WORDS OF "LIGHT"

For words of "LIGHT", consider these verses from the Holy Scriptures:

Psalm 18:28

Psalm 119:105

Proverbs 13:9

Acts 26:18

John 12:46

Luke 11:36

Luke 12:35

Ephesians 6:17b

John 1:5

1 John 1:5

BE LIGHT. GO SHINE.

Grateful

He Will Place Us On a Firm Foundation

A pastor friend recently shared these powerful thoughts with me:

It seems to me that much suffering comes through broken relationships -- places where the enemy comes and seeks out who he can destroy.

We are told to stand firm. Don't fight like the world fights. Be strong in our faith. Then God will restore, support and strengthen us. If we duke it out like the world does,  we lose the opportunity to be light in a dark situation.

However if we humble ourselves, come under God's authority and stand  firm, He will place us on a firm foundation.

1 Peter 5:5b-11 (GWT) Furthermore, all of you must serve each other with humility, because God opposes the arrogant but favors the humble. ⁶ Be humbled by God’s power so that when the right time comes he will honor you.
⁷ Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. ⁸ Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. ⁹ Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering. ¹⁰ God, who shows you his kindness and who has called you through Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while. ¹¹ Power belongs to him forever. Amen. 

Grateful 

Holy Light

These four words hang on a professionally painted board over the exit doors of our local church sanctuary:
"Holiness Unto The Lord!"

And four more words are painted above the front exit doors of our local church foyer:
"Be Light! Go Shine!"

Click here: Go Light your World, by: Kathy Troccoli - YouTube

Let us go with His Holiness to light our world!
Grateful

"YES!" We Are The Light Of The World!

This morning in our worship services for the glory of Almighty God, I spoke from Isaiah 6:1-8. You know the passage? The passage where the prophet Isaiah saw and heard and said?
(1) ... saw Almighty God in His Greatness! Terrified.
(2) ... heard Almighty God in His Holiness! Purified.
(3) ... said "YES!" to Almighty God and His Call! Qualified.

It's true, God doesn't always call the qualified, but He always qualifies the called.

In verse Isaiah 6:8, we hear Isaiah's loud "YES!" to God's Call:
Here I am, Lord. Send me.!"

Our closing song of response was a Kari Jobe song simply titled "We Are." The lyrics are so lovely, and make the perfect response for those of us who will say "YES!" to be His witnesses of light in this too dark world.

Here's the song. Sing it in full surrender to the LORD Who still calls out: Who will go for us? Whom shall we send?

Click here: Kari Jobe - We Are (Lyrics) - YouTube

Yes, Lord Yes! We will BE LIGHT! GO SHINE!
Grateful

Keepers of The Lighthouses

A friend of mine, Keith D., found the words in italics below on a page of a book titled, "Leaves of Gold". He sent the words to me because our local church's annual men's retreat to The Outer Banks of North Carolina (now in its seventeenth year) is called "Keepers of the Light". Being raised along the coastline, it's a moving piece of literature for my heart, mind, and soul:

Keepers of the lighthouses do not launch any ships, it is true, but they keep many a good ship from going to wreck. The light shines farther than keepers of the light can see, and brightest when they cannot see at all. Two things they have to remember -- to keep the light burning, and never to get in between the light and the darkness they've been set to lighten.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. -- Words of Jesus in Matthew 5:14 (NIV)

Lord, I want to be a keeper of Your Light, that is, I want to keep the light of Your Hope that burns within me shining at all times. Also, help me not to block out the light, lest those lost in sin's dark night would not see the shine of Your Presence and tragically not find their way Home to You. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Click here: YouTube - The Crabb Family -- The Lighthouse

Be Light. Go Shine.

Grateful

Who Lights Your Lamp?

In Psalm 18 (ESV) these words rise up from within the passage to warm my heart today:

With the merciful You show Yourself merciful... for You save a humbled people... for it is You, Who lights my lamp, the Lord My God lightens my darkness...

Let us now as lantern wavers... Be Light! Go Shine!
Grateful

Are You Weary? Are You Sorrowing?

For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.
-- Jeremiah 31:25 (TLB)

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light. -- Words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 (TLB)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

The Jesus Lamp: Nazareth Village

In the town of Nazareth there is a small village experience dedicated to the hometown life of Jesus. When you exit the pilgrimage site, each person receives a piece of pottery called the Jesus Lamp. It is a replica of the lamp Jesus once used for light during his time on planet earth. It's a sacred little gift.

Last year, Dusty, a young man who journeyed with us on our yearly pilgrimage to the Holy Land was really moved by the Nazareth Village experience. So much so, that he inspired all in our group to give a donation so we could buy a brick and support the efforts of the pilgrimage site. On the brick Dusty had just four, one-syllable words engraved: BE LIGHT! GO SHINE!

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Arise & Shine!

Arise, my soul... for Your Lord is Risen!
Shine, be light... for Your Lord is Glorified!

The children's praise chorus shouts aloud:
Rise and shine. Give God the glory, glory!

Awake, you who sleep. Arise from the dead. And Christ will give you light.-- Ephesians 5:14 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Pure Light

1 John 1:5 from the Message Paraphrase of the Holy Bible contains these eternally bright words:

God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in Him.

Lord, let Your pure light come and shine in and through me. Yes, that I might BE LIGHT! GO SHINE! ... Your pure light to Your world. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful