Our Daily Bread
Keepers of the Light
For God . . . made his light shine in our hearts………..2 Corinthians 4:6
They call them “Keepers of the Light.”
At the lighthouse on the cape of Hatteras Island just off the North Carolina coast of the United States, there’s a memorial to those who’ve tended the light stations there since 1803. Shortly after the existing structure was moved inland because of shoreline erosion, the names of the keepers were etched on the old foundation stones and arranged into an amphitheater shape facing the new site. That way—as a placard explains—today’s visitors can follow in the historical keepers’ footsteps and “watch over” the lighthouse as well.
Jesus is the ultimate light-giver. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). That’s a radical thing for anyone to claim. But Jesus said it to affirm His relationship with His heavenly Father, the Creator of light and life who sent Him.
When we look to Jesus for salvation and follow His teaching, we’re restored in relationship with God, and He gives us new power and purpose. His transforming life and love—“the light of all mankind” (1:4)—shines in us and through us and out to a dark and sometimes dangerous world.
As believers in Jesus, we become “keepers of the light.” May others see His light shine from us and discover the life and hope He alone can give!
By James Banks
REFLECT & PRAY: Jesus, I praise You for Your light and love. Help me to shine for You.
Credit: Our Daily Bread
Improve Communication
I recently received the question, “How can we keep disagreements from escalating?” That is a great question and one that most of us have to deal with at some point in our marriages. Here are three things that work for Nancy and me:
- When one is talking, the other is to listen and not interrupt.
- Make sure you really heard what the other was saying by repeating it back to them in your own words.
- Always have a “we” approach. You are a team that is trying to do what is best for each other and the marriage.
Go over these together and keep them in mind the next time you have a disagreement. That is your One Thing for today!
Today’s One Thing: Go over Dr. Kim’s three bullet points to remember during a disagreement and apply when necessary!
DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!
If you like these series of tips and want to receive your One Thing Email please sign up at http://awesomemarriage.com/onething (It’s free!)
“God must love you a lot! He doesn’t allow someone to go through the kinds of adversity you have experienced unless He has a special calling on your life.” Those were the words spoken to me by two different mentors at two different times within a three-year period. Later I would learn another related truth from a respected man of God—a man whom God uses throughout the globe. “The depth and width of your faith experiences are directly proportional to your calling.” What were these men of God saying?
They were describing a process of preparation that God takes each of His leaders through when He plans to use them in significant ways. A “faith experience” is an event or “spiritual marker” in your life about which you can say, “That is where I saw God personally move in my life.” God showed Himself personally to you in an unmistakable event. It was the burning bush for Moses; the Jordan River for the nation of Israel; or Jacob’s encounter with the angel. It was the feeding of the 5,000 for the disciples. It was the time when you saw God face to face in your life.
If God has plans of using you in the lives of many others, you can expect that He is going to allow certain faith experiences to come into your life in order to build a foundation that will be solid. That foundation is what you will be able to look back on to keep you faithful to Him in the times of testing. Each of us must have personal faith experiences in which we experience God personally so that we can move in faith to whatever He may call us. Do you need a personal faith experience right now in your life? Pray that God will reveal Himself to you. He delights in doing that.
Workplace Application:
It was March of 1998. God had miraculously provided the money for me to attend a Christian business conference on the island of Cyprus. After I led a morning devotional time, a man from England came up to me. “I need to talk to you,” he said. I did not share any of my personal life in the message that morning, so he knew nothing of my series of financial crises that were part of my life at the time. He said, “The Lord wants you to know He had to remove your finances to ensure the reward He has for you in Heaven.” I was shocked! How could this man know my situation? A few moments later, we were praying together. While in prayer he said, “I see a tree. It is full of fruit and the fruit is now beginning to fall. You are the tree.” I began to weep. That was the third prayer incident over the last three years in which someone had described my life as a tree— however, this was the first time the fruit was falling. God allowed me to have this “faith experience” to encourage me in my faith journey. He wants to do the same for you.
Has God ever taken you to your own “Red Sea” experience where if you did not receive a breakthrough, you might be overcome by the circumstance? God often sets up situations in order to frame your life through the experience. God wants to build a testimony through your life. Begin to look for opportunities to experience the power of Christ in your circumstances.
Credit: Time of Grace, Mike Novotny
Bible study – Wednesday 7:30 pm
