Women's Focus Ministries: Sunday Writing... ECLIPSES... 8/20/17

Good morning!

Today's writing by Jan Andersen is entitled "ECLIPSES" and compares the solar eclipse to our lives. She also writes about the unrest in our country and how God wants us to respond. I don't want to spoil it for you, so just read on to find out more!

May your day be blessed.
Jan and Corinne

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Today's Devotional

Written by

Jan Andersen

"ECLIPSES"

If you live in the United States you no doubt have heard that tomorrow, 8/21/17, a total solar eclipse will pass across the country from coast to coast. The moon will pass between the sun and the earth, casting its shadow on the earth below, blocking the light of the sun for a small swath of our land. The word eclipse comes from a Greek word meaning “the abandonment”, or “the downfall”, or “the darkening of a heavenly body”. It is easy to see the direct relation to the last one. The other meanings are a little more ambiguous when it comes to an eclipse, but may have more meaning when applied to our lives.

“Abandonment” means to be left or forsaken, to be deserted. Have you ever felt abandoned? Sometimes it is experienced as a child when parents are emotionally distant or even abusive. Or that feeling can come from loss through death or divorce. Perhaps it has occurred when a friend deserted the relationship. The worst can be when it seems as though God has forsaken you and is nowhere to be found when you desperately need him. Even Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

“Downfall” can mean disgrace or ruin, or perhaps failure. Have you ever experienced a downfall? Some experience it in school if they struggle with classes, where they feel like a failure. Sometimes it is with peer groups where a reputation is ruined by a mistake in judgement. If there is a repetitive falling into a bad habit, there can be great disgrace. It can go so far as to be an addiction which can ruin a job or even a marriage. The greatest downfall in human history was in the Garden of Eden. Even though many might argue that there have been worse things in history, that bite of the forbidden fruit started it all and caused all humans to have a sinful nature.

All of these “eclipses” in our lives can bring great distress, anguish and dejection. While suffering we may feel rejected by God. But truthfully, God has not left our side, he is just being overshadowed or eclipsed by our feelings of abandonment. If we can only remember to trust him and that the problems of this life are temporary. Like the solar eclipse this too shall pass. In some cases the bondage and decay of this world won’t pass until we are able to join God in heaven. But the eternal glory that awaits us there will be unimaginably magnificent!

Romans 8:18-21 (NIV) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Illustration of the Bible Verse Romans 8:19

Original sin has brought great tragedies and atrocities to our world. Recently we have been experiencing an eclipse of anger in our country. There are organizations that spew hatred and feel they are superior to others based on their race. We have to be careful not to allow ourselves to stoop to their level. While we condemn their words and actions of hatred and prejudice, we must not be hateful toward them. What does God call on us to do? Jesus said in Luke 6:27-31 (NIV) "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." This is especially hard when dealing with a group that seems so despicable and even dangerous. But as Martin Luther King, Jr, also said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” So don't let their eclipse blind you to doing the right thing.

Dear gracious Father in heaven, help us to see your light in our darkness and to keep it ever before us as a guide for our actions. Thank you for calling us out of darkness into your wonderful light, for adopting us as your children, making us heirs to your heavenly home by the power of your Spirit through your son, Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

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All Creatures of Our God and King
A beautiful a cappella Performance by a group named Eclipse
(a song about the creation praising God with beautiful pictures!)

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A graphic for you about heaven:

Isaiah 60:19-20
The sun will no more be your light by day nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more;
the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.