“The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.”

but I decided instead to focus on something a little bit different.  Maybe more of an example of the pig.

23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4

Today, guard your heart.  Build a wall around it to protect it.  But as you travel here and there light your path “like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” (Proverbs 4:18)

Yeah, it is.  It’s a pretty fascinating day.  I have started it with so much energy that I am actually surprising myself.  So between wrestling Andrew all morning, and constantly singing ‘The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota”, I did some research on Groundhog’s Day.

Why?  Yeah I know!

But really what a fascinating day.  Besides being 2-2-2012, which I am sure has some mathematical significance, it is also the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  So that means Winter is halfway over, or there’s still half of it left – depending how you look at it.   This day has been celebrated with small mammals like groundhogs and badgers for century’s.  In fact I found some interesting old poems over at EarthSky, like

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another flight. But if it be dark with clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.

or this one

Half your wood and half your hay, you should have on Candlemas Day.

What’s this Candlemas?  Well since Christmas is around 40 days ago ( can you believe it, and I still have some decorations up!!!), this would be right around the time the baby Jesus was brought to the temple for consecration. And there we see some two amazing people waiting for him, Simeon and Anna, and here is what Simeon said when he held that little boy

²⁸Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹ which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 22:28-32

And here we sit, at Mid Winter, enjoying some great mild weather, but wondering if the light will reveal that little Groundhog’s shadow, and pondering will it be spring or more Winter. – do we need wood or hay?  I hope you also spend a moment or two today full of wonder at the light that revealed salvation and glory for all people!

And so should it be with us, each day changed from a boring selfish person, to someone who emits that light of the Father.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 New International Version (NIV)

I have tried to read more this month and I found some great reading plans at the YouVersion Bible site.  I have actually been reading two different plans, one that is discussing a Christmas carol a day, and the other that is just discussed different areas surrounded the birth of the Christ.  Yesterday there was a question posed at the end of the both readings and interestingly enough they were both very similar. One asked this

How has your life been a light to those around you? Make a point to be light during this season.

and the other this

What one thing could you change to give those around you a foretaste of God’s Kingdom of peace?

Great questions, how would you answer them?

 ^14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16The Message (MSG)

 

Well since it is Friday, here is just a simple thought to consider. (plus I am already jammed up with 7 and 8 am appointments)

Did you know you can’t create darkness?  It just exists.  But you can create light, and so here are some random Friday thoughts about creating light:

First an ancient chinese proverb (or so I am told, it’s still pretty cool):

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

And then this thought which I always find encouraging:

Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky  NIV Philippians 2:15

And finally just a little bit more:

 ^14-16Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing. Philippians 2:15 The Message (MSG)

Shine your light today! ( and forget about all that cursing!)

And then we go home, opened up the garage door by hand and moved into the house in the dark, feeling our way to the flashlights and firing up the candles to see what we could see.

It’s pretty amazing how much different life is without light!

So, you can guess where this is going.  Living light in the darkness is not good.  There is so much power in the light. Make sure you are being light in all the darkness that is around you!

⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6, New International Version, ©2011)

That’s right – Cereal boxes that light up! Can you believe that! I just can’t help thinking about the words of the Christ in Matthew where he instructs those listening as follows:

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (New International Version, ©2010)

I would love to have my cereal boxes remind me each day that I am too be the light to the world.  It sure stands to reason that if even a cereal box can produce light, then I should be able to as well.

I write this today and refer to this verse as I often do to encourage myself, because as Paul says, “I have not attained this” in any way yet! Anyway, spend a little time considering wireless power and light up cereal boxes and hopefully you get a little encouragement from them to let your light shine.

So.. coming to a breakfast table near you soon…

My thoughts quickly traveled to Ephesians however, for it is here that the writer of this letter lays out some very profound and yet simple ideas for those who wish to follow the Christ.

You see, my friend was calling out the way sin has been categorized to a point that some is acceptable and some is not. However, the letter the the Ephesians clearly calls out all sorts of dark behaviors and groups them in the same pot.  Then there’s the real kicker.  It’s not a condemnation for having had these sins in your life, but an impetus to move past them:

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)

All of us have sinned. All of us continue to make mistakes.  All of us are so dependent on the grace the oozes from our Lord.  However, we are still admonished to move toward the light and to leave the other things in darkness.  The Message version of this brings home the point in a very contemporary way:

8-10You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. Ephesians 5:8-10  The Message (MSG)

So, we need to leave the darkness behind, and move towards the light – transformed by the grace and love of Christ. As you battle the darkness in your life remember this admonishment. And as you deal with others steeped in the battle with darkness please remember that “you were once darkness” but now “you are the light”.  Approach them with the grace and love bestowed upon you.

Oh, and isn’t this just another reason to live a life of joy?

So yesterday, I am rushing to pick up the forgotten uniform and get it back over to my eldest before his game when in front of me is stop and go traffic. So much for rushing – all I can do is just roll along at a slow rate of speed and stop every so often. Then it happened. I rolled to a stop and Boom. Yep, the car behind decided my bumper was a better way of stopping then the breaks. No way! As the traffic pulled off in front of me, I pulled to the side and looked in the rear view mirror to see an upset young female driver. No way! Not only am have I been rear ended, but now I am on the side of the interstate with a crying teenage girl! As Filch from Harry Potter would say in his snarly voice, “ohhhh, we are in trouble”.

I jumped out, made sure she had her car off the road completely and tried to assure her that it was ok. What had happened happened. There was nothing to be done about it now. She decided to call her dad. The damage was surveyed, the TDOT assistance vehicle stopped by, the CPD eventually came.

While we were waiting for the PD to come, one of this young ladies high school coaches who was following close behind her had stopped off to help her – which was a blessing from above!
This lady noticed the Boyd-Buchanan sticker on my vehicle and started talking about some mutual people we knew that she went to church with, included my wife’s old principal. This got me thinking. What if I had come out of the truck angry as a hornet? What if this was the time I decided to leave Christ in the passenger seat? How would that have completed destroyed any ability to show Christ. It’s in these moments when we are able to let our lights shine. I hope that I was able to be kind and gentle in that stressful moment for that young lady, and I hope that when she think back on his first collision that that part stands out, and that in some sort of way I was able to point her towards my leader.

As you go about today, remember you never know who is watching and who you are influencing.

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-17 (New International Version)

Oh why is this another reason that I love my truck – no damage.

Everytime I watch a storm I know the awesome power of my Lord

but then it goes on to say

I don’t know why so many things seem to get in the way of seeing my God’s glory
But I try everyday to see and thank Him for all the things He’s given me

Yep, it was a frantic and frustrating morning yesterday at the ol’ homestead, but what we missed in that was that God laid his glory and power right out in front of us.  After some time considering the morning, I see how wrong my post’s title from yesterday was.  I sure do have power – plenty of power!

 ¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
       two things have I heard:
       that you, O God, are strong,

 ¹² and that you, O Lord, are loving.
       Surely you will reward each person
       according to what he has done. Psalm 62:11-12 NIV

Now, we can choose to live our lives in the dark, like we were yesterday, fumbling and bumbling around, or we can plug into the spiritual power that exists and live in a way that is supercharged!  Be strengthened by the power of God. Step out of the darkness and into its light.  It’s enough to keep you going in the right direction!  It’s all you need to keep focused.

¹⁰And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. ¹³For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:10-14 (New International Version)