THIS PRESENT DARKNESS - WEEK 4 - CHAPTERS 9 - 12

THIS PRESENT DARKNESS by Frank Peretti

Wow, we are really starting to move in the story now. Already we're starting to see some interesting twists and turns emerge. There is so much to ponder in these chapters. I'm going to just tackle a couple of areas, because I'd really like to hear about what's causing you to stop and think.

Right at the start I loved the picture of Marshall and Kate setting a place for Sandy at the table in hopeful anticipation that she would come home. The importance and commitment to family is evident despite the messiness.. Didn't Shawn seem like such a likable guy? Is God in everything or do we see His handiwork in everything? Deception moves in many ways, doesn't it?

Speaking of Deception I want to focus on that for a moment. What a striking thought that Complacency doesn't even have a place in the ranks of evil. He messed things up, so he's gone and Deception is on the move.

I found the conversations that Hank and Marshall had with their predecessors very interesting. There is an agenda, a power behind this town, and anything that gets in its way is bulldozed under. How interesting the enemies attacks are focusing on the family. Our families are powerful motivators for us, aren't they?

Didn't you love the story that Edith Duster shared? Do you know an Edith in your life? The faithful, prayer warrior matrons that storm Heaven's gates? The ones that see the angels and feel their movement. Women who have experienced difficulties in their lives, they've seen spiritual warfare, they've been around the block a few times. You know who comes to my mind? Anna from the Bible that waited in the Temple for a glimpse of the Messiah. Have you ever really thought about her story? She knew tragedy, and she waited for her Lord. She dedicated her life to Him. That's Edith.

Last thing, Bernice's sister, Pat. How can we not feel Bernice's pain - the wonder about what really happened, the rejection of the explanation, the dedication to ferreting the truth out? A pawn, used up and dumped. The stark realization of what we really mean to the enemy and what we really mean to God.

You're turn.