My Darkest Days

Worship this morning in our fellowship brought me back to some of the darkest days of my life. I praise my friend Jesus – He brought me out of those days and gave me victory over them several years ago. However, I am occasionally taken back – not to relive them – but to gain new perspectives my Father wants to reveal.

In our spiritual family, we were celebrating the life of a child who died within a few hours of birth. We were recognizing that God has a plan and destiny for everyone, no matter how long or short our earthly experience might be. The parents of this child had chosen to carry Samuel rather than abort him as many suggested when they were told the child would not survive. In worship, we celebrated Samuel’s earthly life with recognition that he is having an eternity with the Father. As worship progressed, our pastor, asked for all who had experienced the loss of a child to come to the altar in celebration of the life God had given.

As some know, Janene experienced a miscarriage between the births of Jill and Jullianne. Janene and I were already having challenges as we had custody of our nephew and were trying to blend him in with our family. The struggles we were having had placed a strain on our relationship with each other. We were visiting our family in Tennessee when the miscarriage occurred. It was an excruciating time for Janene. My responses were often less than sensitive in the days that followed. My response only increased the strain on our relationship. There is much more to the story and God is glorified in the ultimate outcome. I want to share the new insight God gave me today, as He allowed me to revisit those days.

First, my Father showed me that He wanted to create a greater capacity for me to exhibit a father’s heart. I missed the opportunity, during the events surrounding the miscarriage, to be a father to my unborn child. As a result, I was not able to share the same loss as my wife. Today, God is giving me greater revelation of what it means to be a father and the great healing power it brings to families and relationships.

Second, the Lord showed my need to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit as He shows me how I need to respond to the “now”. There is always so much going on around me that I often miss the “now” opportunities to express God’s heart and see the magnificent happenings all around me. Sometimes God speaks through the Holy Spirit and I don’t hear until I slow down – by that time I have missed a “God Moment”.

Lord, show me more of what it means to be a father from your perspective. Give me spiritual eyes to see what You are doing and what You want me to see and respond to. Thank You for the lessons you continue to teach us even through dark times.

Psalms 23:4
Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.

Standing Against the Darkness

Ever since the elections in Kenya and the ensuing violence, my soul has been increasingly burdened for a people I have never met. However, over the past 2-3 days the burden has been amplified. The feeling in my spirit must be something like a woman feels as the birth of her child grows closer. Janene has shared how the love a mother has for her unborn child is resolute and unfailing. The mother’s concern for the child’s health and well-being begins at conception and never ceases to grow. As the time grows very close, the concern can be almost unbearable when everything is not going as expected. I still remember when she had a miscarriage and I could not even comprehend how she felt. My insensitive comments during that time quickly helped me to see the wonder of a mother's love.

Please take time to read the excerpt below that a friend (Sarah Brickman) sent me. It explains so well why God does not call us to run from His will. It will also give you a glimpse of the need in Kenya and the rest of Africa. God will be victorious. The darkness cannot stand against the light.

I hope that each of you is taking the time to pray – especially for the Kenyan Christians standing strong against the onslaught of evil.

God Bless all of you! We love you.

David, Janene and Jullianne

Sent by Sarah Brickman:

Friends, this is an excerpt from my friend’s newsletter about Kenya. He’s been a missionary in Kenya for 10 years and is home this year on furlough. What he writes I felt compelled to pass on b/c it helps get across the mindset of the people – even Christians – and how we can better pray for them.

“Kenya is in big trouble, to say the least. The area in which I live is not so bad off, although many whose houses have been burned are taking refuge there; and, because of the violence, there has been no transportation of food and supplies to the stores. “Hunger”, “blood”, “fear”, “genocide” and “death” are all very real words of the time. Speaking to my pastor one day, I stated that maybe this is the reason I am in the States at this time; his retort was, “I know it is”. As it is, I am not there helping at this time of trouble. Those in my compound and who work for me are troubled and searching for food. Please, pray that the Kenyans learn that this tribalism/racism must come to an end, and be submitted to the lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The continued responsibility of the long-term, full-time, over-seas and season-trained missionaries continues. As I continued to explain in the past several newsletters, there is a responsibility of the church to send missionaries to help change the anti-biblical culture, customs and traditions that are blended into the Christian church of our day. The present condition in Kenya is a very clear example of such. Because of their previous, pre-Christian religions, there was no belief of a heaven or hell as their ultimate reward for their life’s actions and beliefs; the dead just moved into the spiritual world and became more powerful. So their concept of God can be distorted; maybe not in a conscious manner; and this isn’t true for all. To the many, who hold onto their ancient cultures, customs, traditions and beliefs, God is both good and bad to his people; so it is alright to do whatever to justify the end result. Hence, when someone wins an election there is justification to do what Jesus doesn’t advocate, because “culture”, “customs” and “traditions” are regarded as more important than Jesus’ teachings. One result is that we have the violence in Kenya after the December 27th election. These things necessitate that entire multi-people groups repent of the old to a new mentality of the lordship of Christ, submitting their entire past to the Lord Jesus. We cannot return evil for evil and must love our enemies. What are the American “culture”, “customs” and “traditions” which stop our sensibilities to the wooing of Christ?”

Physical or Spiritual Eyes?

With all the turmoil in Nairobi and throughout Kenya over the past week, I have many people alarmed that God would call us to go to such an area. I'm reminded of the event in the life of Elisha where he prays that his servants spiritual eyes would be opened to see the Lord's Army.

What we see going on in Kenya is a confirmation of the need God's Army of Light to combat the darkness many in Kenya find themselves in. It also reminds me that most of the world lives in very unstable conditions and the safety we feel in the United States is not the norm. Satan thrives on creating chaos whereas Jesus Christ is our peace in th midst of chaos

Continue praying with me over the people God is preparing for our ministry. I envision opportunities to work with the Holy Spirit in raising up young people who have a vision of leadership that is based on God's principles. God is in the business of calling out leaders as He did Abraham, Moses, Paul, etc. I want to be a part of this in Kenya

Blessings to each of you and I promise to be more attentive to adding to this Blog

David