Blessings from God

You Are the Light of the World

/ Bill Jones / Leave a comment

harbor lights

There’s a song our choir sings titled Be Ye Glad (Michael Blanchard) that has the line “So, be like lights on the rim of the water, giving hope in the storm of the night”. I’m not sure exactly what Mr. Blanchard meant but I imagine it’s close to what I think of in this photo.

The lighthouse shines brighter than all the other lights and is the true one to follow. But, the lights along the shore are also helpful and make the journey safer and easier. They show where and where not to go as we focus on the lighthouse.

The lighthouse, of course, represents Christ, Who outshines all others and is the Way, the Truth and the Life. But we’re in the picture, too. The lights along the shore represent us – the lights on the rim of the water that help others on their journey. This fact doesn’t diminish the brightness or glory of the true Lighthouse, for it is Him, our Savior, who gives us our light, and places us where we can best shine to help others.

“You are the light of the world.” Jesus’ words given in Matthew 5:14

So, let us shine.

 

 

Autumn Can’t Be Remembered – How About God’s Love?

/ Bill Jones / Leave a comment

chapter graphic

I’m reading “Travels With Charley” by John Steinbeck, which tells the story of a trip around the USA they took in the 1960’s (Charley was his poodle). Steinbeck’s first stop was in Maine, so early in the book he wrote a good paragraph to ponder. A woman was describing the majesty of the autumn colors of the tree leaves. She said “Autumn can’t be remembered, it’s a surprise every time.” She explained that you think you remember, but the first day it’s in full splendor you realize your memory has faded from the real thing.

I thought of a trip my wife, Sharon, and I took to Colorado a few years ago. The first sight of the Rocky Mountains was stunning – bringing the open-mouthed wonder kind of stare. I think I can still see the mountains clearly in my mind, but another trip and another sight of them would be stunning again – A surprise every time.

I mentioned the woman’s statement to Sharon, and her first thought was that first day you notice the greenness and newness of life in Spring after a long, seemingly dead Winter. You realize your memory has lapsed from the actual level of beauty.

These sights may be so glorious and non-ordinary that the routine of daily life tends to dull our remembrance. Routine begets routine and we end up with a veiled version of the true picture. The surprise doesn’t come when autumn or spring happen, or when we see the Rockies. They are well known parts of God’s Creation. The surprise comes when we encounter the real thing again, the veil is lifted and the actual beauty comes back into focus.

God’s love is well known to believers. It should be no surprise when His mercy and grace reveal it to us. But, we can allow our thoughts of God’s love to become routine – to become a veiled version of the true picture. Then, we talk with someone whose heart has recently been changed by God. The wonder and amazement  fill us with joy, lift the veil, and we see the actual beauty once more. We are surprised by the Lord’s gloriousness because we have not remembered it as it is. (The circumstances that bring that same response are too numerous to list!)

I stated above that we shouldn’t be surprised when God’s mercy and grace reveal His love. That’s from considering the many times it has been revealed.

But, there is a basic level of surprise that should always be there for believers. That surprise is that the Holy God of all Creation loves and saves sinners from themselves.

And, on this Christmas Eve, we should remember God’s love in its full glory, and be surprised and thankful and awestruck that God came to Earth for one purpose.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”   Matthew 1:21 KJV

What’s the Best Thing About Being a (Christian) Writer?

/ Bill Jones / Leave a comment

chapter graphic

I joined Goodreads the other day and went through the profile process and set up an author page. Found some friends from Facebook and some friends who weren’t from Facebook. So far, it seems to be a good contact point for the book, and a place to learn about books in general, and find specific books to read.

As part of the Author Page start-up, they listed questions you can answer if you want to. I picked a couple and this one caused me to think a bit:

“What’s the best thing about being a writer?” My answer:

“I like the way it can open your eyes, ears and mind to what is happening around you. Specific words and phrases catch your attention. Sights create word pictures in your mind. You notice life and your thoughts go in both directions – how did this moment come about, and where will it go from here?”

I had not answered that question specifically before, but that’s the basic theme of my writing. I appreciated the words coming to mind and giving me a paragraph describing the process.

Of course, the best thing about being a Christian writer is being able to help others think about God, and as I mentioned last post, hopefully to give the glory to the Lord. You can place His presence, guidance, goodness, mercy and love in every sentence of the paragraph I answered the question with, because, when it’s right, that’s Who it all comes from.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” Psalms 103:1