My Terrible Audition

My Terrible Audition                                               

Have you ever auditioned for anything?

I haven’t many times, but I’ll never forget my very first. I did terrible! And it was so humiliating!

I was in the seventh grade and we had to audition for the choir in the upcoming Christmas program at school. I was a nervous wreck and when I stood next to the piano to sing a line or two, I could hardly get a sound to come out of my mouth. My vocal cords went on strike and the noise that managed to eke through would have made my own mother cringe. 

It was no surprise that when the choir list came out, my name was not on it.

Shortly thereafter we were told that those of us who were not in the choir would be characters in the pageant. I thought, “Well that’s simple enough. I’ve been an angel before in church programs.” 

So finally the time for the cast to gather together to receive our parts and begin rehearsing. I was told that I would be playing the part of Isaiah. 

The voice in my brain said, “Isaiah? Humm—I don’t remember ever seeing that old guy hovering around the manger before.”

I was given my lines and instructed to memorize them. We ran through the various parts and scenes three or four times over the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, I took my paper with my part home and began the task of memorization. I was determined not to mess this thing up like I had the singing audition.

As we rehearsed it was confirmed to me that hovering at the manger was not Isaiah’s role regarding the birth of Jesus. He was a prophet of God who had accurately predicted many aspects of the coming Messiah about 700 years prior to Jesus’ birth. As I repeated my lines over and over, the amazing truths about that Baby who occupied the manger grew grander than I had realized before.

Raised in church, at the age of nine I knew I was a sinner and that Jesus’ death on the cross had somehow paid the price of the penalty for my sins. I was grateful for that and always felt it appropriate to celebrate the coming of our Savior as a baby. 

But as I memorized the portion of Isaiah’s prophesy, it occurred to me, then at the age of twelve, that Jesus was more than the only One who could save me and set me on a path to Heaven when I die.

So well I remember the night of the pageant in that darkened mufti-purpose room of McHarg School. Before an overflow crowd of family, friends and faculty, and dressed in a 700 BC consume, I slowly began to walk down the center aisle. When the spotlight hit me, I wanted to panic, but I knew I had an important message to proclaim to the world. 

So in a loud voice and with as much authority as I could muster, I declared, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV).

From that might forward, Isaiah’s prophesy impacted my spirit and it continues to be one of my favorite Passages. I’m so glad that my audition performance was unacceptable. I fully believe it was by God’s design all along.

 

Have you ever botched an audition or maybe an interview that ultimately worked out for your good? I love how God uses our frailties to guide us on the path He has ordained.

Side note: McHarg School was and still is a public school. Obviously, the words of Isaiah would no longer be allowed to be a part of a holiday celebration. 

©Connie Wohlford 2016

Darkness Will Not—CANNOT Comprehend His Light

Darkness Will Not—CANNOT                     

                 Comprehend His Light

Do you ever feel like there’s lots of darkness in our world?

It often seems like we’re surrounded by darkness and sometimes that it’s closing in. Doesn’t it?

Notice, I said “seems like.” Seems like is not the reality for those of us who are in Christ. Yes, there’s a lot of darkness out there. But we don’t have to let it penetrate. Let’s never forget the encouraging words of the apostle, John.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing that was made was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5 NKJV).

We who are in Christ have Christ in us. Therefore, His light is in us and cannot be overpowered by darkness. (Read those two sentences again.)

Look at the word used here in the New King James Version in verse 5—comprehend. “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Other translations use such words as overcome and understand. 

According to Strong’s (#2638), comprehend, katalambano (kat-al-am-ban-oh), has three interpretations:

1- To seize, lay hold of, overcome. As such, verse 5 could read, “The darkness could not gain control of it.”

2- To perceive, attain, lay hold of with the mind; to apprehend with mental or moral effort. As such, verse 5 could read, “The darkness is unreceptive and does not understand it.” [WOW! We could camp out there for a while because lost people cannot understand why we think the way we think and do the things we do.]

3- To quench, extinguish, snuff out the light by stifling it. With this, verse 5 could read, “The darkness will never be able to eliminate it.”*

SO—

“Light and darkness essentially are antagonistic. The Christian’s joy is in knowing that light is not only greater than darkness but will also outlast the darkness.”*

Therefore—

As we are very aware of the many facets of darkness, both near and far, we must guard against allowing it to penetrate us. And we have the means by which to do so.

We have the full armor of God—it’s our responsibility to wear it and wield it.

We have the Holy Spirit—each of us has the responsibility of giving Him full access to our spirit and soul.

I’d like to close with these words from Isaiah:

Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.

 

Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, ...

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, and garments rolled in blood, will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  –Isaiah 8:22; 9:1a, 2-7

In the midst of widespread darkness, let us not forget that we once walked in darkness but we have seen a great Light—for unto us a Child is born. He is the Light which no darkness can comprehend in any sense of the word. Hallelujah! –Amen.

Your comments are welcome.

*Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishing, Word Wealth, p 1573

©Connie Wohlford 2016

The Gift – A Christmas-Time Short Film

The Gift – A Christmas-Time Short Film

It’s Christmas Eve Eve and time is just about up−That is time to prep for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day activities. If you’re like me you’ve not accomplished a high percentage of your wonder-filled Christmas plans. If you read my post last week, you know exactly what I’m talking about. J

Also, maybe a few of you have had an unforeseen family crisis, as we did. Just two days ago my dear uncle unexpectedly went to his Heavenly Reward. This really jarred our family out of our Christmas cheer. But we will be fine.

On the bright side, Uncle Jim is having his best Christmas ever, worshiping−IN PERSON−the One who once lay away in a manger−the ONE for whom the angels rejoiced and sang, Glory to God in the highest−the ONE Isaiah spoke of when he prophesied:

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

Wow, Uncle Jim, it’s almost hard not to envy you.

So, as we ponder the glorious hope of Christmas−the birth of Messiah−I invite you to watch this Christmas-time short film.

The film is heart-warming, and depicts the truth and hope of the Christmas story. You might even want to share it with someone you know who could use a little boost of hope.

I pray God richly blesses you and your family with Christmas hope, joy, peace, and love. Merry Christmas!

I present to you, The Gift:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yND5h69YP0

 

©Connie Wohlford

A Lamp – Are you walking in the light or in the dark? (4)

Part 2.  A Lamp - Are you walking in the light or in the dark? (4)          

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

              You know− Read it, Study it, Know it, Live it.  

What do you know about the great prophet Isaiah?

Many know him as the one who said, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

He also said quite a bit about light and our need for the light that comes from God. He besought God’s people to turn from their pagan ways and live in the illumination provided by the Word of God that was available to them at that time—around 700-690 B.C.

Also God spoke directly to Isaiah, giving clear direction for His people, the children of Israel. Under God’s authority, Isaiah declared God’s displeasure with His people.

Early on in Isaiah’s life of prophesying, he pleaded, O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5).

Had God’s people made the choice to heed His plea, the course of their history would have been much different. They would have averted the disastrous consequences of their decision to walk in darkness rather than light.

Do you believe our own nation will face disastrous consequences for the ways we have turned away from God in recent years?

God had guided the Israelites through history and wanted to continue to do so. Had they obeyed the commands of the Lord, they would not have been overtaken and many brutally killed by their enemies. Their children would not have been carried away into Babylon, repeopled, and made into eunuchs and slaves.

Note that the terrible future, that awaited the Jews, did not come on them by the hand of their Heavenly Father, but by their own choice to walk away from His protective hand. In doing so, they walked right into the brutal hands of powerful enemies. They choose not to walk in the light of the Words of their Lord.

For many years God’s nation of chosen people were scattered, living under the thumb and rule of others—the very enemies of their God. Nonetheless, the world, and all of mankind, can be grateful that throughout this terrible time in Israel’s history, there was a remnant, though scattered, that remained in God’s light, faithful to God and the Words He had spoken.

Isaiah was one of those, as was Jeremiah, Daniel, the three Hebrew sons who survived the fiery furnace—and others as well.

We can learn useful lessons from those who’ve gone before us. God had shown them the way. He had provided the light for their path of life. In our own age, He has illuminated our way with His instruction manual for living, the Bible, God’s Word of Truth.

Look at the opening words of the Apostle John’s Gospel. He declares: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:1-5).

John is telling us that Jesus is the expressed Word of God—the eternal and ultimate expression of God and is the light that no darkness can overtake. This gives us reason enough to dance and shout with unspeakable joy!




Photo by Joshua Hibbert

Are you walking in the light provided by your Creator? 

Moving about in the dark or even in dim light is tough going. It’s frustrating and makes it hard to accomplish much. And what we do accomplish is often flawed. We might also get hurt or even killed. 

Let’s commit to walk in the light of the Word of God.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. Please feel free add a comment to the conversation if you’d like. 

©Connie Wohlford