The light was so bright. My camera on my phone couldn't even filter it. I love this picture....you can't even see my face because of the light. Isn't that what we strive for as Christians? That others would see His light upon us and in us? Unfortunately, I don't always appear that way to others.
In Ann Voskamp's "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS" book and she talks about "Soul Holes". Things in life puncture our soul. Things like sin and sorrow, , tragedy and temptation, loneliness and loss----and out of these soul holes pours self securities---things that we cling to in order to feel adequate and safe within ourselves. Like a punctured wound bleeds, so do our soul holes. As the blood of self drains, we can become spiritually "anemic". We weaken if we are not "transfused" with new blood.
I am a neonatal nurse, and in the past I have seen Dr.'s give babies suffering from harmful reactions within their blood, an exchange transfusion. Little by little, their blood is removed and new blood is given, replacing the harmful blood with fresh healthy blood. It's a process that takes time. As a little comes out, a little is put in, until the baby is filled with healthy blood cells which stop the progression of the harm within his little body.
Satan loves our soul holes because he sees them as opportunities to get in with his dark whispers of doubt, guilt, despair, and discouragement. I'll have to admit, I have allowed those things to enter into my soul holes at times, and it only causes the holes to grow bigger and deeper.
Jesus was pierced with holes. He poured out His blood so that we may be filled---so that we may never wither and fade away. He poured out His blood so that we may be transfused, through our soul holes, with His Light, His Grace, and His Love. And so that we may be covered by His Forgiveness and His Righteousness. This "exchange transfusion", when received, is the beginning of our salvation. Throughout our lives God is transforming and making us in His likeness. By His blood, we are made His. But the transformation is a process. Little by little we are changed. As we empty of those things harmful to the soul, He fills us with hope and life.
We have a tendency to see the pain of our "puncture wounds" as wrong and lethal. But what if we learn to see them as ways to be refined? When we turn to God in times of sin and sorrow, tragedy and temptation, loneliness and loss, we give God the chance to transfuse us in His wonderful mercy and grace.
That Light in the picture? A camera glitch, but also a message to me that I am in His intense Light. The rays of hope and love fill me and then extend to others when I am mindful of my call in this life. I pray that through these blogs, others may receive the warmth of His Light and Love, and the Hope of His promises. I pray that your Soul Holes be filled continually with His Grace........
IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
