I researched “God’s light” in the Bible. What are the reasons I might want to stay in God’s light and not wander off into the dark shadows of the night? There is a reason we need to be in the light.

After God made the Heavens and the earth, He said, “Let there be light” and there was light. He saw that the light was good and then he separated the light from the darkness. Heavens, earth, light, water, sky, stars, plants, animals, people—these things are good. God created them all to display His glory.

The light of God is described in the Bible with words like radiance, shine, illuminating, brightness, glowing, sunlight and splendor.  Words associated with darkness are foolish, worthless, weeping, gnashing, trembling, calamity, wicked and stumble.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17. God is light, He is the light on our path, we are to carry that light. I am the the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. John 8:12.

There are so many facets of God’s light. I want to uncover and be illuminated by them all.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

There have been times in my life I have essentially said this to my Lord, the Creator of the Universe:   I love You, I believe in all that You are, but I’m going to split for a while and go learn some life lessons the hard way. I’m sure you understand.

Then I go off into the cold, wild world alone and make a mess of myself. I listen to things that do not enrich my life. I don’t take care of this body that carries my spirit. I stop worshipping God in church. I stop reading His word. I don’t include God in my choices or my concerns. I jump into the swift river of worldly ways and every single time I get washed back onto the banks scraped up, drowning and exhausted. Thank God.

Today God said lovingly, “Stay with Me” and it touched me deeply. I want to stay in His fold so very much. A “fold” is a flock of sheep and a safe enclosure for sheep where a shepherd tends to them together for their protection. He leads them to green fields and still waters, he calls them each by name and they recognize his voice. Strangers do not come in, they do not recognize his voice nor mingle with his sheep. If one of his sheep is ill, he restores it to health. If one goes missing, he leaves the flock to find it and brings it home. The sheep are safe in his fold, they thrive under his shepherding. They are not alone and vulnerable, but secure and loved.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.      John 10:27-28

Early one morning a lady was crossing the lot in front of my car.  Other than the two of us, the park was empty and I felt impatient watching her meander.  She was wearing heels. Strange for a walk at the park. Then she opened her trunk and rearranged some things. I could see that her car was full of belongings. Then it began to make sense; I had seen her there before. She was homeless and using the park restroom to dress for work.

My walk that morning was filled with thoughts and prayers for her. Also on my mind were two gift cards I had in my wallet. God showed me over and over, ‘Those cards have been stuck in your wallet forever. You’re not using them. Give them to her.” The idea brought me joy. I decided to put them in a nice card and anonymously leave it on her windshield the next day when she went into the restroom. I never saw her there again.

Weeks later in a different park, I came out from the woods and there she was. I recognized her car—dark, no hubcaps. I ran back through the woods, grabbed the card from my glove compartment and returned. She rolled down her window as I approached. I told her that I’d seen her before and God told me to give her this gift. He wanted her to know that His eye is on her and His angels are with her.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly, He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23

Depression has haunted me throughout my adult life. While I am in a depression, I feel cut off. I could be at the most exquisite gardens or the most touching wedding or with my most loved and cherished people and though I can notice the good, it doesn’t touch or bless my soul. I think depression could stand as a metaphor for not knowing Jesus.

The things of this world can crowd in and block truth and light like a fog, allowing me only to see very few stark elements of a vast picture. I wonder how people who don’t know Jesus can find their way through it.

On these walks I learned to look for God in all things. I started out mumbling, crying and pleading and ended up relaxing, enjoying and being filled by His Spirit at every step. God answered my every prayer, every word. Did He fix all things immediately and exactly according to my will ? No. He showed me Himself continually, in every walk, every day, in all things.

When I know Jesus and am filled with the Spirit, God changes my focus. He brings hope to me in an infinite sky, grace on a glistening blue swallow, mercy in a mellow rain, and love in a sunbeam resting on a quiet pond.

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

While Jesus was here on earth, He took time to get away from the towns and crowds to spend hours in prayer with God. Yes, Jesus—the “son” part of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If Jesus needed quality time with God, then all of my walks with God are more than justified. I don’t know how I lived over fifty years without them.

It’s true, I do need to have time alone with God, it has changed me and my life. But I also think God wants time alone with me. I’m under the impression that God looks forward to our walks. I think He takes pleasure in listening to my words of joy and gratitude. I know He loves to comfort me when I come with sadness and confusion. I believe He is eager to tell me about Himself and delights in showing me His creation. I even think He got a charge out of seeing me jump that afternoon in the woods when a big red corn snake plopped down next to my foot.

From the tiniest flower to a dramatic expanse of clouds, God displays His love and grace and mercy to me. I pour out my concerns and by the end of our walk He heals me. I sit on a bench at the pond and He sits before me in all that He is and all that He’s made. God is ready to spend my life with me. All I need to do is join Him.

And rising early in the morning while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35

How will others see the sacrifice that Jesus made for them if I don’t show others the sacrifice I’m willing to make for them?

There is something more magnificent than clutching onto what I desire every moment of the day. That thing I wanted to get done, the coffee break I was counting on all morning, the kid’s baseball game I just had to make. Something more magnificent than these may be standing right in front of me.

Is there a co-worker who is overwhelmed and could use a hand? Is there a friend who may need to go get that coffee with me and have a long talk on the way? Is there an old man struggling to walk who needs a ride? I have done each of these with my heart wide open and it was easy. I just had to remember what I’m actually here for. I believe it is to love.

There is something about staying in the beautiful awareness of being a child of God that frees me to share His great love. I never have to worry about running low on what I need if I keep my focus on the One who died to give me life and life in abundance. Jesus wants everyone in my life to have that too. He asks that I abandon my intentions and yield to His— to let love flow from Him through me to them so they will be saved, loved and blessed by Him too.  When I remember to lay my life wide open with His love, blessings flow.

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:9-11

My mother used to say that I never walked anywhere I could run. I like to move quickly. Why take my time if I can do it lickety-split? Isn’t that what it’s all about, running around and getting things done? The faster I do this, the more time I’ll have later to do that?

At the age of 46, I had major abdominal surgery and for the first time in my life I had to move very slowly. I had to take one stair at a time and even reach for the remote in slow motion. In all things, in every moment, I had to acknowledge my fragile condition so that healing could take place.

Sometimes when I’m lunging up the stairs two at a time, I remember the month I took at a snail’s pace. I may not be in a vulnerable physical condition today but I am always weak compared to the Creator of the Universe. It is always the right time to humble myself and allow God’s work to take place in my day. He is strong where I am weak.  How will I benefit from God moving in my life if I don’t stop racing against Him and His perfect plan with all of mine?

The more I experience the way God works in my life, the more I want Him to. When I acknowledge Him throughout my day, I make room for Him to give me good things.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matt 6:26

One morning I decided not to walk before work. I thought I’d have plenty of time afterwards, but my hours always varied according to the daily workload. This particular day I was given the longest list I’d ever had which included intricately wiring stems of orchids onto 8 huge vases of curly willow branches.

I always enjoyed giving my all at work, but this day just wouldn’t end. My eyes were brimming with tears as it grew dark and I realized I wasn’t going to make it to the park for my walk with God. I talked to Him about it as I fumbled with the orchids on my knees. He spoke to me in my spirit and assured me that no amount of interruptions or delay would cause Him to give up on me. We would have our walk, whenever I had completed my work—even if it was midnight.

God and I met on the dark streets of my neighborhood that night. The parks were closed and it no longer mattered where, just that I found my way to Him.  Isn’t that true? I have had many delays, obstacles and stumbling blocks on my way to God’s arms but He knew I was coming and He was there waiting. He always is.

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego were three Hebrew men who had been appointed to a high office by King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had made a golden idol and commanded everyone to bow to it. When Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego refused, the king threatened to throw them into a fiery furnace. They knew that God would be with them and did not fear or back down.

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the fire, but when he looked into the furnace, he saw four figures, one an angel, standing there untouched by the flames. The king released them and proclaimed that their God be worshipped.

This is how I want to live my life. I want to choose God without fail and rest in His protection without fear. This story in Daniel reminds me that God expects obedience from me but He doesn’t ever leave me alone. He is with me always, He has His angels protect me. He holds me up with His right hand. I do not need to fear.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. Psalm 138:7

Only one of Jesus’ disciples was at the cross when He was crucified. Where were the others? There is a lot of speculation. They were afraid, they still didn’t understand what Jesus was doing, they didn’t believe. Even having spent time on earth in the presence of Jesus, watching and learning from Him, they were still like me.

Now I understand and believe what Jesus did for me, but would I have been aware of this profound truth as it was happening? I hope I would be like John or Mary and Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross in love and worship. But I don’t know. Am I at the cross today, all day, every day?

I’ve been getting closer and staying longer. In my younger years, the cross was far off. I could see the cross and Jesus on it, but I wasn’t sure what that meant for me. Soon I began speaking to Him, but not at the cross. I preferred to speak with Him like a friend who could love and help me. Then, the rough times. I took a closer look at His sacrifice and asked, “What does this mean for me, Lord?” I walked away and back, each time drawing closer as He showed me His grace and mercy and how He wanted to bless me.

And now I linger long hours at the park in joyous gratitude for His sacrifice and love for me.  I ask now, “What would you have me do for you, Lord?”

Then Jesus said to this disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Matt 16:24-26