A Tealight Candle

By Charlotte Riegel –

The prayer walk event started in a dark room. The room is used for theatrical performances so the walls and floor are painted black. The light of one small tea light on the floor in the middle of the room was swallowed by the black surroundings.

We were invited to enter the room in silence and gather in a circle around the ‘light’. The group numbered about 30. As I entered the room from a bright summer evening I could see nothing so felt my way along the back wall hoping all the chairs had been removed. I preferred to stand while most of the group sat in a circle on the floor around the wee candle.

Ten minutes later I was amazed at how much I could see once my eyes adjusted to this darkness and that one little light. I could make out the shapes of many others in the room and even recognized some of them. The longer we were there the more we could distinguish.

The leader encouraged us to consider that what we do as artists, (visual artists, literary artists, dramatic artists) is like this light shining into the darkness of the many lives we encounter every day. Some will see a wee light coming from us yet continue to stumble on in the darkness encompassing them. If we can hold their attention even for a few minutes, perhaps they will begin to see more than that wee speck of light emanating from us. Then we may have opportunity to shed even more light into their darkness, helping them to see the obstacles, encouraging them to come closer to the light, to even embrace the light that will banish the darkness from their lives.

As we consider the coming of Jesus to earth during the Christmas season, and speak of Him as the light of the world, let us remember we are chosen to reflect His light to all around us. If we can keep their attention for a few minutes, they may begin to see more than the blackness engulfing them.

Prayer: Lord, may we be faithful in reflecting Your light in such a way as to encourage others to linger in that light till they are drawn to it so they too can walk in Your light of life.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, 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 NIV ).

Inhibiting His Voice

By Carin LeRoy –

Three years ago my Dad passed away. After almost 60 years of marriage, my mother went through a painful grief process. She had known my Dad since she was 15, so his absence was felt in every area of her life. The loss seemed unbearable as she struggled without my father. Sorrow would strike at any moment—talking with friends, walking in a store, sitting in church, alone at night—and tears would overtake her. She lost interest in things she loved, and heartache kept her from experiencing joy in life. Grief and sorrow took away her ability to function in a normal capacity.

As believers, we are given the Holy Spirit on the day of our salvation. The work of the Holy Spirit in our life helps us, brings comfort, warns, guides, and gives us power to live the Christian life. In Ephesians 4:30 we are told, “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption” (NLT). Ignoring the Spirit’s promptings inhibits Him from speaking to us. Disregarding His voice doesn’t allow Him to work in our lives preventing Him from functioning in His intended capacity. That grieves Him. He desires to guide and protect us from the harmful effects of sin and use us for God’s glory.

Just as my mom’s sorrow prevented her from functioning normally in daily life, we can also prevent the Holy Spirit from ministering in our lives. If we continue in sin ignoring the voice of the Holy Spirit, we grieve Him and marginalize God. We are admonished to “live as children of light.” Allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to us and reveal himself in our lives brings God glory. May we live the Christian life as God intended.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, that Your Holy Spirit guides, comforts, warns and empowers me to live the Christian life. Help me not to grieve Your spirit by choosing to sin, but give me the strength to live the Christian life as God intended.

“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world” (Ephesians 4:30-5:5 NLT).

Creating the Perfect Christmas

By Elaine James –

“You get your panties all in a bunch!” he blurted out. Oh boy is he in trouble I thought. I watched my friend Tom bury himself as he rolled his eyes and came out with that to his wife. What was he thinking by saying that?

Tom was expressing his frustration about the family Christmas dinner that was just around the corner. He went on a rant describing how uptight Cindy gets. I felt for Cindy because I understood where she was coming from. I know she loves Pinterest and she has been perusing that website getting inspiring ideas with the desire to create the perfect Christmas.

Have you found yourself trying to keep up with the times and new ideas? Or with the age-old desire of creating the perfect Christmas? Are your panties in a bunch? Or maybe you have found yourself just giving up and doing the complete opposite–nothing?

The Bible teaches us the perfect perspective of how to celebrate Christmas. It starts with the angel declaring to Mary, “And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus” (Luke 1:31 AMP). Mary’s response “Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said” (Luke 1:38 AMP).

We can relate that to our lives. We pray for our plans. We become pregnant with an idea. We respond as the handmaiden of the Lord knowing that “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment” (Luke 1:37AMP). We can fulfill the perfect Christmas in God’s power.

Next time you imagine yourself creating a perfect Christmas think of yourself being nine months pregnant. Imagine Mary travelling 80 miles, about one week on foot, to get to her perfect Christmas celebration. What would happen to all our perspectives of wanting a perfect Christmas? The world could fulfill their perfect Christmas with this promise, “No word from God shall be without power” (Luke 1:37 AMP).

PRAYER: Thank you for the free gift of Jesus Christ. You always have the perfect plans. Help me be guided this Christmas with your promise that I will be with Your power to create Your perfect Christmas plans. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

HO HO HO

By Elaine James –

My “to do list” is taking over my brain. Bake the cookies (every recipe that grandma gave me when I got married), put up the decorations, plan the holiday meals, send out the Christmas cards, do the shopping (even doing on-line shopping takes up a lot of time), get ready for all the upcoming parties, stock up the house with food (the college students are coming home) and so on…

My phone just buzzed twice. I have to look! It’s hard to stop! I have to hurry up! It all seems urgent!

I am wondering if you are feeling the pressure of Xmas?

I use the word “Xmas” because when you look at my list above there is no CHRIST in it.

The Bible teaches, “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp” (Psalm 92:1-3 NIV). David wrote a song for the Sabbath day, a day of rest. David loved playing music and singing. It had a calming effect.

Whenever I sit down and listen to my Christmas music, read scripture and write in my journal, miraculously I find out I have enough time to get everything done. Guess what? I get it done with a “Ho, Ho, Ho.” The sound that bellowed out of Santa’s gut makes me feel light-hearted; like I want to laugh. I feel the same when I reflect on Jesus’ birth and picture Him in the manger with those little rosy cheeks just like Santa’s. I cry out “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord.” The true Spirit of Christmas.

I was shopping with my daughter when a customer cut in front of us while we were in line trying to make a purchase. We looked at each other, yelled, “Ho, Ho, Ho!” and burst out laughing. As we were leaving the mall there was a huge traffic jam and we realized were not going anywhere fast. We yelled out, “Ho, Ho, Ho!” So many stories I can’t write them all.

Imagine what would happen if in this season when the tension is building instead of giving into that frustration with a negative reaction we could be more spontaneous. We would yell out “Ho, Ho, Ho!” Stop! Laugh! The result would create an atmosphere of what the Christmas season should be filled with…THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS.

PRAY WITH ME: Holy! Holy! Holy! Are you Lord! Heaven and Earth are filled with Your glory. I reflect on Your glory! Lord give me a Ho! Ho! Ho! of love, praise, laughter and song in this Christmas season. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Scented Candles

By Cindy Martin –

My teenage daughter loves scented candles. Glorious aromas waft out of her bedroom, her bathroom and our family room downstairs. More recently she has been “lending” them to me upstairs so that we can enjoy fabulous fragrances all throughout the house. Some of the candles are 3 wick candles and some of them are single wick; some have spring-time and summer scents while others infuse the room with spicy autumn and winter aromas.

This past weekend we were visiting with someone in our upstairs living room and I noticed our daughter had lit a large candle and set it on the counter. It was a dreary day outside and while the clouds choked out the sun, the soft warm glow of the 3 wick candle enveloped the room and made it feel like we were inside a giant snow globe.

My mother also loves scented candles but rarely lights one due to fire hazard concerns. Care and responsibility around candles is something I talk with my daughter about often but as I reflected on my mother and daughter’s love for candles, I was struck by their opposing responses. One motivated by sheer delight and the other snuffed out by fear. Carried to excess, both responses are dangerous, and extremes rarely serve us well. We can be guilty of either extreme when it comes to the way we reflect Christ.

As many of us head home during the holiday season to feasts of fragrances around the dinner table, I believe God would have us bring home the “pleasing aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV). However, emanating Christ’s character and grace can often be the hardest around family members. Rather than extremes, God offers a better way, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere”(2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV).

As believers, the aroma of Christ is God’s gift to us. Gifts are meant for giving – don’t leave this one tucked away in a suitcase of insecurity or obscured in the valley of frenetic activity.
Instead, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, allow Your sweet aroma to permeate my soul so that the fragrance of Your Spirit draws others closer to You.

Quote: “There is nothing more beautiful than the light of a Candle and the Aroma of its Heart.”
Stanley Victor Paskavich

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