Lighthouse

Is there anything more symbolic on the coast than a lighthouse? The image brings to mind safety and danger…guidance and warning.

We have visited one of Canada’s most recognized lighthouses, Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia, twice now. Both times the weather has been a little miserable – cold, windy, fog all around. On our third time past the area we were undecided as to whether to stop in again. The day was sunny and warm. No winds were blowing as we left Halifax. As we neared the cove however the fog was rolling in and so we didn’t stop.

The voice in my head was muttering just a bit! I just wanted a nice picture…why does it always seem to be foggy and stormy here? Then a little ‘aha’ moment…that’s why the lighthouse is here!

If there were no winds causing the waves to crash…if there were no rocky shorelines and dangerous passages…if everyday was sunny and bright and every night moonlit and calm…there would be no need of the lighthouse!

Maritime history is full of stories where the lighthouse made the difference. Lives saved. Disaster averted.

There are also stories of tragedy. When the beacon of the lighthouse was ignored or missed…or the light went out. Lives were lost…disaster happened.

Take note of where most lighthouses stand…alone…often on a barren rocky shoreline…some in a place where they face constant battering by the wind and waves…yet faithfully the light shines out, day after day…night after night.

The lighthouse is there to make a difference…to serve a purpose…entirely for others…

Listen to the words of Jesus:

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt.5:14-16)

A light isn’t made to hide. It is made to shine…to dispel darkness…to show the way to safety.

Sometimes though that light stands alone, much like the lighthouse.

You may be the only light in your family, at your workplace or on your street. That can feel like a barren rocky place…that can leave you feeling lonely and battered…maybe even despairing the darkness that surrounds you.

But you are a light! Jesus called you to be a light and placed you where you are to be a light! Be encouraged! You are where you are for a reason. You do make a difference. You are making a difference! Some of that difference you may get to see…some of it you will not know… but keep on! Be faithful! Let your light shine!

Ruth

This Little Light Of Mine

One of my son’s favourite songs to sing at bed time is “This Little Light of Mine.” It’s a song that I have known forever and ever...okay, only in my lifetime, but I don’t remember not knowing the song. I am sure I am not alone in that! While much of my life I sang it unaware of what it meant, (Was it ‘hide it under a bushel, no’? or ‘hide it under a bush, oh no!’) the song grows more meaningful as I grow older and farther along on my journey with God.

I have recently been drawn again and again to a quote that I heard recently. “How can we expect darkness to be light?”

It is so common to hear comments like “what is the world coming to?” “Can you believe people these days?”, but how can we expect people who are living in darkness to act as though they are in the light? How can we expect those in darkness to know what light is when they only get a glimpse of it once in awhile? “This little light of mine” was said to be written after Luke 11:33 “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they that come in may see the light.”(kjv). How many times have I been guilty of hiding my light and blending in with people who are in darkness? How often have I failed to fuel my candle so that it will shine brightly to all around me? How often have I forgotten that I carry the light?

The bigger the light; the brighter the light; the more lights shining; the more the darkness will be penetrated with God’s light!

We as Christians have been sent out like Paul to penetrate the darkness around us. We know the impact that Paul’s light had on the Gentiles in his day just by reading the Bible. He was a light. His Damascus road conversion gives testimony to this in Acts 26:15-18 "'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'"

This too is my job, and yours. We were all created with purpose, some parts different and some the same. But one purpose that we all carry is to light the world. Light the world with a kind word, a good deed, caring for those that no one else does, writing an encouragement note, showing self control when parenting, or any other of the million ways we can shine. Most importantly, however, we can share where our light comes from. Because we who carry the light of God, carry the light of life itself. John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine!

Kourtnay K.

Never Once

Genesis 7:1-5

"The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.” And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him."

God gave Noah detailed instructions and Noah followed them to the letter. It took Noah at least one hundred years to build the ark to Gods specifications. How many times did Noah have to explain to his family that God really did tell him to build a 450 foot long boat, even though there was no water in sight? What we sometimes forget is that it had never rained which makes Noah’s trust and obedience even more remarkable. What’s even more amazing is that Noah and his family plus all the animals were in the ark seven full days before God shut the door and it started to rain. And what is simply staggering is that after the rain stopped they remained on that boat for over a year before God allowed them to disembark. So how did Noah do it? How did he endure this floating zoo?

He believed God. God had promised Noah that he would establish his covenant with him and that he and his family would be safe.

He was given provisions. God told Noah exactly what to bring so that they’d have enough for the duration of the journey.

He waited patiently for the next command. God hadn’t let him down yet so he chose to trust that God would tell him what to do next.

When we find ourselves in a storm we must remember that the same God that made a covenant with Noah has made one with us through Jesus. We are safe in his keeping until the storm is over.

We too have been given provisions. His strength is endless. His peace is supernatural. His grace is limitless. His Word is our sustenance. His presence is our comfort. His hope is our joy.

While we wait we must remind ourselves of His faithfulness. I’m sure Noah relived those moments when animals of every shape and size began to show up at the ark. I can imagine him and his family discussing how God himself shut the door or when the water started to pour from the clouds and spring up from the earth. We too must recall Gods faithfulness and remind ourselves that never once has he failed us and that just as he has lead us in our yesterdays, he will lead us into our tomorrows.

Endure my sisters…there’s a rainbow coming.

Today’s Challenge ~ Listen to Matt Redman’s song called “Never Once” and remember God’s faithfulness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1bXG4WIesA

Sue K.

Sue is the Women's Coordinator for the Western Ontario District of PAOC and she lives to make Jesus famous!

Catching Up

I've got a lot of serious catching up to do.

I had great intentions in January to read through my bible in a year. I decided to try reading it chronologically - for a change, a little perspective on the timeline of things and to not read over the familiar spots just because they're familiar.

I did ok the first half of the year, not so much the last few months. It's amazing what spending time away from home, out of the routine, away from the internet (I use http://www.youversion.com and read the bible online) and how a million other things can get in the way of something as simple as reading the bible for 15 minutes a day.

So here I am, half way through Sept. and I'm way behind. But I decided the other day I was going to start reading again. I don't want to give up, just because I'm not on track with the posted schedule, I want to keep going. I don't want to give up just because I may or may not get it finished by the year end deadline. I don't want to give up because I don't want to miss reading God's word. It's important to me. Just because it didn't go as originally planned, just because "life happened" and I didn't keep up, just because it's not going to be perfectly on schedule like I'd originally planned, doesn't mean I have to stop, start over or give up.

Perhaps what I would consider as plan B is really just a continuation of plan A, with a different ending.

Hummm... something for me to think about... perhaps something for you to think about.

I wonder if there's a life-lesson for us to consider as well... Keep going. Keep trying. Keep continuing on. God's not finished with us yet.

Phil 1:6 says, "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." NLT

Jo-Ann

Let’s Do Lunch

Have you ever experienced a half-hearted argument with someone over who is going to pay for a meal in a restaurant? Or maybe you have eaten with someone who slowly reaches for the bill the server just dropped off at the table. Slowly enough that you know that they are either hoping or expecting that someone else at the table will reach out and take it…kind of pretending that they had intentions to pay…pretending that they were going to do something but hoping that they would not have to follow through.

Hardly sounds like something that Jesus would do but look at these verses: “As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly,” Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.” (Luke 24:28, 29)

“Jesus acted as if he were going farther…” Jesus faked them out? That is almost…un-Jesus like! Why would he do that? Why not just invite himself in? It worked with Zacchaeus – why not now?

These verses are a part of a story that I have mentioned before. It is on the road to Emmaus, shortly after Jesus has risen from the grave. The two followers do not know that it is Jesus who is walking and talking with them. They had heard from the women that Jesus had risen but they were still grieving…still questioning.

Jesus explains scripture to them…explains himself to them…and while I can picture them nodding their heads in agreement, they don’t really get it…not enough to recognize him.

But – they do invite him in…invite him to share their table and at that point, as Jesus breaks bread with them…at that point of intimate, personal fellowship, their eyes are opened. They get who Jesus was and who Jesus is…they understand why Jesus explained scripture to them on the road, their hearts were burning…

It took an invitation though. An invitation was needed for deeper fellowship, deeper relationship, to happen.

Revelation 3:20 says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”

This verse and the Emmaus account remind me that my relationship with God can simply be one of knowing the facts or it can be deeply personal, involving fellowship as intimate as sharing a table, symbolic of intimate friendship…open…face to face…

How deep the relationship goes depends on my willingness to “open the door”. He will enter…he longs to enter…but he won’t without invitation. Invitation from me. Invitation from you.

That’s why Jesus acted as though he would go farther…that’s why he stands at the door and knocks. He won’t take us any deeper than we allow. He waits for the invitation.

Ruth

Living Thankful

It seems that the books that I have been reading lately have not been of the ‘finish and move on to the next book’ variety. Rather they are requiring time…time to ponder…time to not only put into practice but maybe just practice…until I really get it.

Recently I have again picked up “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. I had started it quite some time ago, put it aside, and now have picked it up again. At one point the author briefly mentions the story of the feeding of the five thousand and that Jesus “gave thanks.”

I had to stop reading and go look that up! This particular incident is recorded in all four gospels. Two gospels also record the feeding of the four thousand. All the accounts say the same thing…Jesus gave thanks.

Simply gave thanks…in the face of an obvious lack…five loaves and two fish…seven loaves and a few fish…there was not enough…obviously there was not enough. It would take a miracle….but in this circumstance, Jesus gave thanks.

There is no record here of petition. No pleading. No promise of thanks to come. No panic in Jesus voice. He gave thanks, broke the bread, and there was more than enough…

The disciples had panic covered. Maybe to accuse them of panic is too harsh. They did honestly state the facts. There is not enough for everyone to have even one bite. It would take eight months wages to feed this crowd. Where would anyone even get enough bread to feed this crowd?

They weren’t wrong. They weren’t even being negative. They were overwhelmed with a need that they could not meet.

So what does Jesus do in the face of such obvious need? He didn’t make a request. He didn’t restate the need. He took what he had and gave thanks…and there was more than enough.

In this, I am not saying that we should not ask or that we should just be thankful. I am not presenting a formula for provision. It is not a suggestion to manipulate a response by being thankful.

We are in fact told in scripture to ask…to present our requests…even that we do not have because we do not ask… (James 4:2b).

And so I am still pondering this…Jesus gave thanks and there was more than enough…

I am so much more like the disciples in this type of situation. Logical. Recognizing that there is a need. Coming up with my own solution…send them away to buy food.

I recognize the lack. It is pretty plain. It is easy to see.

What if my focus changed? What if instead of seeing what I lack I started to give thanks for what is in my hand? To be truly thankful for what I have…living as if I believed that my Father knows what I need even before I ask…what difference would this make? Would I move away from a poverty mentality...from worry about enough to contentment…to peace?

There is a story told of George Mueller who ran an orphanage in England and of his practice of giving thanks. One morning there was no food in the cupboard and no food on the table. They all sat down, ready to eat, and they gave thanks. Before their prayers were completed a bakery had delivered bread and a milk cart which had broken down in front of the orphanage, offered fresh milk. More than enough…

I need to not only put this into practice, I need to practice this until I get it…this giving thanks. Living thankful. Not focusing on the lack or the need as real as that may be and not as manipulation or a formula…but simply giving thanks.

Ruth

Walking It Out

I've spent quite a bit of time at our church camp this summer; family camps, kids camp, youth camp, etc. At this stage of the summer season I am challenged with what I am, personally, going to do with all that I've heard and learned from our many speakers. I am especially challenged with those personal areas God has spoken to me about.

It's relatively easy to sit in a padded, orange chair in the tabernacle of our church camp and say "Amen" to being more patient with the drivers around me, and agreeing to live as a "Sent One"; just like Jesus sent the disciples out in Mark 6:6-13. Verse 7 "Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits." Earlier this summer it seemed like a good idea to be in agreement to memorize chapters of God's word. And this question, what am I teaching others as they watch me walk with Jesus has left me wondering, what Jesus do they see as others watch me in my day to day activities?

Some aspects of this is still so fresh in my mind and others are just a memory of "the feeling". Feelings fade and diminish over time, especially when there are so many other things to fill my mind and my thoughts. However, God's words are powerful to us when He speaks, AND His words are powerful to us when we read it. I've also learned that whether I remember the feeling or not, my mind remembers God's word and I need to walk in it.

Many times this summer we sang the song "How He Loves Us". Reading the words to the song again remind me of God's truth that I long to have well engrained in my mind and my heart so I can represent Jesus well as I go about my daily activities.

"How He Loves Us So

O How He Loves Us

How He Loves Us So..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps

Jo-Ann