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Light

Light in the Darkness!

by TerryLema

This is the time of the year when it gets dark early. Every day we lose a few minutes of daylight until we reach the winter solstice. Then we begin to add minutes of daylight.

This also seems to be a time of darkness around our world. There are wars on various fronts. Terrorism is a real threat everywhere. Perhaps greatest of all, however, is a spiritual darkness that seems to be pervading everything. So many are rejecting God and living for their own glory.

That is why I am so thankful today for the light that comes to all who are in Christ Jesus! The OT promised that the Word of God would light the path in front of us.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” [Psalm 119:105 HCSB]

The NT tells us that the light in front of us is Christ Jesus Himself.  He is the “light of men.”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.” [John 1:1-5 HCSB]

No matter how much darkness abounds in this world, those who abide in Christ Jesus have a light that darkness cannot ever overcome!

Thank you, LORD, for Your light in our world and in our lives! Amen

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Exposed By Light

by TerryLema

I came around the corner from the hallway into the kitchen this morning. The kitchen was flooded with light from the sliding door and windows. It revealed a lot—a lot of fingerprints and smudges on my stove front (black glass), the microwave above the stove, and the tile on the wall between them.

Now, I was just in the kitchen last night and did not see any of that. What made the difference was the sunlight streaming through the windows and sliding door.  I guess I know what I’ll be doing today!

Light reveals. It exposes things we do not see when it is dark.  Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Everything exposed by the light is made clear, for what makes everything clear is light.” [5:13-14a HCSB]

I remember a friend telling me once that when she would be around certain people they would “accuse” her of judging them, when she had not said even one word. That is because some people love darkness and when a person of light comes near, they feel the convicting power of the Holy Spirit of Christ.

“For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.” [John 3:20 HCSB]

Jesus said He was the Light of the World (John 8:12) and declared that believers who dwell in Him would also be Light in the World (Matthew 5:14).

No matter how uncomfortable we make some people, we must let our light shine – like a city on a hill!

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Thank You Jesus

by TerryLema

Lately I have been exposed to new music, at least, music that is new to me. I find songs I have not heard before on Sunday mornings at Christian Faith Center Caldwell. I found new songs when I attended church with family while in California. I have found new worship songs as I search YouTube worship music.

I often change my Bible translation because I tend to fall into “ruts” using the same one. I like to be exposed to different translations as it perks me up in my studies. I think we do the same thing with our music. We find songs that we are comfortable with, and we stick with them, but it is good to be exposed to others also.

The one that has resonated with me most lately is, “Thank You Jesus for the Blood,” performed by Charity Gayle. I woke up singing the chorus to that song this morning.

“Thank you, Jesus, for the blood applied. Thank you, Jesus, You have washed me white. Thank you, Jesus, You have saved my life. Brought me out of darkness into glorious light.”

There is so much good theology in this song. This morning I was thinking about the light, that glorious light that we now dwell in, and that now dwells in us.

Colossians 1:13: “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.” [HCSB]

1 Peter 2:9: “Proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” [HCSB]

John 8:12: “Jesus spoke to them again: ‘I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.’” [HCSB]

“Thank you, Jesus, for the blood applied…Brought me out of darkness into glorious light.”

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Light and Darkness

by TerryLema

The Bible gives a clear picture of the attitudes and actions of the last days. Paul tells Timothy in his second letter that the last days will become increasingly difficult.

“Know this,” Paul writes, “Difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power.” [3:1-5a HCSB]

Proof of this is all around us. Our movies, television shows, and online media all reflect it. Our evening news reports it. Our educational facilities are confronted with it. No matter where we turn, the darkness that is to characterize the last days is expanding around us.

How often have we heard (or even uttered) the phrase, “The world is getting darker.” And yes, it is getting darker. But where the darkness increases, light shines brighter. And our God is ALL LIGHT!  

“Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.” [1 John 1:5 HCSB]

Are you noticing how God’s Light is shining brighter against the darkness? Revivals or renewals are springing up, young people are responding to God’s invitation of salvation, churches are being reborn. After all, darkness does not stand a chance against Light.  Darkness has no ability to overcome Light.

“And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.”  [Ecclesiastes 2:13 HCSB]

Light, beyond all doubt, has the advantage!

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Salt & Light, Day 2

by TerryLema

I am only in Day 2 of this multi-day reflection on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and I am already finding that this is a far more difficult deliberation than I anticipated. As I approach some of the sections of the sermon, I must face the answers to a two-word question, “Am I?”

The first question was “Am I teachable?” and the second was “Am I poor in spirit?” Both questions caused me to bare a part of my soul to examination.

Today is another question, “Am I salt and light?” [Read Matthew 5:13-16]

As believers, Jesus tells us we “are the salt of the earth.” Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient world. It was used to preserve food (there were no freezers or fridges), heal wounds and treat illnesses. Our word “salary” comes from the ancient word for salt and means “salt-money.”

Jesus also tells us we “are the light of the world.” We are a beacon in the darkness that draws people to the light of Christ Jesus and the truth of God’s Word.

I noticed one thing of great importance as I read this passage. That is the use of the verb “are.” Jesus did not tell us to struggle “to be” salt or light. He said we already “are.”

So, I guess this question was easier than the first two. I “am” salt and light because God’s Spirit within me has made me so. So I guess today I am considering if I am flowing in those roles as God has determined me to do.

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Light Shine!

by TerryLema

It is hard to believe that in the middle of winter, as we are now, our days are getting longer! They have been lengthening by a few minutes a day since December 20. Of course, we also have more cloudy days, along with rain and fog and snow and  … so we probably do not notice the increasing daylight.

One lovely thing about our house, which we did not notice when we bought it in the month of May, is that in the winter months our house faces the sun directly from mid-day on. With our big front window, and our glass security door, the light floods in and it will heat our living room quite nicely. There are even times when sitting in my chair is too hot from the sunshine pouring in.  (That’s if there are no clouds or rain or fog or snow ….)

Still, I enjoy basking in that light when I can.

What made me think about the wonderful light and warmth that I enjoy mid-winter was a daily verse taken from Jesus’ sermon on the mount.  “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:16 HCSB]

Just prior to that verse Jesus reminded his listeners that they were “the light of the world,” and like a city up on a hill their light could not be hidden.

As I contemplated the light flooding in my front window and the effect it had on everything in that room, I thought about the light in us. We are to let it shine wherever we go so that the good things we do (and yes, we should be doing good things) will bring glory to our Father God.

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Light & Truth

by TerryLema

Ever been depressed? I have. In fact, I think many of my younger years were marked by depression. Depression can be extremely debilitating. It affects how you feel, think, and behave. It can be a major mood disorder, marked by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest. When people suffer with clinical depression, they often need medication and/or therapy to move beyond it.

Some of the new medications for various illnesses also carry the potential side effect of depression. Most of us at some point have probably suffered from mild depression (the blues) or even to something more intense.

The enemy of our soul loves to see us depressed. He seeks to remind us constantly how dreadful we are, what terrible Christians we are. He will dredge up our mistakes and sins and try to move our focus from our Savior. If he can convince us with his lies, depression is often a result.  That it is why it is so important to make sure that we are following our LORD and not the inclinations of the enemy.

When you read Psalm 43 you will notice that the psalmist admits his depression. Because of that acknowledgement, he asks God to “Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place. Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God.”   [Psalm 43:3-4 HCSB]

That reminds me of the fact that Jesus said He was both light and truth. As believers, we need to focus on the Light of Christ and the Truth of His Holy word. We need to let Him lead us out of the darkness the enemy of our soul wants to keep us in. When we keep our focus on Christ Jesus, and remain in the Presence of God Almighty, we will have joy! The darkness has to flee when light is present.

Thank you, LORD. Today I focus on you as Light and Truth. I thank you for leading me into the very Presence of God and filling me with joy. I will praise you God, my God! Amen

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Delight #2

by TerryLema

Yesterday I was delighted to find two of my favorite passages in my Bible Reading Plan for that day. The first one was Exodus 33, which I wrote about yesterday.

The second is a bit like it, in Psalm 43, which is a song asking God for vindication. It starts off with the writer acknowledging that he feels God has rejected him. In the psalm, he admits he is depressed, and he seeks God to defend his “cause against an ungodly nation.”  [vs 1 HCSB]

In the middle verses, however, the psalmist prays. And it is this prayer that always ministers to my heart.

“Send your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place. Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God.” [vs 3-4 HCSB]

Whenever I read that prayer, those opening words of verse 3 strike my mind and heart with a hope that is almost inexpressible. “Send your light and Your truth; let them lead me.”

 God answered the psalmist prayer with an answer that benefited all of mankind.

“Jesus spoke to them … ‘I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.’” [John 8:12 HCSB]

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” [John 14:6 HCSB]

Jesus is the light, and He is the truth. When we follow Him as He leads, we are brought into the dwelling place of the Almighty God. There we find God, our greatest joy and there we will sing praises to Him forevermore.

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Broken Vessels

by TerryLema

I have one more thought about light this morning. It is a story I have told often, so you are probably already familiar with it.  But it is a story that illustrates the light in us that I want to think about again today.

My grandson Carter and I used to love to go to the Boise Art Museum (BAM) on our frequent excursions around town when he was younger. We usually timed our visits to the arrival of a new exhibit. One of those exhibits was vases. Now looking at vases is probably not high on my list of things I want to spend an afternoon doing, yet these vases made more of an impression on my life than any other art exhibit I viewed.

The vases were all different sizes and shapes and were uniquely “decorated” with woodland and ocean scenes. I originally thought they were simply painted, but when we watched a video of their creation, I was awestruck.

First the artist made the glass vase. Then he proceeded to cover it with applications of color, one on top of another, layer upon layer – browns, greens, yellows, blues, reds … firing each one after application.

Then he scored the vase, digging down into each color by cutting into the layers of color to “create” a scene. Finally, a light was inserted into the vase so that the beauty was revealed. Light shown through each “scar” created. As I stood there the Scripture from 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 flooded my soul.

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” [NKJV]

The Light of the World indwells us. In our earthen vessels, which are often beaten, scarred, and broken by life, He abides.

Often the more broken and scarred we are, the more of His light is revealed.

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Light on a Hill

by TerryLema

Jesus declared that He is the “Light of the World.” He said that if we follow Him, we “will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” [John 8:12 HCSB]

Jesus also said something even more amazing. In His Sermon on the Mount, He declared, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.”  [Matthew 5:14 HCSB]

When I have heard messages about our being “the light of the world,” I have usually heard that Jesus is the like the sun generating light, and we are like the moon reflecting light. I am not quite sure that is the way I would define it since that seems to describe things that are “far apart” (like the sun and moon).

Surrendered believers are indwelt by the very Spirit of Christ Jesus. The true “Light of the World” takes up residence in our hearts (that is about as close as it can get!).

As we commit more and more to obedience and to His guidance, we “allow” more and more of the brilliant Spirit of Christ to be seen in and through us. We become like that city on a hill that turns on all its lights when the darkness falls.

As the world becomes darker around us, our light should become brighter.

That is our prayer, LORD Jesus. Amen!

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