Weekend Giveaway: Darkness & Light
Do you know who you are?
More importantly, do you know whose you are?
I must admit, even though I first met Jesus in a very real way back in late high school, I haven’t always lived as though all that took place with that life-changing encounter were true.
What I mean is this: sometimes, there is a disconnect between my mind and my actions; between my brain and my body (or most often between my soul and my mouth!)
The good I know I should do….
I don’t always do.
The love I know I should display…
I don’t always display.
The kindness I’m convinced I should show….
Well…it stays hidden.
This disconnect both frustrates and aggravates me.
Until I remember that I am not alone.
Read preacher Paul’s words from Romans 7:18-20 in the Amplified Version of the Bible:
18For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]
19For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing.
20Now if I do what I do not desire to do, it is no longer I doing it [it is not myself that acts], but the sin [principle] which dwells within me [fixed and operating in my soul].
Sister….can you relate????
Now I know Christians aren’t perfect. We are just forgiven.
And I know I cannot always make the right choice…. in my own strength.
But for me I know where part of the problem lies.
I forget I am no longer in the dark, but in the light.
“….for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)” Ephesians 5:8-9
Walk as children of the light.
Walking is an action. It takes effort on my part.
Good. I need to focus on what is good.
Right. I need to chose to perform that which is right.
True. I need to focus my brain on the things that are true.
For me…that last one is a doosey. You see, I let the enemy whisper all sorts of things to my soul that simply are not true.
You’ll never lose weight.
You are incapable of being a good wife.
Rotten mom. You sure blew it today with your kid.
Christian? Yeah, right. Some Christian you are having those thoughts you did just now.
Just give it up….ya failure!
At those times I have a crucial choice to make. Am I gonna give in to the dark or run to the light?
Am I going to listen to the lies or align my mind with the word of God?
Darkness or light? Its our choice.
Do you ever battle the same thing? (Oh please tell me that you do?!?)
Lets purpose to pray for each other during the heat of the battle for our minds. And, just cause I love you all, here is a little light & dark giveaway to go along with our little chat. It includes:
~ A cozy brown plush throw–for you to snuggle up in as you read the Bible, filling your mind with God’s truth about you.
~ Some dark chocolate Hershey’s kisses.
~ A tube of Dark Kiss Bath & Bodyworks lotion.
~ Three packets of Land O’ Lakes white hot cocoa.
~ Two white votive candles from Bath & Bodyworks–one vanilla coconut & one creamy nutmeg.
~ A candle snuffer from At Home America.
One person who comments this weekend will be chosen at random to win the above package. So please, tell me your thoughts on this topic. (Or if time is tight, just say “I’m in!”)
I’ll be praying for you this weekend. Will you do the same for me?
Into-the-light Blessings,
Thank you for this message today – I’ll be praying for you. And Satan keeps finding ways to twist the truth, making me wonder if I am doing enough for the ministry or I am doing the right things. I must ignore his expectations that are intended to distract me from my purpose as a child of God and listen to the Voice of Truth.
My name isn’t Martha by accident. I so want to live up to everyone’s expectations, and in many ways I actually do…. but at what cost, and I never live up to my own expectations, and I know that I leave an emotional mess in my wake many times. I get so focused on the little things, I forget the main thing…. and I forget that what I am really here for is my relationship with God. Then I listen to all of those inner lies the enemy tells us. I am so glad I can cry out to God and He gives me the strength to go on and help me be more focused. I have made great strides from where I used to be, but I still have a VERY long way to go.
Yes! I’m in and I try to stay in the light. It’s a constant battle but I’m getting better at it. IT takes practice :)
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
If I walk as a child of light than I am a child of light. Another truth to hang on to as I journey through getting closer to the Lord and crave Him more.
I am so in!!!!
Satan knows just what to whisper in our ears to render us totally ineffective. Thanks for the encouragment to tell him to buzz off…
I can empathize completely!!!
Yes to enemy whispers…yes to focusing on Jesus…yes to His Word: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK about these things.” Philippians 4:8, (emphasis on ‘think’ is mine)…Keep reading on to verse 9 AND read before to verse 7 abt God’s peace guarding our minds in Christ Jesus! Thank you, Father God, for Your Word.
Thank you, Karen, for sharing.
That was Job 1:20,21
Oh yes, Karen! You have described my struggle exactly! I have been succumbing to the temptation of listening to Satan’s lies way too much these past few weeks and just this morning I noticed that I have been allowing him to distort the truth in my mind and drive a wedge deeper and deeper between God and me. I need to stand for the Truth in my life and be a shining example to those around me. Even Job in the midst of his pain and suffering was able to praise the Lord, I can, too!
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
Karen, thank you so much for your timely reminder this morning. Even though I have been doing what I have been desiring not to do… I know God loves me and forgives me and that I can make a new start beginning right now!
This is a daily struggle of mine — a place Satan knows exactly where to attack. Thank you for your words of encouragement!
I’m in! What a journey we all are on!!
Very, very busy today. I’m in!
I’m in! And I will pray for you this weekend, Karen. Thanks for your prayers for me!
I can relate so very much I sit her listening to Cast and Crowns Voice of Truth as I write this. The devil is always there in my ear telling me the very same things. I f I mess up the devil tells me that I have falied again that all I ever do is fail. He tells me the Lord can’t use me. I will pray for you and ask if you will do the same for me.Thank You for sharing.
Karen, I have to tell you what an inspiration you were last night on the conference call! You spoke to me and encouraged me to keep pressing on with my weight challenges. I love that my identity is in Christ and not numbers on the scale. As His representative I need to take care of my body and be as healthy in my food choices as I can be.
Thanks for going on this journey with me!
Becki
and, I just thought it was me…………you make me feel so much better. Thanks so much for being YOU :)
The light is where I long to dwell, but with all life’s stresses and downfalls, at times the light seems so far away. It’s as if the darkness wants to take hold and it times it seems to be so much easier to let the darkness prevail, but I know that is not the way to overcome. Many days my choices and intentions are to fight the good fight of faith and dwell in the light and then “life happens”. For me it is a day to day struggle, but I know if I rely on God and his Grace and Mercy and seek His will, I will overcome. Thank You for allowing us to share and thank you for being so honest in your sharing.
Hi – I’m in – I struggle in focusing on what is good in my life. I have been given so much yet I concentrate on the negative. I am one of God’s chosen and I am so very, very thankful. I just don’t want to tell people about Jesus but I want to show Him in my actions every day. Thank you for reminding me of God’s Word through Paul.
WOW!!!! I was just this morning before I ever got out of bed….this very thought…that I really really DESIRE to lose weight, to eat right, to be loving and kind and light in this world. But I was thinking that it required not only my desire, but ACTION…. I was remembering the guy at the Healing water pool and how he had been there for what 40 years and was waiting for someone to put him in.. how like him I was…I have been overweight for years and years and I desired to lose weight…I bought every book on how to do it, joined every weight loss organization around that promised me success….however, I was still waiting for my DESIRE to happen…but Jesus in his awesome wisdom told the man….to pick up his mat and walk….ACTION….so he also told me that while it was great that I DESIRED to lose weight it wasn’t enough…it required action….sacrifice….commitment….faith…..that He would be with me…but first I had to take the first step….walk the walk….not just talk the talk…buy the books…join the club….but to Do….Thank you so much for this post…what a confirmation….Please pray for me as I step out in faith to be obedient…
Thank you for speaking to me today! Yes, I will pray for you! Thanks for being an instrument of God’s teachings!!
The Ephesians passage is the same one my church just posted this morning, and one I need to focus on. This is definitely speaking to my heart today…thank you.
Walking in the truth of God’s Word is what sheds light to my faulty negative thinking, sheds light to my path and gives me hope as I place my trust in the God of Hope.
Karen,
This really touched me when I read it. I feel like you wrote it just for me. I battle the same issues and try to daily remind myself to be a Child of the Light. In fact, I’ve been working on writing my personal mission statement and one of my goals is to do just that. Thank you for your wonderful words.
I am in! I struggle so much with what I can and can not eat, but God is diffentantly working on me.
Thanks for your help!