John 1: 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
Isaiah 42:1-7 (New King James Version)
1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,
Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.
4 He will not fail nor be discouraged,
Till He has established justice in the earth;
And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”
5 Thus says God the LORD,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it:
6 “ I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
7 To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
Greetings from the most southern tip of the United States, Padre Island, Texas. We are winding up a family vacation and it was a time of hassle, confusion and endearment. About the way family reunions generally are. With plans and hopes to return and do this again.
We always see beautiful photos of Lighthouses. Padre Island was famous from the 15th Century until about 1914 for being a sandbar loaded with rigging's, treasure, loot and decaying wrecked ships littering the island. Not to mention famous for pristine white sand beaches and beautiful water as clear as the Caribbean. I won't spend time telling you about Jack, age 83, catching a Bonnet Head Shark, or seeing Ashley catch her first fish and that incredible joy. Or my mom's 80th birthday and the house brimming with people.
I will say ponder the photos of Lighthouses. We always see them standing majestically lighting the sky. We are called to be Light. Circumstances of difficulty, old days seen with humor, events now funny,
Romans 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Life rarely presents itself in perfection. There is a lot of catch can and make do. This is the see how it will go with me Paul said life is. When I think of you, I pray in joy. I do believe when we rely upon HIM, we are indeed living better than the dream, participating in hope, faith and in the Love He fills our hearts with.
2 Corinthians 4:9
we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body
Youth ministry has a phrase that says teachable moments, earning the right to be heard. I'd say these family reunions have this good flavor. Borrowing from my friend Sandra, we went around the table with a birthday blessing including a God given attribute for each person; this sealed the good humored mood and our beach walk with the puppy was an adventure with so many kind people interested in the new Springer. A word fitly spoken, is a blessing indeed.
Now about those Lighthouses. I, the LORD, have called you...
Luke 2:32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.
John 12:36
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light
Father God, let our bodies be the Temple where you move, dwell and have Your being. And help our words and works be the honest struggles of people living in the world, seeking to be not of the world, believing in the Light of Jesus Christ the Lord. And being that city upon a hill, where our hope is in You. Amen.
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