"Charge The Darkness"

This LM Montgomery quote may as well have referred to a fresh start in a brand new year: 2017 a year with no mistakes in it!

We love the verses in Lamentations 3:22-23 "The steadfast love of the Lord never fails, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning great is Your faithfulness."

Of course, deep into the second week of 2017, there have been many mistakes... we all make them daily! What a comfort to know that our Savior is always waiting for us to come back to Him with true repentance and confession of those mistakes and lovingly enables us to walk in His ways.

This is going to be a year of change for many people... our family has 5 weddings so far in 2017 and Lord-willing, two trips to Korea. And while the change on the horizon can sometimes feel overwhelming, we know that our Savior has walked before us and He will be with us as we transition through that change.

Change can be exciting and daunting; and sometimes even scary while at the same time, beautiful! I think most of the anxiety people associate with change comes from a natural fear-of-the-unknown.

A dear friend of mine once said "you can walk boldly into a dark room, if you know what's already there." The future in our world is as scary as it is unpredictable and chaotic. Evil seems to triumph at every corner. It's important for us to remember that we can "charge the darkness" with Christ's light, with bold confidence and assurance because we know Who is already there; Who controls everything; Who is Lord of all!

A shocking new report I read on Christian Post headlined,  "The United States has for the first time been named among the top 12 nations where Christians are targeted for their faith by a persecution watchdog group in its "Hall of Shame" report for 2016."

Of course,  I read further with bugging eyes:

"We felt it was very important this year that we highlight three countries where religious discrimination and persecution are deemed unusual but have reached a certain threshold of concern. These are Mexico, Russia, and sadly, the United States," explained in a press release Jeff King, president of International ChristianConcern."

We don't highlight that here to depress anybody at the start of a new year, but to quote Jude 3-4 "I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith for which was once for all delivered to the Saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed who long ago were marked out for this condemnation; ungodly men who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."

We choose to respond to that damning report by renewing our compassion and energies for the lost. By urgently and boldly proclaiming Christ in 2017 to a hurting and lost world; a sin-sick weary world whose people have chosen to shut out Christ and try to silence those who represent Him. 

Now, even in what used to be a bastion of freedom, a Nation founded on Judeo-christian principles, Christians are being boxed into corners where they feel embarrassed to claim the Name of Christ; ashamed of the doctrinal stands on which our faith is grounded; and even frightened to go against the toxic tide that is depravity in our nation.

Brothers and sisters, let us reach out to those around us with the love of Christ! Together let's be His hands and feet; a visual representation of all that He Is with all the unlimited strength that He pours into us through the Holy Spirit.

Let us charge the darkness in 2017! Let's shine His brillience, sharing the message to those around us that tomorrow can be a fresh day for them, filled with no mistakes... because of Jesus.


Happy New year!!