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light

Inextinguishable Light

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“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” 

John 1: 5, NLT

Tree“I don’t know if I’m really going to like it here. “I don’t know anybody. I don’t know my way around. There’s no sun, surf, and sand, anywhere close by. And, it’s been dreary, windy, and cold for the last several days! I really miss Hawaii. It always seemed bright and shiny there!” These were some of my thoughts as I settled into fall on the East Coast after three years of basking in the sunshine of “Paradise”. I was moping for sure, and life just seemed kind of dreary to me. My hope for the new place was waning and any appreciation for where and how to fit in was too. Perhaps, I just needed a little sign. “Help me, Lord”, I managed to pray, weakly; “just give me a little light in my darkness, here, please!”

Then, one morning, as I looked out, I witnessed a beautiful autumn sight! The sun was out! And, not only was it out, it was shining on a tree in a way that made the tree look almost fluorescent! After moping through several days of darkened skies, I really appreciated the brightness! It was just the sight I needed to bring me out of my period of mini-gloom.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe the light is there on days when the sky is full of clouds, rain, and endless gray. But even on those days when the sun seems to hide so far beneath the clouds that we can’t see it directly, we know it’s still there. God is like that.

When we belong to Him, we have assurance, through faith in him and his grace that he is always with us in every aspect of our lives, even when we feel like he’s not there. I’d forgotten that God said He’d always be with me through every change, doubt, fear, and darkness. I’d forgotten that the very Light that made the world has the power to make a new life from the pieces of my darkness and fears.

The light of hope to start over in a new place, and learn to appreciate its beauty and offerings was still there. It had not been extinguished. I needed that reminder to simply believe what God said about never leaving me.

Jesus is our light in the darkness of life. He shines through our darkness more magnificently than the sun through that tree.

By grace through faith,

Rita

Let It Shine!: Don’t Let Satan Snuff It Out

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“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” 

The words of this children’s gospel song, written in 1920 by Avis Burgeson Christiansen, are simple and their message far reaching. What child hasn’t sung it? What adult doesn’t remember it?

But the more important question: do we hold true to its mission?

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 

Matthew 5:16, KJV

 

Don’t Let Satan Snuff It Out

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1–3, NIV

Shine,_Day_4,_Photo_1Time and again, our daughter, who has Down syndrome, came to a place in the hall, rose up on her toes, pressed her arms and back up against the wall, and sidestepped her way to the stairs. Unable to make sense of her repeated behavior, I asked her what she was doing. Aggravated with my intrusion, she huffed, ran upstairs, and kept the secret to herself.

After studying the floor for a few moments, I noticed it―a rectangle of light, cast from the landing above. A voice in my spirit whispered, “Not stepping into the light may be a game to her, but for many it’s a reality. Some choose to remain in the shadows, afraid that their evil deeds will be exposed.”

The first recorded words of God in Scripture were “Let there be light.” God spoke light into existence, separated it from the darkness, and saw that it was good. Sadly, many refuse to see God’s light as good. Shine,_Day_4,_Photo_2

Christians worldwide experience widespread persecution as oppositionists choose to walk in darkness. The persecution of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ is as old as Christianity itself, but never in my lifetime, has there been such hostility toward those who align themselves with Jesus and the truth of His Word as there is today. In over sixty countries, believers are beaten, beheaded, tortured, isolated, raped, imprisoned, enslaved, and put to death for engaging in unauthorized religious activity.

Christians in America undergo persecution on a much smaller scale, but daily we experience attacks on our freedom of worship and references to anything related to the name of Jesus.

Prior to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, a torch was lit in Athens, Greece, from the original flame of Olympia. Scheduled to reach the top of Shine,_Day_4,_photo_3Mount Everest in Tibet after an 85,000-mile global tour, the 2.5-foot propane gas torch, weighing 2.2 lbs, lit thousands of torches along its route.

The purpose of China’s Journey of Harmony, was to unite people of different cultures around the world in friendship, harmony, and peace. But the journey was anything but harmonious. In city after city, protesters tried to extinguish the flame in objection to China’s fifty-year occupation of Tibet.

The Olympic relay bears an overwhelming resemblance to our spiritual journey. As we strive to carry the light of Christ throughout the world, many along the route try to snuff out His light in us. As athletes, we must endure, hold His light high, and pass it from one light-bearer to another so that unity between God and man will be restored.

Let it shine!

Starr

Let It Shine!: I’m Not Blind

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“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” 

The words of this children’s gospel song, written in 1920 by Avis Burgeson Christiansen, are simple and their message far reaching. What child hasn’t sung it? What adult doesn’t remember it?

But the more important question: do we hold true to its mission?

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 

Matthew 5:16, KJV

 

I’m Not Blind

Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

Ephesians 5:14–16, NIV

Shine,_Day_2,_Photo_1Construction workers removed the pews from our church sanctuary and placed them in the fellowship hall, where our worship services would be held during the renovation. On the first Sunday in our new surroundings, I opened my hymnal to sing and realized I could see the words of the song without my glasses. Moving from a dimly lit sanctuary to the fluorescent lights of the fellowship hall not only made a difference in my ability to see the words on the page, it brought revelation to my spirit. After we sang, I took my seat in the pew and thought:  I’m not blind; I’ve just been sitting in the dark.

God has gifted our bodies and our spirits with the amazing ability to adapt to our environments and our circumstances. But with the ability to adapt comes the danger of being desensitized to the darkness and needs around us. The longer we remain in a dark room, the easier it is to function, but it’s not the darkness that changes―only our perception of it.

Today’s text sounds the alarm and beckons believers to wake up, to step into the light of God’s Son, and to take advantage of the opportunities we have to make an impact for Christ in a lost and hurting world.

John 8 gives the account of a blind man whose friends believed that a touch from Jesus would restore his sight. When they heard Jesus was passing through their town, they dropped what they were doing and led their friend to Him. They pleaded with Jesus on his behalf.

They begged Him to touch their friend and restore his sight. Jesus responded to their faith with compassion by reaching out, touching the blind man’s eyes, and freeing him from his prison of darkness.

Through the death and resurrection of Christ, we are set free from our prisons of sin and darkness. God’s Word now serves as “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path” (Psalm 119:105). In response, we’re called to be guides―a support system for those still struggling to break free. Through prayer, we have the awesome privilege of being their voice and their transport. Spiritually, we can escort them into the presence of Jesus and by faith plead for their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Christ will hear our prayers and respond to them with compassion.

Is someone you know sitting in darkness today? Don’t turn a blind eye to their need. Be a light in their darkness and bring them to Jesus―the Restorer of Light and Life.

“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

Let it shine,

Starr