Day 333 - Christmas Lights

"At the end of the night the kids watched a Charlie Brown Christmas and then we drove home and looked at some Christmas lights on the way before getting the kids in bed."

Every year looking at Christmas lights with the kids has been a tradition that has kept our family close. I enjoy hearing the kids ooh's and ah's and seeing their faces light up with the large displays. 

There is a street in a neighborhood close to our house we have gone to a couple of years in a row that everyone on the street puts up a huge display. It is actually all linked together and they have their own radio transmitter so you can listen and watch from your car as everything moves and switches on and off in time. 

During this season we need to remember the words of Jesus that we are the light of the world. We have something to shine this season. Don't hide your light under a basket but put it on a stand for everyone to see. 

Take it a step further to our illustration link up with other believers this season and show the unity of the body of Christ. Let the world see how with one mind and one mouth we declare the praises of God together. They will tune in and want to be a part of that light. 

We have the greatest story to tell and the most opportune time to tell it. Put the Light of the world on display. He is after all the reason for the season!

Do you enjoy looking at Christmas lights? How can we shine the light of Jesus this season? 

Day 319 - Too Early For Christmas?

"We went to Costco and got Christmas lights. I put them up today so this marks the earliest we have ever put them up."

First off let me say that I love Costco. (With respect to the the Sam's Club lovers of coarse. I worked at Sam's for two years so I have much love for them as well.) Now that we have that out of the way lets get to the point. 

Christmas lights. My wife loves Christmas. Much like my love for Costco only she gets one time a year whereas I get multiple opportunities every month to express my love. Because my wife loves Christmas so much she has me moving bins of decorations, setting up trees and putting up lights. 

Last year I invested in LED lights. I would agree with everyone who just thought that LED lights do not look as good as the old incandescents. But they are more efficient with energy, cost less and burn out less frequently. Convenience over aesthetics any day. In our neighborhood we had an unspoken race with our neighbors that only we knew about (so we thought) for who could get our lights up earliest. Last year we won and then this year we moved securing our crown as earliest house in the neighborhood to have their lights up forever. 

Some would scoff and say it is too early for Christmas. But just like I said in my Thanksgiving post earlier this month that it should not be the only time we say thanks is on Thanksgiving we also should celebrate Christmas more than on December 25th. 

How can you limit the wonder of God becoming a baby to a single day? That is a light that should shine in our hearts all year long. People should wonder at the joy we carry because that same Christ now lives in us. We have the most wonderful story to tell of the most wonderful time of the year. 

Don't hold back, shine the light of the season early and often. 

What do you enjoy about Christmas? How does that shine the light of Jesus to others?

Day 304 - Talking Snakes

"We saw the need to train our people more and get the Word and discipleship into their hearts"

This comment came after seeing the spirit of Halloween expressed in some our church members. There is nothing wrong with dressing up the kids (or yourself if you're in to that) and getting candy. We have no problem with having fun or even with decorations. Where we have to question is the expression of those things. 

What would cause one of the children of the Light to want to look like the darkness? Why would someone with the resurrected Christ living in them want to decorate their house or their body like the dead? We were brought out of that kingdom into the Kingdom of Light. Our expressions should be from that place of life and light. 

Again, there is nothing wrong with dressing in costumes or having candy or decorating. All three of our children dress up each year and get candy. We also have pumpkins and fall colors around the house. But with all of these things we talk to our children about life and death. We tell them about spiritual realities. We also encourage them to go away from where the current of society is and to stand for the things of God. 

Many people who attend church and who love Jesus don't even realize how much the world influences them. They slip in to the patterns of society without a second thought. We were taken out of darkness so we should live in the light we have. As a pastor it is my goal to get the Word of God in to people's hearts so that they can have the light to see from it. All throughout the Bible you see the Word described as light. Jesus is our light. The Word is a light to our feet and a lamp to our path. The entrance of God's word brings light. 

I find it interesting though that the devil is always trying to hide that light. He is a liar though. We need to realize that when there is a snake talking to us we are listening to the wrong voice. It didn't turn out well for Eve and it won't turn out well for us. When the devil comes like a slippery snake and tells us that everything is okay and we don't need God's standards or His word in our lives the only way to combat Him is through the Word of God. Even Jesus when He was tempted by Satan spoke the scriptures. The more we speak the more light we bring. And the darkness cannot overtake the light. 

Let's shine the light on a dark night. Don't hide your light under a basket that looks like the world around you. Put your light on a lamp stand so all can see it's light. Speak the Word! Teach your children the Word. Tell others about Jesus. And if your heading out to get some candy...be safe and have fun!

What are some ways to shine the light on Halloween? How can we teach our children the right expressions on Halloween? 

Day 215 - Your Hour Is Up

"On the way to church the sky was beautiful. At one point the sun was beaming through in several directions shooting rays brightly to the earth through dark massive clouds."

When Jesus was confronted by the chief priests the temple guard and the elders who had come out to take Him, He said, "This is your hour, and the power of darkness." There was a time when the devil had authority on the earth. The devil usurped authority and took the dominion from man when Adam and Eve rebelled in the garden of Eden. It was under that power and authority that Jesus came and lived under the law. He fulfilled the requirement of the law and when He was crucified His blood was shed in innocence. He was guilty of no sin, not one. Jesus qualified to be our sacrifice. When He raised from the dead He took the keys of the kingdom back from the devil. Authority and power was restored rightfully to Him. 

I know this is deep but let me make it simple. Because of what Jesus has done darkness has no power. There is no rule or authority above His. It is all under His control. You never have to be afraid of the devil. You don't have to fear tomorrow. No matter how dark it may seem remember that light always overcomes. In blackest deepest darkest space the tiniest light could illuminate the space. Jesus is on the throne victorious. 

If that wasn't enough He has now given the church His authority and power. If you have been born again into the kingdom of God then you have the authority and power of God. All you have to do to enforce that authority is speak in the name of Jesus. We are ambassadors of Christ. We speak on His behalf now. So if any forces of darkness try to come against us we can bring them under subjection to the Word of God. You have to know it and declare it. 

Clouds may hide the light for a time but the brightness of the sun will soon shine through. 

How does this understanding effect your life? What scriptures do you use when confronted with darkness?

Day 89 - The Quality of Light

"There were a couple of discouraging events this morning though neither overshadowed the day. Thankfully light shines in the dark."

It is the nature of light to shine. It takes on a greater quality in contrast with dark. If we only had good days we wouldn't appreciate the warmth and character of light as we do in adversity. 

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is the first chapter of John. He opens his gospel with a recount of creation from an eternal perspective on the God side of the story. It is like the Genesis of the New Testament. In this passage he describes light and it's quality. One of the qualities is that the darkness could not comprehend or overcome the light. 

No matter how dark it gets we can be sure that the tiniest bit of light will overcome the darkness. Even better than this is that Jesus is the light. If you have him you have the greatest light. In eternity there is no need for the sun and moon in the New Jerusalem for the Lamb will be our light. This same great light is the light that lives in us. We will never walk in darkness. 

What quality do you think of when you think of light? (Warmth, color, contrast, etc.) How can we walk in the light? 

Day 9 - Revelations

"There were two things in my study time today that stood out from Acts 20. First of all is verse 8. Such a random verse that I know I have read before but never took notice of. "There were many lights in the upper room where we were meeting." God could have excluded this detail and yet in Luke's mind as he writes the Holy Spirit reminds him of a third floor room with a large chamber where Paul was preaching for late long hours. So impressive was this well lit room that while the narration of a very important story is being told that he includes the visual magnitude of what he saw. Many lights. Why would God include this? There are many revelations, many people, many comforts, many witnesses; we should take notice and feel the warmth. Spend many hours listening and looking. Gazing and looking into the things of God and, like the angels, the things of salvation expressed in man. Second was the name Eutychus. This guy falls out of a third story window and dies because he fell asleep while the Apostle is preaching. Talk about a discouragement to the preacher! I would never want to speak again! But Paul embraces him and says that his life is still in him. After he concludes and leaves at daybreak they bring Eutychus in alive. His name means 'fortunate'. He was fortunate to be alive after that fall. How fortunate we are that no matter what happens to us in life that we have Jesus. Christ in us. He is the life that is still in us though our situation or circumstance may be dead. He is the one who raises us up even when we fall."

You won't get revelation from God without taking the time to spend with Him. When you do the many lights will be remembered. What revelation that the life inside us is Christ Himself!

What has God revealed to you last year or even about the year ahead? Do you remember the many lights He has given you?