The Introverted Evangelist

The Light In My Heart : " But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted ." (1 Peter 2:9-10 MSG) Darkness and despair surrounded me everywhere, but then came grace, my life to spare. He came in like a flood, cleansed me with His blood. He gave me His promise, that I'll never be lifeless. He breathed in my heart, gave me a new start. Now this life, free from strife, forever changed and rearranged, shall always praise His great Name. In His Light I remain, His promises I claim, and shameful sin is slain. A heart this full can't help but extol. My joy overflows, and my spirit glows.  Oh Heavenly Father, thank You for shining in my darkness, and giving me a fresh start again. -The Introverted Evangelist

Let Go of Fear : " For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more  in bondage to fear , but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the  bliss  of] which we cry, Abba (Father)!  Father ! " (Romans 8:15 AMP) Fear . My child, fear only wants to keep you bound up in chains.  Fear is a gruelling prison guard , his only desire to make you more and more miserable. Don't wear the  chains  that hold you  prisoner  as a  comfort-cloak . These are the very chains that I have already  broken  off for your  freedom . " Therefore if the Son makes you free,  you shall be free indeed . " (John 8:36) I long to see you liberated . At the very centre of My will for you, there is a promise of  impenetrable peace . The first steps of a faith-filled journey feel infiltrated with fears, but  faith and freedom finally begin when fears are put to de...

You Shine Brighter : " Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. " (Daniel 12:3) I lay my head back and close my eyes, eyes filled with wonder and awe for the One Who shines brighter. Brighter than all that this world holds out in front of my tempted soul...  The bate of beauty or "better" is just a burden in disguise ... " How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s  here a little while, then it’s gone ." (James 4:14 NLT) " Charm is deceitful and  beauty is passing , But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. " (Proverbs 31:30) You, Jesus,You shine brighter than it all.  Your beauty illuminates with more splendour than anything else in the whole entire universe . You're so much better, so much brighter, and only You will remain. You will never distract or derail me. You will never deceive me.  You ...

His Love Runs Far and Deep : " Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we 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 4:7-11) There are many times when I feel like I've messed up so terribly that maybe God's love for me is just a little weaker than it was on say, one of my good days. You know, the days when I get along with those around me and read His Word more? However, those days when I wake up, stub my toes on the bedside, forget to brush my hair or say a prayer, and enter the day with the haze of gloominess hanging over me? The enemy uses the  inevitably fallen natur...

I Will Rejoice and Be Glad : " This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. " (Psalms 118:24) As the sun peaks through the clouds and spills in through the windows, the day begins afresh again. Whatever yesterday held, and whatever today may present,  all of everything is held in the hands of the Mighty One  - He is omnipotent. It's easy to fear when we don't know what the day will look like, but God assures us, " I know the plan. Trust Me. Stay close to Me, and I will guide you. " Each day contains ups and downs, highs and lows... Sometimes our lives may feel like a  roller-coaster ... Or perhaps a fractured vase  about to shatter ? Whether the day be weathered by wind and waves or paved by peacefulness, may we always proclaim, " This is the day the Lord has made. Therefore, we will look beyond ourselves, beyond our circumstances, beyond our feelings,  beyond our doubts , and unto the Father. Then, and only then, shall we find...

DreamStart - Dreams in Her Heart : " But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” " (Matthew 19:14) Her heart is  vast , and the lives of those suffering press deep into the soil of her soul.  The heart of God aches  for His abandoned children, so in harmony with His, her heart cries too. Another Christmas season to give and  spread joy , but she can't help but think of those in the  darkness of despair . The ones who need the Light. She cannot let one more Christmas pass without  making a difference . " Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. " (James 1:27) For the heart-wrenching sorrow of their plight, O God, may these burning dreams in us take flight.  We long to tell them Your Truth: " I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you ." (John 14:18) Let's put an end to homelessness,...

Shine Your Light : " The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day ." (Proverbs 4:18) I long to live in Your  gleaming courts  of unending love and light. You are wonderful, oh so magnificent. O God, You're more splendorous than even imaginable. Your beauty more picturesque than the most exquisite scenery on earth. Your wonder cannot be contained within the walls of our galaxy. Your plans exceed the dimensions of our time. You know all, for You are the One who was, who is, and who is to come. " We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. " (Revelation 11:17) You know my every ache, but You,  my Healer , have borne my burdens and won my freedom. You've cleansed my filthy unrighteousness in Your glorious, pure,  shining light of life and holiness . You're making me to be more like You! How  marv...

The Beauty of Seeking His Face: " My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up ." (Psalms 5:3) This morning, as I stumbled out of bed preparing to tackle another Monday morning's to-do list, I lifted up my eyes - just as King David wrote in the Psalm above. As I looked up, I was  lavished  in the love of the Father.  Warm ,  golden  morning light came flooding in through the windows. Beautiful light,  heavenly light  shone in my groggy eyes and  enlightened  my soul. I am thankful for early  morning fellowship  with the Father in the light of His glorious Presence. Selah. " Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. " (Isaiah 60:1-2) May this week present the wondrous joy-gift of being...

God Loves Even the Unlovable: "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10) Can you see it? The astounding reality of the God we serve? He loved us first. He set aside His great and authoritative dignity to take on the form of a rejected and hated servant, and He did it all for us. He gave it all for me, and He humbled Himself to the lowest of positions for you as well. Why? Why did Jesus trade His divine Deity for the suppressing subjugation of human flesh? Were we just so righteous and deserving? Certainly not. Had we earned our reconciliation? Preposterous! The answer to the burning question as to why Jesus purposefully brought Himself low and surrendered all for our souls? Self-sacrificing, unconditional Love. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Whilst still sinking in sinfulness, God devised a divi...

The Kindling of our Souls: "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalms 118:24) "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalms 27:1) You're my light, O God; You shine bright, even in the pit of my fight. You give me hope, You give me joy; It's by Your side, where I reside. Peace is my companion, and love is my cloak; in Your wondrous light do I soak. Every day is a perfect day to delight in this divine grace; the glory of Your gleaming upon my face. "But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:18) Your glorious light in me shines ever so brightly. Forever increasing, abounding in hope, abounding in utter joyfulness is this grace. Your light in me is my delight, for it glows brighter and brighter even up to the day that I shall cross over into the home of eternity b...

Light the Way: "For You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord shall enlighten my darkness." (2 Samuel 22:29) I stumble and I fall, but I know You're with me through it all. Though I often fail, Your love shall always prevail. My eyes are shrouded by clouds of confusion. O Lord, would You come and clear my vision? Won't You light the way ahead of me? Enlighten the darkness, O Father God, illuminate the path that is before me. "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”" (John 8:12) This is one of Your promises to me. You promise that the light of life - true life shining forth from Your Holy Spirit - shall light up the way before me and fill the emptiness within me. I needn't walk in dismal darkness. Because of You, my path can grow brighter and brighter day after day. Your goodness and glory blaze my future trails. Your faithfulness fills those paths with abunda...

Let Light Shine: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you." (Isaiah 60:1-2) There's a whole lot of darkness in this world, and unfortunately, many people live their everyday lives completely covered in such dismal darkness. This saddens God's heart, because He longs for us to all live in the pure joy and freedom of Salvation in Christ. "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) Repentance is what breaks bondages and looses the chains of sin from our backs. The Lord delights in the melodious sounds of these chains striking the ground, as a chime ringing in the symphony of Heaven's Angel choir. Our repentant surrender makes music for the ears of ...

Νever Fades Away: "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:4-5) "His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God." (Revelation 19:12-13) Jesus is the One, for in Him is the light of life. This word "light" is the word φῶς (phōs) in the original Greek language. This noun is literally used for light, (firelight, starlight, brightness, etc.) and it also is used of any thing that gives out or shines forth with light. "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5) Because God is of utmost purity and righteousness, He radiates brighter than the sun itself. Like a star shimmering in the deep dark night sky, so shines the Lo...

Shine Down: "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Romans 13:12)  I've always loved the way this verse instructs us to "put on the armour of light". It never ceases to paint a vivid picture in my mind. This verse may have you wondering what it means to cast off the works of darkness and put on an armour of light. Well, as you may have noticed, every verse is a treasure chest of hidden knowledge and beauty. So, let's dive in!  The Greek New Testament has always mesmerised me, because of all the meaningful words. The word here for darkness in the Greek it is σκότος and it means darkness (of course). Let's not move on just yet, there is more to this verse (isn't there always?).  Skotos also depicts spiritual darkness (i.e. sin, erroneous ways, and misery). Spiritual darkness can be the result of living in a sinful habit such as deceit or bitterness. Oftentime...