Peace & Joy

Las Noches de Las Luminarias
 Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

 Because of God’s tender mercy, 

the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

 and to guide us to the path of peace.

Luke 1:78-79 (NLT)

Jesus came to earth with a very specific purpose.  To shine light into the darkness of our lives, to set us free and put our feet on the path of peace. Our lives sit in great darkness and confusion until the light of Christ shines upon us.  When we allow him to shine his light into our lives, he begins to expose those hidden things that keep us in confusion and fear. With his light upon us, he begins to guide us on a new path and into a place of peace.  He brings us out of darkness into his glorious light.

Peace and joy are the gifts God has for us. Those are not just empty words on a Christmas card, but real and tangible gifts from God.  Peace and joy are so often lacking in our lives. How can we find our way to this path of peace? When the light begins to shine upon us, it reveals a door.  When we enter through that door we find that the path that leads to peace and joy opens before us.  That door is called surrender.  As we turn our will and our lives completely over to the care of God and trust all into his hands we begin our journey on the pathway of peace.  When we stop fighting for our own way and surrender to his good, pleasing and perfect will, we begin to experience his blessings.  Since he knows us so well, God's will is always perfectly suited for us.  It is the most joyous and satisfying thing we can experience.  There is nothing scary about it.  When we begin to veer off that path into our own way, we may experience some temporary satisfaction, but our peace and joy will begin to fade.  That's the time to turn our hearts back again to the path of peace.

Lord, open our hearts.  Guide us to the path of peace.  Help us to surrender all that we are to you so that we might experience your gifts of true peace and joy this Christmas season.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, 

but let God transform you into a new person

 by changing the way you think. 

Then you will learn to know God’s will for you,

 which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

cathy-meditationsofmyheart.blogspot.com

Walking in the Light

 Because of the tender mercy of our God,a new day has dawned on us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow,and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1:78-79 (ISV)

It has been an amazing experience for me working through the Twelve Steps.   A new light begins to shine on our lives as we take an honest inventory of ourselves (step 4), share it with another person (step 5), become willing for God to change us (step 6), humbly ask for that change to take place (step 7), become honest about the people we have harmed (step 8), and make amends to them all (step 9).

So much of our lives are spent in darkness, denial and making excuses.  What a joy and relief to have light shine upon us so that we can see the truth about ourselves and walk in what is real.

This is the promise of God, that his light would shine into our darkness.  All we have to do is be honest and willing to open up and face it all.

Lord, give us more light.  Shine into every dark area and every dark corner until we see things as they really are.  As we walk in your light, you cleanse and renew us and the day dawns brighter and brighter.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:5 (NLT)

But if we keep living in the light as he himself is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

If we say that we don't have any sin, 

we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 

If we confess our sins,

 he is faithful and righteous to forgive us those sins

 and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:7-9 (ISV)

Lights of Winter

 Because of the tender mercy of our God, a new day has dawned on us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Luke 1:78-79 (ISV)

I so enjoy the lights of winter when the days are short and cold. The twinkling lights cheer my spirit and remind me of the light of the world who came to bring light and warmth to a world of darkness.

The thing about light is it instantly fills up the darkness.  One little candle can dispel all the darkness in a room.  That is the power of light.  Jesus, the light of the world, fills everything with his presence.  

And yet, he goes un-recognized.  When that bright light of creation came into his creation in human form many did not recognize him.  Yet, when we do recognize him and open our hearts to the light, he comes in to dispel our darkness and give us new life.

In him was life, and that life brought light to humanity.

And the light shines on in the darkness,

and the darkness has never put it out.

John 1:4-5 (ISV)

 He came into the very world he created,

but the world didn’t recognize him. 

He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 

But to all who believed him and accepted him, 

he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:10-12 (NLT)

Light

In him was life, and that life brought light to everyone. 

 And the light shines on in the darkness,

 and the darkness has never put it out.

John 1:4-5 (ISV)

Jesus, you are the Light of the world. Your life is constantly shining brightly upon us.  Apart from you, we would be in darkness.

There would be no living thing on the earth without light. Light nourishes, gives warmth, illuminates and heals. Darkness has no power over light. Strike a match in a dark room and the darkness instantly scatters.

Lord, thank you for shining your light into our darkness. Give us light receptors that we might see you.  Illumine our souls that every dark corner would be exposed to your cleansing and healing light.  Shine your light upon our path so that we will not stumble. Let us walk in the sunlight of your love.

I have come into the world as a light,

so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

John 12:46 (NIV)

I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,

 but will have the light of life.

John 18:12 (NIV)