Category: Light

Diamonds in the Darkness

Posted on by Dorci

I looked down and it was gone. I had no idea when or where, if I’d been at home or out in the great big world, but the diamond from my wedding ring was gone. Had it been sucked up by the vacuum? Had a bird snatched it from the lawn? Had it been kicked under shelving at the grocery? Only God knew.

I walked around the house, searching with laser-like vision.

Nothing.

I asked a few friends if they would pray for me, with me, that the Lord would lead me to it. And for the next number of weeks my normal walking position became with my head down, eyes furiously scouring every inch.

Still nothing.

I started to think I might have to get a new diamond.

Then one Wednesday night I walked into the darkened garage to go to the mid-week service, opened the car door which turned on the dome light, and started to slide into the driver’s seat. I looked down to make sure where I was placing my foot, and I saw something glimmer.

Could it be?

I moved my foot, reached down and picked up the shiny object.

It was.

My diamond had been resting on the dirty floor of the car all that time. Who knows how many miles it had languished there, how many times my foot had stepped there, but God knew.

I’ve had the prongs checked and tightened a couple of times (and once replaced) in the years since.

And I’ve thought about the allegory it represents for all of us in Christ.

Yes, we were all lost until Christ called us found.

And because of Him, by Him, through Him, we were made into precious gems. And still, He is constantly fashioning in us, by the chiseling of our trials, even more facets to reflect His beautiful light. And while we always shine, we reflect Him best in the darkness.

 

“You are the light (phōs) of the world. A town built 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” 
Matthew 5:14-16

 

That Greek word phōs means to shine, or make manifest, especially by rays; luminousness, fire, light.

The more Jesus becomes our passion, the more our hearts are on fire for Him and Him alone, the more we’re going to shine with the eternal Light the world needs and is desperately searching for.

As dusk turns into night on this world, we can shine brightly for Him on the stand He’s given us.

Wherever He takes us, whomever He gives us, with whatever gifts He’s given us, may we shine.

Through our works, our speech, our fruit, may we shine.

With His triumphant truth, His compassion, His gentleness, His kindness, His forgiveness, His sacrificial, all-encompassing, grace- and mercy-filled love, may we shine like the Son.

 

Heavenly Father, may we shine with the Light of your Son through the power of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.  

The Light of the World

Posted on by Dorci

 

Darkness filled the earth. It had been 400 years since God had spoken, the last time through the prophet Malachi. 

“‘Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,’
Says the Lord of hosts.”
Malachi 3:1

Generations had come and gone since then and the silence persisted; the darkness remained. People came and went, having no idea when, or perhaps even if, God would speak again. 

Then one night, as some lonely shepherds in a field kept watch over their sheep, the light of the glory of God pierced the darkness. An angel stood before them with this announcement:

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 
Luke 2:10-11

And before they could catch their breath, a host of angels appeared before them, too, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, 
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:14



God had broken the silence. His Word, the Messenger of the covenant (spoken of in Jeremiah 31:33 and Ezekiel 36:26-27) was born among them, and with Him an everlasting hope.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

God’s love shone into the world that unsuspecting night. He’d come! The long-awaited Savior, born as a humble babe in a manger, sent that all who believed in Him would be born anew, filling each heart with a never-ending peace and joy, and the promised light of His presence shining in and through us, forever piercing the darkness. 

 

 

 

 

 

From Darkness to Light

Posted on by Dorci

There are times the enemy comes out from the shadows and we can scarcely take in its evil. It shows itself for what it is, and the darkness is so appalling, so depraved, so hideous, we can hardly believe the depths it will go. 

Yet this is only a glimpse of the evil that’s all around us. So much is hidden, but he’s there, vile and lurking in the corners, whispering in the ears of the suffering, lying to those in pain, until the anger within begins to boil, tempting its victims to poisonous “solutions,” until the bitterness cements their hearts and acts as a cancer on their souls.

The enemy then seeks out an agreeable, moldable partner, one who has given over to that bitterness, and waits for an opportune moment.

But God…

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Rom 5:8 MEV

“But God raised {Jesus} from the dead…” Acts 2:24a NIV

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ…” Eph 2:4-5 MEV

God loves His creation more than we can ever know. His light and life are available to anyone who will believe in His Son who willingly gave His life as payment for the sins of that one. 

His Spirit will come and reside with that one, and will be a healing balm who can and will soften the heart and give peace to the soul of the one willing to receive Him. The dead will be made alive, hatred will turn to love, anger to forgiveness, sorrow to joy. 

As his end gets nearer and more and more people unknowingly believe the enemy’s lies and push God out of their minds and society, he gets more brazen, coming out from the shadows and is received.

The blinders on the eyes of the world may not see his surreptitious nature, but those of us whose eyes have been opened and hearts have been filled with the Truth know who he is, and our Lord Jesus has charged us with a mission: 

“…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matt 5:16

AND

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matt 28:19-20

If there’s anything events in this world should teach us, it’s that the enemy is moving, and time is short. he will take as many victims as possible, but God…

God desires to shine His light through us to act and speak as His ambassadors who will first keep ourselves in God’s love, then extend that love, grace, and mercy to the lost, and through prayer and the power of Christ, lead them from darkness to light, turning victims into overcomers.

The enemy can be defeated, one soul at a time, and whether we plant, water, or harvest, who knows what souls, and futures, might be saved.

 

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Acts 20:24

***

Heavenly Father, we ask you to make us willing vessels to shine brightly, and that your power and favor rest on us and the gifts you’ve given us to save the lost and bring glory to your name.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

Scripture Picture – Light of the World

Posted on by Dorci

To Gaze Upon the King

Posted on by Dorci

I’d like to repost one more piece for you, this one from December 2015. I pray you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of the beloved Child, the Savior, the King.  

***

Oh dear ones, loved so greatly by God, can I ask you to, for just a moment, lay down your tape and scissors?  To take your eyes away from the Christmas movies and your ears from the holiday music?

Can I ask you to come take a journey with me?  We are going to see a King.

There is a little, ancient town full of people who have come to be counted in the census.  All the rooms are full, too.

There is a very young woman who is about ready to give birth.  She and her husband have come a long way and she looks tired and uncomfortable. Her labor pains have begun.

“The barn is available,” they’re told.

Humbly, they make their way to the stable.  He tries to make her comfortable with a bed of hay as the animals make room for a royal guest.

She gives birth and the pain is soon forgotten as joy overwhelms her.  He is perfect in every way.  They gaze upon their miracle child, the one given to them by God Himself.  There is a feeding trough, and he makes a bed for this tiny baby.  The stars are shining on this most special of nights.

Meanwhile, out in the nearby fields, men who only a moment ago were tending sheep now stand in shock and fear as a glorious and heavenly light shines around them and an angel of the Lord appears to them and says,

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The shepherds are barely able to take it in when a whole host of angels appears, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

They grab their staffs and run to the place where this Savior, this long-awaited Messiah has been born.  He is beautiful and they can hardly believe it.  They have seen the great Shepherd.

Room has been made for this little family of three.  They wonder what the future holds in and through this new and precious life.

Sometime later, other worshippers make their way from the east.  A star has led some wise men on a journey.  It’s been long and dusty, but they’ve been moved by something, Someone, beyond them to make it.  They’ve brought gifts suitable to present to royalty: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Gold for a King, but not just any king.  A King who has chosen to strip Himself of His heavenly robes and crown and become like us.

Frankincense, symbolizing His priesthood, one that would never end.

Myrrh for embalming, for one day in the not-too-distant future, this King will die for the sins of the world.

The star that led them from so far away has stopped directly over the house where the King lay.  They step inside and bow before Him and worship Him.  They present their gifts, and Mary and Joseph continue to marvel at God’s love, His miracles and His glory.

The world looks different to them now.  Suddenly it is filled with hope and love and promise.  Under the light of the stars was the Light of the world. Salvation was here.

This, they knew, was no ordinary child.

This was a King.