All Through The Night

Normally when my head hits the pillow, I'm asleep for the night. It's rare that anything - even my often crazy dreams - interrupts my sleep. But early this morning, that's exactly what happened, and I knew the instant I awoke that something was not right.

Thankfully, I can't remember most of the nightmare - a few things still remain in my memory - but suffice to say that I awoke suddenly at about 3:00 am with my heart pounding heavily and a palpable sense of fear surrounding me. Although my eyes opened immediately and, although I could somewhat see my surroundings and I knew I was in my bed, it still felt a little like I was in the dream.

I knew I couldn't just go back to sleep - if I closed my eyes, I would be right back in the middle of it. So I just started quietly singing - with a quivering voice - the first worship song that came to mind. "Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and have and ever hope to be..." By the time I had sung through the song, I had calmed a little but my heart was still pounding.

I continued singing, songs that focused on the name of Jesus, because I know that just saying His name has a powerful impact in these kind of situations. Once my heart was beating normally again, I began to pray aloud. I claimed the truth that God's Holy Spirit lives within me and was present right there in the room with me, and I thanked God for His strength, sovereignty, power, omniscience, and anything else I could think of. I prayed for protection over friends and family and asked for a covering of peace over me so that I could rest easily until it was time for me to get up. I read Psalm 121 in both English and Russian and sang quietly, "I lift my eyes up...to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from You, Maker of heaven, Creator of the earth..."

Finally, it felt like the darkness and oppression I had experienced in the dream had lifted and I could no longer keep my eyes open, so I prayed for God to watch over my mind and then I rolled over and immediately went back to sleep. I think I had probably been awake for about 40 minutes.

Praise the Lord, I slept peacefully until I got out of bed about 4 hours later! I don't even remember what thoughts went through my mind or if I dreamed anything after that point. But I was very conscious of the sweet, comforting presence of my Lord surrounding me. It was almost as though His arms were literally holding me as I slept.

I believe that what happened in the wee hours of this morning was a spiritual attack of the enemy. I don't know why or what precipitated it - but I could clearly sense a spirit of darkness in the dream and in the moments after I awoke. And I battled it as best I could with the power of prayer, worship and God's Word.

Ephesians 6:11-12 says this: "Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the devil's evil tricks. For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in this world; the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers of this dark age."

We know that our enemy will attack - but we often don't know when or how. So we must have our armor at the ready. The Spirit of God within me helped me to recognize what was really going on and I am so thankful for all the songs and Scripture I have memorized so that I did not have to think hard about where to begin to combat the darkness that was surrounding me.

Jesus Christ has won the victory over our enemy and through His blood and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can win every spiritual battle. I hate to have my sleep interrupted, but I am thankful that I woke up when I did and was able to find peace for my spirit again.

My closing thought is a remembrance of a little song my mom used to sing to us at bedtime when we were children - especially when we had trouble sleeping:

Jesus is with me all through the night,

Stays close beside me all through the night;

So I sleep safely till morning light;

Jesus is with me all through the night.

ADVENT MEDITATIONS - Part 5

DEC. 10 - (Сокровище)
Today's meditation talked about the gifts that the magi brought when they came to see Jesus. The point of the gifts was nothing other than worship.

 I chose to memorize the theme verse for today's Advent reading - Matthew 2:11 -- On coming to the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Christmas is about Jesus - and He is not only the greatest gift, but our greatest treasure. Let's allow our giving this Christmas and through the year demonstrate that this truth is settled in our hearts.

DEC. 11 - (Причина)
Today's meditation focused on the ultimate reason that Jesus came to earth -- to die for us on the cross, thereby saving us from sin and eternal separation from God, setting us free from fear of death and bringing us into the family of God.

I chose to memorize John 3:16-17 -- For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that anyone who believes in Him will not die, but will have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

This is the message of Christmas!

ADVENT MEDITATIONS - Part 4

DEC. 8 - WORSHIP (Поклонение)
What do we meditate most on at Christmas? The appearance of angels or a miraculous star that we cannot understand? Our focus should be on Jesus Christ and giving Him the worship He deserves. Today's meditation emphasized that the purpose for the Bethlehem star was to bring the magi to Jesus in order to worship Him.

I chose a verse and a short passage today - John 4:24 -- "God is Spirit, and His worshippers must worship Him in spirit and in truth," and Philippians 2:9-11 -- "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Anything miraculous that happens in our lives should bring us to the place of worship, because that is God's desire for us. God is worthy of our worship and He can use anything or anyone He has created to achieve that purpose - a star, a natural disaster, a godless leader, or pagan astrologers. Let us not get so caught up in the wonders of Christmas that we forget to worship the One who is called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

DEC. 9 - PERSEVERANCE (Упорство)
Today's devotional meditation continued with yesterday's theme, in light of the opposition that true worshippers of Jesus face. Since Jesus faced opposition, we will too if we declare our faith in Him, and we must make a decision about what we will do when opposition comes.

I chose two familiar verses about this - Hebrews 12:2-3 -- "...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

In Christ we have the victory! Therefore we must persevere in our faith especially when we face trials and suffering, because the One we trust in and worship is worthy.

In The Secret, Quiet Place...

There's a beautiful worship song that goes like this:

In the secret, in the quiet place,

In the stillness You are there.

In the secret, in the quiet hour I wait,

Only for You, 'cause I want to know You more.

I want to know You, I want to hear Your voice,

I want to know You more.

I want to touch You, I want to see Your face,

I want to know You more.

Over the past week, I have rediscovered the gift of stillness and quietness, and just "being" in the presence of God. Worshipping God in quietness, without words, is beautiful and renewing for the spirit. And sometimes, might I dare say, it is easier to recognize God's presence and see His many blessings when our goal is just to "be" with Him.

Last week I was out in the country at a summer camp facility for the kids of #9 orphanage along with several members of our team, and I woke earlier than the rest of them. It was a beautiful morning and I took my Bible out to the porch and sat there reading for a little while. Every now and then, I would stop and just listen to the birds singing or the breeze blowing through the trees. A couple of the teenagers walked by and greeted me, and asked me what I was doing. I didn't have a response, because I was just "being". I was enjoying the stillness and the presence of God as He ministered to my spirit.

I need to do this more often - because I believe that it is in the quiet that we get to know God in a way we can't when we are busy with other activities. Don't misunderstand me - God reveals Himself to us all the time in different ways, and there are places and times for all kinds of worship, including voicing praise and prayer requests, singing, or whatever else is on our hearts. But He calls us also to come away and be alone with Him like Jesus did when He found a solitary place to commune with His Father.

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted in the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." ~ Psalm 46:10

COME, LORD JESUS

This morning was a beautiful celebration of Christmas with my church family:

The Sunday School children led us in worship, and I rejoiced in the sincerity and sweetness of their faith and their obvious joy!

From the lips of children and infants, you, LORD, have called forth your praise. ~Psalm 8:2

The choir presented a cantata of praise to God for the eternal gifts He gave us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and His presence was so powerful - it was a delight just to be able to sing to Him in worship!

Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth; worship the LORD with gladness! Come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever, His faithfulness continues to all generations. ~Psalm 100

Three young people were baptized, giving testimony to the work of God in their lives, which is the reason that Jesus came to the earth - it was a blessing to see and witness their step of faith!

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. ~John 3:16-17

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the advent of God's redemption plan. But we also look forward to when Jesus will come again, and I'd like to share with you a poem that God gave to me as I reflected on that hope...

WHEN JESUS COMES

(Written by Darlene Joy Koop)

The Light of the world shall illumine the sky;

And the glory of God made visible to mortal eyes,

When Jesus comes.

The trumpet shall resound to the earth below;

Every knee shall bow and every heart shall know,

When Jesus comes.

It may be in the morning, or it may be at night;

Yet certainly we shall see God's power and might,

When Jesus comes.

Oh may my soul be ready, and not be taken unawares;

May my heart and mind be free from all earthly cares,

That I may rejoice and welcome the day

When Jesus comes.