God Continues to Teach Me Archives - Page 14 of 15

Food, Hunger and January Diets

01/13/2017 By: CCPearson1 Comment

It’s no surprise that gyms are full of new signees in January, that Weight Watcher memberships rise, and that diet products of every description fly off the grocery shelves once New Year’s Day comes to a close. It makes sense. After a summer of backyard barbecues and homemade ice cream, we sail into fall with its tailgating, Saturday football watching/munching marathons, bags of Halloween candy, Thanksgiving tables that groan under the weight and then round after round of Christmas parties that just wouldn’t be “right” without all of the casseroles, candies, pies and cakes. Throw in the constant stream of restaurant meals serving single portions large enough for 3 people, and the shocking act of stepping on the scales on January 2nd is a horrifying experience.

Our doctors look at us with dismay, and our clothes pop buttons and beg us to buy a bigger size. We claim that “it’s cold and a good day to hang out in sweat pants,” but truthfully, we hang out in those sweat pants whether it’s cold or not, because they’re baggy and have an elastic waist. Some of us view food as our emotional fixer. When we’re depressed, we eat. When we’re worried, we eat. When we’re bored, we eat. When we’re happy, we eat. “Let’s go out and celebrate!” Right? We don’t like to be hungry or thirsty or feel deprived in any way.

Yet, I think there is clear indication in the Bible that we NEED to feel more times of true hunger and thirst in our lives. No, not the kind suffered by starving people during times of famine or the pitiful scenarios of desperate refugees in makeshift camps. That’s just almost more than we can endure, right? But, maybe that desperateness is something we really DO need to feel, especially if it is a desperation and craving for more of God.

The Psalmist understood. Psalm 63:1 – “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.” And Psalm 42:2 “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?” That yearning is so very important to our growth as His children, to understanding Him and His ways more completely, for learning to trust in His plans for our lives, and for truly grasping what He desires for us and from us.

We have a promise straight from the mouth of Jesus in John 6:35: “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” And another indication of what He wants us to thirst and hunger for (rather than rich, unhealthy food) is in Matthew 5:6 is: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

And another tidbit my daughter Laura pointed out to me this morning in Hebrews 13:9: “. . . for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods . . .”

As we all renew our commitment to make healthier choices in this coming year, will you join me in seeking to earnestly hunger and thirst for more of God and less of what TV commercials and restaurant menus would have us believe we simply must have? Shall we substitute cravings for fatty foods and sweet tea for more time with Him? We’ve spoiled ourselves rotten far too long. This won’t be easy. But the Bible promises that coming to Him will satisfy our deep-down hunger and thirst.

P.S. I am a travel writer. I write restaurant reviews. Gulp. Hold me accountable. I can taste something without consuming “all of it” and 10,000 calories in the process. Right? I can share with Steve and bring home doggie bags. Right? Food (like money) is not inherently evil. It’s the overboard consumption and LOVE of food that’s the killer. I never said all of this would be easy. Thus, the purpose of today’s blog. To remind myself of how God wants to direct my own hunger and thirst. Just being transparent in my blog today. Progress reports to come.

COMPLETE Obedience Requires Careful Listening

01/06/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

“Golpea la roca!” “Golpea la roca!” I remember hearing an Ecuadorian preacher say those words over and over during a sermon years ago from Exodus 17:1-6. I confess that I understood only a small portion of that sermon, but those particular words stuck in my mind. “Strike the rock!” God told Moses to use his rod to strike the rock in order to get fresh water for the people. It was a specific instruction to fill a specific need. The preacher was using the passage to remind the congregation of the importance of obeying God’s commands in all the areas of their lives. It’s a fascinating story.

The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. ²So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

³But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

⁴Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

⁵The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. ⁶I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. Exodus 17:1-6

Everything turned out great. The people had water, and Moses continued to demonstrate that he was God’s chosen man to lead them.

BUT, a big problem came up in the very next book of the Bible. Once again the people were thirsty and complained bitterly and loudly to Moses and his brother Aaron. Again, Moses cried out to the Lord for an answer. The Lord spoke to him and said —

“Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.” Numbers 20:8

So Moses did ALMOST exactly what God had commanded. He took his rod. He assembled the people. They stood before the rock. But instead of SPEAKING to the rock, he struck it twice with his rod. Water came gushing out of the rock, but God was displeased. So displeased, in fact, that he declared that neither Moses nor Aaron would be allowed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Speak.

Strike.

Both words begin with the same letter and end with the same letter sound — at least in English. I need to ask my son what the words are in Hebrew. But the commands from God were distinctive and specific, and Moses chose to disregard the difference. He suffered a huge consequence for obeying PARTIALLY.

What has God told me to do that I’ve only done a percentage of but not 100%? When have I followed His instructions for me from last year but not the ones for this year? In what areas have I failed to believe that He wants to show me and teach me something NEW and to reveal even more of His power and holiness? Why do I stop short of complete obedience?

These are questions I’m asking myself as I look at my fresh, clean 2017 calendar. What will total obedience to God look like this year and where will it take me? I hope I’ll be willing to find out.

Stepping into 2017

12/30/2016 By: CCPearson12 Comments

Many things happened in my life during 2016. Some events were awfully good, while others were just plain awful. Can you relate to that?

Because of my new identity as a travel writer, I discovered hundreds of new restaurants, inns, attractions and towns. In January, I focused on Tuscaloosa and the Shoals. In February, we were in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In March, we made a great anniversary trip to Plantation Country in Louisiana between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. In April, we discovered the beauty of St. Simons Island, Georgia and more unique shops and eateries in Franklin, TN. And in May, we explored the Five Points area of Birmingham and found several uncommonly good restaurants. In August, we spent several days in Auburn and at Calloway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA. In October, we spent a week on the stunningly gorgeous coast of Maine, and in November, we were back in Auburn to cheer on the Tigers, in Orange Beach for a Food Bloggers Summit and in Franklin to enjoy 3 of the grandkids. Along the way, we met interesting people and made delightful new friends. Then came Cousins Camp and Thanksgiving. Talk about a whirlwind!!!

But, in the middle of all of that traveling, we faced the unexpected death of my beloved stepmother June, the subsequent care of my dad requiring numerous trips to Troy, the ordeal of moving him to north Alabama and then discovering his dire diagnosis of mylodysplastic syndrome. He died exactly 5 months and 2 days after June died.

While I was facing grief in my own family, I had several close friends walking through the last weeks and days with their loved ones, too. All of the sadness was agonizing.

2016 brought many, many tears, while it also provided numerous happy times with friends and family. It’s a good thing I didn’t know what all would happen this year. But, BECAUSE of all that happened in 2016, I’m a little extra apprehensive about all that 2017 will bring. Notice that I didn’t use the word “anxious,” because the Bible clearly tells us to “be anxious for nothing.” Philippians 4:6. I don’t have a crystal ball. I can’t see what lies ahead. At this point, I can only see a small glimpse of what the early days of January MIGHT be like.

Recently, the weatherman warned that we would have “frozen fog” the following morning. I had to be out and about and stopped long enough to capture this phenomenon as I drove through my neighborhood. To me, it’s a good depiction of what our view of 2017 is like. We can see a hint of what is there, but the rest is blurry and obscured. We will have to actually “get out and walk through it” in order to see the year more clearly.

Dense fog in my neighborhood.

I’ve been searching the scripture and reading applications from pastors I admire to find the courage and the encouragement I need to start walking through 2017 with a light, expectant, joyful heart. I especially found Rick Warren’s 3 suggestions helpful. He said:

Set goals based on God’s direction. Jeremiah 29:11 and 13 — “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. . . . You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

2. Live one day at a time. Matthew 6:34 — “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has

enough trouble of its own.” And Isaiah 26:3 –“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

3. Don’t procrastinate. Proverbs 27:1 — “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” I think that also strongly suggests that if God puts someone on your heart to spend time with or to do an act of kindness for, then do it. Strive to live without regrets.

In addition to Warren’s thoughts, I’m claiming other verses, as well:

Deuteronomy 31:6 — “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Psalm 55:22 — Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.“

HAPPY 2017 EVERYONE! Ready or not, here it comes!

P.S. And, oh yes, my book finally got published in 2016. I hope you’ll order it in print or on Kindle soon through Amazon. “Telling It On the Mountain: 52 Days in the Life of an Improbable Missionary.”

Emmanuel/Immanuel — JESUS

12/23/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

The word “Emmanuel” draws me every time I hear it. The concept that GOD IS WITH US is almost too big to comprehend. I am in awe that God, who was already surrounding us, protecting us, wooing us, loving us and sometimes reprimanding us while still extending His mercy and grace also chose to come to earth to “be with us.”

Isaiah 7:14 — “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Matthew 1:18-23 — (Matthew, the disciple and author of this book, quoted the verse in Isaiah and proceeded to translate it for us). “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, “God with us.”

The Greek words here describe an association that means “with us in very close association.” “With” in this context suggests a firm bond. And, we can take that a step further. Not only is He with us now, but He has been with us in the events of our lives leading up to the present, and He will be with us when our lives come to an end.

That’s Jesus, the One whose birth is celebrated this month. As the angel instructed Joseph before Baby Jesus was born: “And she (Mary) will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” God the Father made provision for us through God the Son so that we could receive forgiveness for our sins and not be separated from God because of those sins. Hallelujah!

Back in the 80’s, I was teaching chorus at Hartselle Junior High School, and a popular song by Bette Midler came on the scene called “From a Distance.” The students, especially the girls, loved to sing it. Many of the lyrics were nice:

From a distance
The world looks blue and green
And the snow capped mountains white
From a distance
The ocean meets the stream
And the eagle takes to flight

From a distance
There is harmony
And it echoes through the land
Its the voice of hope
Its the voice of peace
Its the voice of every man.

But the chorus always made me cringe:

God is watching us
God is watching us
God is watching us
From a distance.

No, no, a thousand times, no. God is NOT watching us from a distance. He is right beside us and watching us from as close as it is possible to be watched. He even has the power to watch us from the inside. He knows our hearts and our thoughts before we even form them. My students probably rolled their eyes as I repeated my correction to the words over and over. I sure hope they have remembered.

Because of EMMANUEL, God is with us . . . right beside us . . . inside of us . . . CLOSE.

Definitely a reason to celebrate. Merry Christmas, everyone.

Lesson from a 5-Year-Old

12/16/2016 By: CCPearson1 Comment

Because of my dad’s death this past July, we had Cousins Camp the week leading up to Thanksgiving this year. During one of our fun meals around the table here at home, I decided to use the opportunity to get some Christmas ideas from the 10 grandchildren that were here, knowing that they could also chime in about ideas for the other two. The suggestions were pretty predictable, especially knowing their various personalities. Art materials, doll clothes and hairbows for the girls. Sports items and gift card requests for the boys, etc. A pretty normal, run-of-the-mill list until we came to Sam — actually Samuel Pearson Rodgers, age 5.

Samuel, age 5, with his 2-year-old brother, Silas. They like being all dressed up for church.

Sam’s suggestions were surprising — doll clothes, a purse, baby dolls, a Candy Land game, skates, etc. After each item he mentioned, he’d grin when we said, “No, surely not, Sam.” Maggie, Sam’s 9-year-old sister, finally figured out what was happening and shared her insight. “He’s not asking for things for himself. He’s naming what he’s heard his sisters and friends say. He wants us to give those things to him, SO HE CAN GIVE OTHERS WHAT THEY WANT.” Did you get that? He wanted gifts he could give away. I don’t know why that startled me so much. I know Sam is a very sensitive, intuitive little boy, but, doesn’t it go against the normal “bent” of a person to think of OTHERS first??

As I’ve made my way through store aisles and crowds in past weeks trying to fulfill as many desires as possible, Sam’s perspective has stayed with me. Don’t worry. Steve and I have found a couple of gifts that we think he’ll enjoy, but I believe if we had given him “something pink” or “something for a 2-year-old brother,” Sam would be perfectly content to turn around and give it to his brother or one of his sisters. Thank you, Sam, for this very timely reminder.

Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Philippians 2:4 — “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others.”

2 Corinthians 9:7b — “God loves a cheerful giver.”

Happy gift-giving and gift-receiving, everyone!

More Christmas Thoughts

12/09/2016 By: CCPearson2 Comments

If you live in the vicinity of Athens, AL or will be in the area December 17 and 18 — next week — I want to cordially invite you to our choir’s Christmas program called “An Athens Christmas.” It will be presented at 6:00 p.m. both evenings in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church at the corner of Clinton and Hobbs St. We have been working diligently on our music, and I believe it will be a worshipful service that will greatly contribute to your holiday spirit. Admission is free. Look for me in the alto section. 🙂

In the middle of all the attention we pay to notes and rhythm, the WORDS will be the most important part we need to communicate. I actually like ALL of the songs we’re singing this year, and our soloists are outstanding. One you will recognize is a very jazzy, jivey arrangement of “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”

In 2002, Steve and I had our tickets ready to leave for Ecuador on December 27, a mere two days after Christmas. We were spending a lot of time saying good-bye to family and friends and getting in hugs that would need to last for a very long time. On the Sunday morning before our departure, we were asked to “say a few words” to the congregation at Central Baptist Church in Decatur. I used the song “Go Tell It On the Mountain” to help in asking our fellow church members to pray for us. Since we were going to be serving in the Andes Mountains, I asked them to visualize a mountain in every way they could — a mountain of work piled on their desk, a mountain of laundry waiting for the washing machine, a trip to the mountains for vacation, etc. etc. — and to let that word be a trigger for remembering us as we started our work. It was a rallying cry, so to speak. So, every time we sing the song, I remember that time.

Two other words have become dear to me, also, as we’ve rehearsed this fall. “Noel” and “hallelujah.”

In a strict sense, Noel means Christmas. Joyeux noel in French means “Merry Christmas.” But the word COULD be derived from the French word novelles, which means news. I like to believe that at Christmas time the meaning is news, and not just news but GOOD NEWS. “The first noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay. In fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel. Noel. Noel. Noel. Born is the King of Israel.” Yes. Very, very good news indeed.

The first and last songs in our program contain a LOT of “Hallelujahs.” PRAISE THE LORD is the meaning. Hallelujah and Alleluia mean the same thing. It is interesting that this word is found 50 times in the Old Testament but in only one setting in the New Testament. In Revelation 19, at the wedding feast of the Lamb, after all of the enemies of God have been destroyed and Christ is victorious over all, HALLELUJAH is the only word strong, majestic and grand enough to describe the outpouring of praise and rejoicing that will happen in heaven by God’s people. So, I will happily sing those words in our program and picture the time to come when we’ll sing it in heaven.

Read Revelation 19:1-6 and enjoy those “hallelujahs!”

Funerals and a Christmas Song

12/02/2016 By: CCPearson5 Comments

Two things have been happening all around me in recent days. The funerals of my friends’ loved ones and practicing for our church choir’s annual Christmas presentation.

My friend Betty Dean lost her husband. She was by his side for over 50 years of marriage and watched him battle cancer for 14 years. She and her daughter have some huge adjustments ahead and now have a big hole in their lives where Julian used to be.

My friend Jan lost her mother. Mrs. Britt was a saint at my church and lived a very active full life until receiving a diagnosis of end stage colon cancer. She was 89. Jan and her sister faithfully took care of her during much of this past year.

Seven-year-old Kayleigh McClendon died of a brain tumor the week before Thanksgiving. Thousands of people followed her mother’s posts on Facebook chronicling Kayleigh’s 6 1/2 month long journey through the valley of death and into the presence of Jesus.

Debbie, the wife of my cousin, was stunned by the news that her 18-year-old nephew had died in an automobile accident on Thanksgiving night.

My friend Susie buried her mother Joy yesterday. She suffered a stroke and was gone a few days later. Joy was an icon in Hartselle, AL and a much-beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

Facebook friend and former fellow church member Gayle died this week after having a sudden stroke. She was buried yesterday.

The very good news is that all of the ones I’ve mentioned were saved. They were followers of Christ who are now in heaven. Their grieving family members can take great comfort in the fact that they are no longer suffering. They are now in a place of unending joy, praise and worship, where there is no pain.

A song that has become a traditional part of our Christmas presentation is called “All Is Well.” Here are the lyrics:

All is well, all is well. Angels and men rejoice, rejoice! For tonight darkness fell into the dawn of love’s light. Sing alle, sing alleluia!

All is well, all is well. Let there be peace on earth. Christ is come, go and tell that He is in the manger. Sing alle, sing alleluia!

All is well, all is well. Lift up your voice and sing. Born is now Emmanuel. Born is our Lord and Savior. Sing alleluia. Sing alleluia. All is well.

Born is now Emmanuel. Born is our Lord and Savior. Sing alleluia! Sing alleluia! All is well! All is well! All is well! (Words and Music by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Michael W. Smith)

There is deep, almost unspeakable sadness when a loved one dies. We miss them terribly and long for a chance to have one more hug, one more conversation, one more smile. But, it is so very important to remember that if that loved one is a Child of God, they are okay now. All, indeed, is well. And, hopefully, that can be our comfort, too.

Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants.”

SO Thankful

11/25/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.” Psalm 107:31

Cousins Camp 2016 (officially the 9th Pearson Cousins Camp) ended yesterday afternoon when the last family carload drove out of the driveway. 10 eager campers (a.k.a. Pearson grandchildren who are at least 4 years old and potty-trained) arrived before noon last Saturday. Then about 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day the parents arrived with side dishes and desserts. We enjoyed a last few hours together sharing our tales, and then they all headed back to Somerville, AL, Franklin, TN, and Rome, GA. The house had a very, shall we say, “lived-in look” about it, but it was suddenly much quieter than it had been in 6 days.

Steve and I took awhile to reflect and revisit our favorite moments from the time we’d just spent with those amazing children. Oh yes, we’re tired, but this is a treasured event for us each year. We will continue as long as we possibly can or until the kids are too old to want to come — a thought that makes us incredibly sad. We will admit to a sense of relief when the children are safely delivered back to their parents, but there is also a feeling of extreme gratitude to God for blessing our time and keeping all of us safe and healthy.

On a Mystery Trip to Tom’s Wall in Florence – the longest unmortared wall in the United States.

We had a slightly-mashed finger at the bowling alley, a couple of bumped heads during the Laundry Ceremony, 2 lost teeth, and 3 with allergy-type coughs, but those issues were very minor.

We rented a 15-passenger van for the week and drove several hundred miles back and forth to Decatur, Florence, Athens and Huntsville without an accident — something that we are SO thankful for.

We shared 16 meals together. Not everyone liked everything they were served, but no one starved, no one choked, and no one threw up. Hallelujah!

The 16-year-old in the group hung in there with all of the younger ones. She’s the one they all look up to. It’s amazing that she keeps such a positive attitude.

MOST of the activities planned were approved by the campers with one notable exception that is sure to become part of the Cousins Camp lore in years ahead.

We laughed A LOT.

Steve and I LOVE having these days to listen, to watch and to teach. We have been richly blessed with these young people — the children of our children.

Thanks be to God.

Thoughts from the Super Moon

11/18/2016 By: CCPearson2 Comments

A few nights ago, we had a front row seat for a spectacular phenomenon right outside the windows in our family room — a huge, bright, full Super Moon!! According to experts, the moon was the closest it has been to the earth since January 26, 1948!! Several years before I was born. What a treat! It was as if God had super-sized this wonder of His creation just for our benefit.

(From Google Images — labeled for noncommercial reuse)

After I gazed in awe, I had to chuckle for just a minute. All three of our children spent a portion of their teenage years working for McDonald’s Corporation (which, by the way, not only taught them about being an employee and earning a paycheck, it also provided great motivation to continue their educations). It was during those years that they were taught to say, upon taking an order, “Can I super-size that for you?” Fodder for family laughter as you might expect.

I most definitely do not want my dress size to be super-sized, but, after the awe and the chuckle, I thought about aspects of my life that I truly WOULD like to super-size.

FAITH — I consider myself to be a woman of faith, but what would it look like for my faith to be super-sized? How does a person increase their faith? Does it require testing? Does it come from recognition of God’s hand at work?

Hebrews 11:1 — “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

LOVE — I love my husband, children, grandchildren, family members and friends deeply. How can I increase that love? What acts or words would help me to assure those in my sphere of influence that they are greatly loved by me?

1 John 4:7 — “Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

PRAYER LIFE — I often have ongoing conversations with God throughout the day and for short periods in the morning. And, of course, during times of crisis my prayers increase. What results would come from a super-sized prayer life without a crisis?

1 Thessalonians 5:17 — “Pray without ceasing.”

What areas of your own life would you like to see God super-size just as He did to that moon a few nights ago? Don’t be surprised if I edit this post again and again in coming weeks as He puts more reminders on my heart.

The Lesson of Lighthouses

11/11/2016 By: CCPearson2 Comments

After reading my post from Monday, October 31, you’re probably not surprised to find that I want to make a spiritual application.

For 65+ years of my life, I didn’t think much about lighthouses. But, just in this past year, I have seen some lighthouses in both St. Simons Island, Georgia and in Maine that have stirred a new fascination on the subject. Some facts from a little research:

What is a lighthouse? A tower with a bright light at the top.

Where is a lighthouse built? At an important or dangerous place in terms of travel over water.

How is a lighthouse designed? It is designed to withstand local environmental conditions, and each one is given different colors and patterns to distinguish them from each other.

Before automation, what was the role of the lighthouse keeper? To make sure that the light did not go out during the nighttime, during fog or during storms and to be available to help rescue sailors in case of a shipwreck.

What are the purposes of a lighthouse?

To emit light using a system of lamps and lenses.
To project light at night and to serve as a navigational marker by day.
To help identify a ship’s location, to warn of potential hazards, and to notify the ship’s captain that land is near.

It makes perfect sense to me that a lighthouse is a VERY BIG DEAL for someone who is navigating a large ship, a small boat, or any size vessel on the water.

Head Harbor Lightstation, Campobello, New Brunswick.

What does that have to do with me? Naturally, I am reminded of all the references to “light” in the Bible. Jesus Himself was the ultimate lighthouse.

John 8:12 “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.'”

And, the Bible itself serves as a lighthouse.

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

But, then Jesus says that I am supposed to be a light, along with all of my Christian brothers and sisters.

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

When I think of Jesus’ words today and I think about the function of a lighthouse, I’m convicted. Oh, MOST of the time I feel that I’m being a light, but also MOST of the time, I definitely don’t shine brightly enough. I wonder if my light would continue to shine throughout a very dark night or during the time of a terrible storm (thinking figuratively, of course). For today, I’m reminded very clearly that a light or a lighthouse is crucial in sounding the warning about possible dangers ahead. To me, that translates into sharing my faith in more deliberate ways. A lighthouse is not offensive. A lighthouse is a welcome sight. It is helpful and essential. It is placed in the perfect spot.

Anything you’d like to add?

Tags