Month: January 2020

Stand Out

The West Virginia hills and mountains have lost a bit of their beauty in these cold winter months. The trees are leafless and stark against the horizon, except for those evergreens! Those pines, spruce, and, others (I’m not an expert on tree names.) are filling parts of the forests with full, dark green branches. While the deciduous trees are dormant and bare, those evergreens maintain their full branches throughout the winter months.

The evergreen trees I see from my windows seem to say, “stand out, be visible, don’t let the darkness determine how you live.” God’s people must stand out and be visible in our culture today. We are called to let our “lights shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Our lives must attract the lost to Jesus, our Savior.

Sometimes it looks like evil is winning in our culture, but we know it will not win in the end. Be encouraged by God’s faithfulness and power as you stand tall, living abundantly, in the dark forest of evil.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”

(John 10:10b).

We Have Hope

“For the word of the Lord is right and true;

he is faithful in all he does.

The Lord loves righteousness and justice;

the earth is full of his unfailing love (Psalm 33:4-5).

In a world that is chaotic and evil, it is comforting to know that God’s Word is right and true and God is faithful in all He does. God’s Word remains “a lamp to my feet and light for my path.” Following His light of truth brings inner peace even when it seems there is no peace.

Yes, the darkness of evil is all around us but there is also light. Jesus is the Light of the world. He told us, his followers, to let our lights shine so that God would be glorified. We don’t have to stumble in the darkness and wonder what is going on. We walk in the light as He is in the light. His truth guides us.

I just heard about another dear friend who lost her husband to death.  That makes three ladies close to me who have lost husbands in the last 7 months. I know something about how that feels. It’s dark and lonely, and it hurts – terribly! I hurt for these dear ones. It’s hard to see the Light, but it’s still there. God’s Word and His truth are steadfast. God is faithful and these friends are held in His strong, comforting arms. There is no other way to endure such a loss, even knowing your loved one is with the Father. Without God we are hopeless. With God we have hope!

As we begin a new year it is my prayer our hope will sustain us through whatever lies ahead. If you are not a Christ follower, it is my prayer that you seek His truth, believe it, and obey it.

“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us; O Lord, even as we put our hope in you” (Psalm 33:20-22).