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In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face
While the storm howls around me and there’s no hiding place
‘Mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord, hear my cry
Keep me safe ’til the storm passes by

The dark of midnight. We’ve all been there. Those days where we see no light and feel no hope. Yet we know there must be light somewhere. There has got to be a way out of this tunnel. That’s when we cry out, “Almighty God, You know the way. Please show me. I can’t find my way without You!” And just as He promised, He comes through every time.

We hear His voice saying, “My child, fear not. I am here. Didn’t I calm the sea when it felt like your life was out of control? Didn’t I shut the mouths of lions when they threatened to tear you apart? Just as I was with you through every struggle you’ve gone through, even now I am here. Take My hand, and I will lead you to safety. There may be places of danger so stay close to me. You may not be able to see what’s right ahead of you but I can.” Somehow, holding His hand and feeling Him, our fear begins to subside and we relax, knowing that everything He said is true. He has never left us, and He won’t forsake us now.

I wonder why we often wait until the darkness becomes unbearable before we cry out to the One who can remove the clouds and reveal the light. As soon as we begin to see things spiraling downward, He should be the first place we go. We may still enter that dark tunnel but we will be more aware of His presence and His peace. Father, forgive us for taking our eyes off of You. Your face is all we seek.

I am currently in the process of reading through the book of Ezekiel and this past week, I read chapter 16.  Space prohibits me from quoting the whole thing but, in essence, God is talking to a nation which has forsaken Him.  When this city was born, it was unloved and forgotten, left by the wayside to die. God in His mercy passed by it, picked it up, clothed it, and loved it to the point that it flourished and became extremely wealthy. Instead of gratitude welling up in this city, the city rejected God. It sacrificed its children to idols and committed terrible sins against the very One who had been so loving and kind and who made it what it had become.

As I read that chapter, I asked God to check my heart. I remember the rubble I was in when God found me; I’m very aware that I am what I am today because of Him; but I don’t want to be found guilty of forsaking Him and taking for granted what He’s given me–a life of peace and joy, and a song to sing.

Thank You, Lord, for your mercy and for saving me from myself. Help me to serve You with every breath You give me.

Although I have heard of the Primitive Quartet for years and have been familiar with some of their music, I got to meet them for the first time in September at the National Quartet Convention. I really enjoyed talking with Larry Riddle and Norman Wilson but I also had the blessing of meeting Mike Riddle, Randy Fox, and Reagan Riddle.

While at NQC, I picked up a copy of their 35^th Anniversary CD and probably listened to it a dozen times or so in the first two weeks (something unusual for me). Historically, I have not been as into bluegrass as some of my family members but I am really enjoying this CD.

The CD starts with an up-tempo song called “John Knew.”

Randy Fox sings “The Precious One,” followed by Reagan singing a thought-provoking song, “Reaping From Fields I’ve Never Sown.”

Reagan Riddle only wrote one song on this project called “Didn’t He Shine” which features Jeff Tolbert.

I love the way Mike sings “Dear Jesus I Love You.” There is such a sincerity in his voice, making it more of a prayer than a song.

“Someday” talks about life after death and how it’s nothing to be sad about.

“I Love to Walk With Jesus” is another up-tempo number with another great message. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be the predominant instrument but I love listening to the banjo on this one.

“He Didn’t Stay Dead” is a great reminder that, as sure as Jesus rose from the dead, He will come back again.

My favorite songs are both near the end of the project: “He’s Still Been a Good God to Me” talks about how, no matter what I go through, God has still been so good to me!

Norman sings “Grace is There” and does a great job, reminding us that God’s grace is sufficient and will sustain us through the death of a loved one.

Thank you, Primitives, for 35 years of service to our Lord. I wish you many more years of blessing as you continue to allow Him to use you to bless others.

~ Sony

“Oh, Lord, You’re beautiful. Your face is all I see. For when Your eyes are on this child, Your grace abounds to me.” (Keith Green)

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, LORD, I will seek.’” (Psalm 27:8)

“O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You.” (Psalm 63:1)

“Whom have I in Heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.” (Psalm 73:25)

Seeking God. How many of us can say, “Lord, You are all I need” and truly grasp the truth of that statement? Yet He is all we NEED. There are other things He blesses us with but nothing can replace His presence.

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

“Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

There will come a day when it will be too late to seek God. Oh what a terrible day that will be! We will find Him but not in the way we would have liked. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:22)

My challenge to each of us is to make sure we are seeking God and living lives that He can be proud of. Then we can eagerly anticipate the day when He will say, “Well done, good and faithful sevant, enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:21

Loneliness. It can be such a real feeling. A spouse or a parent or a close friend or relative dies and, instantly, this wave floods in of complete emptiness. Yet, if we think about it, we also realize there is an extreme grace to get through one of the toughest things we face in life. Amazing as it is, we know we will be able to continue on and, no matter what we face for the remainder of our lives, that same grace will still be there because the One who gives it to us will never leave us or forsake us. He knows what it’s like to be forsaken and alone so He sends the Comforter to be with us and to allow us to continue to feel that strength and grace.

If you haven’t yet lost someone who is that close to you, it is still easy to feel lonely. Maybe you have a lot of friends but they have lives and families of their own and, although they treasure your friendship, they just don’t have the time they used to to just hang out or stay in touch. At those times, if you will listen, you will hear that still, small voice saying, “Child, I love you and I’m still here. Lovest thou Me more than these?”

See, although loneliness is real and often not a result of our choice, letting loneliness permeate your life is a choice. We have a Friend who truly desires a deep relationship with us but He’s waiting for us to stop pining for people to feel that void in our life. The fact is we can be lonely and have all the friends in the world. God gives people to us to encourage us and to be His hands and feet but they are not to replace Him. We need to be faithful to thank God for the people He puts in our lives but let’s also realize that every good and perfect gift comes from Him and if every gift were taken away from us, we would still have Him and, therefore, will be fulfilled.

When you look at others with their lands of gold

Think that God has promised you His wealth untold

Count your many blessings. Money cannot buy

Your reward in Heaven or your Home on high

As I was singing that earlier this week, another song came to mind which George Beverly Shea sings:

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold

I’d rather have Him than have riches untold

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands

I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

It is so easy to get our eyes off of eternity and on to the world around us but the fact is there is nothing on earth worth more than Jesus and the eternity that awaits the true Believer. When we sing, “Jesus, You’re my all in all,” do we truly mean it? Would we truly be willing to give up what this world offers if it ensured us a closer walk with Jesus and a Home in eternity with Him?

This week, my grandparents lost two close friends–suddenly and unexpectedly. We know in theory that we are not assured of tomorrow but I think most of us assume we will get up tomorrow and continue life as usual. When these two friends woke up on the morning of their deaths, I doubt either of them knew they would only have a few more hours on this earth. It would be interesting to know what their last thoughts were, their last words…

I have been challenged once again to make sure that each moment of my life counts for something. I’ve also been reminded of the importance of telling others what they mean to me while they are living. If we don’t, our words will not be as meaningful when they are no longer here.  Let’s not be afraid to tell our friends and family how much we love them. Let’s make sure we serve them and find time for them now so that we have no regrets when they are gone.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:31-32)

Recently, I’ve been challenged by this Scripture. It is so “human” to worry. How will we pay our bills? How will we feed our growing family? Where will I find a job? Whatever we’re going through, it can be hard to put it in God’s hands. Yet that is what we’re commanded to do.

“Now if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30)

David remarked, “I have been young and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

I have to admit that I haven’t either. Some of us may see hard times. We may wonder at times how we will keep the electric on or where our next check will come from, but God will provide. It’s possible we’ll find that some things we thought were needs are really conveniences but God will take care of us. In Him is our trust!

The past couple years, I have become more and more aware of how good God is. I’ve known that in theory but I think for a long time, I took that truth for granted. So often when I talk to people, I find myself saying “God is so good” and He really is.

When thinking of God’s goodness, I often think of the things He’s done for me and those are the easiest things to thank Him for. Yet, the other day the Whisnant’s song came back to me which says “Even in the valley, God is good.” How true! Lord, help me to thank You for the valleys as well as the mountains, for it’s in the valley that You restore my soul.

I was sitting in the concert, feeling extremely blessed to be there. When I attend a concert, I can’t help but get excited and this was no exception. I was singing along with every song I knew (which was all but two) and thanking God for allowing me to attend the concert.

Another song started which I’d heard before but, for some reason, this particular day, the words jumped out at me: “If it takes a valley to really know Your grace and if it’s in the desert where I meet You face to face, then turn this path I’m traveling to a dark and lonely place ’cause if it’s in the valley, then a valley’s what I’ll take.” I stopped singing. “Lord,” I cried, “I’m so not there.” No sooner had I said that then I realized that that is exactly the place I need to be. If the purpose of the valley is to draw us closer to God and allow us to meet with Him more intimately than we might otherwise, why do we fight against them so much?

I have often thought of valleys along the lines of God allowing them but not putting them on us; however, I recently got a glimpse of a person following God. If we are truly following Him, then He will sometimes lead us through valleys. At the same time, if we keep our eyes on Him and not let our gaze wander, I’m convinced that we won’t realize how wide or dangerous the valley is. The best thing we can do is to run ahead and take our Father’s hand and allow Him to lead us where He will because in His presence is true peace and joy and life. Who wouldn’t want that kind of relationship with Him? God, help me to be able to truly say, “If it takes a valley, then a valley’s what I’ll take!”