Light of the World

This morning you woke up and the thoughts hit you.  Your past...your responsibilities...your successes...your failures...your future... all of these thoughts probably raced through your mind before you took your first sip of coffee.  You’ve got stuff on your mind that you don’t know what to do with.  You may feel imperfect, challenged, indifferent... or maybe it’s jubilant, elated, and hopeful.

Either way... you are you.  The end result of years of choices.

You know what... you aren’t alone.  Millions of people open their eyes each morning with the same thoughts, the same hang-ups, the same stresses, and the same circumstances.  They may snap at you at the grocery store...or cut in front of you in line.  They may say your work is no good... or your best is not good enough.  They may say your God isn’t able... or may not believe in your God at all.

But they are just like you.  Created by a loving and caring Lord.  His masterpiece.  

They are in need of understanding.  They have a past...  just like you.

They are in need of compassion.  Nobody has told them that Jesus loves them lately.

They are in need of hope.  Their world is as cynical as yours sometimes.

They are in need of love.  Not judgment.

Jesus said “You are the light of the world...” (Matthew 5:14).

Which will you be in someone’s life today?  A light or a judge?  Do your co-workers need an understanding ear or a pointed finger?  How about your kids?  How hard are you on yourself?

Today you have a choice.  You can scrutinize others... but the world has a lot of critics.  You can stay neutral... but the world has a lot of people doing nothing.  You can love others...and the world will change for the better.  

And by loving others...you’ll change too.

How Royalty Travels

In 2007, England’s Queen Elizabeth II decided to make a short 6-day visit to the United States.   While most people would pack a couple of suitcases… the queen travelled much heavier.  In fact, it was estimated that her gear weighed in at two to three tons!    What could she possibly have brought that weighed so much?  The list included clothes, a diamond tiara, her gowns, her crown, gifts, paperwork, and up to 50 pairs of white gloves.  In addition, her personal affects included several framed photos of her family, her favorite tea and teapot, large quantities of favorite brand of water, and special medicines that she required.  Planning and packing took eight months.  

All for a six day visit. 

But not all royalty travels with such fanfare.  Over 2000 years ago, a little child entered the world that would forever change it.  He would grow up, heal the sick, raise the dead, teach the masses about God’s love, serve those He created, allow Himself to be crucified, and resurrect back to glorious life.  All while maintaining very few possessions, keeping a selectively small circle of close confidantes, and having a low profile.   Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, came out of Heaven that Christmas morning…  not weighed down with stuff… but burdened with the sins of the world.   In a couple of days we will celebrate Christ’s royal arrival… and as we observe Christmas.. let us never forget that Jesus travelled light for a reason.   It was so that He could spend His time intentionally… not worried about bringing everything with him… but making sure He didn’t leave without us.

Merry Christmas!

Video Fireplace

Pastor Stephen Kingsley walked into a restaurant to have a warm bowl of chili.  It was freezing outside… the snow piling up just outside the front door.  He walked to the counter, ordered his food and coffee, and waited patiently.  In the corner of the room, an image on the television caught his eye.  It was a closeup of a fireplace… it’s flames dancing randomly across the screen.  He says that maybe it was just because it was cold outside… but he couldn’t take his eyes off the video fireplace.

Have you ever seen anything like that?  A fake fireplace?  All image but no heat?  Maybe not, but you might have known someone like that.  All commitment, no execution.  All talk, no action.  All carrying on, but no carrying out.  The Bible tells us not to be like that phony fireplace on the screen in James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.”  James tells us… don’t just look the part… don’t just say the words… don’t just promise yourself you’ll change… actually do it!  Be the real deal!  The world isn’t looking for fake fireplaces… they are looking for genuine believers fired up to be the light in this dark world.