Live as Light

 

It is a beautiful autumn evening, a bit warmer than typical temperatures for late October in New England.  As I sat on our deck looking at the trees, I noticed the last light of the evening peaking through the soon-to-be bare trees.  The light of goodness seemed to be saying ‘good night.’  It made me reflect upon the day and a disturbing incident that happened in a nearby town.

 

A few hours earlier, we heard of a road rage situation where a car cut off a tractor trailer on a busy street in a major town.  The driver of the truck got down from his rig to address the person in the car.  Suddenly the person in the car got out and shot the truck driver, to death.  The entire situation seemed incredibly surreal.  When my husband and I were leaving church this morning, we were driving on that same road.  We discussed what could drive two people to be so angry - for one person to be so angry about someone cutting them off that they felt the need to exit their vehicle and how the other person could shoot someone.  The world, and the people in the world, seem to be getting angrier and angrier.

 

Today, I remembered the photo I took last evening, and it started to seep in – we all need more kindness and light in the world.  Darkness seems to have overtaken various aspects of life.  The world seems to have become a darker place, replacing the kindness of light with the darkness of despair.  Where do we fit in?  What can we do? 

 

It may seem over simplified, but it boils down to the children’s song that we may have heard in Sunday School – “This Little Light of Mine.”  I recall the pride of the children when I would teach them this song in Sunday School.  Even as little ones, they waved their pointer in the air, sharing their ‘light’ with the world.  It is time to let our light shine everyone.  It is easy to get swayed by negative talk and gossip.  It is easy to raise voices in anger versus closing our mouths in patience.  Yet, it is time!  Time to:

·         Speak words of encouragement

·         Hold our tongues when positive words are at a loss

·         Smile to strangers

·         Offer that ‘great’ parking spot to the other car

·         Offer kindness to all

·         Treat each person with respect

 

Live as Light!  Let each person you meet see the light that you receive from knowing you have a life of eternity with Jesus.  Let each person glow in your light of hope.  Let each person feel peace.

 

Dearest Jesus, help me to shine “This Little Light of Mine.”  Help me to be the light that others need to see in the world today.  Help me to show others the light that may be missing in their lives.  Help me!  Amen.

Rest

 

Rest – the word sounds relaxing and calm until you actually try to rest!  In the busy days that encompass many of our lives, rest is an action that escapes us.  We may have great intentions.  We may plan to rest during an evening after work or carving out an hour or two on a weekend, yet something needs our attention and we are off to the races, with rest falling behind us. 

There is the physical nature of our lives that has our bodies moving and going constantly – to the next errand, the next chore, or caring for families.  There is also the mental nature of our lives, the constant thoughts that encompass our minds, vying for position on the extensive list of things we need to think about.  Personally, this is the one that I struggle with the most – the constant ‘thinking.’  It will consume all of my mind – even as I try to rest at night.  What should I anticipate tomorrow?  Did someone need something today I did not get to?  What if ‘this’ happens or ‘that’ happens?  Will I ever have enough time?  I forgot to tell someone something.  My mind will race to every possibility or every scenario – especially as I try to sleep.

This verse has always brought my comfort, especially in the physical and mental weariness I can find myself in.  If even God rested on the seventh day of creation, I am certain that He does not expect me to constantly move to keep moving or thinking without rest!  Sometimes this is easier said than done, but when I have asked God to clear my mind at night and take all that I am thinking about, I have noticed that rest has come.

This verse has impact on another part of our lives, our soulful nature.  What are we carrying around in our souls that needs rest?  It could be guilt for something we have done that we have not asked forgiveness for.  Our pride has come between our souls and rest, and we have not reached out to the person we sinned against to ask for needed forgiveness.  It could be shame for a sin that we believe is too great for forgiveness.  We may feel our sin is too great for God to forgive and the shame weighs heavy on our hearts.  It could be worry – worry for health, finances, relationships – so many things.  Our soul may be so burdened by worry that we cannot see the goodness in our lives.

This verse provides rest to ALL aspects of our lives, physical, mental, soulful.  Jesus WANTS us to bring all we have to Him.  He welcomes us with open arms and says to us, “Rest – I’ll take it from here.”  There is no one better in whose arms we can rest, knowing that the future is all that He knows will be.  Come to Jesus, give Him all you are dealing with, and let Him provide you the rest only His love can offer.

Dearest Jesus, we thank you for your open invitation of rest.  Help us to rely on you, not ourselves, for the rest that is needed.  May we bring all that is weighing heavy on us to your feet, Jesus, and may you provide us not only rest, but peace.  In your name.  Amen!

Colors of Hope

 

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If you are in a part of the country where the leaves turn color, this is your time of year!  Part of the many reasons I enjoy the season of autumn so much is the changing of the leaves.  I know there is a very scientific reason for the change from green to yellow, orange and red.  Yet, I tend to believe in the miracle of such a thing.  There are days when the leaves seem to slowly move through the hues of fall.  There are other days when I wake up and they seem to have changed before my eyes.

The beauty of the leaves comes from the sturdiness of the tree.  The strength of the trunk provides the nutrients necessary for each branch to bear leaves (and possibly fruit).  Yet, it is not the trunk that provides the change in color, it is the sunlight and temperature that brings about the change.  The chlorophyll breaks down, the green dissipates, and the colors shine.  It is an amazing process.  If the sunlight and the temperature are not exactly right, the colors are less vibrant.

It reminds me of the importance of having Jesus in my life.  How so?  When I have walked through my life without the sunlight of Jesus, my own personal colors could not shine through.  Thinking back to when I strayed from my heavenly Father, my life lacked meaning, my vibrant happiness had faded, and my hope was gone.  The more I tried to enhance my life with ‘other’ things, my life became very dim.  During these times, I felt as if I was living in a life of grey.

Turning to my Jesus not only provided the hope I needed during those times, but it also provided the color I needed to let God’s light shine out to others.  Holding onto Jesus takes my life from grey to yellow, orange, and red.  It helps to provide the world the colors that only Jesus can give us.  Maybe it is the yellow of friendship, the orange of generosity or the red of love.  Any color given to others is Jesus working through us. 

Take the time, my friend, to turn to Jesus and gain strength from him to give colors to the rest of the world.  Let the colors be as vibrant as autumn leaves.  Let the colors fall from you onto those around you, softly gracing their lives with friendship, generosity, and love.  Let Jesus work through you to others.  Sometimes, our colors are the only thing we can give others – give with passion.  We never know when our colors will land on someone’s grey day.

Dearest Jesus, thank you for providing us the colors we need in our lives to give to others.  Work through us so that kindness reigns and our hope for tomorrow comes through your Word of today.  Bless us Jesus.  Amen!