Author Archives: Susan Shimkovitz © 2010 - 2021
When I Sit in Darkness
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Have you ever been driving beneath a blackened sky, then suddenly came to a place where the sun pierced through the clouds so brightly that you could see little else? When I experienced this a few days ago, I was utterly filled with sheer delight. True, driving in that circumstance was a bit more challenging, but my thoughts were immediately turned to Jesus Christ, my soon-coming King!
I know that some of you can relate, and have also felt the exhilaration of watching an incredible brightness obliterate the darkness. Like me, you probably remembered, and rejoiced at the very sure promise that soon, “… as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:27). Indeed, His coming will be much brighter than anything we could ever imagine. The most glaring sunshine piercing the darkest sky could only pale in comparison.
This is all the more comforting, considering how very dark the world has become –dark with violent crime, terrorism and war, and every manner of evil. We are daily bombarded with reminders of how the darkness is quickly engulfing our world; yet we can patiently endure all if we faithfully hold fast to the words of the prophet, Micah:
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. (7:7-8)
Amen.
Happy, Twirly-Dance
King David danced before the Lord with all his might. Though I wasn’t alive to witness such a joyous sight, I am blessed to see my sweet little Maltese do pretty much the same thing every time I return home, even if I have only been gone for a very short time.
Everyone should be so loved!
A few days ago, I returned home thoroughly exhausted from running errands in the August heat. As usual, my sweet little fur baby, standing erect, paws upraised, welcomed me with her happy, “Mama’s home,” twirly-dance. My heart melted!
My fatigue melted-away also. There is something so very energizing about being showered with love and kisses from a beloved pet; and that doesn’t even compare to being cherished by another person.
Likewise, cherishing others, and showering them with love, is just as invigorating. Perhaps this is why worship melts all of our cares away. Whether we worship the Lord with a happy, twirly-dance or quietly on our knees, we always reap a blessing even though our worship was truly all about Him.
Dear reader, we are living in perilous times. Perhaps you are hurting and find it difficult to worship, let alone dance for joy. That’s okay. Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us that there is “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…” Thus, if the joy of your heart is ceased and your dance is turned into mourning (La 5:15), just know that the Lord will see you through this difficult time and there will come deliverance from sorrow; a time when you can proclaim, as did the Psalmist:
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness (Psalms 30:11).
When that happens, dear reader, I hope your dance is a happy, twirly one. Like King David, may you dance before the Lord with all your might!
Psalms 150:4-6 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
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The Write Stuff
Someone must have torn a few pages out of my calendar, or so it seems, because spring just wrapped-up a few weeks ago and now summer is almost over. Consequently, I’ve been reevaluating all the ‘stuff’ that fills my days. What needs to stay, I’ve asked myself, and what needs to go; what needs to improve?
Writing has been on my mind a lot lately. I haven’t done much of that all summer and truthfully, I’ve wondered why. After four years of devotional blogging, I figured I just needed a break, but that still, small voice inside my heart kept urging me to keep writing –to share the awesome love of God in a world gone crazy.
My intentions were good, but my discipline was lacking. Time kept flying with breakneck speed, and the pages stayed blank. Then it happened; the desire to write began to burn inside me again. Everywhere I turned there was another sign, another reminder, that writing was part of the ‘stuff’ that I am supposed to fill my days with.
Where do I start? I inquired of the LORD. “What do you want me to write about first? His answer: to remind you, dear reader, that “Blessed are….” Jesus begins his ‘sermon on the mount’ by encouraging and instructing his listeners:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12).
Amen! I cannot think of a better message for today. May you, dear reader, be blessed, and may you ever be a blessing.
See you next week.
Gone Phishing
Today, you have logged onto your computer internet and ventured into the World Wide Web. That being the case, you obviously know a little something about cyberspace. There, in that vast metropolis of strangers, lurks the malicious practice of phishing.
If you’re not familiar with that term, phishing is the deceitful practice of cyber criminals, whereby the culprit hijacks your webpage with a pretty convincing look-alike page of their own. The purpose of this deception is to trick you into providing sensitive information that they can steal, such as passwords and credit card information. Once obtained, the cyber criminal can use this information to steal your identity.
Jesus told his disciples that they would be fishers of men, but there were phishers following in their footsteps also. Of course, there were no credit cards or internet in the first century, but there certainly were evil men who tried to rob every gullible believer of their identity in Christ.
Take the Galatians, for example. Paul exhorted, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth…” He also warned the Roman believers against faith phishers (Romans 16:17-18); as did Jesus himself, on many occasions.
Dear reader, may we exert the same diligence as the Bereans, who “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day…” (Acts 17:11). By so doing, we will safeguard our faith, never falling into a web of deception, nor becoming ensnared by those who have gone phishing.
Fourteen Laps with Jesus
Today I renewed my membership at the local fitness club and I’m trusting that I will actually use it enough to get my money’s worth this time. It’s not that I’m lazy; I’m just SDD (self-discipline deficient) at times.
Father’s day is a great day to go to the gym. I was there earlier and the place was nearly empty, which is really good for someone who is just starting the journey again. After all, it is a wee bit embarrassing to be huffing and puffing on level I when the person next to you is floating through level gazillion, with a mountain-high incline, and not even breaking a sweat.
After a mile on the treadmill, I walked ¾ of a mile on the track. There wasn’t another soul in sight –another sigh of relief. I don’t usually mind other folks on the track, just not on my start-back day. In fact, I once chatted with a woman for fourteen laps. Well, that’s not exactly true; I mostly just listened to her talk about Jesus all fourteen laps. Believe it or not, the walking track can be a spiritual place.
I would like to say that I took advantage of today’s quiet walk to converse with the LORD, but that wouldn’t be honest. Groaning, “Oh Lord, I’m out of shape,” isn’t exactly prayer. I did, however, remind myself, several times, that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). And so can you, dear reader.
Who knows, maybe someday you’ll pass me in a marathon, or vice-versa, which would be a genuine miracle because I only plan on running if something is on fire. If nothing else, maybe someday we will meet in a fitness club, get acquainted and walk fourteen laps talkin ’bout Jesus.
Till then, run the good race and be healthy, happy and blessed!
Just Around the Corner
Hello everyone. I don’t normally cross-publish from one of my devotional blogs to the other, but I felt especially inclined to do so today. I know that this message will touch many hearts today. God Bless.
These words are being penned from the gorilla enclosure at my local zoo. Sometimes, when I feel that my desire to write has been locked away in some inaccessible place, I come here for inspiration.
Lately, words just seem to elude me. What difference does it make? I asked myself. “All the difference in the world,” the LORD reminded me. “I called you to write,” He said, “to share with a frustrated world that I am very near to all; and I love them very much!”
Thus, I tucked away pen and paper, and a water bottle, and headed to my favorite place in this city, the zoo. I’ve heard others say that they hate zoos because they cannot stand to see animals caged in captivity, or mistreated in any way. I must say, however, that I am quite proud of my local zoo. The animals are truly cared for and they are, for the most part, far better off here than they would be in the wild. But that’s another topic altogether.
Entering the zoo today, I was immediately greeted by a beautiful chorus of flamingo song. It was as though these marvelous creatures, with feathers ranging from white to dark, vibrant pink, were welcoming me to their peaceful sanctuary where I could escape from the world for just a little while.
I had stopped at this very spot on many occasions, but this was the first time I paused to read the dedicatory inscription on the bench there. It read:
“Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval somewhere very near, just around the corner.” Henry Scott Holland
What an absolutely perfect sentiment for today! My thoughts revisited dormant dreams and desires. Though I have not yet seen their fulfillment, why should they be out of mind? Patience, I reminded myself; patience. I also thought of my great desire -an almost daily desire- for the LORD to quickly return. He may currently be out of sight, but He is never out of mind.
Even the earth must remind herself of this. It is written, “…creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now….” (Romans 8:21-22). The LORD will, sometime soon, return to make all things new, to restore them to a state of perfection. Till then, LORD, “I am waiting for you,” knowing that your return is “Just around the corner.”
As I write these words, I am sitting on bench, positioned on one side of the large glass viewing windows. Twice, a young gorilla came to this spot and sat down right behind me, on the other side, and intently watched me write. This was so intriguing to the other visitors, that they gathered around me to watch the gorilla watch me.
I smiled. The fact that a gorilla found my writing to be of such interest is a very great encouragement to me. I only wish he could have read this message. He, like so many humans, feels that their lives are lived in captivity, yet all we need do is look up, for our redemption is draweth nigh – it is ‘just around the corner.’
Praise the LORD!
If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy a related, archived message by clicking on the following link: Light Down Under
A Lesson from the Dollar Store
My dear friend, Barbara, often blesses me with some small gift just to let me know she is thinking of me. Some time ago, she gave me a small, solar-powered flower; this little gal waves her two arm-like leaves, as though she were praising the Lord, every time the sun is shining brightly.
Yesterday, we were both waiving our arms. After all, life has been pretty good lately; my family has a great deal to be thankful for. As I was meditating on God’s goodness and His faithfulness, the following song lyrics came to mind:
I’ve been on the mountain when the sun was shining bright, and I’ve been in the valley when the clouds were black as night…
In that moment, I heard that still small voice (see I Kings 19:11-13) gently convicting, “What about the dark times, do you praise me then?” To which I had to confess that lately I hadn’t –at least not as much, or as often, as I should.
I find it so easy to lift my hands, and heart, in praise when life is good, and all is well. To praise Him in the darkest hours is never quite as easy. But we can learn a lesson from King David. Though he was often distraught over many issues, and struggled with them, he always came back to praise. Unlike that little Dollar Store flower that only lifts its arms when the sun is shining brightly, David proclaimed:
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:1-4
Then I recalled another part of the aforementioned song and remembered how many times these very words were true in my own life:
You know I’ve heard the battle raging, then I prayed till victory came. There have been times I really thought, Lord, you don’t even know my name. But I’ve been blessed and I’ve been down to where I didn’t know what to do, But in the times of joy or sorrow, Lord, I’ve learned to lean on you…..When I don’t know what to do, I have the faith you’re gonna see me through, to supply my every need; I lean on you!
What about you dear reader, are you currently walking through a dark valley? Your Heavenly Father, is right there beside you, waiting for you to lean on Him and find rest from all your burdens. Moreover, while you are waiting for the sun to shine brightly again, why not raise your hands and praise Him, with full assurance that He is going to see you through!
I Love Being A Housewife!
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD
Proverbs 18:22
For the record, I am not a “domestic engineer.” I am a housewife; and I am not ashamed of that wonderful title. Sadly, many women in today’s society are unjustly castigated for choosing to stay home and care for their families rather than having a “real career” or, at the very least, a part-time job to supplement the family income. Thus, the euphemism “domestic engineer” gradually supplanted the perceived stigma of the ordinary “housewife.”
That may be fine for some, but the greatest joy and satisfaction of my life is being a wife and a mother. I even like the sound of the word wife; it is a constant reminder of how very blessed I am to have married the love of my life –a man far too wonderful for words. Why, then, would I want to remove the word wife from the very thing that gives my life meaning?
In all honesty, I fall quite short of the Proverbs 31 woman, but I do consider myself to be a good wife and mother. And though I sometimes fail and disappoint, I love my family more than life itself; and thank God daily for the privelege of caring for them as the precious treasure that they are. Yes, I love being a housewife!
“I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth. I hold myself supremely blest — blest beyond what language can express; because I am my husband’s life as fully as he is mine.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
Frozen Lasagna
Perhaps I’m stating the obvious, but frozen lasagna generally cooks better when the oven is turned on. I was reminded of this just last week when my growling tummy urged me into the kitchen to partake of what should have been a bubbly, cheesy delight, only to find a rock-solid block of disappointment instead.
Heat is not always a bad thing!
Truthfully, I would do well to remember that this summer, as I begin to complain at the high temps, and grumble that I don’t do heat (or mornings). Better yet, I would do well to remember the benefits of heat when I am in the midst of spiritual battles -and spiritual growth –both of which often go hand-in-hand.
The apostle Peter acknowledges that our trials are fiery: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” (I Peter 4:12)
Furthermore, James encourages us to embrace our trials: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)
I repeat, heat is not always a bad thing!
Dear reader, may we all persevere through all of life’s battles, no matter how difficult they may be, knowing full-well that the heat of adversity is the element which refines us, and defines us; preparing us to be individuals who are pleasing to the Lord.
Those fiery trials, which we all know so well, only serve to ensure that when at last we stand before our Lord face-to-face, we will be ‘on fire’ –never a cold, rock-solid block of disappointment!
Polished Pearls 