I woke up with this on my mind, so I figured I better write it down. Tossed and turned a while with it there, too. I’m not in the habit of ignoring much. So I’ll give this some space here, to get it out of my head. And come back after I’ve searched it out and either delete it or edit and add.
There is nothing instructive, or instructional, about Satan. Everything about the character is deceit and lies and dissention. Maybe this is what’s been sticking in my craw ever since being referred to as “stirring up dissent” a year or so ago.
We should be cautious when anyone starts explaining Satan, or how actions of those around us are “the devil’s ways”. What would make the one thrown out of God’s presence happier than to have God’s children wrapped up in arguments about him? Their eyes off of The Father and onto petty bickering about this or the other darkness.
Here’s a statement: The only thing that is darkness, is what’s not in the Light. Well, sure. That’s logical, even to the toddler in their bed at night. And what brings that child comfort? Not the light so much as the one who can give it to them with hushes in their ear, comforting arms and the flick of a switch (or more than likely, at least in my home, not cause it would just wake her up too much).
I believe that brothers and sisters are genuinely trying to help each other when they are “shedding the light” on things in league with the devil. Then sadly it takes too much of our thoughts and steals our moments when we didn’t even see it coming. It just wasn’t there for the longest time. And whichever side of the coin you’re on, you find yourself thinking about it again, and talking about it with others, trying almost to win people to your side. This is the sin I’m guilty of. It is not about my side, and I will always know that I never intended it to be “my side”. But I can imagine that THAT was exactly how it was used.
I am sorry.
Too true. And we’re all guilty. I don’t know what you’re referencing here, but I’m not going to seek it out…just to help you emphasize your whole point. ;o)
Maybe we should all spend more time checking out Philippians 4:8 and focusing on THAT.
)
Tammy,
OK…I’ve peeked on your site, but haven’t until now been able to give it a decent lookover. I truly *loved* this entry.
(I see my name doesn’t leave a link either…I’m the one you visit at tookshire.wordpress.com)
Oh Guinevere! “8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
No kidding! And you hit the nail on the head… cause it’s my own thoughts that bug the heck out of me and send me down doubt lane. I’ve had this issue come up two other tiomes in my life as well, so, unbeknownst to my friend K, there are other events than just our homeschool group last year that lead me down this path of “too much wasted thinking”. I stupidly opened a draft of an e-mail that I had not looked at in at least 4 years from one of the other incidents and I was kind of proud of me. Cause after being disappointed in the whole ordeal all over again, I quickly deleted it! Yeah for me! This post was a bit cathartic for me.
And Tookshire… I don’t usually forget a name.
I wonder why WP isn’t showing a link for our screen names? Huh? It’s a mystery. But I’m glad this post found another heart that “saw it” besides me! 