Tag Archives: light

Waymarks

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As we live in today’s post Christian world it seems very dark.  At this writing Israel is being attacked by muslims that seek to destroy them off the face of the earth.  The good thing about this is that God has promised Israel that He will fight for them.  A post on social networking last week showed a newspaper headline that said the terrorists are seeing God change the direction of their missiles.  God has promised to protect Israel and He is keeping that promise.

You could say that Israel is a testimony of God Himself.  He has made them promises upon promises that have been fulfilled.  Israel is a light in a dark world.  Christians and the Church should be a light in this dark world; but, unfortunately we are letting our light be darkened by many ways.

Jeremiah talks about “waymarks”, which is sense of conspicuousness; a monumental or guiding pillar (taken from the Strong’s Concordence).  Look at Jeremiah’s words in Jeremiah 31:21, “Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.”

It is high time to let your light shine.  Because it is such a dark world it will shine brightly.

So, how are you doing?

 

Shining

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Last night I was enjoying the full moon and decided to take some photos of it.  Only me would get photobomed by an airplane.  Did you notice that?  This set me off thinking.  This is uncharted territory…

We are called to be the light of the world.  Look at Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”  Light is important.  The great thing about light is that when light is present darkness flees.  They cannot coexist.  Did you get that?  Light and dark cannot be in the same place at the same time.

My point here is that too many so-called Christians are trying to live their lives in such a way as to please themselves by doing what they think is pleasurable and keep just enough of their foot in the door of the Church to (in their own mind) please God or do Him some kind of service.  This cannot be.  You are either pleasing God or you are not.  You are either obeying Him or you are disobeying Him.  There is no middle ground here.

Today as you go to Church I challenge you to worship Him wholeheartedly with all of your being.  Do not just sit, soak and sour another week in the services.  Be engaged in the worship service and be engaged in the preaching service especially.  It might be that something you hear will help you shine in the life of someone else and chase the darkness away for them.

So, how are you doing?

Confusion

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When I was growing up I remember sitting in the back seat of my Dad’s red Chevy Impala singing at the top of my lungs, “Hell, fire up.  Hell fire up.  My heart’s on fire.  Hell fire up!”  The problem with this is that I was singing the Oak Ridge Boys hit song “Elvira”.  I am sure my family all had a good laugh at my expense.

There was another old country song that I used to sing.  It went something like, “You can’t be a Deacon if your light don’t shine.  You can’t be a Deacon if your light don’t shine.”  Okay, again I was mistaken.  It was, “You can’t be a beacon if your light don’t shine.”  Ha, Ha!  I hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane today.

The truth of my version of that old country song was a little off.  Yet, both versions have truth in them.  You cannot be a beacon if your light don’t shine.  Well, frankly, part of being a Deacon is shedding abroad the Light of Jesus Christ to those who are around us.  What does the Scriptures say about this?  I am glad you asked.  Look at Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

So, how are you doing?

Christmas 26

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As I was thinking about this Christmas season I was reminded of some people that I know that are experiencing the darkest times of their lives.  I certainly do pray for them.  We are all guilty of those cliche’ sayings like, “The light shines brighter in dark days.” and phrases like that.  I am sure the one who hears that is really comforted.  Probably not.

As I was thinking about the account of Christmas in the Word of God I began to think that before the coming of Christ there was a period of 400 silent years.  I cannot imagine this; but, I understand why it is called “The Dark Ages”.  God did not speak to His people for 400 years.  That is real darkness.

Then suddenly there appears on the scene One who can change the world.  Literally.  I am reminded of the words of Psalm 30:5, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. ”  Out of the darkness came the Light of the world.

Have you come to Jesus for salvation?  It is my prayer that you have.  If you have not, this is the best time to put your faith and trust in Him.

So, how are you doing?

Thanksgiving 15

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My cousin shared the following picture on facebook.  It was taken about 7pm the best I can figure.  It is very dark here in Indiana this time of year.

This started me to thinking.  We live in a dark day.  In this dark day it should be easy to let our “light” shine.  Where do we turn when we cannot see our way?  I know when I am trying to move around in the dark I usually reach for my trusty flashlight.

Okay, so, where do we turn to find spiritual light?  I am glad you asked.  We need to turn to God’s Word.  The Bible is the Light for our path.  Look at Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  Far too many people discount the Word of God.  They want to call it just another book.  Wrong!  They want to call it full of old wives tales.  Wrong!  This is the Book of all books.  This is the living Word of God.  It still applies to us today just as It did in the day It was penned.

What is your attitude toward God’s Word the Bible?  Is the Bible the God-breathed Love-letter that we believe It to be?  I can say with certainty, yes!
Thank God for His Word!

So, how are you doing?

Secret Place 3

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Today we will look at the “Secret Place Of Spiritual Growth.”  Look at Psalm 18:11, “He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.”  Now, I know that you and I are probably a lot alike.  I don’t like the dark really.  I have grown up enough not to be afraid of the dark.  I own various flashlights to combat darkness.

Yet, it is in the darkness of life that we seem to learn some valuable life lessons.  We don’t have to love darkness.  If you do love darkness I would do a spiritual check up from God’s Word.  In the darkness of life we can see light shining so much more brightly.  Stand in a dark room and light a match (as long as there are no gas leaks).  That little match will give great light in the dark room.

Notice also in our scenario that when the light comes in the darkness leaves.  When we are experiencing darkness and we invite the light in the darkness fades and we become focused on the light and not the darkness.  At least we should be.  It is the painful process of spiritual growth that will bring this about.  We will learn to not love the darkness; but, rather see it’s usefulness in bringing us closer to Christ and growing us spiritually.

So, how are you doing?

Keeper Of The Light

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In the above picture you see a man portraying a lighthouse keeper at the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in northern Michigan.  This was an amazing trip to say the least; but, what made it more memorable was stopping at the lighthouse and taking some pictures.

I thought about the job of a lighthouse keeper.  My mind went to Psalm 43:3, “O send out   It is high time to ge busy about our Father’s businessthy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.”  This led me to the idea that we who know Jesus Christ as our Saviour are all keepers of the Light.

We sing “This Little Light of Mine”; but,  we live with out light under a bushel basket.  We need to make sure that our light is shining so brightly that the lost world is blinded by this light because of the dark day we live in.  It is not difficult to like a life of light in this dark world.

We all want to stand before God and hear Him procliam, “Well done thou good and faithful servant”.  What are we doing about that?  It is high time that we get busy being about our Father’s business.

So, how are you doing?

Another Light

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Well, yesterday’s post got some good feedback so I thought I might try another day on the same subject.  As we saw yesterday the moon only reflects the light of the sun.  This is how we need to live our lives.  We need to reflect the Light of the SON.

I was thinking about  the Seedline International Conference last week.  On the last night everyone is given a glow stick and we all stand in a circle around the tent where the meeting is held.  One by one each person breaks their glow stick and shakes it up and the red light begins to shine.  The more glow sticks shining the brighter it gets in the tent.  I know you see where this is going.

Today would be better titled “Glow Stick Christianity”.  Think about this.  Just like the glow stick, God has to break us to allow our light to shine more bright.  Then He shakes us up and then we really begin to “go, grow and glow for the glory of God.”  That was not original with me; but, I love it!  So, Christian friend is your glow stick broken and shaken up to allow your light shine more brightly?  Look at Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

So, how are you doing?

Reflection

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I am wondering where the day has gone where people that went to the altar to pray were accompanied by someone else praying for them?  Maybe people are afraid of what people will think about them for going to the altar.  I know there are some Churches left where someone will come pray with you at the altar; but, I think it should be common place.

The reason I posted my photograph of the moon is because the moon has no light in it.  The light that illuminates the moon comes from the sun.  It is just a large reflector.  This is exactly what happens when we minister to the needs of one another.  I know in my life there have been times that I wished someone would put their arm around me and pray for me and my family.  Sometimes people pick up on the leading of the Holy Spirit.  To God be the glory!

I know that we all have opportunities in our lives to reflect Jesus to others.  The problem is that we do not always take these opportunities. Look at Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

So, how are you doing?

You Either Have It Or You Don’t

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As I was reading my Bible today a verse jumped out at me.  That verse is Matthew 5:13, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

When I read this my first thought was, “I sure know some “good for nothing Christians”.  Then I thought I had better do some research to make sure that my label is the Bible label for them.  When I looked up each word of the phrase “good for nothing” I found it means exactly what it says.  The word “good” means to have or exercise force.

So, Jesus is telling us that a “good for nothing Christian” is a person who professes Christ as their Saviour; but, they do not have any force or exercise any force.  Now, I do not think that we need to beat people over the head with our family-sized King James Bible and compel them to repent or perish.  There are too many pathetic, powerless people of God.

The force is the Holy Spirit of God working through us to convince people that they are lost and on their way to hell.  Oh, by the way, when salt had lost it’s power to preserve it was thrown out into the streets and used as pavement.  Are you pavement or a preservative?

So, how are you doing?