Then the Light Went On

By Cindy Samsel-Hoag

A thought provoking book to inspire and encourage those who read it. It is a book of devotions taken from everyday life to draw the reader into a deeper relationship with the Lord.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449711795

Cindy Samsel-Hoag

As an ordained minister it is not uncommon to look for sermon illustrations in the everyday things. Born and raised in Indiana Cindy Hoag presently resides in a town bordering the Illinois’ state line. She and her husband Gordon are in charge of The Salvation Army’s operation in their community. They have Three children and one grandchild. Writing has always been a passion and sharing God with others is part of her call.

Book preview

Greatness

Enoch is one of my favorite men of the Bible. He was father to Methuselah, son of Jared. He lived on this earth 365 years and then was gone. The only things we know about him is his genealogy in Geneses 5 and his prophesy in Jude. The Bible does tell us that Enoch walked with God and was no more.

Not much of a grandiose story. It is not recorded that he spoke to thousands or did wondrous miracles or even crushed a people in battle. But we do read that Enoch never died. We know that Enoch talked, listened and walked with God.

Elijah never died but was taken to heaven on a chariot of fire. Elijah’s life was made up of marvelous miracles, vivid preaching and life teaching.

Moses died but was buried by God. Moses confronted the greatest leader of his time and freed a people as numerous as the stars.

Not everyone is made for greatness as the world perceives it. I believe greatness in the eyes of our Father is being a loving, loyal follower of God. I believe faithfulness to the finest details is a love message to God.

I believe that when Enoch walked with God it was a two way conversation. One listening intently to the other and being so involved in their sharing that it was awhile before Enoch realized he was in paradise.

There is a whole lot of talk on prayer but not much is said about listening.

Psalm 25:14

Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him. To them alone He shares the secrets of His promises.

May I always meditate on Your Word, listen for Your voice and share my thoughts with You.

Amen.

He Waits For Us

One of my favorite memories as a mom is the days when my children were just sweet babies. After an active morning in the middle of winter, when they would be sleeping quietly, sweetly, their innocent faces reflecting such peace and total relaxation, I would gaze at them and then I would silently go to the kitchen to do my devotions. The brightness of the snow outside would lift my spirits and the silence the snow brought would settle my nerves.

There I would meet with God, ready to receive His lessons for me that day. It is still amazing to me that our Father looks down upon us and sees past our faults, our rowdy days and sees us as the innocent, sweet children He created. In the quietness of His holiness and the stillness of His grace, He waits to meet with us. In the brightness of His light and the silence of His great love, He waits for us. His open arms are ready to receive us and bestow peace upon us. He waits for us.

Isaiah 40:31

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Oh Father, in our consuming world help us to schedule time for You on a daily basis so that we might be filled with Your love, peace and Spirit.

A Journey In Fasting

I am someone who believes in fasting in secret. At my most desperate moments in my life I have applied fasting to find God in the troubles or difficult decisions around me.

My first fast was years ago when I was trying to repair a broken relationship. I fasted for three days and was discouraged when I did not get the answer I so desired.

Fasting is a discipline, a sacrifice. It helps put things into focus. For me I was learning to rely on God and not food for my comfort. It’s always hard at first but brings discipline in other areas of my life as well. It takes resolve before I ever start. If I cheat, I must ask for forgiveness from God and forgive myself and start again until my time is finished.

And a few years ago God laid it on my heart to fast for forty days. It took months of prayer and self preparation before I followed through. I carefully chose people who would pray and hold me accountable. I researched fasting and how I felt led to do it. I set out on my forty day journey.

Every meal I cloistered myself alone in my room and prayed, studied God’s Word, and was silent before Him. I memorized scripture, worked on Bible studies and I changed. I went thirty three days and began to reintroduce foods I had avoided. I had given up solids. I began eating again. I was no longer the same person.

I am fasting again, though it is a different fast than others. It is a fast of specific items and amounts of food. I am only one week into it and have already failed once and started again. I do not spend time alone with God at meal times but rather early morning and in the evenings. It is a fast that is to detox my body. But I believe it will spiritually detox as well. I am overwhelmed by pain, sin, and failures I need to let go of. I resolve to finish because I refuse to settle for mediocrity. With God’s help I will finish. It hurts. I’ve been criticized, praised and ignored by the ones I rely on. But the outcome will be worth it all.

Purify me, Lord.

Cleanse me.

I want to be white as snow.

Matthew 6:16-18

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

A Mission

I sat down to do my devotions and the phone rang. My friend was in crisis, how could I hang up? When I got off the phone it was time for the clothes dryer to stop. After my shower I drove to work and was occupied through out the day with important calls and stacks of to do’s. With full intention to do my study after supper, I was suddenly interrupted by streaming tears and a bruised finger. At bed time I tried to read but kept dozing off to sleep.

Jesus had a mission when He came to this earth, a mission that was organized long before He lived it. Keeping His focus was not easy for this God Man. His heart broke with the hurting people. They cried out to be healed, to have demons removed, to mend broken hearts, to feed starving children too thin to imagine and it never ended. The