Send This Page To a Friend

www.truthworks.com          20 APR 03          devotion archive

A NEW DAY

I tell you the Truth,

I’ve been through stressful situations in the past.  I know what it’s like to feel despair.  There’s almost a darkness that falls over the world when things seem to crumble beneath the feet.

I’ve tasted that darkness again this week when my 88 year old father-in-law was taken to the emergency room.  He had been loosing blood due to diverticulosis.  After receiving about thirteen pints of blood and having part of his digestive track cut out, he’s still hanging on.  But again, he’s 88 and difficult times appear to lie ahead.

All this has hit me on the heels of my father’s brain cancer, which he’s doing ok with right now.  I could probably sit down and make a lengthy list of stressful items in my life right now, if I only had the time to do it.  Yea, add lack of time to the list and there ya have it.

Those things were looming on my mind the other morning when this verse hit me head on.

Matthew 27:
⁴⁵From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.

Wow.  I could almost feel that kind of darkness.  I wondered if this was a physical darkness or a spiritual darkness.  It didn’t matter to me.  I just knew exactly what it was like.  It was dark.

Three hours of darkness on that day must have seemed like forever.  This was a supernatural darkness.

I paused to think about that darkness for a moment.  I’m just glad I didn’t stop there, because the darkness passes.

Matthew 28:
¹After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
²There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
⁵The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

For three hours it was dark.  For three days death ruled.

But death and darkness never persevere.  Like the dawning of a new day, a new week, life and light are always on the horizon for those that know Him.

When all things seem so deep in despair, it is good to remember the hope we have in the resurrection.  It’s good to understand the omnipotence of the God who died for us.  It’s good to realize the omniscience of our Heavenly Father.

God is good.  After I read the Easter story that morning, I then heard this song on the way to work.  I leave you with the lyrics today from the Newsboys.  It reminds me that there is new day on the horizon.

Lord (I Don’t Know)

You are the Author of knowledge
You can redeem what’s been done
You hold the present and all that’s to come
Until Your everlasting kingdom

Lord, I don’t know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

You are the God of tomorrow
Turning the darkness to dawn
Lifting the hopeless with hope to go on
You are the rock of all salvation
          -Steve Taylor and Peter Furler

Your Servant,

Randy Hunt

Prayer Requests (and Praises!):
In my city, Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario, there are large numbers of churches and campus groups but no cohesion between them. I've come alongside a pastor at a different church and we're going to try and change that with a large-scale prayer and worship event on Labour Day Weekend this year. It's never too early to start praying!
-Kerry

Get your own Truth Works Devotions by email!

Truthworks.com Shop
Books - Tee Shirts Decals

Randy's Pick!
Worship with the Boys...

Your Price:  $12.99
You Save: $5.00
Newsboys
 ADORATION: The Worship Project

Check out the freshest discount releases from:
 All Star United
Andrew Peterson
Audio Adrenaline
Bleach
Burlap To Cashmere
By The Tree
Chris Rice
David Crowder Band
dc Talk
FFH
Greg Long
Geoff Moore
Jars Of Clay
Jeff Deyo
Kevin Max
Mark Schultz
Mercy Me
Newsboys
Paul Colman Trio
PFR
Tait
The Waiting
Third Day
Petra

"I Tell You The Truth"
by Randy Hunt
also available at The Little Brick House (Beckley, WV)

Prayer List
(for salvation):
Josh Horton
Rick, Becky, Josh, and Kelsey
Rossi
Kenny
Randy McCarthy
Kelly
Kelly
Steve McBride
Joey Fama
Zak Stratton
Tak Abe
Isaac Counts
Kate Sopher
Raj
Dapo Oduleye
Yinka Oduleye
David Hopkins
Keleigh Shockey
Tim Schmoranze
Beryl
Kim
Graham
Bronwen
Roshan Chandransiri
Dana
Eric
Travis
Joe
Rick
Clare Payden
Hannah Freece
Katarina Tu
Jane Moore-Maleyby
Sean Donahue
Marcie McFarlane
Tricia
Greg
Pam
Michael
Lisa
Katy
Russell Hendrick
Aaron Slack
Jennifer Prado
Travis
Noel Eyester
Sarah
Greg Fleckenstein
Check and Charlotte Snuffer
Bob Hunt

Other Truth Works Sites
Crossculture Ministries
Coal Camp Memories
Memorial Baptist Church

Get HELP NOW!
The 24Hour Counselor

SUPPORT TRUTH WORKS
You can help us continue to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to young people around the world with as little as $1.00 a year.  Web hosting and automated mass emailing is no longer a free commodity and it grows more expensive as we continue to grow. 

PLEDGE SUPPORT TO THIS SITE

TRUTH WORKS DEVOTIONS
is brought to you by
TRUTH WORKS PUBLISHING
printing the truth for today's youth.

TRUTH WORKS PUBLISHING
219 Redbud Drive
Beckley, WV 25801
Fax/Voice Mail 208.955.2696