Tag Archives: Darkness

Night ~ Day 7 ~ #Write28Days

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“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (NLT)/ Pixabay

Night Time Conversations

I talk a lot AND I talk loudly.  I try not to, honest I do! But, telling stories, giving advice, asking questions, answering questions….you name it…. I tend to foam at the mouth! I just can’t seem to help myself!  Now sometimes, I actually talk so others can hear, (sorry family and friends) but more often than not, the voice dominating the conversation is the one inside my very own head. And unfortunately, her favorite time to chat is in the middle of the night! Anyone else know what I’m talking about?

Often, I’m not sure why, I wake up around 3:00 A.M. Would you believe she’s already conversing before I even have one eye open? The words spew quickly, bouncing around and echo loudly in my mind.  It wouldn’t be so bad if they were uplifting messages, confident affirmations, and organized plans, however, these conversations in the dark are quite the opposite!

Her night time monolog reminds me of disappointing failures, overwhelms me with worries, offers frightening diagnoses, and casts doubt where I have harbored hope. She taunts and ridicules, frightens and shames. Try as I might to silence the voice,  the froth of her words spume forth engulfing my peace and make the night seem darker.

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” 1 John 1:5 (NLT)

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:5 (NLT)

It’s likely that the voice of darkness in each of us will continue to try and be the keynote speaker anytime it can, but I’m learning that whether it’s in the middle of the night or anytime at all, we can choose to either dwell in the words spoken from the murky places of our minds or we can invite God into the conversation and rest in His message of truth and light.

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

When we allow God to mute the disparaging dialog we speak to ourselves and let Him become the Guard of our minds, we will finally experience a truly peaceful night’s sleep and wake refreshed to welcome the light of a brand new day! Now that’s worth having a conversation about!

 

I’m popping in and out when I can at http://www.anitaojeda.com for the #Write28Days Challenge.  If you’d like to read the creative posts of other writers just click on over there!

 

 

 

Darkness~Five Minute Friday

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“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” Ephesians 5:8 (NLT) / Pixabay

Complete Darkness

Living in a place where others come to vacation is a gift!  I love hearing tourists’ comments about the beauty of my little corner of the world! I live in the shadow of the highest point in the state which offers views that take your breath away.  Not far from me are rocks that draw climbers from all over and just down the road are amazing caverns formed millions of years ago by water dissolving the limestone that is plentiful in our area. Drip by drip, magnificent formations grew in to what is now a popular destination.

Taking the caverns tour has been a favorite of our guests and each time we go through I’m still awed by the artistry buried below the earth’s surface; created not by man, but by God’s hand. Once we’ve descended deep into the cave, the tour guide warns that we are about to experience the most feared part of the cavern. It’s not bats (although they’re there). It’s not rocks falling from above (even though some have). No, the scariest part of being in the cavern? Complete darkness!

Once the lights are turned off… You. See. Nothing. Your hand in front of your face? Not there! The person standing next to you? Gone! The longer you are engulfed in the blackness the more uncomfortable it becomes. Your eyes don’t adjust, moving is impossible, and all sense of your surroundings is lost. As your heart rate increases, panic begins to set in!

Doesn’t life sometimes cause us to feel exactly like we’re stranded in complete darkness?  The answer we long for? Not there! Hope we’ve been searching for? Gone! The blackness of fear, grief, frustration, and so much more becomes unbearable. In panic, we look in all directions but are still unable see where to go. We. Can’t. Move.

Back in the cave, just when you wished you were anywhere else, the guide’s flashlight turns on. Here’s the amazing thing: the small glow from that one flashlight illuminates the beauty of the place you’d just felt helpless in! Even more amazing, is that we have a Guide in life who leads us to find beauty in the dark places, too!

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.””
John 8:12 (NLT)

In our darkest hours, God offers The Light. On the gloomiest days, He shines The Light. When we’re wishing to be anywhere other than where we are, His Light is waiting right there to guide our way. It may be just a tiny glimmer, but when we look toward It, we’re able to see the next step where we hadn’t before.

When on the tour, it’s easy while standing in the abyss of complete darkness to forget the beauty that surrounds you, even though it’s right within your reach.  It takes a light to remind you of the majesty you’re in the midst of. The same is true for us; feeling as if we’re in complete darkness steals joy, hope, and beauty from our lives.  It’s when we remember to turn to His Majesty: The Light of the World, that we are reminded that Jesus has overcome the darkness completely: not just for today or tomorrow but for all eternity! Feeling lost in the dark? Just follow The Light and then BE the light for others!

Today’s prompt at  http://www.fiveminutefriday.com is “darkness” so pulled this post from the archives to share.  Click on over to see what enlightening things the other talented writers have to say about darkness.

Light 22/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 (NIV) / Pixabay

You might find this strange, but one of the things this city girl had to adjust to when I moved to rural West Virginia was how dark it was at night.  I know, I know night is supposed to be dark but when the sun goes down here, it is DARK!

The unfamiliar inky blackness of living in the midst of farmland and the shadows of  mountains is quite unsettling when you’re used to street lamps, neon signs, and porch lights illuminating the way. It wasn’t until my then fiancée went home with me that he finally understood dark and DARK!

As with so much of this beautiful place I now call home, I’ve come to love the DARK.  Why you ask? Because in the DARK you can see the light!  The night sky here is a spectacular sight!  Standing in my yard on a clear evening, the brightest lights around are the stars, planets, and  Milky Way shining down from the vast heavens. I’d never have experienced this amazing light show had I not stood in the DARK.

Isn’t life just like that?  As much as we (I) don’t want to venture into those DARK,  we can’t see how everything’s going to turn out places; that’s exactly where we experience the beauty of light.  It may be a flicker, but in the DARK a flicker is all it takes to brighten our way.  Maybe it’s a meal provided by a friend, a card or phone call, flowers, a visit, or an offered prayer. When it feels we’ll never find our way out of the DARK, God uses the love of those around us to begin to lead us step by step into the light. It isn’t easy.  We may stumble, fall, and lose our way as we struggle to leave DARK behind.  But, life’s taught me that God doesn’t leave us to find the way on our own. Once we emerge from the DARK we are then able to look back and see that His Light was guiding us all along! And the amazing thing? His Light will continue to shine, leading us Home where finally, DARK will be no more!

 

 

 

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