God's Goodness

 

Here we are my friends, at the end of 2025.  I am certain that all of us experienced highs and lows during this past year.  Often, I have heard people describe their lives by the year that was ‘awesome’ for them.  They may say, “My best year was 1998,” or “2022 was the year for me!”  I have never been able to do that.  Each year has brought me great experiences and difficult challenges.  With each of those experiences, I have been able to learn something – something that makes me grow as a person.

My biggest lesson learned.  Whether I was standing on top of a mountain or wallowing in the bottom of a valley, my Lord was with me, standing beside me and walking with me through whatever journey I was on.  It is hard to see God’s goodness when we are in the lowest of valleys.  I find myself questioning God when I am in challenging times – can He hear me, can He see me, does not He know what I am going through!  My friends, He does hear us; He does see us; He certainly knows what we are feeling – even without us uttering a word to Him.

The beauty of our Lord is that His purpose is divine.  We cannot see the goodness that may be in store for us as we drudge through the muddiness of difficult moments.  Yet, we can firmly rely on the knowledge that He is with us and will get us to where we need to be. 

Now comes the challenge – think back over this past year.  Run through each month, each week, and see where God was good in your life.  Perhaps that work project that you sunk an incredible amount of time into went well.  Did your child achieve a milestone?  Were you able to make a purchase that you were hoping for (car, home, etc.)?  I can guarantee that there was a moment (probably numerous moments) throughout 2025 where God’s goodness shined.

Now, let us also review 2025 with an eye on the difficult moments.  Was there a loss in your life – a loved one, a job, a relationship?  Did you face a challenge – health issues, financial conditions?  Please know that whatever those difficulties were, our Lord was with you.  He guided you and walked with you.  The outcome may not have been what you or I had wanted, but the Lord guides us to goodness.  If we cannot see it now, we will get the opportunity to ask Him in heaven! 

My friends, reflect on God’s goodness in 2025 – and know that He will be with you as we walk into 2026.  Happy New Year – have simple faith that God is good – all the time!

Video that complements this post:  God's Goodness

God, thank you for your goodness – in good and tough times.  May I always sign your praises.  Amen!

The True Light

 

It is hard to believe how fast the time has gone—today marks the end of our journey through Advent, as we reach the fourth Sunday.   Hard to believe Christmas is less than a week away!  I pray that our focus on Jesus’ light and how we experience it has been a blessing during our time together this Advent season.

Our last verse is from John the Baptist.  Many believed that John was the Messiah.  He was quick to share that he was not the one who would be the Savior, but the one coming after him in His ministry, Jesus.  Here, John depicts Jesus as the TRUE light, who gives His light willingly to everyone.  This Godly light came into the world in Jesus.

Jesus is God.  Jesus is Light.  Jesus is Love, Truth, and Life.  The wonderful words of this verse jump off the page, stating that the only true light shines through our Savior, Jesus.  The next most important phrase is that He ‘gives light to everyone.’  You do not have to be a Jew OR a Gentile – His light is for all.  You do not have to be a certain race or color; Jesus gives His light to all.  Friends, the divisions of the day are man-made, not Christ-made.  Jesus brings his saving light to all who will have Him.

We need His light to shine over us so we can grow, thrive, and live!  Think about when a couple of cloudy days run together, we long to see the light.  The same occurs when darkness in our hearts and souls crowd their way in – we need light!  This light that brings us out of darkness only comes from the One who takes our darkness, the darkness of sin, and throws it away – only seeing who we truly are – God’s children.  What an incredible gift we are given in Jesus.

As Christmas approaches, may we spend some time reveling in the truth that our Jesus, the One True Light, is for us – for you and for me.  He came to earth to minister; to die and to rise again for each of us so we can live our lives in His light!  He came to us so that we may live with Him in paradise.  Our way to that paradise?  Believing that Jesus is our Savior is the only way to paradise. My friends, as we reflect on the light of the word, letting light shine and the light of the world, may we also remember the true light shines on us to provide us with hope, joy, truth, and love.  Merry Christmas to all!

Video that complements this post: The True Light

Dear One True Light, thank you for coming to earth so that we may have eternal life with you, Jesus!  May we always reflect on the light you so graciously give to us and may we be that light to others around us.  Amen!

Light of the World

 

Darkness—the quiet accumulation of negative thoughts that slowly overwhelm the spirit.  During the holiday season, when the world around us showers candy canes and lights on the trees, our spirit can be overcome by darkness.  This can surface for a variety of reasons.  Turning on the news and experiencing the darkness in our world (violence, wars, etc.), can bring us despair.  The grief of missing a loved one who has passed can bring a sense of emptiness.  Health challenges can bring a sense of hopelessness.  All of these situations and so many more can shower us with a heaviness we cannot explain.

Today’s verse brings us the light of hope in a world of darkness.  That light is our Jesus!  Jesus does not promise that our lives will not have dark moments.  In fact, John 16:33 states, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  And indeed, He has!  Our dark moments are covered by Jesus’ light.  Our walk through the dark moments can be isolating and leave us believing that no other person is enduring what we are enduring.  Fear not!  Jesus tells us we will never walk in darkness if we follow Him!

Jesus brings us something that nobody else can, the light of hope.  This light may not take away all the darkness we are feeling, but He brings us the light that can burn brighter than the dark.  Jesus’ love covers us with a veil of light.  We may never understand why the darkness has entered our lives.  Yet, the hope that is brought to us by the light of the Son of God provides us with an everlasting Father who will never leave us, never forsake us.  He is greater than this world.  He overcame death so that we may live in His light.

Jesus also gives us the opportunity to be a light to others.  Look around you this Christmas season.  Is there someone who you could give the light of hope?  Is there something you can do for another that will bring light to their darkness?  It could be as simple as a phone call, preparing a meal, praying together, or sitting in silence.  Letting someone else feel your light may be all another person needs.  Bring Jesus’ light of the world to those around us!

Video that complements blog post:  Light of the World

Dearest Jesus, thank you for being the light of the world.  Your light overshadows any darkness we may be feeling with hope and love.  Help us to look around us to those who may need hope and love this Christmas season.  Amen!  

Let Light Shine

 

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!  Remember that song from Sunday School days?  As we continue our theme of light this Advent season, I had to bring this special verse to ‘light.’  Jesus gave us our marching orders with this verse, and it is our job to ensure we carry out His request to those around us.

Sit back with me for a moment.  What does it mean to you to be a child of God?  How does it make you feel to know you are loved by God Himself, that you are one of His children?  For me, that feeling is one of warmth and joy.  Thinking about it brings a smile to my face and a skip to my step!  When we reflect on all the goodness Jesus brought to earth, to each one of us and the multitude of blessings we receive on a daily basis, it is difficult not to shine with happiness.

What Jesus is asking of us in this verse is to shine that happiness with those around us.  The goodness that He has given to us needs to be shared with those around us.  Having Jesus in our hearts is too good to keep to ourselves and certainly cannot be hidden from others.  I remember when I was going through struggles in my life, people would say to me, “You are so strong.  How can you even smile while going through this?”  The strength that I had was not my own, it was the Holy Spirit in me.  That smile?  It was coming from God.

Friends, our lives are not perfect, and I am certain we all experience difficult days.  Yet, when we have Jesus in our lives, the light will always be in us.  Let us share that light with others.  It can be as simple as a smile to a stranger, a kind word to the grocery clerk, or a hug to a family or friend that was not expected.  Want to share light on a grander scale?  Find a family that needs help and offers to buy groceries.  Babysit for the single mom down the street who could use a break.  Bring some cookies to the new neighbor who just moved in.  There are many ways for us to shine Jesus’ light to others.

During this Advent season, may we be the light of hope and truth that others are seeking.  When they ask us where our light comes from, may we proudly share that our light comes from Jesus – and would they like to attend church services or a Bible study with us.  Now that is shining Jesus’ light!

Video that compliments this blog is: Let Light Shine

Dearest Jesus, help us to remember to shine the light that YOU gave to us.  May we be the light to others as you are to us.  In your shining name we pray, Amen!