Be The Light

After a long season of darkness and uncertainty, I believe all of us are finding the need to be re-centered, grounded, and focused. With so many choices thrown at us through online messages, print and video media, and perhaps even our faith communities, what or how do we choose best to proceed? 

Well I have found that we base our decisions from the vantage point of our own perceptions which can be distorted. We make choices from a place of need and our personal goals.

But is it what God wants? Is it the best course of action for those we love and want the best for? Will our choices bear the most fruit with an everlasting impact?

It’s easy to slip into a quiet rebellion – going about life in our own way. But the time comes when you and I will have to choose who or what will control us. The choice is ours. Will it be God, or our limited personality, or another imperfect substitute? Once we have chosen to be controlled by God’s  Spirit, let’s reaffirm our choices every day.*

Joshua, the Hebrew leader said to the Israelites, “But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” (Joshua 24:15)

I heard a preacher/teacher once say, “Whatever you do for Christ will succeed.”

“Lord God, help us to choose rightly. We know what’s out there and we know that you are a God of love, so help us to be the light, and help us to move forward. Jesus be glorified, in your name we pray, amen.”

* The Life Application Bible, and NIV, Tyndale House Publishers, 1988

New life, new Hope

 Psalm 51:13-17

Then I will teach transgressors your way, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from blood guilt, oh God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Oh Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure and burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

I was broken. I had spent many years living a sinful life and the darkness finally caught up with me. I was sin-sick; a smoldering wick. I cried heartbroken tears. But God promised to heal my broken heart. In his word he says, “a smoldering wick he will not extinguish”, (Isaiah 42:3). Instead, his love blew on my dying embers and by his Holy Spirit, brought forth new light and life. 

Prayer 

Lord God, thank you for your promise to forgive us and with this amazing love bring us back to life, in Jesus name we pray, amen.

Happy New Season!

Henri Nouwen wrote, ”Celebration...is the unceasing affirmation that underneath all the ups and downs of life there flows a solid current of joy." 

Reflecting back to this time last year, many of us were  anticipating that 2020 would be a season of focus, vision, and clarity. What the year turned out to be was more divergence, uncertainty, and darkness. What a contrast! But was it? 

It is said that when the heat is turned up what’s really in the pot will boil to the top. In the Bible, Proverbs 17:3 reads, “A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.” Could it be that what was disguised with good manners and decorum has been revealed? Racism and rebellion that was always there was uncovered and deadly differences of opinion and biases drew the limelight and was centerstage for all to see.

So 2020 indeed was a year of vision and seeing with glaring clarity what was really in the hearts and minds of men and women. I want to look back and ask myself  how did I respond to the pandemic. What was my reaction to my job loss, the mask mandate, and stay at home orders? I believe that what has truly been in the heart - particularly in the Church, the government, and within our families, has been revealed in 2020. So how do we respond?

May I suggest the answer is for each of us to individually reflect - with a heart of compassion, gentleness, and empathy towards ourselves, the lessons learned and allow Love and hope to take root and guide us forward. I am certain that if we move too quickly into 2021 without reflecting deeply upon 2020's unexpectedness, its losses, the tears shed, and the experiences shared, we are destined to repeat it. 

Therefore, let this new beginning truly be a season of planting seeds of love, of peace and of encouragement. Happy New Year and may the Lord bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and may He give you His peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

Seeds of light, 

Allison