Author: Barbara

My passion is to encourage women wherever they are on their life journey. In everything I write and in every opportunity to speak, my goal is to offer hope. May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV

Light Paramount

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

12/22/2022

Christmas Light, #4

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” Isaiah 66:1-2

The light of God’s glory illuminates the darkness of our thoughts and the fears of our souls. His light within, fills us with hope for a future light brighter than any we’ve seen—clearer than we can comprehend, glorious beyond description, lacking shadow and haze, intense but not glaring, elating and refreshing our souls.

The light that guided wisemen to the Savior, guides us to kneel before Him. We worship Him now but anticipate living in the light of His glory, when darkness no longer covers the earth. His light in us urges our hearts to anticipate life in His kingdom.

The celebration of Christmas offers us a respite from our stifling darkness as it points us to a realm undimmed by sin. Think for a moment about the dark effect of our current dwelling place: distrust, insecurity, fear, hostility, intimidation, inferiority, bitterness, offence, jealousy, anger, uncertainty, suspicion, tension, threats, instability, and so on. It is hard to imagine living in a world of light where God will erase every shadow.

There will be no negative words, questionable glances, or critical comments. We will believe the best, attain the most, succeed in our efforts, excel in our gifts, rejoice unrestrained.

At Christmas, may our anticipation of happy company, shared meals, and joyous gift-giving, pique our longing for the full, unhindered, and pure joy that awaits us.

Light Predominant

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12/15/2022

Christmas Light, #3

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Luke 2:8-9

An angel appeared and the Lord’s glory shone. Astonishing! Miraculous! Overwhelming! But there’s more. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel” (v.13, emphasis mine). However far we stretch our imagination, we cannot envision the sight and sound of angels singing and glory shining—the splendor of light, the radiance of a heavenly host, the crescendo of celestial voices. It’s almost as incomprehensible as the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:6:

God… made his light shine in our hearts
to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory.

            The light of God’s glory… in us. The knowledge of Him shining from within, glowing in our clay vessels, lighting our way, exposing darkness, revealing truth. Jesus called us the light of the world, emitting light as a city on a hill, light that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14).

In your Christmas visiting, let your light shine. Speak truth, testify to God’s grace, offer words that encourage. You are the light of the world.

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

Light Present

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Christmas Light, #2

In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. John 1:4, 9

Christmas celebrates the day the light of all mankind entered the world. The shadowed prophecies of old were fulfilled in a stable in Bethlehem. The King came in humble circumstances, to humble people, with humble shepherds as His first worshippers. And His light shined.

The light didn’t shine as the halo in an artistic rendering. Nor did it shine with the arrogance of an official legal decree. It shined in the dark places where sin hid, revealing the arrival of a new day—the day when life would overcome death. From then til now, it pulsates in the hearts of those who welcome Him. His light in us reveals truth, unmasks lies, illuminates shadows, gives clarity, and directs our way. The light of life is ours.

Jesus said, “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

Let your beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts remind you of God’s Gift of light shining in your heart.

Light Promised

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The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
— Isaiah 9:2

This prophecy from Isaiah had to seem like a lifeline for Jews living under the darkness of Roman rule. Their situation was untenable. They were powerless in their own land and longed for a Messiah to save them, the dawning of a new day. We empathize with their desperate hope that a light would rise in their dark world.

We also live in shadowy times—right and wrong is blurred, values are muddled, and self is exalted. Shades of gray encroach on truth and its light is dimmed. Like the Jews, we cry out, “How long, Lord?” The difference from our darkness and that of the Jews, is that the Light has come. We see the great Light they longed for… and sought to extinguish. His name is Jesus and His light is in us. We are not delivered from the perils of this world but it lives and pulses in us, shining its hope as we live in this land of deep darkness until the light of His eternal kingdom dawns.

Let every Christmas light—the twinkling white fairy lights, the glowing colored bulbs, the flickering candle flames—remind you a that Light shines in our darkness… and it leads us Home.