thedarknesswrites but doesn’t keep

But doesn’t keep what? you ask. the darkness doesn’t keep me down try as it might!

I have spent countless hours, nights, moments trying to figure out how am I going to pay my bills. My source of income is stymied by the economy ,my lack of substantial work and my health which has great days and then sometimes not so good days :-/.

I have tried crying about it, praying about it, eating because of it,  and overall being frustrated about it, none has brought me as much comfort as the following thoughts:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never-failing…

a bulwark never-failing…. a what? what’s a bulwark? I’ve sung this tune countless times and kind of skipped over that word with a whatever kind of attitude but tonight I decided to look it up. and guess what dictionary.com said :                        1. It is a wall of earth or other material built for defense.

2. Any protection against external danger,injury, or annoyance

3. Any person or thing giving strong support or encouragement in time of need,danger,or doubt.

Oh I get it God is our defense, God is a protection never-failing. God is a strong support or encouragement in time of need,danger or doubt. Wow, I was wondering where to go for help!

(A little side note here if you don’t believe, read on, if you do believe, read on and if you don’t know what to believe ,read on!) 

 So back to the text of Martin Luther’s beloved hymn, (and a favorite of mine along with  “Onward Christian Soldiers” both to be sung at my funeral all verses.) the next line says Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. ah, how did you know Mr Luther mortal ills prevailing that’s right it is a mortal ill I am suffering thru, so good to know there will be no credit card bills in heaven no finance charges multiplied in such a fashion as to never let you be freed from it. it is a mortal ill created by mortal, thrust upon us by our own misguided choices and in the end will not be remembered . How I lived for you dear Lord, how I strive for knowledge of you, how I shared the knowledge of you, trying daily to be more like you, more compassionate, more forgiving, more loving. Those are the things I want to be my footprint. and not for me but as evidence of the Grace of God given to me. Now this would be an extremely long post if I take this hymn all a part. so I am going to skip ahead to a line that has been on my mind since we last sung it. It says in one of the verses, in one of the versions,  “Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill, Gods truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever!” whew!  That is something to cling to, you know we won’t escape this world alive, but peace is our, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing because no matter what mistake, poor choices and consequences of our earthy living take place, we will finally closes our eyes to the messes of this world and open our eyes to the glory of the Lord a vision we can’t even imagine. So the darkness will not keep me down for God is on my side .

I invite you to read the wonderful lyrics to this hymn in its entirety. and feed on the peace that passes all understanding, and know the darkness cannot keep you down unless you let it. Peace!

Go to www.nethymnal.org and look up” A mighty fortress is our God”.you will need to type in the search box the title as it is not listed under the “A” but scroll down listen and enjoy .