Tag Archives: Light

Light Bearers

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The anchorman on the network delivered more sad news. The day to day can be depressing, listening to stories of bombings, and terrorist’s plots, political arguments, and car accidents. We live in a broken world, that spins crazy on its axis, leaving us dizzy with the pain of a world gone bad.

People need the light.

As Christ followers we are called to be a light, in a world full of deep shadows, where people are often desperate for something good. We need to be light bearers, pointing to the One who can split the darkness with His very presence.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.… Matthew 5:14-15 

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The Darkness Can Not Overcome It

The seasons have changed, and with that the night time comes earlier, no more staying light until 9:30 or 10pm. Although, I had already fed Jazz hours earlier, I wanted to let her into the barn for the night. I grabbed my flashlight and headed over for our night time ritual.

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My LED flashlight gave off just enough white light for me to see where I was stepping. One foot after the other. Some nights the moon shines brightly and I can see perfectly without the aid of a man made light source. I live in the wide open country, no street lights, and at night it can get very dark. I often hear dogs barking in the distance, and occasionally, coyotes. I hear geese,  frogs, and owls and often times, the llamas across the road. Llamas hum to each other….it sounds kind of weird, if you don’t understand what it is that you are hearing in the pitch dark.

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When we first moved here, the night seemed very, very black. Scary, even. After being here for several years, it is no longer that way for me, although I remain cautious. I don’t want to run into a opossum, skunk, or raccoon and so I try to be aware.  In the complete darkness out here, I am thankful for my light.

When we can’t see, and we’re scared we need the light.

Jesus already knew this. That is why He came.

For a dark and broken world, Jesus is that light.

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“The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 

The Light Shines In The Darkness

 

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The clouds rolled in on that late summer day,

incredibly dark and foreboding.

Winds picked up as the sun was completely blotted out.

Amazing to watch from my vantage point inside the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_1099Not so much, if stuck outside in the middle of the storm.

How many times have I been caught in the storms of life?

Unable to see the sun, but knowing that it is there.

Remaining faithful.  Realizing that storms don’t last forever, even if it seems that way at the time.

“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:5 

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Continuing to memorize verses, from the book of John, for The Jesus Project.

 

 

 

Illuminating The Dark

The sanctuary filled with people of all socio-economic backgrounds, color, and gender. So different, yet so alike. All 102_3478of us there on this holy night, to worship The KING. Voices melted together, into one sound of praise, to the One who is worthy. Candle light flickered, illuminating an otherwise darkened room. Light that pierced the darkness, symbolic of that night so many years ago, when the Light of the world was born.

I read the back of the church bulletin, a poem entitled Mary’s Song, by Lucy Shaw. The words made me stop. Think. Take it all in. Ponder.

“…Quiet he lies whose vigor hurled a universe. He sleeps whose eyelids have not closed before. His breath (so slight it seems no breath at all) once ruffled the dark deeps to sprout a world…….”

He could have come with an army of angels. Instead God came to earth as a baby. He could have stopped time with the mere sound of His voice. Instead He came to change all time. He could have said, “no”, and just left us. Instead He came…..for us.

 

Darkness Can Be Terrifying

Light in the night (Castelldefels)

Image by jcarlosn via Flickr

I set  it on the counter.

The flame in the lantern flickers. It sways with the current of air. I watch it as it dances, licking up the oxygen, giving off light.

Because…

darkness can be terrifying.

The unknown, the unseen–all fear.

Secluded.

One flame, but oh how it shines.

Darkness is overcome by the Light.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”         John 8:12 NIV

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Are you facing darkness today? Are there things that are keeping you in the shadows?

You don’t have to stay there.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105  NIV

 

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Morning Debut

life at 10000 feet

Image via Wikipedia

Up early this morning….

Stumbled out of bed, still half asleep.

I slipped through the house, in the half dark.

Quiet and still.

Then I saw it.

And I stopped and stared.

The barest sliver of glowing light against the darkness.

I watched as the pink sun made it’s morning debut.

Breathless.

Such beauty.

Who knew that a star could be so beautiful?

 14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

 15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

 16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

 17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth…  Genesis 1  KJV

 

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One Thousand Gifts

Sunlight Throught Trees

A couple of days ago I blogged about Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts. I mentioned that I was taking “the dare”. I’m daring to live fully right where I’m at. Right here. Right now. Just as I am.

Sometimes a word, a thought, a book resonates with me in a deep and profound way.  It touches me in a way that I could not have imagined beforehand, causing me to have an “a ha” moment(s). A different way of thinking. A different way of living.

That is just how God works in my life. More often than not, when I’m least expecting it, He shares with me. In the midst of my day, He meets me. Just where I’m at. He sees me as I move throughout my day and bids me to come and sit at His feet for awhile. Just to be with Him.

Jesus…His calming voice, in the storms of my day.

Jesus…His touch that heals my heart.

Jesus…His love that renews my spirit.

His gifts to me are numerous. Writing each gift down and listing them all, one by one, causes me to focus. I am more keenly aware of His presence in my life as I list the ways He shows me that He loves me. Nothing I list is too small nor  too big. God is so good to me.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17 NIV)

Each moment becomes a time of worship, to thank Him.

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