Tag Archives: Light

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on October 28, 2015
Tags: Light,   

Peace and Light — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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October 28, 2015

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried
on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill
and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.” Isaiah 60:1-5

“I’m reminded of two men who were talking about their New Year’s resolutions. The first man said, “We decided as a family, we watch too much T.V. My son watches so much T.V. that he doesn’t get his chores done. My daughter watches so much T.V. that she doesn’t get her homework done. My wife watches so much T.V. that she doesn’t get her work done.” The other man said, “Well, what have you decided to do?” “Well, I have decided that I’m simply going to unplug the T.V. That is as soon as the football season is over!”. God is counting on you and me to make our lives and the ministry of our churches great, but let’s not wait. Let’s begin today to discover the great possibilities ahead of us. In our scripture reading today, Isaiah is speaking about the peace that will come to the nation of Israel. Peace won’t come easily, but the reward will be great. The same is true for us. We can fulfill the great possibilities of peace and hope, if we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us. Peace and hope won’t come easily, but the rewards will be great. May we all do our part in fulfilling the great possibilities God has given to each of us.” (Ron Newhouse, Daily Devotions website, September 22, 2015)

We all know that change does not come easily. And we all know that sometimes peace does not come easily. Each new year that comes along brings the possibility of positive change. During the New Year preparations, many people consider doing something that might change their behavior and their health for the better. And many of those same people quit their plans for change before the end of the month. But positive change does not always have to just involve our personal lives.

What might you be able to do to bring more peace into our families, into our churches, into our communities, and into the world? That is something you will need to consider. But when the light of Christ shines through us, we are capable of great things. “Arise, shine; for your light has come.” Each day can be another “new” opportunity for the Lord to do great things for you, and to you. When we allow the light of Christ to shine through us, we are capable of great things.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on October 19, 2015
Tags: , , Light   

The Light of Christ Will Lead You — Rev. David J. Schreffler

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October 19, 2015

“I understand more than the aged,
for I keep your precepts.
I hold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
I do not turn away from your ordinances,
for you have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:100-105

“During World War II, small compasses saved the lives of 27 sailors 300 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Waldemar Semenov, a retired merchant seaman, was serving as a junior engineer aboard the SS Alcoa Guide when a German submarine surfaced and opened fire on the ship. The ship was hit, caught fire, and began to sink. Semenov and his crew lowered compass-equipped lifeboats into the water and used the compasses to guide them toward the shipping lanes closer to shore. After three days, the men were rescued. The psalmist reminded God’s people that His Word was a trustworthy “compass.” He likened it to a lamp. In that day, the flickering light cast by an olive oil lamp was only bright enough to show a traveler his next step. To the psalmist, God’s Word was such a lamp, providing enough light to illuminate the path for those pursuing God (Ps. 119:105). When the psalmist was wandering in the dark on a chaotic path of life, he believed that God, through the guidance of His Word, would provide direction.

When we lose our bearings in life, we can trust our God who gives His trustworthy Word as our compass, using it to lead us into deeper fellowship with Him.” (Our Daily Bread devotions, G*d’s Compass, September 15, 2015)

Have you ever been out late at night, or hiking in the woods when suddenly you realize that you are lost – that you have lost your bearings? There is nothing more frightening than the feeling that you are lost, and there is no one around to help you gain your bearing. And there is nothing more frightening than to be lost at sea, at night, without a compass, an oar, or a light. I am always amazed when I go to the beach, and sit there and look out onto the vast ocean. It is an amazing sight during the day, it is an awesome sight at night because the vastness of the ocean is magnified by the darkness. And as I gaze out upon the ocean, I am able to pick out one or two pin-pricks of light way off in the distance. As a child, I used to sit and look at these lights and wonder how far away they were — and who was at the other end of the light.

I remember the story of a young gal who was traveling with her parents in an airplane when it crashed at night, killing both her parents — but she survived. She knew instinctively that she needed to leave the sight of the crash and try to find some help. In the darkness she saw a small light off in the distance. She began to walk, and walk, through difficult and dangerous terrain without shoes for she had lost her shoes in the plane crash. But what kept her going was that light off in the distance – for she believed that it would lead her to someone who could help.

The word of G*d is a light in the darkness of the world, a word that continues to lead us and guide us — even when all else seems to be transient and fails us over time. Jesus told the world that he is the light of the world, and if we follow his light, his teachings and his love, they will be the compass that will guide us throughout our lives.

Pastor Dave