From the Depths of the Pit

Photo Courtesy of Ed & Bunny Cooke - Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley

Sunday Scripture

and a

Song

"I called on your name, Lord,
    from the depths of the pit. 

You heard my plea:

  'Do not close your ears    

 to my cry for relief.^'

 You came near when I called you,

and you said, 'Do not fear.' "

Lamentations 3:55-57

Each of us has been there; in the depths of the pit of despair, hopelessness, utter loss and defeat. That time of your life that could be called the dark night of the soul. 

When all we can see is darkness, instinctively we reach for the light; and that Light is God's hand reaching out to us. For even in the depths of despair, we are never truly alone. God is always with us, and He is just a breath away. 

Cry out to Him. Tell him all your fears; share your pain. Take His hand, and begin to find your way. 

When you are at your lowest, the only way to go is up. God will lift you up. Reach out to Him. Let God's love rescue you from your pain, from your sorrow. His love will light the way as you begin to find your way out of the darkness.

Trust in His love. He will lift you up.

Listen to this song of Hope from the Afters, "Lift Me Up"

Subscribers Please click on Hope to find to view this video on my blog site.

Mobile viewers, please click here to view this video on youtube.

Up, Up and Away!

Sunday Scripture

and a

Song

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

James 4:10 (NIV)

Last weekend I arose before the sun, and drove to Waterford, WI to see the launching of the hot air balloons during the Waterford Balloon Festival. Arriving a little late, I saw several balloons already aloft and climbing in the early morning light. This was the last balloon to launch, and I watched as it quickly gained altitude.

 But before it could rise, it had to be filled with air. The balloon starts out laying flat on the ground. A large fan begins to blow cold air into the envelope, or balloon fabric, and during this process the balloon is tethered to the ground -- to a pick-up truck, actually. In addition, two people hold long ropes also connected to the top of the balloon.  

Once the balloon is inflated, the pilot begins to heat the air inside the balloon with the propane burner. As the balloon gains buoyancy, the pilot yells "weight!" and someone runs to the basket to lay their weight on it to keep the balloon from rising until it is ready.

It's possible to think of ourselves similarly to this balloon. We may start out feeling flat, or unfulfilled. As we go through life, we begin to gain confidence in ourselves, but we can't achieve satisfaction in life completely on our own. We may feel stuck, much like the tethered balloon, and we can't go any further. We are tossed by the troubles of life, buffeted by the rising winds of difficulties we face, with no way to cope.

When we feel the Light of Christ in us, just like the flame on the burner of the balloon, we expand with the possibilities of what we were created for. Little by little, we gain buoyancy in our lives until we feel confident we can handle whatever comes at us, as long as Christ is with us. 

If we begin by humbling ourselves before God, then He will lift us up. He will show us the way to live. And though we are buffeted by the winds of change, we can remain steadfast in the One who lifts us up.

 
It takes a team to launch a big hot air balloon. And it takes relationship with Christ to gain perspective for our life. When we humble ourselves before God, and admit that we cannot do this life on our own, He will lift us up. And through our prayers, and by developing trust in God, we can gain guidance to follow wherever the winds of life may take us.

Today's song is by a band called The Afters, and is called "Lift Me Up". 

Enjoy, God Bless.

Subscribers please click on Hope to find to view this video on my blog site.

Mobile users, click here to view this video on youtube.