Hope for When Darkness Threatens

By Donna Pyle

(This devotion was reprinted in the March issue of the Nebraska Family Times. If you would like to read more to “inspire, encourage and motivate you on your Christian walk,” request a

FREE sample issue of the Nebraska Family Times

 by e-mailing your address to shelly@shellyburke.net or calling (402) 750-3496.)

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky boasts a specific claim to fame: it's the world's longest known cave system. Containing more than 390 explored miles, early cave guide Stephen Bishop called it a "grand, gloomy and peculiar place."

Twenty years ago, I visited this amazing labyrinth. An adventurous person by nature, I signed up to experience a cave excursion first hand.

The morning dawned crisp as our huddled group awaited to descend into that strange and wonderful world. The tour guide greeted us, counted heads, and our adventure began. With great care we descended 250 feet below the earth’s surface on steep steps through narrow crevices.

Talk about creepy!

Our leg muscles shook from overexertion as we reached the bottom of the cave. The ground leveled off and we found ourselves in a large, cavernous space lit by electricity. Once the tour guide ensured everyone had descended safely—and after issuing the proper warning—he turned off the lights.

Few words can adequately describe the absolute blackness that engulfed us.

The thick, oppressive darkness felt as if it was literally pressing in on me. My chest felt heavy. My breathing came in short gasps. I blinked my eyes frantically. I put my palm in front of my face, but couldn't see it.

I began to panic and stretching out my arms into the darkness. I needed assurance that I wasn't alone.

The tour guide continuously spoke to us in low, smooth tones to remind us of his presence. After a few minutes when our eyes adjusted to the absence of light, he struck a solitary match.

The effect was astounding.

We could clearly see every person in our group and the cave walls and ceiling. The small light had completely expelled the cavernous darkness.

That experience left an indelible impression on me. It illustrated far better than words where the blackness of sin would have taken mankind had Jesus not freely offered His light in the place of our darkness.

We may panic when dark seasons occur, but God's soothing voice speaks volumes of comfort and assurance to us through His Word: 

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you
nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

                                            

"You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light." 2 Samuel 22:29

If you are walking in a dark season, lean in and trust God. You may be shaking from overexertion. Your chest may feel heavy. Take a deep breath and listen for His gentle whispers reminding you of His presence.

The Lord himself will be your light. The only light Who can expel that darkness completely.

You are NEVER alone.

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Reprinted by permission of the author.

Donna has written many Bible studies and loves blogging about faith-based issues on her blog Hydrated Living . You can also read more at Artesian Ministries. She’s also on Facebook at “Donna Pyle” and “Artesian Ministries”.   

Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst-Case Scenarios

By Lisa Bedford

Review by Shelly Burke, Editor
(This review appeared in the March issue of the "Nebraska Family Times" newspaper. For more information, go to www.nebraskafamilytimes.blogspot.com. For a FREE sample copy of the "Nebraska Family Times," e-mail your address to: shelly@shellyburke.net.)

I think it’s every mom’s greatest desire to protect and care for her family no matter the circumstances. Here in Nebraska we’re more likely to face hardship from a tornado or flood rather than a civil uprising, but author and mom Lisa Bedford provides information to help prepare for the more common events as well as the ones we hope we’ll never have to face—but be ready for after reading Survival Mom.

Survival Mom is a comprehensive guide that includes information ranging from “13 Ways to Prepare for Hyperinflation” to detailed checklists for preparing everyone in the family for evacuation—even grandma and pets. As I was reading the information on preparing for evacuating from home, I thought back to something that happened when I was about eight years old. I woke up in the middle of the night to see one of my gradeschool friends and her family in our home. A train had derailed in town and a hazardous chemical had spilled, and everyone in the town was evacuated (we lived in the country at that time). We can’t anticipate what circumstances might make it necessary to leave town—but we can be prepared.

The prospect of becoming completely prepared for any eventuality can be overwhelming. Bedford makes the task less daunting by outlining “baby steps;” if you’re not ready to store enough food to last your family for several months, begin by stocking up enough to last for two weeks.

Bedford gives plenty of practical information that moms will appreciate, like safety lessons for kids and how to prepare them to react to a medical emergency. She tells moms how they can easily increase their own (and by extension their family’s) safety and security in everyday situations.

Whether you want to begin grinding your own grain or making your own cheese, or just learn how to make your family’s favorite meals with easily-stored food you can then always have on hand, you’ll find the information presented in a way that makes it easy to do just that. Checklists, sample forms, and step-by-step instructions make preparing for any eventuality seem doable rather than overwhelming.

Whether you live with your spouse and kids, an aging parent, or by yourself, after reading Survival Mom you’ll be ready to at least begin to take the steps to be prepared for anything from losing electricity for a few days (or longer) to a natural disaster to a pandemic to a decrease in work hours or loss of a job. Bedford also blogs at www.thesurvivalmom.com. 

Catch Up Post about a New Job, Blogging Challenge, and Cadbury Mini-Eggs

by Shelly Burke, Editor and Publisher

·         What I’m doing: I got a job! I’d been struggling with the decision of getting a job. I have really missed nursing since my private duty patients died several years ago. However, I didn’t want to give up publishing the Nebraska Family Time; continuing with the paper would be almost impossible if I had a full-time job. I left it up to God. “If You want me to continue with the Nebraska Family Times, Lord, I need a job that is part-time, in town (I hate to drive on bad roads), and something I can do after being out of hospital nursing for many years.” He answered me very clearly with a 2-morning a week job at Columbus Surgery Center! The nurses are fantastic, the doctor is wonderful, the patients are fun and I am blessed! I prepare patients for eye surgery and next week will start learning how to take care of them when they’re in the operating room.

·         What I’m bookmarking: I love editing and publishing the Nebraska Family Times, and one of the things I enjoy the most is researching websites to suggest to readers. This month I attended a video Bible Study titled Your Strong Suit, by author and speaker Donna Pyle. I learned so much from the first video that I checked out Donna’s websites (Artesian Ministries) and blog  Hydrated Living ). I liked her writing so much that I asked her permission to reprint her blog post, Hope for When Darkness Threatens  in the March issue of the Nebraska Family Times—and she said yes! Thanks, Donna! (To receive a FREE sample issue of the Nebraska Family Times, e-mail shelly@shellyburke.net with your mailing address.)

·         What I’m blogging: I will be taking part in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge in April, as I did last year! The challenge is to blog every day in April (except Sundays), with each day’s topic beginning with the letter of that day. The theme of the Nebraska Family Times blog entries will be devotions that will “inspire, encourage and motivate you on your Christian walk.” I’ll also be blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom's Guide , where the theme is “Teach Your Children Well.”  If you would like to receive the blog posts in your in-box, sign up in the right-hand column of both blogs! 

·         What I’m reading: To prepare for the A to Z Blogging Challenge and improve my blogs I’m reading Platform; Get Noticed in a Noisy World. For fun I’m reading Because I Said So; The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales& Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids, by Ken Jennings, the Jeopardy champion. The book investigates Dad-isms and Mom-isms like, “Stay away from windows during thunderstorms!” and “Coffee will stunt your growth!”

·         What I’m eating: Cadbury Mini-Eggs. What can I say besides YUUMMMM!

What are you doing? What are you bookmarking? What are you blogging about? What are you reading? Are you eating too many Cadbury Mini-Eggs like I am? Share your suggestions in the comments section of this blog!

Christmas in Heaven

Several of my friends are grieving the death of a loved one this past year. Friends and readers, I pray that this poem will bring you some peace and joy, knowing that your father, mother, son, daughter, friend and/or loved one has just celebrated his or her first Christmas in Heaven.
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Christmas in Heaven

I’ve had my first Christmas in Heaven,
A glorious, wonderful day.
I stood with the saints of the ages
Who found Christ, the Truth and the Way.

I sang with the heavenly choir,
Just think, I joined in to sing
And, oh, what celestial music
We brought to our Savior and King!

We sang the glad songs of redemption,
How Jesus to Bethlehem came.
And how they called His name -- Jesus --
That all might be saved through His Name.

We sang once again with the angels
The message they sang that blest morn,
When shepherds first heard the glad story,
That Jesus, the Savior, was born.

0 dear ones, I wish you had been there.
No Christmas on earth could compare
With all of the rapture and glory
We witnessed in Heaven so fair.

You know how I always loved Christmas.
It seemed such a wonderful day,
With all of my loved ones around me
The children so happy that day.

Yes, now I can see why I love it,
And, oh, what a joy it will be
When you and my loved ones are with me
To share in the glories I see.

So, dear ones on earth, here’s my greeting.
Look up till the day dawn appears.
Oh, what a Christmas awaits us
Beyond our parting tears!!

Author Unknown

May We be Light in This Dark World

by Shelly Burke, Editor

May God bless and comfort the victims of the shooting in Connecticut. It's almost more heartbreaking than I can bear, thousands of miles away and knowing no one involved...when I think of my kids, their friends and parents, and teachers I know and love, I cannot imagine the heartbreak of those in Connecticut. 

Here's what I've been studying this week: Jesus said, "You are the light of the world...let your light shine before others..." Matt. 5:14, 16. May we let our lights shine God's love to help the hurting and grieving whether in different states or right next door. And as my brother-in-law says, "God bless us all. It's our only chance."

Christmas Cheer!

I LOVE Christmas music!

This year I started listening even before Thanksgiving! If I'm in my vehicle I'll switch radio stations so there's almost non-stop Christmas music and at home I either listen to CDs or the music stations on TV.

The beginning strains of "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" immediately take me to Christmas Eve service at our church, as do the sounds of "Silent Night, Holy Night." In our church during this song all of the lights are turned down and the only light is from candles. I can't describe

The Perfect Gift for the Moms on Your List!

Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom's Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home is the perfect gift for any mom on your list!

This comprehensive guide begins with an extensive guide to encourage the reader to care for herself,, spirit, mind, and body, first, so she can then care for her family and her home. As well as encouraging moms to consider information from experts and "real life" moms, Home is Where the Mom Is shows readers how to make decisions based upon Christian principles and what they know about their one-of-a-kind family. 

Other topics covered include: 

• Renewing and maintaining mom's relationship with her husband
• Dealing with the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of extended-family relationships
• Bringing money into the home while keeping family top priority
• Learning how to set and work toward goals so you can evaluate your hard work as a wife, mom, and home manager

Click on the tab above to view the full table of contents. 

With its unique approach, Home is Where the Mom Is will help you improve all areas of your life as a mom, especially if you are an at-home mom! 

Shelly Burke is a Nebraska author and will write a personal note

 to the recipient, per your request! 

Only $15 with FREE shipping and handling! Purchase several copies for an additional discount! Click "Buy it Now" on the side bar and order today!