Shine Like a Light Post?

"I don't have to light all the world, but I do have to light my part."

Unknown

The above snap is my favorite picture of a light post. I'd see this light post on my way to work, and in the spring when the clematis bloomed, it would always make me smile. One spring morning the light was on when I drove by, and I was able to get this great snap!

I've always enjoy seeing light posts and lighthouses. They are a welcoming sign, whether in the yard or at the sea. One of my favorite songs is "The Lighthouse" written by Ronnie Hinson. Following is the first verse and chorus:

"There's a lighthouse on the hillside, That overlooks life's sea.

When I'm tossed it sends out a light, Tis a light that I might see.

And the light that shines in darkness now Will safely lead us o'er.

If it wasn't for the lighthouse, My ship would be no more.

"And I thank God for the lighthouse, I owe my life to Him.

For Jesus is the lighthouse And from the rocks of sin;

He has shone a light around me That I could clearly see,

If it wasn't for the lighthouse Tell me where would this ship be."

 

As followers in Christ, we are to be a light to the world. Your state, your community, your neighbor, your family. God wants your light to shine so that others see Christ and turn to Him.

Jesus said: "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light."

 I found this light post in Gettysburg one fall day. Another special snap to me.

Are you an attractive light to the world? I often see this quote in print: "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there me enough evidence to convict you?" source unknown. It's not always easy to let your light shine, especially when it causes division between you and people you love. But if you are sincere in your faith, you must stand for what you believe.

Jesus is the light of the world. And in that light is the hope I live with each day. One of my favorite Bible verses is: "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

Let your light shine! Share the wonderful hope of Jesus for all the world. The blessed hope. The only hope.

Shine like a light post!

Quiet What?

"All the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for a while

each day in our room."

Blaise Pascal

1623-1662

For the first time in the 3 1/2 years we've lived in PA, a bear visited our backyard. It was a thrill to watch. Thankfully, both Abby and Jo were inside. It walked around for about 10 minutes. When it started climbing over the fence, Jerry opened the back door with a shout to hopefully send it away. Abby got out and chased it in the yard, and it jumped over the fence, running into the woods.

Quietism. Have you read about this movement before? In a devotion book of women in Christian history I read about Madame Jeanne Guyon, a French mystic, Wikipedia called her. She spearheaded a new movement that became know as Quietism. The definition: "getting quiet before God, praying silently, listening to him, and communing with him in the stillness."

It's the word mystical that threw me off about Guyon, but my dictionary defines it "as a person who seeks to obtain union with God by spiritual contemplation and self-surrender." That sounded okay.

"True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body,

nourishment and refreshment."

William Pee

1644-1718

The writers of the devotion book shared: "Seeking spiritual direction from Father Francois Lacombe, she began to write and teach from her own experience of mystical union with God. Spearheading a new movement that became know as Quietism. Madame Guyon attracted both followers and opponents." Randy Petersen and Robin Shreeves


 Madam Jeanne Guyon was a French Catholic, born 1648-1717. The writers of the devotion book said: "The well-known Twenty-third Psalm says the Lord 'leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul.' In a way, that's what Madame Guyon has done for us. She herself was led by Francis de Sales, Father Lacombe, and others, and she led Fenelon, Cowper and Spurgeon, who all led countless others. We are a centuries-long procession of believers who lead each other beside the still waters of God's restoration."

 

"I cannot be the man I should be without times of quietness. Stillness is an essential part of our growing deeper as we grow older."

Charles R. Swindoll

1934 - 

I do like to be quiet. I am restored and refreshed in solitude. The confinement we all have found ourselves in hasn't made me uncomfortable. Introverts love being by themselves. If I had to be in a room with other people for two months, I would be going crazy.

I'm not sure of Guyon's Quietism Movement, but being quiet before God so you can hear His voice is an important part of our spiritual development. So slow down, get quiet and just listen for what God says to you!

"What a sweet delight a quiet life affords."

William Drummond of Hawthornden

1585-1649

It's Time for Baby Leaves

This Is My Father's World

Maltbie D. Babcock 

"This is my father's world, And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres

"This is my father's world, The birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white
Declare their maker's praise

"This is my father's world, I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought."

Baby leaves . . . God's sign of new life and hope.

Many of you know my story about baby leaves. I love to tell it because it shares how God encouraged my heart during a difficult time. As baby leaves are just about to open up here in NW PA, maybe there's someone who doesn't know my story, so I'm sharing it again to encourage your heart, and encourage my heart too! This happened many years ago as told in an article I wrote . . .

"The blistering wind hit my face as I opened the door. Winter was here. 'Come on, Sparkie,' I said. 'You have to go for a walk.'

"The wind slapped my face and tears dropped from my eyes. 'It's been a difficult year, Lord,' I thought. 'Winter has harbored in my heart leaving me cold and dead, just like the trees.' My eyes traveled around the yard taking in the bleak appearance.

"The trees, once full of foliage now stood bare before me. And the remains of our productive garden now showed hard, cracked earth. 'Even the geese took a detour on their way home,' I told the wind.

"The year had left stains, and the ache in my heart hurt. 'Hurry, Sparkie,' I yelled. 'I want to get back inside.'

"My eyes fixed on the maple tree behind our home. Stripped of all its colorful clothing, it looked dead. 'Just like my heart,' I thought. And then I remembered the baby leaves.

"Last February, I began watching the buds develop on the maple tree. I couldn't remember ever taking the time to watch leaves grow, and decided I'd see first hand how God gave them birth. Sparkie and I would stop every evening on our walk to look for any development. It was a slow beginning, but finally--one day in April--the buds opened.

Quickly leaves grow.

"Long tentacles reached out, as many as 15 or 20 from each bud, as I remember. At the end of the tentacles were blossoms and at their base were leaves. The leaves were bound together, just like the cold buds had been. As the weather warmed, they began to unfold.

"My heart tingled with excitement when the leaves began to open. My husband, Jerry, was at the garden and I remember yelling excitedly to him, 'Come quick! The leaves are opening.'

"Half-inch baby leaves, perfectly shaped, stretched their little frames for all the earth to see. In one week, some leaves had grown to 3 inches in length. My eyes couldn't believe the transformation. As the leaves grew, the blossoms were blown to the ground. I walked on yellow drops of sun splattered all over the place. I had witnessed the birth of one of God's creations.

"The cry of a lone bird brought me back to the present. Chilled, I headed back to the  house, shivering. But my heart was no longer cold.

"You see, it's February now--just the time I began watching the frozen buds last year. When everything looked dead, and no life was visible, God was working. And now I knew God was working in me.

"It's been a long year, but I know my heart will feel the warmth of God's love again. Why, in just a couple of months, He'll bring be baby leaves."

"The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the Creator."

Louis Pasteur (1822-18950

Ever since that cold February day I look for my baby leaves with anticipation for God's reminder to me that there is hope.Here in NW PA buds are slowly beginning to open on a few trees, but I'm still waiting in our yard. In just another week or two I will have baby leaves. I'm so excited!

 

I hope you can take time over the next few weeks to see God's creation come into bloom and realize the hope God gives us each day.

My baby leaves story was published back in 1992 titled "There's Life in Winter," in Women's Touch, January/February 1992.  The above is an abbreviated version.

"The tree is full of poetry."

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Be Inspired!

If you follow my blog you know that I love to sing hymns. You've read about my "Melody of Hymns" and you've read about reading hymns during my devotion time. Starting at the beginning of my hymnal at the beginning of the year and working my way through to the end, I read a hymn each day of the year.

Do you pay attention to the words of a hymn? If your heart is 100% pure with God, the words you read will inspire, encourage, convict and refresh you. Those hymn writers of long ago wrote incredible stories in their songs. 

I just finished watching two 30 minute Gospel Music Hymn Sings on YouTube. If you want to be refreshed I definitely recommend joining in on the videos.

A number of years ago Gerald Wolfe, from Greater Vision, orchestrated the beginning of this congregational singing of amazing hymns. From their website I found their story:

"What began as a simple 'sing-along,' during a Gospel Concert in a small theater in Shipshewana, Indiana, eventually led to the first video recording of a "Gospel Music Hymn Sing,' in the Summer of 2014. Two local church choirs, along with 50 well-known Gospel Music Artists came together for the event at the First Baptist Church of Morristown, Tennessee, and a capacity crowd, with attendees from as far as 2000 miles away, filled the auditorium . . . for the Monday evening event. It was obvious to everyone in attendance that this was something really special, and there was obviously a real desire, a real hunger, for a revival of congregational Hymn singing."

You can find their website at: http://gospelmusichymnsing.com/about-us/

You'll see very quickly that most of the audience is of the older generation, and I have no problem identifying with them. I certainly knew hymns in my younger years, but it wasn't until I was saved in 1978 that hymns became much more than just singing. My heart was forever bonded to their messages.

When you're with a group of brothers and sisters singing God's songs, there isn't much that can equal the joy and inspiration received. Knowing their conviction of the Bible and Jesus is the same as yours inspires and encourages my heart.

One of the things I have enjoyed most in the church we landed in after moving to PA three years ago, is hearing our pastor sing a hymn or praise song to open the service. Knowing his conviction to the Gospel and Jesus is real and true makes that time special.

I sang in a choir when I was a young child, and when I first found Christ at age 28, but shortly after that, during a difficult time in my life I suffered from a muscle spasm in my throat and could not sing after that. I've never regained my voice. I can sing very softly at a lower level, but if I sing too long my throat begins to hurt. But you can be sure my heart sings out every word!

You may not think you sound very good singing, or have other concerns about singing like me, but I challenge you to sing with your heart and send your praise and worship up to our Loving God. What a blessing it will bring to your heart. Whether young or old, don't deprive yourself of the great hymns of our faith and the stories of the Gospel they convey.

Yes, I love hymns. I'm thankful to realize their importance in my faith and plan to be singing them the best way I can until my life ends on this earth. Then I expect to be singing in the great heavenly choir for all eternity!

I just lovely Magnolia blossoms!