Tag Archives: prayer

Jesus, the Light In Our Darkness

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The sunset over Galway

I came into work this morning and found this letter of encouragement in my mailbox. I share it with you (by permission) in hopes that it may bring some light into any darkness you currently walk in:

Jesus Is the Light In Our Darkness

by Dale Stevens

When we are living in darkness we don’t always know we are in darkness. Sometimes the darkness we live in is just a normal way of life for us. Now, normal is whatever we are used to. Growing up the patterns that we see  from our parents and all those living around us become our patterns, some good, some bad. These patterns we have learned can cause us great pain: hurt, feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem, despair, depression, discouragement, unbelief, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness.

Sometimes we become withdrawn. We look around us at others and see them happy and joyful, family and friends having fun and getting along together, and we have a desire to have a life like that. Yet sometimes it feels like we are walking in a cloud. The desire is to step out of that cloud and walk into the light of peace and joy; But the darkness is so thick it totally surround us.

BUT WAIT! THERE IS GOOD NEWS.

The Bible says that, Jesus is the light of the world.

The word light means: daytime, brightness, illumination and exposure to the truth

Psalm 1390: 11,12 “Darkness will not be dark to you (anymore). For darkness is as light to you!”

It may take a while to walk through, but remember Jesus is the light. Sometimes He shines as if coming through the fog, but as the fog lifts the Light gets brighter and brighter. And so it is with the healing process. It is step by step!

Willpower Will Not Suffice!

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles
In the shadow of the cross

In the shadow of the cross

As I approached this fast I asked God what He would have me pray into.

I heard His Spirit say, “Weaknesses, chinks in the armor, breaches in the wall, and strategies for battle.”

So I have been praying about these things. Today, in my afternoon time of prayer and study, I was reminded that often I want an immediate answer from God when it comes to matters of sanctification. If I see a problem, a weakness or a chink in my armor I want it dealt with immediately by the Spirit of God. If I see any darkness in myself I want it gone with the first five-minute prayer I lift up.

God reminded me He doesn’t often work this way. What I want is a tidal wave that wipes out the  stronghold of wickedness in an instant. What God often gives me is a tidal surge every time I pray that washes away my rougher edges bit by bit.

I believe this is because my less noble qualities, Ok let’s just call them what they are sins, are all tied in with the good parts of me and the essential parts of my personality that God wants to keep. A spiritual tidal wave might wipe out the less desirable pieces of my heart but it would take pretty big chunks of the good stuff that God would otherwise keep intact. So the answer is not one big prayer session where it all gets done and I am instantly perfect but many moments of prayer where the Lord can come and change me bit by bit…glory to glory. The key here is to remember the change is His work, done in His time. Providing Him with the opportunity, through prayer, to change me is my work. Confusion over who does what is a sure way to fail.

“WILL POWER WILL NEVER SUCCEED IN DEALING WITH THE DEEPLY INGRAINED HABITS OF SIN.” Richard Foster

“AS LONG AS WE THINK WE CAN SAVE OURSELVES BY OUR OWN WILL POWER WE WILL ONLY MAKE THE EVIL IN US STRONGER THAN EVER.” Heini Arnold

Dwell Deep

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“It is good for thee to dwell deep that thou mayest feel and understand the spirits of people” John Woolman

If this is true, that means my level of compassion is tied to my level of dwelling and faithfulness in my relationship with God.

What do you think?

Pastor Wrinkles: Another Journey Begins

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

100_1722 (2)

Hello Dear readers. Pastor Wrinkles (that would be me) is off on another journey into the interior. Over the next few weeks I am praying into the strategies God has for ministry in 2015. I can already see the outline of some mighty battles ahead which speak to me of pain and perhaps loss but beyond that I also see victory.

Here are a few of the Scriptures I am going to be meditating much on over the next days:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb. 12, 1-3

5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6Who, being in very naturea God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very natureb of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father. Phil. 2:5-11

I am praying about strategies and about weaknesses in my own life that need to be shored up. In addition to these Scripture passages I will be reading Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline.

I will share quotes from this book and insights with you as they come.

Read on…