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.” As the sun rose on my early morning walk, shafts of light broke through the trees to light the path ahead. By the time I got to the end of the trail all the shadows were gone and everything was bright. Jesus spoke these words to a people who were walking in the shadows of oppression from a foreign power, poverty, and despair. Still he invited them to follow him out of the darkness into light. He didn’t promise to suddenly take all their problems away. Instead he promised that following him meant that they would always have his light to guide them. No longer would they walk in shadows but now they could walk with him in the light. Jesus still calls today for anyone to walk with him out of the darkness into the light of life. His promise is still true, when we walk with him we no longer walk in darkness.
Prayer Lord of Light and Life Help us to accept your invitation to follow you. Give us clarity of purpose today to follow where you would lead us. Amen
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This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. I have come to see light as a mystery. Before becoming a photographer I didn’t know that artists describe light as having the properties of color, intensity, direction, contrast, and quality. It was just light, bright or dark. The more I learned about light the more I wanted to know. Sometimes I can have a guess about what the light will be like at a specific place at a specific time but I can never know for sure. On the morning I took this image I thought there was a chance for some spectacular light but I stood in awe of how the light made everything glow in shades of gold and red. The dull brown grass that was at the place the previous day was transformed by the light.
John writes that God is light and light is a mystery. The more we sit in God’s presence and read his word the more our perception of God grows and changes. Mystery requires humility, for God is infinite and we are finite creatures. We have to be able to let go of concrete understandings and be willing to open our eyes to seeing God in new and beautiful ways. So we walk in the mystery of God’s light and love. Prayer Infinite Mysterious God, Shine your light into our world today so we can walk just one step further towards your beauty and love. Amen Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Expectations for interesting photographs were low that day since the weather forecast was for mostly cloudy skies. Yet when we stopped at the first overlook the sky put on a show. The sun broke through the clouds like a search light opening up the view in front of us.
God’s love is like that search light into our hearts. In our darkest hour when we have no idea what to pray, the Holy Spirit is there translating our hearts to the One who searches our hearts. With that light comes clarity, a way for us to step forward according to God’s will. Prayer Heart Searcher Search our hearts today. Show us your way through even the cloudiest day when we have no words. Amen Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” We had arrived at Ruby Beach just as the sun was rising. Some parts of the beach were already bathed in the golden glow of the morning sun while some were still in the shadows. After walking on the beach and watching the crashing waves we turned around to hike back to the car. As we walked below the rocky hill side at the water’s edge I looked up and saw the sun rising over the hill. Rays of sunlight streamed through the morning fog. The light had come and it was beautiful.
Zechariah and Elizabeth had lived through many dark years of Roman oppression and childlessness when the angel Gabriel came with astonishing news. They would have a son who would be the one to prepare the way for God’s salvation. We read these words of Zechariah, words of hope not just for a child but for the world. God was sending his light to those living in the darkness. No longer would the darkness win for the light was coming. There would still be dark days as there are now but there is hope. Jesus will guide us into his light and it will be even more glorious than the light was that morning. Prayer Father of Light Break into our hearts with your light when our days are dark. Fill us with hope and guide us into the path of peace. Amen When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” It was just another daily walk, nothing special until I saw the morning sunlight shining through the trees. This was a moment of seeing for me. I now see why God gave me my camera. He used it to draw me into his world. I began to see things, common things like trees, that I never really paid much attention to before. At the same time he was sharpening my eye he was teaching me to see scripture in new ways. When I walk in the world God created, I see him. I see him especially now in trees. If you look long enough you will see trees all throughout the Biblical story, from creation to the Garden of Eden to the cross and to Revelation. Tress give us life and beauty and it was on a tree that Jesus gave us new life. In the words of Martin Luther, “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.”
Now my challenge is the same one the shepherds faced. They had an amazing experience with the angels, now what were they going to do about it. They decided to go and see. How will I go and see? I have lived most all my life within 60 minutes or less of the mountains, yet I never had the desire to walk in them until my camera drove me to them. Now walking in nature has become more than a desire; it is a need. God can speak to us anywhere but I have found that I listen better when I walk in his world. It is when I walk in God’s world I see light . . . and trees. How will you go and see Jesus? Prayer Dear God Thank you for trees and the beautiful things you teach us through them. Open our eyes and our ears to listen to you as we walk in your world. Amen Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Lighthouses come in many sizes. Even though this lighthouse isn’t very tall, it was made to effectively provide light to the place where it sits. While most lighthouses have been replaced with new technologies, they still stand as sentries, beacons of light for those who travel upon dangerous waters. We live in dangerous times yet we are called shine as lights in the world. The only way we can be light is when we hold fast to the word of life, the light of the world. Be the light in someone's darkness today.
Prayer Father of Light, Teach us to walk with you, holding fast to the word of life. Make our lives be beacons of light that lead others to you. Amen Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. The thing about watching a sunrise is that you see the light way before you see the sun. Sunrise gradually dispels the darkness of night. The story of creation begins with the Spirit of God hovering over dark chaotic waters. The first thing that God spoke into being was light. And he does this before He speaks the “lights in the sky” into being. He is the source of light for creation, bringing order to darkness and chaos.
In our lives today when everything is so dark, we look out over the chaotic waters and we can see light. God brings his light - through us, the followers of Christ. Each of us carry his light. We share a little glimmer of God’s light when we take the time to listen to someone who needs a listening friend; when we take time to share with someone who doesn’t have what we have; when we listen with our hearts to the heart of someone who doesn’t believe the same thing we do. To see a sunrise you must wait in the dark. As we wait in these dark days we know that “the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.” May we bring the light that shines in the darkness to our world. Prayer God of Light, Fill our hearts with your light. Show us the places today where we can bring a glimmer of light to those who need to see your light. Amen Sing praises to God, sing praises! When I think about kings I imagine palaces filled with gold, stunning in their beauty and filled with light. The palace of Our King is so much greater than any building for our Great King created the universe. He has given us a beautiful place to life and fills our world at this time of year with the brilliant colors of autumn. As the sun warms our hearts God's love shines in our lives with the golden light of autumn.
Prayer Great King This day we bow to you and seek to serve you with our obedience. We sing your praise in the golden light of autumn. Amen And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. In our understanding of the universe, light comes from the sun. The ancient Hebrew understanding of light was different. They looked up each morning and noticed that there was light before the sun rose. Seeing the difference between our understanding of light and the ancient Hebrew understanding helps us see so much more what the Biblical author was trying to communicate. Genesis 1 is the way for the Biblical author to explain who God is. God is the source of light. On the first day of creation light and darkness are given names - day and night. God establishes time and brings order out of chaos. In God’s light we see light. It is his light that dispels our darkness. As you read God’s word you will see time and again this description of God as light until in Revelation the story is complete. Darkness is forever gone - conquered by the light of God. We have this hope, even in our darkest night - “Let there be light.”
Prayer Father of Light, Flood our lives this day with your light so we may be beacons of light in our world. Amen The unfolding of Your words gives light; As the light of late afternoon sun made the green leaves on the trees shine like gold, the light of God’s word shines light into our darkness. God’s word changes us as we take the time to unfold it. The poet of Psalm 119 had a passion for the wonders of God’s word as he crafted this long and intricate acrostic poem. He didn’t see knowing God’s word and following God’s law as a burden but as something he joyously longed for.
Prayer Loving God Awake in us a passion for your word. Make your word shine golden in our lives and light our darkness. Amen After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. This was my first time to visit the Caldwell House in the Cataloochee area of the Great Smoky Mountains. It is not like most of the other cabins that have been preserved in the park. Instead of logs and mortar, it is two stories with white washed clapboards and blue shutters. I walked up the steps and opened the door to see finished wood work and a carved stair case. As I stood in the hallway the sunlight was streaming through the slightly opened back door and it made everything appear golden. The only thing that I could see through the door was bright light.
As I stood there taking the picture I remembered the image of an open door in the book of Revelation. John tells of a day when in a vision he saw an open door standing before him. As he looked into heaven it must have been amazing to see the light and then to hear God say, “Come up and I will show you around.” This image of an open door to heaven is one that brings us hope. In our darkest days we have this promise that God has made a way for us to be with him. He will open the door for us and we will be with him forever. Prayer Loving Father In days of darkness, thank you for the bright light of your presence and the promise of the open door. Amen I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. For years I didn’t know about Sparks Lane. I just stayed on the loop road around Cades Cove and never thought about going on a gravel road that I didn't know where it ended. Then one day I decided to take a chance and take this gravel road and oh what I found. Now it calls me every time I go to the cove to discover its beauty. When you follow its call, no matter the weather, it leads you to beauty. God calls us to follow him. The way he calls is not always clear; it can be foggy and a little scary not knowing where the road leads. He promises us to take hold of our hand for he has a purpose for us. He calls us to be a light for others who sit in darkness.
Prayer Our God and King Take our hands and lead us to be a light for those in darkness. Amen Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. I didn’t expect to see very many people on Cadillac Mountain for sunrise that morning. The temperatures were below freezing and the skies were clear so the possibility of beautiful color in the sky was very low. When we got to the top of the mountain more than an hour before sunrise I couldn’t believe what I saw. Instead of the few photographers I thought would see, there were tour buses full of people. Based on the buses and the cars there were at least a thousand people on that mountain top. While I knew that this spot in Acadia National Park was the first place in America to see the sun rise over the horizon I was surprised that so many people would make the effort to get here. Even more surprising was the reaction when the first sliver of light appeared on the horizon - there was applause.
In our world today despair is rampant and darkness seems to have won the day. People are desperate for that sliver of light, wondering if it will ever come. If we follow Christ we know that the Light of the World has come. Praise the Lord who brings light and maybe clap your hands with joy. Arise and shine and share the light of Christ with all you see this day. Make the effort to be the smile, the kind word, the comforting hand for there are thousands upon thousands looking for the light. Prayer Lord God, Give us an overwhelming sense of your light this day and the courage to arise and shine. Amen In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. For the scientist these are crepuscular rays. They are sunbeams that appear to radiate from the sun shining through an opening in the clouds. They are most notable when there is the greatest contrast between light and dark. They appear as shafts of light separated by darker shadows. For photographers and other graphic artist this phenomenon of light is called God Rays. They shine through dark clouds and bring life and interest to the whole scene. They become the subject of the photograph and draw the focus the attention of the viewer.
During advent we celebrate Jesus who broke through the darkness like God Rays break through the clouds. His light is more than just a passing light that fades away when circumstances change. He brings light and life to all mankind forever. His true light will never fade for darkness of the world, of sin, will never overcome it. Prayer Lord of Light Thank you for the light you bring into our world. Help us to become reflectors of your light to those who are walking in dark times now. Amen Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. There are many different sizes and kinds of lighthouses but they all have one thing in common; they produce a light to guide sailors in treacherous waters. They were crucial to sailors at the time in which they were built since there were many more stretches of coastline without light. The darkness they faced was real, vast, and overwhelming, especially during a storm. While we live in a time where we have plenty of physical light, we still face different kinds of darkness that can be overwhelming - times of tragedy, grief, loneliness. At these times we need to let the light of Jesus shine into our lives. We need to remind ourselves that we don’t have to walk in darkness. We can walk in the light of Jesus.
Prayer Father of Light Help us choose to follow the light of Christ this day. May your light shine through our lives to bring light to all we meet. Amen And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. It was too difficult and scary for me to climb down on the rocks below the Bass Harbor lighthouse to get the iconic shot of the lighthouse at sunset. I tried for a while but then we decided to move to the other side of the lighthouse and just watch the sunset over the ocean. As we did it started to rain. I don’t think I have ever experienced a brilliant sunset and a rain storm at the same time. Suddenly the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds. The sun reigned over the storm and made the clouds and everything in its light turn golden.
We have a king that breaks through our lives like the sun broke through those clouds that day. Jesus invites us into his kingdom of light. He dispels the darkness of our sin. His kingdom is like no other for in his kingdom he rules with perfect love. We have only to bow the knee and let him reign in our lives. Prayer O Great King We bow before you and thank you for rescuing us from the dominion of darkness of sin. We ask you to bring your glorious light in our lives and help us to reflect your light of love to others. Amen Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. The thing about sunrises is that they always come but never in the same way. Sometimes their colors are muted by the clouds and sometimes it is the clouds that make them filled with spectacular color. When times are darkest I remember the sunrise and let the love of God break into my heart, sometimes with great color and sometimes with a quietness and peace - but always, always he breaks through for even on the cloudiest days there is still light.
Prayer Father God Break into our lives with your light in the way we need whether that be with spectacular color or quietness and peace for troubled hearts. Remind us of the promise of your unfailing love and presence and show us the way to go. Amen I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. One of the places that I wanted to see on our visit to Acadia National Park was the Duck Brook Bridge on one of the carriage roads. The only way to see the carriage roads is to walk, ride a bike, or ride a horse. Luckily I read about a way to get to this bridge by going down a dead end road where there were a few places to park on the side. On the first day we went to see the bridge it was cloudy and gray. The bridge was still pretty and I hardly noticed the marsh on the side of the road where we parked. Since I really wanted to see the bridge and the brook below in good light we went back a couple of days later when we had a blue sky. I was amazed, not at the bridge, but at the marsh on the side of the road alive with color. It was the light that brought the colors of the marsh alive and made them vivid almost beyond belief.
Sometimes our lives are more like that cloudy day at the bridge. We know that there is sun but the skies are gray. Maybe they are gray because of difficult times or maybe they are gray because of our choice to walk on our own that day, away from God’s light. God, like the sun is always there, even when we don't see him clearly. The scriptures tell us that there will be a day when we will always walk with God. The color will always be vivid and there will be no more gray days. There will be no need of the sun for the glory of God will be the light. There will be a new heaven and a new earth; a city where God will reign and his glory will fill our days with vivid, beautiful color. Prayer Lord God Almighty Make the vivid colors of fall on a clear day fill our eyes with your beauty and remind us of the day when we will live with you and see beauty in your perfect light. Amen But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. The thing that makes a sunrise or a sunset special is the quality of the light. When you see the clouds fill the sky you wait in anticipation for that moment when the sun will break through with brilliant light. The wonderful light makes everything before your eyes beautiful. The sunset fills you with awe and you can only declare the praises of the God who creates this beauty. Special sunsets remind me that God calls us into his light. We no longer have to fear the darkness for we are his and he will always bring light to our darkness.
Prayer Father of Light We sing praises to you for calling us out of darkness. May we feel your light today in a special way and share that light with those we meet. Amen This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. In times when the world seems lost in darkness where do we look to find light. Look to the perfect light of God. Let his love penetrate the darkness. Then, after looking to that light, shine the light of his love in the darkness where you live.
Prayer Lord of Light Shine your light in our world and penetrate the darkness of this day. Amen |
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Soli Deo Gloria,
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan