Walk In The Light

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1John 1:5

Sorry I have been remiss in writing. I was visited this week by my oldest and dearest friend. "Oldest" meaning longest, don't want problems in our friendship over terms! She came to town to play with me in a golf tournament. We had a great time. Lots of golf, food, laughter, talk. We wore ourselves out. That's the good news; I twisted my ankle and fell two days before all this happened, so my golf was pretty stinky. Hard to swing the club when you are anticipating the jolt of pain that will inevitably be visited upon you. Until you hurt your right ankle, you tend to forget how much weight you place on your right side :( Oh well, you always need an excuse when you don't win a tournament.
So today, after I run a couple of really necessary errands, I am going to have some devotional quiet time. First I am going to meditate on 1John 1:1-7. I am not going to beat myself up, however, I am going to look over the past week to see where I slipped out of the light. Either by getting too involve in what was going on around me and forgetting or by letting my frustration make me a little edgy so I was not as "nice" as I could have been.
I love my Creator and want to always keep that first in my sight. But I slip into forgetting so often. I will not dwell on lost opportunities while I go over this today, but I will remind myself how easy it is to slip into the shadows of life's walk. We are human and we lose our light every now and then, but God doesn't. That light shines on us all the time, we just have to step back on to the course.
Shine your light on me today, O Lord, and I will run to get into it.

Prayer Friday

he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14:23

Living Christ
Way to salvation
Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit
Please guide me into a closer fellowship and walk with you today
I pray I remain aware of walking every step in your shadow
That I remember that I live in God's very breath
I want to recognize and do your will for me not mine
Please guide me so that my light will shine for you today

The Way Is Love

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

This is to be a busy week. Today I help a dear one set up for a member/guest golf tournament. Tomorrow is the tournament. I think this weekend we are having a visit from an old friend. I say "think" because he is on the road and said he might swing by our town. So, as I was sitting here doing my devotion and prayer I was a little preoccupied with the week's work. My devotion was primarily concerned with walking closer to Jesus, in the hands of the Holy Spirit. How do I let go of tension and worry and busy stuff... put the devotion to work?
As I put the dishes in the dish washer, pondering this question it became clear...I do it Jesus's way, and we know Jesus's Way is love. I realized I need to help make this tournament an opportunity for these lady golfers to have fun, fellowship, laughter. So every task I undertake needs to be done in love to shine love on the situation. Change the word task to gift.
I need to prepare the house and guest room for our friend so it will be filled with a feeling of welcome and love. So all tasks must be done in love and gratitude that we are available for our friend, who needs some unconditional love right now.
Let's walk this week, our hand in the hand of the Holy Spirit. Each task done in Jesus's love for the objective of shining love on the whole situation. Bet we will have a better week than last!

A Light Shines

the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Matthew 5:16

Here we are in southern California, safe and sound. However, no sunny California skies for us until about five minutes ago. The clouds and mist have hung low over my daughter's house since Monday. When the sun broke through it made everything so bright and shiny. The backyard took on a whole nother look. The dogs knew something had happened and started chasing each other around the big tree (as if they needed an excuse !). It always amazes me how the light breaking through can instantly cheer you up. Just like that...cheerful!

Do you remember when you first felt the light dawn in you? Did your understanding of being filled with God's light come upon you slowly or did it hit you in a flash? Mine was like a warm flood running through my blood and an instant feeling of wonder and happiness. But, it didn't happen overnight. It was after a journey of reading and prayer; building faith and hope. It sure was worth looking for.

If you have the light, spread it. If you have not yet been filled, it's there, just keep the window open and look for it.