Is It Dark Enough?

I love to run. I love to run early in the morning when it is still dark. I wait each morning for my first glimpse of the light and the darkness begins to fade away.

I love to watch the sky go from its darkest point and in the next few passing hours the sun will rise and change everything from how it currently looks.

The dawn of a new day brings hope and anticipation for what will be but is currently not yet.

As I wait for the sun to rise and change what I can see, I am often reminded of a saying from a boss of mine many years ago. He would say “It is darkest before the dawn”. This expression had meaning for us as coworkers as we were facing obstacles and challenges we could not overcome or find a way around. He was resolute in the fact that we would get there we just had to keep going. Inevitably he was right. I have held on to his expression and seen it lived out over and over. Right now, I have many friends facing dark moments in life. I hope and pray for them that the light of a new day is near. It gives me hope to cling to when I remember that it is not always dark because light comes. It often does not come as quickly as we would like. It often does not come the way we would prefer it to come. Yet, if I wait upon God and surrender my ways and what I am clutching on to, He comes and brings a new dawn.

Isaiah55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts..”

Psalm 145:13-21

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

I will keep running in the dark along the road I cannot always see well, and wait upon the Lord to bring His light into the day. Remembering, it is often darkest before the light. God is faithful and near to all who call out to Him in the dark.

Praying at the Rose Bowl: 11 Things I learned on the 11th

11-11-11 @ 11am began the prayer event at the Rose Bowl called “Line in the Sand”.
11 is the number that represents transition in Hebrew.
I heard from people going how excited they were to go and to see what God was going to do.
This event started at 11am and went until 9pm.
I wanted to go and just be in the presence of all these people worshiping and praying.
I heard there would be angels there and being that I have never seen one, I wanted to see them! God revealed many things to me as I sat in the Rose Bowl. I did not get there until late afternoon, as I sat in my seat I was overwhelmed by God’s glorious presence that filled the stadium!

Here are my 11 take always:

1. He loves when His people come and worship Him.
2. He is present in worship where ever we gather…even a football stadium.
3. There were people of many different nations and ages there all to worship…snapshot of what heaven will be like. It was so humbling.
4. I felt loved by all the people around me. Everyone was so kind.
5. People came from Israel there to pray for us, to pray for our country.
6. God is speaking mighty words of prophecy over our state and is moving in our youth to create a revival.
7. God is not done with California and we are going to see many wonderful things happen here.
8. I was challenged to love more, they will know us by our love for others. Christians don’t love those around us or those in the church as God commands us to do.
9. Boldness is necessary. It was a bold move for the person to follow through and sign the contract on the Rose Bowl so we could all gather. Where do I need to be bolder?
10. It was said that God will answer more prayers in 2012 than He has in the past 5 years. What is it I should be praying for?
11. I asked God to show me the angels, as I was told they were there by someone who can see in the spiritual realm. God told me “I am Here”. I asked two more times to be able to see them and God again responded “I am Here”. We all have different gifts…I don’t see the spiritual realm, but I knew they were there, as was God.

As I walked into the Rose Bowl it was a moment I won’t soon forget. I have been there many times for football games, but never to meet God. God met me as I walked through the tunnel into the stadium in a powerful way. You could feel His presence in an overwhelming way that was too glorious to describe.
What an amazing day. I am so thankful for those that prayed and planned such an awesome event.
I keep pondering what should my response be? What can we do to continue what was started?