November 1, 2023 • 25 mins
Welcome to this episode of Returning to Joy. This week is both an encouragement and a challenge to not only let in the light of Jesus in your life but to also bring forth that light to the darkest places. It is not only about the decision to receive the light but also a participation that God invites us into, to bring that light into the darkness of the world around us.
You will hear about several impactful moments from Gabrielle's sabbatical, and the truth that the Lord put on her heart about the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness that does not overcome it.
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Music by AG (Affirming Grace) @agmusic4god
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(06:42:41):
Hey what's up Beloved's? I'm, ofcourse, so glad to be with you.
And in this series, we've beentalking about Sabbath stories
embracing rest and a restlessworld, this recording is loosely
going to fit into that theme. Asyou know, I went on a month long
(06:43:04):
sabbatical back in July. Andthere is this theme around light
that got exposed to me, well,while I was on sabbatical, so
I'm going to find a way to fitin what I'm wanting to talk
about, within this realm ofSabbath stories, or this theme
(06:43:28):
of Sabbath stories, but bearwith me, I know it's a it's a
loose fit in loose fitting, butstill deeply encouraging, and
still something that came as asa as a revelation and as hope
and encouragement to me. And soI'm passing that on to you,
okay. So, I have to backtrackbefore actually July. And I
(06:43:50):
gotta go back to maybe February.
Back in February, I had thepleasure of going to this
retreat center called LadyLodge, because of an
organization that I was doingwork for, they wanted me to
experience this retreat centerthat they had, so I went to it.
And there was a singersongwriter that was there as the
resident artist for us. I hadnever heard of him before. His
(06:44:14):
name was John Guetta. And I willnever forget him now. But on
maybe the first or second night,John began to describe a song
that he had not yet released.
But he felt it was like thisSonic prayer. And it came from
(06:44:34):
the turmoil of walking through,man, I guess, you can probably
go back to 2016, you can go backand even even further and into
2020. You can edit that sherry.
So maybe on the first or secondnight, I'm introduced to John
Guetta, because he begins tosing for us and invite us into a
(06:44:58):
space of worship with him. And Ihad never heard of him before.
This was my first time hearingof him or meeting him and I will
not forget him now. But thisbefore this one particular song,
he describes it as a sonicprayer, if you will, inspired by
(06:45:19):
some of the pain that him andhis family were walking through,
but also the pain that they wereseeing in the world in the
political climate, racism,injustice, poverty, things that
are going on with immigration,there was this deep cry in his
heart going, God. You know, weneed you, and would you let a
(06:45:45):
little light in? So he begins tosing this song for us called let
a little light in. And I want toread for you just the first
verse, by which it begins. Itsays, I am blind. I am caught.
All I see. Is all of your notnone have sinned, to dues it to
(06:46:11):
do to. I am blind. I am caught.
All I see is all you're not nonehave sinned to deserve this work
of God. Now begin goes into thisprayerful please let a little
(06:46:38):
light in. My heart is in apanic. God led a little light in
this panic induced by darkness.
It ends up ending with thisincredible bridge that is this
you can tell it was thisencouragement to his soul. He's
choosing this of believing,surely I will dwell in the house
(06:46:58):
of the Lord forever. And we knowwhere that comes from. Right?
Because of some past episodes.
That language comes from. And sothat song because of the place
that I was in, and similarwrestles with the pain and
(06:47:19):
injustice in this world. I foundmyself so identifying with that
heart cry and plea. I recordedit I recorded him with my phone
on video recorded him playingthis song. It wasn't even
released yet. And so I didn'tpost it anywhere. I'm so bad at
(06:47:39):
regularly posting on socialmedia these days. Anyway, so his
song was safe with me. But Irecorded it. And just, I still
felt like the Lord was speakingto me. You know, those moments
when you're like, dang, thatfelt for me in some way, or
there's something significantabout that. I've tucked that in
my little back pocket, if youwill. And I kind of move on. I
(06:48:00):
want to say it was either thatsame night or the or the next
night. I am in my room in thisit's really crazy. Like it's
like this kind of cabin. Nicecabin, this place don't do a
nice things. But it's a nicecabin. That is literally
overlooking the river, theCanyon River, or I guess the
(06:48:24):
Freo I should know this.
Anyways, this this cabin. That'slike, overlooking this river.
And the night previously, andthat's I know, this was a night
to bear with me. But I know thiswas night too. Because the first
night that I was there, in thiscabin, I wasn't I was trying to
go to sleep. I was trying tofigure out how to turn off.
(06:48:44):
There was this like strong lightthat was in my cabin, and I
couldn't, you know, get rid ofit. I realized it was a security
light. Well, it wasn't until thenext night that I figured out
Oh, that's something that I canactually turn off. There's a
switch outside of the cabin. Andso this particular night, I had
turned off that that switch,hopefully you're still tracking
(06:49:05):
with me, I had already heard himdo this song. Let a little light
in whatever day it was, but justnot this exact same day. And but
this this time, I'm going tosleep. And I think that I have
officially turned off the lightsthat could disrupt my sleep and
so I'm gonna sleep good. I youknow, if you know me, you know,
(06:49:29):
I sleep good. I appreciate it.
And so I'm, I'm asleep. And I,all of a sudden, I find myself
woken up in the middle of thenight or I don't know how early
in the morning it is. And I'mrubbing the crest out of my eyes
kind of annoyed because there'sthis light glaring in my face.
(06:49:49):
And I remember thinking, dangit, I thought a turn the
security light off like Didsomeone turn it back on? Did it
does it just come on, no matterwhat I'm like, I thought I could
have sworn I click the switch.
And I should be done with this.
But then I have just enough ofan opening in my eyes to begin
to see that the window directlyacross from me maybe a little
(06:50:10):
bit kind of North West of mynorthwest side of my room, if
you will, is open. And the moonis crazy big, you know, we are
up in the hill country. So makesense. But the moon is crazy
big. And the light from the moonis coming across these hills,
(06:50:33):
these Canyon hills that I cansee coming across the hills over
the water and it's hitting mybedroom window. And then the
light I cannot make this up. Andthen the light is literally has
this direct path towards me,it's hitting me in the face
because I'm sleeping, I guessthe position that I had found
myself in is I'm kind ofsleeping off to one side of the
(06:50:54):
bed and my head's kind oftilted. And so I am in the
direct sight of this moon light.
And I think when I checked, it'slike maybe 5am or something like
that. And when I realized thatthe moon I've been woken up by
the moon one, I'm like, I'mtripping. I'm tripping out I'm
like, who gets waking up by themoon. But in that moment
(06:51:16):
immediately, you know, you justI just embrace the stillness of
this morning we're gonna go ohmy gosh, and I'm remembering
that song. And the fact that Ihad recorded it on videos, I
pull up his I pull up himplaying that song. I have kind
of fight the urge initially totake trying to capture a picture
of this because I'm like, noone's gonna believe this, the
moon just woke me up the frickinmoon. But I nonetheless, I, I do
(06:51:37):
take one picture that I do notregret. And I will try to me
when I put this into some sortof blog. I'm going to include
that picture because you got tosee it like it's not even
edited. It's just crazy. But Iend up taking this. I take my
phone, I take the book thephoto, and then I play his song,
(06:51:59):
the video of him of him playingand I turn my phone facedown and
I just listen to the song again.
But this time, literally in thedirect path of the moon hearing
hit this fee. Let a little lightin. Would you let a little light
in? My heart is in a panic.
Don't keep me in the darkness.
(06:52:23):
Let a little light in work ofGod. Begin begin. Let a little
light in.
And this promise of Surely Iwill dwell on the house of the
Lord forever and the glory ofthe Lord. And just this this
play of life and the glory ofthe Lord shall be present. We
There, anyways. And so Paul's,you know, hold that moment,
(06:52:47):
powerful moment. And I'm justfeeling so you know those
moments when you're feeling sospecial. And I just think it's
maybe it's that. Well, now let'sfast forward to. I am in
Portugal. And it's actually I'vebeen there. At this point, I
have been on sabbatical for, manat least 25 days. Nope. I'm done
(06:53:11):
there. I think I was onsabbatical for a total 25 days I
was out of the country. So thismight have been like day 21 Or
day 22, something like that. AndI had been consistently fighting
the urge to try and make meaningout of what I was experiencing.
You can edit that Sherry, I havebeen consistently trying to
(06:53:33):
fight the urge to I don't know,here's something profound or
figure out things or get clarityor get understanding. I just, I
just felt like No, I'm done withthat. If it's going to come it
will come. And so I was tryingto really lay that aside and
just be be with God, like berestored. Anyways, I'm in this
(06:53:56):
hotel. And it's this is thispalace like hotel. It's in
Lisbon or Lisboa, and I am onlythere for two nights. And when I
tell you the price for thishotel is like the price of like
a Best Western in America is sotrippy to me. But it's
incredible. It's probably the itwas not probably it was the most
(06:54:16):
luxurious hotel I think I'veever stayed in. And like when
even in your bedroom, every roomhas a scent to it. Because this
place used to be a part of thespice like it used to be I'm
guessing like where some likespice trade was happening in
Portugal obviously, there's somelike heavy history to that. But
(06:54:37):
every room has a spice synth, ifyou will. And it's this
Victorian decoration Frenchdoors steps down to your bed.
And this one particular night Ihad just experienced a fato
dinner with with incrediblePortuguese music and port wine
(06:54:57):
which is my favorite and so I amfeeling incredible and I'm
finally back in my room and thenthere's and then I noticed there
is music playing outside of mydoor or playing you know not too
far maybe a half a mile awayfrom me so super loud enough for
me to hear there's thisincredible instrumental music
(06:55:18):
and so I have all of my Frenchdoors open and then there's this
patio and the breezes is comingthrough and I'm hearing music I
feel serenade it's incredible.
Okay, let me get off of that. Itwas a great it was a great
experience. But at some pointthe music stopped and I was
ready to create the conditionsfor total darkness like total
(06:55:40):
and complete darkness I was likeI am feeling I'm feeling amazing
and I am super tired. I am goingto make sure that all the all
the lights are out and I sleepgood and I'll just wake up
whenever I wake up. So I do thatI try I turn off the lamp I turn
I can make sure my the differentdoors are closed the bathroom
(06:56:01):
was closed and the lights off.
And then I closed the last doorbut something happened I
realized I hadn't shut out allthe light I had tried to create
the conditions for darkness butthen once I shut that last door
(06:56:21):
all of a sudden I realized thereis some crazy bright light in
here and I'm like Where's thiscoming from? First I was a light
there was a temptation to be alittle annoyed but then once I
saw it there is thisoverwhelming gratitude I looked
back behind me kind of behindlike in the above the door
before the steps down to my bedand there is this number 23 is
(06:56:47):
the light from the thermostatthat is shining it's no small
it's the letters are the wherethe numbers are no bigger than
the palm of my hand. Like forreal no bigger and it is
creating this intense lightthroughout this room and I like
(06:57:09):
it was crazy to think of WoW,darkness actually revealed a
light I didn't notice beforedarkness revealed a light I
didn't notice before it lit upthe room. Its presence was so
much stronger and morenoticeable in the darkness. And
(06:57:30):
I'm and I'm I'm in I'm amazedthis is happening real quick.
I'm explaining this slowly rightbut this is happening so fast.
I'm amazed but remember I'm alsovery sleepy. I also have been
drinking port one I am notdrunk, but I'm definitely
feeling good. And you can editthat I'll share your who knows I
don't care. But remember, I'msleepy. And I am, you know in
(06:57:53):
this. I'm noticing all this soquickly and in this haze, I
guess, if you will, in my mind,I remember this word I remember,
the light shines in thedarkness. And the darkness has
not overcome it. Andinstinctively, there's this
knowing and have you ever feltthat knowing deep down like it
(06:58:15):
didn't all come that easy wasjust a first I think it was like
a broken sentence. It was likethe light shines in the
darkness. And then there wasthis deep knowing of oh, that
scripture. That's like the wordof truth. And so then I Googled
on my phone, and I'm seeinglike, the light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness hasnot overcome it. And I just, I'm
on done. Because I realized thegift that God had just given me,
(06:58:41):
the Lord had just given me asign of very visual picture of
hope, literally, in the, youknow, I guess like the fourth
quarter, if you will of thesabbatical like the like the
last second, if you will, thathave given me this picture, this
very vivid picture of hope. ThatI would never forget, I will
(06:59:06):
never forget it. I wish I couldyou I wish you could be there
with me in that moment to seethis huge room this nice sized
room, be so exposed by this verylittle light. In that moment,
three truths. I began to threetruths were exposed to me, were
(06:59:29):
illuminated, if you will. One,it's that light is always
present. To darkness cannotovercome light. And three, your
presence. My presence may seeminsignificant at the moment. But
if you step into a situationdark enough, you will light up
(06:59:53):
that room with what you carry. Ineed to say that again. Your
presence, my presence may seeminsignificant at the moment. But
if you step into a situationdark enough, you will light up
the room with what you carry.
You are necessary. Who cares ifyou were the only light that
moment in that room expose it,it exposed and annihilated so
(07:00:18):
many lies and wrestles I hadbeen struggling with about my
significance, and about thedifference I could make in such
a pain field, unjust, unkind,ruthless, broken world that we
live in. Like God, who am I? Andalso what are you doing? Where
are you? I had mistakenlythought that just because the
(07:00:39):
darkness was deep, just becausethere was a light of it, a lot
of it that the light was beingovercome. But we know in John
one five, it says the lightshines in the darkness and the
darkness has not overcome it. Itis incapable of doing so
darkness will not prevailprevail prevail. It cannot
suffocate the light. I saw mylife in that light. I hope you
(07:01:04):
see your life in that light.
This small, seeminglyinsignificant thing in this room
was drastically pushing back thedarkness. So live my friend,
live and remain. Remain in unionwith Christ. And as you do, I'm
(07:01:31):
sure you're going to push backdarkness. I want to wrap up our
time with two reflections or anapplication for us a reflection.
Edit that Sherry, I want to wrapup our time with something for
(07:01:52):
you to reflect and apply. I wantto wrap up our time with a
reflection and an application.
Two points I want you to reallyget. The first is this. Immerse
yourself in the Word. Immerseyourself in the Word. In Romans
(07:02:13):
eight six it says a mind set onthe flesh leads to death. While
a mind set on the Spirit leadsto life and peace.
See that moment in that roomwhere truth becomes exposed to
me through this visual imagery.
That doesn't happen apart fromthe word of the Word of God also
(07:02:35):
being brought back up from mySpirit If I hadn't recently
meditated or spent time oringested John chapter one that's
coming from back that's comingfrom going back that was hidden
deep in my heart a while back.
And then the Holy Spirit broughtit back up to the surface. But I
(07:02:59):
know that like we there is I'mgonna deviate here for a second
in a previous podcast episodethat I would encourage you to
listen to. It was so good I didan interview with with Pastor
John garland. And in that in in,I think it was maybe our first
episode together, he talkedabout the need for connection
and resistance. I would say whenI'm saying to you immerse
(07:03:24):
yourself in the word, I'mtalking about connection. I'm
talking about the need and thepower of setting our minds on
spiritual things, setting ourmind on the work of Christ,
setting our minds on who Christis putting our putting the light
of Christ before us and saying,I know I know, I'm seeing all
this darkness in the earth. Iknow I'm seeing all this all
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these things that are good callthat a reason for depression,
anxiety, pain, fear, control,manipulation, all these things.
I'm seeing it, but I'm fixatingmy eyes upon your truth and I'm
fixating, my, my gaze upon whowhen what you've proclaim to be
real about yourself, you are aprovider, you are good, you do
(07:04:06):
see the pain, you are present inthe midst of it, you do see you
are not as high and lifted upand up there and distant and
disinterested. But you dwellwith you are present to the
needs of your people. You are onthe side of the poor. You are
(07:04:26):
not distant and disinterested.
You see the pain, you see mypain, and to meditate and to and
to ingest into welcome in thenarrative and truth of
Scripture. Sherry, I think Imight want to maybe like reduce
that or make that a little bit,said more succinctly. So I'll
(07:04:48):
try and say it again. And maybewe can piece this together a
little bit free to not be toolong. Here, this part. When I'm
saying immerse yourself in theword, I'm talking about
connection. I'm not just talkingabout reading scripture for the
sake of reading scripture, ormemorizing it for the sake of
memorizing and I'm talking beingconnected to the word, the
(07:05:10):
living, breathing WORD OF GODChrist who is the word, Christ,
who is the Light who is oursource of light. See, when
Romans eight six is Romans eightsix says a mindset on the flesh
leads to death. Well, a mindseton the Spirit leads to life and
(07:05:30):
peace. If we are not fixing oureyes upon the work of God, upon
the nature of God, upon the, thecovenant of God, and how this
story ends, according to,according to the according to
truth, revealed in the Word ofGod. If we don't remember, and
(07:05:53):
remind ourselves of the hope andthe way this story ends, then we
that then we're allowingourselves to be, we're allowing
ourselves to be led to, todestruction, by where it says
that the enemy comes to steal,to kill and destroy, that's
(07:06:16):
where the our enemy wants tolead us. That's where meditating
on the things of the flesh leadus, because it's painful out
here. It's painful. I remembertelling the Lord one day while I
was on sabbatical to keep mymind like set on him because I
don't like where I go, like thepath that my mind the path that
(07:06:43):
when my mind is not set upon himif I'm when I'm not gazing upon
him, man, the path that I gojust leads me to more pain and
uncertainty. It is leads to moredestruction. So we need to
meditate on the things of theSpirit. And this Beloved's is
not an escape. It's not anescapism. It's not a let me just
(07:07:07):
hold out for heaven. And no, andhold on, hold on to that and do
nothing. No, it's not an escape.
It's actually powered to engage.
Christ is sending you out to belight in the darkness. But
first, the light needs to shineon you. In that same way that
(07:07:28):
moonlight was shining upon me.
In the canyons, the light needsto shine on you first. In that
podcast episode with John like Isaid, he talked about connection
but then he also talked aboutresistance that it's both both
(07:07:49):
spiritual disciplines are neededrisk connection and resistance.
Resistance in, in this contextis me telling you get in dark
rooms, get in dark rooms clingto the light, and with that
light resist darkness. Remember,I didn't even recognize the
(07:08:14):
power and potency of the lightthat was present with me in the
room into the room got dark andsome of you don't really know
who you are or what you carry,or what you're called to do. And
you're wrestling and you're justyou're but you're shriveling up
afraid. You were unwilling to gointo dark places and be the
light of Christ. Get into darkrooms resist the enemy. Resist
(07:08:40):
the devil. We have been calledto join in with Christ and
destroying the works of thedevil. That's what we've been
called to do. Let me give yousome verses that I think, are
you. Proverbs 31 Nine says openyour mouth judge righteously
defend the rights of the poorand needy. Luke 1142 says, Woe
(07:09:02):
to you Pharisees, for the foryou tie men and roo and every
herb and neglect, justice andthe love of God, these you ought
to have done without neglectingthe others. First, John 318 says
Little children, let us not lovein word or talk but in deed and
in truth. And then I'm so struckby in Luke 19. Jesus says of
(07:09:29):
Zacchaeus he says it says thattoday's salvation has come to
this house shortly after thatkey is after being convicted by
Christ begins to say, Hey, I'mabout to pay back all of I owe
all the people that I havewronged all the injustice that
I've done, all the pain, I'vecaused the pour all the way that
I've received I've connived Ihave like swindled, I have slid.
(07:09:54):
I have like been sly, and I'veused, I've used my intellect,
I've used my emotions, to abuseother people I've used i my i
have willed the pain of otherpeople. Now Zacchaeus has been
convicted, he's going, I'm goingto make right these wrongs that
I've participated in. And Jesussays, Today, salvation has come
(07:10:17):
to this house. Get in darkrooms, beloved, immerse yourself
in the word. That's aboutconnection. Right? You've got to
the light has to be exposed toyou, the light has to shine on
you. But then go get in darkrooms, because it's not just
(07:10:38):
about you. It is also aboutresisting. It's not just about
clinging to the light. It'sabout resisting the darkness,
darkness will not prevail, thegates of hell shall not prevail.
That's what the quick what wouldChrist spoke about his church?
So go and be that in the worldresist? Where is Christ calling
(07:11:00):
you to resist? And how is Christcalling you to connect? What do
those things look like? Becausethat plea that Sonic prayer,
that John gara was praying whenhe wrote that song, let a little
(07:11:21):
light in. That doesn't happenfirst without the work of
Christ. But it also doesn'thappen without the participation
of the people of God. So you, wecan both pray that prayer, God
let a little light in. But thenwe also need to go and be that
(07:11:45):
prayer. The answer to thatprayer. For the many that are
crying out and saying, God, leta little light in
Hey what's up Beloved's? I'm, ofcourse, so glad to be with you.
And in this series, we've beentalking about Sabbath stories
embracing rest and a restlessworld, this recording is loosely
going to fit into that theme. Asyou know, I went on a month long
(06:43:04):
sabbatical back in July. Andthere is this theme around light
that got exposed to me, well,while I was on sabbatical, so
I'm going to find a way to fitin what I'm wanting to talk
about, within this realm ofSabbath stories, or this theme
(06:43:28):
of Sabbath stories, but bearwith me, I know it's a it's a
loose fit in loose fitting, butstill deeply encouraging, and
still something that came as asa as a revelation and as hope
and encouragement to me. And soI'm passing that on to you,
okay. So, I have to backtrackbefore actually July. And I
(06:43:50):
gotta go back to maybe February.
Back in February, I had thepleasure of going to this
retreat center called LadyLodge, because of an
organization that I was doingwork for, they wanted me to
experience this retreat centerthat they had, so I went to it.
And there was a singersongwriter that was there as the
resident artist for us. I hadnever heard of him before. His
(06:44:14):
name was John Guetta. And I willnever forget him now. But on
maybe the first or second night,John began to describe a song
that he had not yet released.
But he felt it was like thisSonic prayer. And it came from
(06:44:34):
the turmoil of walking through,man, I guess, you can probably
go back to 2016, you can go backand even even further and into
2020. You can edit that sherry.
So maybe on the first or secondnight, I'm introduced to John
Guetta, because he begins tosing for us and invite us into a
(06:44:58):
space of worship with him. And Ihad never heard of him before.
This was my first time hearingof him or meeting him and I will
not forget him now. But thisbefore this one particular song,
he describes it as a sonicprayer, if you will, inspired by
(06:45:19):
some of the pain that him andhis family were walking through,
but also the pain that they wereseeing in the world in the
political climate, racism,injustice, poverty, things that
are going on with immigration,there was this deep cry in his
heart going, God. You know, weneed you, and would you let a
(06:45:45):
little light in? So he begins tosing this song for us called let
a little light in. And I want toread for you just the first
verse, by which it begins. Itsays, I am blind. I am caught.
All I see. Is all of your notnone have sinned, to dues it to
(06:46:11):
do to. I am blind. I am caught.
All I see is all you're not nonehave sinned to deserve this work
of God. Now begin goes into thisprayerful please let a little
(06:46:38):
light in. My heart is in apanic. God led a little light in
this panic induced by darkness.
It ends up ending with thisincredible bridge that is this
you can tell it was thisencouragement to his soul. He's
choosing this of believing,surely I will dwell in the house
(06:46:58):
of the Lord forever. And we knowwhere that comes from. Right?
Because of some past episodes.
That language comes from. And sothat song because of the place
that I was in, and similarwrestles with the pain and
(06:47:19):
injustice in this world. I foundmyself so identifying with that
heart cry and plea. I recordedit I recorded him with my phone
on video recorded him playingthis song. It wasn't even
released yet. And so I didn'tpost it anywhere. I'm so bad at
(06:47:39):
regularly posting on socialmedia these days. Anyway, so his
song was safe with me. But Irecorded it. And just, I still
felt like the Lord was speakingto me. You know, those moments
when you're like, dang, thatfelt for me in some way, or
there's something significantabout that. I've tucked that in
my little back pocket, if youwill. And I kind of move on. I
(06:48:00):
want to say it was either thatsame night or the or the next
night. I am in my room in thisit's really crazy. Like it's
like this kind of cabin. Nicecabin, this place don't do a
nice things. But it's a nicecabin. That is literally
overlooking the river, theCanyon River, or I guess the
(06:48:24):
Freo I should know this.
Anyways, this this cabin. That'slike, overlooking this river.
And the night previously, andthat's I know, this was a night
to bear with me. But I know thiswas night too. Because the first
night that I was there, in thiscabin, I wasn't I was trying to
go to sleep. I was trying tofigure out how to turn off.
(06:48:44):
There was this like strong lightthat was in my cabin, and I
couldn't, you know, get rid ofit. I realized it was a security
light. Well, it wasn't until thenext night that I figured out
Oh, that's something that I canactually turn off. There's a
switch outside of the cabin. Andso this particular night, I had
turned off that that switch,hopefully you're still tracking
(06:49:05):
with me, I had already heard himdo this song. Let a little light
in whatever day it was, but justnot this exact same day. And but
this this time, I'm going tosleep. And I think that I have
officially turned off the lightsthat could disrupt my sleep and
so I'm gonna sleep good. I youknow, if you know me, you know,
(06:49:29):
I sleep good. I appreciate it.
And so I'm, I'm asleep. And I,all of a sudden, I find myself
woken up in the middle of thenight or I don't know how early
in the morning it is. And I'mrubbing the crest out of my eyes
kind of annoyed because there'sthis light glaring in my face.
(06:49:49):
And I remember thinking, dangit, I thought a turn the
security light off like Didsomeone turn it back on? Did it
does it just come on, no matterwhat I'm like, I thought I could
have sworn I click the switch.
And I should be done with this.
But then I have just enough ofan opening in my eyes to begin
to see that the window directlyacross from me maybe a little
(06:50:10):
bit kind of North West of mynorthwest side of my room, if
you will, is open. And the moonis crazy big, you know, we are
up in the hill country. So makesense. But the moon is crazy
big. And the light from the moonis coming across these hills,
(06:50:33):
these Canyon hills that I cansee coming across the hills over
the water and it's hitting mybedroom window. And then the
light I cannot make this up. Andthen the light is literally has
this direct path towards me,it's hitting me in the face
because I'm sleeping, I guessthe position that I had found
myself in is I'm kind ofsleeping off to one side of the
(06:50:54):
bed and my head's kind oftilted. And so I am in the
direct sight of this moon light.
And I think when I checked, it'slike maybe 5am or something like
that. And when I realized thatthe moon I've been woken up by
the moon one, I'm like, I'mtripping. I'm tripping out I'm
like, who gets waking up by themoon. But in that moment
(06:51:16):
immediately, you know, you justI just embrace the stillness of
this morning we're gonna go ohmy gosh, and I'm remembering
that song. And the fact that Ihad recorded it on videos, I
pull up his I pull up himplaying that song. I have kind
of fight the urge initially totake trying to capture a picture
of this because I'm like, noone's gonna believe this, the
moon just woke me up the frickinmoon. But I nonetheless, I, I do
(06:51:37):
take one picture that I do notregret. And I will try to me
when I put this into some sortof blog. I'm going to include
that picture because you got tosee it like it's not even
edited. It's just crazy. But Iend up taking this. I take my
phone, I take the book thephoto, and then I play his song,
(06:51:59):
the video of him of him playingand I turn my phone facedown and
I just listen to the song again.
But this time, literally in thedirect path of the moon hearing
hit this fee. Let a little lightin. Would you let a little light
in? My heart is in a panic.
Don't keep me in the darkness.
(06:52:23):
Let a little light in work ofGod. Begin begin. Let a little
light in.
And this promise of Surely Iwill dwell on the house of the
Lord forever and the glory ofthe Lord. And just this this
play of life and the glory ofthe Lord shall be present. We
There, anyways. And so Paul's,you know, hold that moment,
(06:52:47):
powerful moment. And I'm justfeeling so you know those
moments when you're feeling sospecial. And I just think it's
maybe it's that. Well, now let'sfast forward to. I am in
Portugal. And it's actually I'vebeen there. At this point, I
have been on sabbatical for, manat least 25 days. Nope. I'm done
(06:53:11):
there. I think I was onsabbatical for a total 25 days I
was out of the country. So thismight have been like day 21 Or
day 22, something like that. AndI had been consistently fighting
the urge to try and make meaningout of what I was experiencing.
You can edit that Sherry, I havebeen consistently trying to
(06:53:33):
fight the urge to I don't know,here's something profound or
figure out things or get clarityor get understanding. I just, I
just felt like No, I'm done withthat. If it's going to come it
will come. And so I was tryingto really lay that aside and
just be be with God, like berestored. Anyways, I'm in this
(06:53:56):
hotel. And it's this is thispalace like hotel. It's in
Lisbon or Lisboa, and I am onlythere for two nights. And when I
tell you the price for thishotel is like the price of like
a Best Western in America is sotrippy to me. But it's
incredible. It's probably the itwas not probably it was the most
(06:54:16):
luxurious hotel I think I'veever stayed in. And like when
even in your bedroom, every roomhas a scent to it. Because this
place used to be a part of thespice like it used to be I'm
guessing like where some likespice trade was happening in
Portugal obviously, there's somelike heavy history to that. But
(06:54:37):
every room has a spice synth, ifyou will. And it's this
Victorian decoration Frenchdoors steps down to your bed.
And this one particular night Ihad just experienced a fato
dinner with with incrediblePortuguese music and port wine
(06:54:57):
which is my favorite and so I amfeeling incredible and I'm
finally back in my room and thenthere's and then I noticed there
is music playing outside of mydoor or playing you know not too
far maybe a half a mile awayfrom me so super loud enough for
me to hear there's thisincredible instrumental music
(06:55:18):
and so I have all of my Frenchdoors open and then there's this
patio and the breezes is comingthrough and I'm hearing music I
feel serenade it's incredible.
Okay, let me get off of that. Itwas a great it was a great
experience. But at some pointthe music stopped and I was
ready to create the conditionsfor total darkness like total
(06:55:40):
and complete darkness I was likeI am feeling I'm feeling amazing
and I am super tired. I am goingto make sure that all the all
the lights are out and I sleepgood and I'll just wake up
whenever I wake up. So I do thatI try I turn off the lamp I turn
I can make sure my the differentdoors are closed the bathroom
(06:56:01):
was closed and the lights off.
And then I closed the last doorbut something happened I
realized I hadn't shut out allthe light I had tried to create
the conditions for darkness butthen once I shut that last door
(06:56:21):
all of a sudden I realized thereis some crazy bright light in
here and I'm like Where's thiscoming from? First I was a light
there was a temptation to be alittle annoyed but then once I
saw it there is thisoverwhelming gratitude I looked
back behind me kind of behindlike in the above the door
before the steps down to my bedand there is this number 23 is
(06:56:47):
the light from the thermostatthat is shining it's no small
it's the letters are the wherethe numbers are no bigger than
the palm of my hand. Like forreal no bigger and it is
creating this intense lightthroughout this room and I like
(06:57:09):
it was crazy to think of WoW,darkness actually revealed a
light I didn't notice beforedarkness revealed a light I
didn't notice before it lit upthe room. Its presence was so
much stronger and morenoticeable in the darkness. And
(06:57:30):
I'm and I'm I'm in I'm amazedthis is happening real quick.
I'm explaining this slowly rightbut this is happening so fast.
I'm amazed but remember I'm alsovery sleepy. I also have been
drinking port one I am notdrunk, but I'm definitely
feeling good. And you can editthat I'll share your who knows I
don't care. But remember, I'msleepy. And I am, you know in
(06:57:53):
this. I'm noticing all this soquickly and in this haze, I
guess, if you will, in my mind,I remember this word I remember,
the light shines in thedarkness. And the darkness has
not overcome it. Andinstinctively, there's this
knowing and have you ever feltthat knowing deep down like it
(06:58:15):
didn't all come that easy wasjust a first I think it was like
a broken sentence. It was likethe light shines in the
darkness. And then there wasthis deep knowing of oh, that
scripture. That's like the wordof truth. And so then I Googled
on my phone, and I'm seeinglike, the light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness hasnot overcome it. And I just, I'm
on done. Because I realized thegift that God had just given me,
(06:58:41):
the Lord had just given me asign of very visual picture of
hope, literally, in the, youknow, I guess like the fourth
quarter, if you will of thesabbatical like the like the
last second, if you will, thathave given me this picture, this
very vivid picture of hope. ThatI would never forget, I will
(06:59:06):
never forget it. I wish I couldyou I wish you could be there
with me in that moment to seethis huge room this nice sized
room, be so exposed by this verylittle light. In that moment,
three truths. I began to threetruths were exposed to me, were
(06:59:29):
illuminated, if you will. One,it's that light is always
present. To darkness cannotovercome light. And three, your
presence. My presence may seeminsignificant at the moment. But
if you step into a situationdark enough, you will light up
(06:59:53):
that room with what you carry. Ineed to say that again. Your
presence, my presence may seeminsignificant at the moment. But
if you step into a situationdark enough, you will light up
the room with what you carry.
You are necessary. Who cares ifyou were the only light that
moment in that room expose it,it exposed and annihilated so
(07:00:18):
many lies and wrestles I hadbeen struggling with about my
significance, and about thedifference I could make in such
a pain field, unjust, unkind,ruthless, broken world that we
live in. Like God, who am I? Andalso what are you doing? Where
are you? I had mistakenlythought that just because the
(07:00:39):
darkness was deep, just becausethere was a light of it, a lot
of it that the light was beingovercome. But we know in John
one five, it says the lightshines in the darkness and the
darkness has not overcome it. Itis incapable of doing so
darkness will not prevailprevail prevail. It cannot
suffocate the light. I saw mylife in that light. I hope you
(07:01:04):
see your life in that light.
This small, seeminglyinsignificant thing in this room
was drastically pushing back thedarkness. So live my friend,
live and remain. Remain in unionwith Christ. And as you do, I'm
(07:01:31):
sure you're going to push backdarkness. I want to wrap up our
time with two reflections or anapplication for us a reflection.
Edit that Sherry, I want to wrapup our time with something for
(07:01:52):
you to reflect and apply. I wantto wrap up our time with a
reflection and an application.
Two points I want you to reallyget. The first is this. Immerse
yourself in the Word. Immerseyourself in the Word. In Romans
(07:02:13):
eight six it says a mind set onthe flesh leads to death. While
a mind set on the Spirit leadsto life and peace.
See that moment in that roomwhere truth becomes exposed to
me through this visual imagery.
That doesn't happen apart fromthe word of the Word of God also
(07:02:35):
being brought back up from mySpirit If I hadn't recently
meditated or spent time oringested John chapter one that's
coming from back that's comingfrom going back that was hidden
deep in my heart a while back.
And then the Holy Spirit broughtit back up to the surface. But I
(07:02:59):
know that like we there is I'mgonna deviate here for a second
in a previous podcast episodethat I would encourage you to
listen to. It was so good I didan interview with with Pastor
John garland. And in that in in,I think it was maybe our first
episode together, he talkedabout the need for connection
and resistance. I would say whenI'm saying to you immerse
(07:03:24):
yourself in the word, I'mtalking about connection. I'm
talking about the need and thepower of setting our minds on
spiritual things, setting ourmind on the work of Christ,
setting our minds on who Christis putting our putting the light
of Christ before us and saying,I know I know, I'm seeing all
this darkness in the earth. Iknow I'm seeing all this all
(07:03:46):
these things that are good callthat a reason for depression,
anxiety, pain, fear, control,manipulation, all these things.
I'm seeing it, but I'm fixatingmy eyes upon your truth and I'm
fixating, my, my gaze upon whowhen what you've proclaim to be
real about yourself, you are aprovider, you are good, you do
(07:04:06):
see the pain, you are present inthe midst of it, you do see you
are not as high and lifted upand up there and distant and
disinterested. But you dwellwith you are present to the
needs of your people. You are onthe side of the poor. You are
(07:04:26):
not distant and disinterested.
You see the pain, you see mypain, and to meditate and to and
to ingest into welcome in thenarrative and truth of
Scripture. Sherry, I think Imight want to maybe like reduce
that or make that a little bit,said more succinctly. So I'll
(07:04:48):
try and say it again. And maybewe can piece this together a
little bit free to not be toolong. Here, this part. When I'm
saying immerse yourself in theword, I'm talking about
connection. I'm not just talkingabout reading scripture for the
sake of reading scripture, ormemorizing it for the sake of
memorizing and I'm talking beingconnected to the word, the
(07:05:10):
living, breathing WORD OF GODChrist who is the word, Christ,
who is the Light who is oursource of light. See, when
Romans eight six is Romans eightsix says a mindset on the flesh
leads to death. Well, a mindseton the Spirit leads to life and
(07:05:30):
peace. If we are not fixing oureyes upon the work of God, upon
the nature of God, upon the, thecovenant of God, and how this
story ends, according to,according to the according to
truth, revealed in the Word ofGod. If we don't remember, and
(07:05:53):
remind ourselves of the hope andthe way this story ends, then we
that then we're allowingourselves to be, we're allowing
ourselves to be led to, todestruction, by where it says
that the enemy comes to steal,to kill and destroy, that's
(07:06:16):
where the our enemy wants tolead us. That's where meditating
on the things of the flesh leadus, because it's painful out
here. It's painful. I remembertelling the Lord one day while I
was on sabbatical to keep mymind like set on him because I
don't like where I go, like thepath that my mind the path that
(07:06:43):
when my mind is not set upon himif I'm when I'm not gazing upon
him, man, the path that I gojust leads me to more pain and
uncertainty. It is leads to moredestruction. So we need to
meditate on the things of theSpirit. And this Beloved's is
not an escape. It's not anescapism. It's not a let me just
(07:07:07):
hold out for heaven. And no, andhold on, hold on to that and do
nothing. No, it's not an escape.
It's actually powered to engage.
Christ is sending you out to belight in the darkness. But
first, the light needs to shineon you. In that same way that
(07:07:28):
moonlight was shining upon me.
In the canyons, the light needsto shine on you first. In that
podcast episode with John like Isaid, he talked about connection
but then he also talked aboutresistance that it's both both
(07:07:49):
spiritual disciplines are neededrisk connection and resistance.
Resistance in, in this contextis me telling you get in dark
rooms, get in dark rooms clingto the light, and with that
light resist darkness. Remember,I didn't even recognize the
(07:08:14):
power and potency of the lightthat was present with me in the
room into the room got dark andsome of you don't really know
who you are or what you carry,or what you're called to do. And
you're wrestling and you're justyou're but you're shriveling up
afraid. You were unwilling to gointo dark places and be the
light of Christ. Get into darkrooms resist the enemy. Resist
(07:08:40):
the devil. We have been calledto join in with Christ and
destroying the works of thedevil. That's what we've been
called to do. Let me give yousome verses that I think, are
you. Proverbs 31 Nine says openyour mouth judge righteously
defend the rights of the poorand needy. Luke 1142 says, Woe
(07:09:02):
to you Pharisees, for the foryou tie men and roo and every
herb and neglect, justice andthe love of God, these you ought
to have done without neglectingthe others. First, John 318 says
Little children, let us not lovein word or talk but in deed and
in truth. And then I'm so struckby in Luke 19. Jesus says of
(07:09:29):
Zacchaeus he says it says thattoday's salvation has come to
this house shortly after thatkey is after being convicted by
Christ begins to say, Hey, I'mabout to pay back all of I owe
all the people that I havewronged all the injustice that
I've done, all the pain, I'vecaused the pour all the way that
I've received I've connived Ihave like swindled, I have slid.
(07:09:54):
I have like been sly, and I'veused, I've used my intellect,
I've used my emotions, to abuseother people I've used i my i
have willed the pain of otherpeople. Now Zacchaeus has been
convicted, he's going, I'm goingto make right these wrongs that
I've participated in. And Jesussays, Today, salvation has come
(07:10:17):
to this house. Get in darkrooms, beloved, immerse yourself
in the word. That's aboutconnection. Right? You've got to
the light has to be exposed toyou, the light has to shine on
you. But then go get in darkrooms, because it's not just
(07:10:38):
about you. It is also aboutresisting. It's not just about
clinging to the light. It'sabout resisting the darkness,
darkness will not prevail, thegates of hell shall not prevail.
That's what the quick what wouldChrist spoke about his church?
So go and be that in the worldresist? Where is Christ calling
(07:11:00):
you to resist? And how is Christcalling you to connect? What do
those things look like? Becausethat plea that Sonic prayer,
that John gara was praying whenhe wrote that song, let a little
(07:11:21):
light in. That doesn't happenfirst without the work of
Christ. But it also doesn'thappen without the participation
of the people of God. So you, wecan both pray that prayer, God
let a little light in. But thenwe also need to go and be that
(07:11:45):
prayer. The answer to thatprayer. For the many that are
crying out and saying, God, leta little light in
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