LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

   Just some verses and thoughts to meditate on. God's word is always such a wonderful help and encouragement.

John 8:12 (ESV)    ¹² Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 1:4-5 (ESV)   
   ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
 
Life Application Study Bible Note
   "The darkness can never extinguish it" means the darkness of evil never has and never will overcome God's light. Jesus Christ is the Creator of life, and his life brings light to humankind."

In His light of truth, hope and love we find the strengeth to overcome evil. Jesus said: ³³ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)

1 John 5:4-5 (NLT)    ⁴ For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. ⁵ And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

He is our light, life and hope.

John 14:27 (ESV) ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

LADY LIBERTY WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN

Jeremiah 31:15 (ESV)
¹⁵ Thus says the LORD: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rache …(America)is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more."

 Is there anything more shattering and devastating to human sensitivity than the slaughter of the innocent? It is hard to believe that anyone could even imagine committing such a crime as happened today in Sandy Hook School.

How do we account for this?

The Bible says:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jer.17:9 (ESV)

People who commit themselves to evil and wicked acts have so destroyed their soul that they are incapable of human compassion, mercy and do not understand the value of life.

Romans 1:28 (ESV)
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

The disturbing reality is that evil does exist and those who ignore it do so to their own harm and sometimes tragically to the harm of others.

 Is there hope that can give comfort to us in such times of despair?  We begin with praying for those who suffer such evil attacks and for their families. We also weep with them and share words of love and concern. The Bible tells us:

 There is …….⁴ a time to weep, and a time to mourn…. Ecclesiastes 3:4 (ESV)  

 Job was concerned about the welfare of others.
²⁵ Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy? Job 30:25 (ESV)

 The Psalmist understood and identified with the sorrows and suffering of others:

 Psalm 35:13-14 (ESV)
¹³ But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. ¹⁴ I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.

 Yes the Bible says: ^“ …weep with those who weep.”  Romans 12:15 (ESV)

 So let us weep with those who weep and pray for the God of all grace and comfort to sustain them during this time of their grief and in the coming days of many tears.

Is Anyone Listening?

Is anyone listening?  Sometimes I wonder if God isn't thinking or saying that.  There is such little Biblical Common Sense being used now days. Values related to life, finances, relationships, health, and basic simple living seem to be no where in use. Take notice of the following verses and consider reading the entire chapter.

Proverbs 4:10-13 (NLT) ¹⁰ My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. ¹¹ I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. ¹² When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. ¹³ Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.

God in His word has given us the answers to life and the wisdom to make the right choices. But we muct search the Scriptures and seek His mind and will. The great adventure of living is discovering what God has for us through faith in His Son, Jesus and His plan revealed in His word the Bible.
Enjoy the good life that God created you for by listening to and trusting Him.

WALK AROUND TOWN

Took a few pictures walking around South Lake Tahoe. It was  fun talking to Paul in the Radio Station.

Really got a lot of exercise, about an hour and a half. Feel tired but good.

What Matters

Happy New Year!!!

I found this quote and it reminded me again what really matters in this life.

What Will Matter? by Michael Josephson

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no days, no hours or minutes. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten,will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will all expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won’t matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Your gender, skin color, ethnicity will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories of those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.