.  Only Living Water is able to penetrate the dryness and go deep—heart deep.  Sometimes we can be in such a state that we find ourselves face down in the dust unable to even ask for water.

I was in just such a dry place last week.  I had been burning the candle at both ends.  I decided to leave home without eating the Bread of Life and drinking the Living Water found only in the pages of His Book.  I was going to work early and staying late.  I told myself it was only temporary and I could do it.  Friends had been commenting how tired I looked for days, but I shrugged off their words  and kept right on burning that candle until the wick began to smoke and sputter and had all but gone out.

“I sent friends to help,” He said.

I nodded quietly as I remembered how I had been sitting at my desk the previous week in a weary fog.  My heart was lying in the dust all dried and shriveled and on top of everything else, I had been fighting a sore throat for two days.  I was tired.  I was sick.  My heart was dehydrated.  To quote a friend, “I was a hot mess.”

A few friends and co-laborers in Christ walked into my office and announced that they had come to help. They were sending me home to have dinner with my husband.  The tasks I was carrying, they were taking on themselves—even though they were extremely busy with their own workload.  Funny, I hadn’t noticed the Living Water they were carrying when they walked into my office, but as they spoke it was as if they were pouring water onto the dry ground of my soul.  It flowed from a source unseen by human eyes.  It flowed right past my prideful excuses.  It pushed the tasks, the “I think I need to’s” and the “shoulds” right out of the way.  It flowed in streams through these Jesus lovers, straight to my heart.

I recalled the part in John 15 where Jesus was admonishing the disciples to abide in Him.  He had said, “…apart from Me you can do nothing.”

“Lord,” I cried, “it’s true.  I know it’s true.  Forgive me for thinking and acting as though I could do ministry or anything else on my own – without You!  I don’t want to be a dried up fruitless branch.”

I read the words in both translations again.

A generous man will prosper;
 he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 11:25 (NASB)

As I read His Words from His Book I felt His Living Water do its hydrating work in my heart.

I thought of each friend who had come to my aid at the Lord’s request that day.  You see they could have simply walked into my office and told me to go home and then gone back to what they were doing (James 2:15-17 speaks of this).   But they coupled their kind words with a great act of love.  You see they saw with their eyes that I was bone weary, they found out what was needed and then they gave legs to their words.  In sending me home, they put aside their work and their evening plans, took on my task and helped a great team accomplish a rather daunting project.

Our pastor knew that the people on this team would need food so he and his wife bought dinner and took it to the team.  They walked into that room with much more than food for bodies - they carried Living Water which the Lord poured out through them onto His much loved kids to refresh and revive tired hearts as they worked. If you are quiet you can almost hear the Living Water rushing like a river.

As the sun began to rise from its place of slumber, I turned the words of Proverbs 11:25 into a prayer for each friend who had been a carrier of Refreshing Living Water that day.

“Lord, thank you for friend’s name, prosper them in their work, in their relationships and more importantly in their relationship with You.  May they flourish under Your care and bear much fruit.  As they watered my life and refreshed my weary heart, refresh them today.  Lord, now that I have been a receiver of refreshing water, help me to be generous with my talent and time as I pour into the lives of others today, that they too may be refreshed as only You can do.  Amen.”

Dear one, what about you?  Are you in a place of dryness and in need of refreshing?  Turn to the Word of God – where Living Water flows freely and brings refreshing to dry and weary hearts.  Perhaps you are in a place where you are spiritually dehydrated.  You are face down in the dust and physically, emotionally exhausted—a weariness that goes heart deep.  My sweet friend, I pray today that the Lord would send friends to your aid and through their kindness the Lord would pour out water of the Living kind bringing heart deep refreshment.

May we in turn carry Living Water to others today and be a source of refreshment in word and deed.  In Jesus’ name and for His glory!

An Original Conversations at the Well
© Copyright by Diana Morgan  November 2, 2012