Jesus IS the Light

by Barbara Chadwick



We were sitting in the forward lounge of the Le Conte ferry on our way to Tenakee Springs. Being the second week in December in Alaska it was naturally dark at six A.M. Clouds covered the sky making it seem darker. World news was dismal - Crime, War, Congress seemingly working against the people, every kind of Vice and Lawlessness, and the economy. People around us were sleeping - oblivious to the chaos of the world.

This was my first time to go to Tenakee. I was told there was a lot of alcoholism and depression there. They have some Mormons and a Catholic chapel. The village has about forty-five people in winter and fifty-two dogs! Our church in Juneau provides an evangelical worship service once a month so this was our time.

Tenakee has a hot springs where the people bathe. There are hours for women and hours for men. One woman told me that you develop the Tenakee Stare - that is you look at eyes, never lower your eyes!

A couple of hours later after daybreak - still sitting in the darkened lounge looking out over the ocean - my mind was full of heavy things. Suddenly in the distance the sun broke through the clouds and a shaft of light came straight down. The reflection of the light on the water was brilliant!

I was reminded of the scripture in Isaiah "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness, a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2

That scripture is quoted in Matthew 4:16 "The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the shadowland of death, light has dawned. "

God looked down from heaven and knew we needed a Savior. He placed His only Son in a manger. A bright star and angels announced His arrival. Shepherds and Wise Men worshipped Him and He became the Light of the world.

Our Light.

Jesus says in John 8:12, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life."

May the Light of Life be reflected in our words, our actions and our faces this week.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

The thermometer on my back porch reads 20 degrees and we woke up to snow on the ground! … A white, soft, feathery two inches of snow! We hardly ever get snow here in Las Cruces, NM and so it’s such a delight and treat when we do. Now as I look out my window the sun has risen to reflect itself in sugary sparkly rays off the snow and as it warms the world, fine powdery snow drifts off the trees and floats softly to the ground. And the song that’s running through my head is … “Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!”

At this time of year right before Christmas, with this being just the very beginning of colder weather …not cold as in staying in the 20’s or even going to be in the 20’s regularly, but rather that it is just “beginning to look a lot like Christmas” weather …snow is wonderful, awesome, magical …especially as I’m living in a very snug home, my heater works, and my fireplace is burning.

But if my circumstances were different … like some of the homeless guys who live under the trees near the overpass to the highway … or if I couldn’t afford to pay the gas, or coal bill like friends of mine in Canada … or if this was the end of a very hard cold winter and I thought it was going to finally be spring but instead it was another two inches of snow … then the 20 degrees on my thermometer would conjure up entirely different feelings … magical would be replaced with tragic … feathery with icy cold … soft white with icy glare.

Proverbs 29:25 says “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe” I’d like to offer a suggestion that you could replace the word ‘man’ with ‘circumstances’ … “Fear of ‘circumstances’ will prove to be a snare.” How we see our situation -our circumstances- will determine the attitudes and actions that we have and our responses to other people. In Revelation John says that the best reason for reading that book is to receive a blessing. My dad always says that the main message of revelation is “We Win!” … in the end we win! The writer of Hebrews says that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

It is so important that we ‘read’ today’s story in light of ‘Christmas Is Coming’ … Christ is coming back … it’s exciting and fresh and new. If we interpret the snow -today’s story- in light of the past, in light of our feelings, in light of what the news media tells us, then the 20 degrees -our circumstances- is devastating news, the two inches of snow becomes the feared two inches that will break the camel’s back instead of two more inches to fill the water aquifers underground.

“… but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” Trust the Lord today regardless of how you see the snow today, regardless of your circumstances. He is the One who can keep you safe, who can provide, protect, defend. He is FOR you! God tells us in Proverbs 1:7 that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. Now there’s a place to put some healthy fear. Fear God. Serve Christ. Love Men. And … “Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!”

Matt Redman - You Never Let Go
From the album Passion 06: Everything Glorious

Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught

in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light

that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus:
Yes, I can see a light

that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

God's Wife
by Barbara Chadwick


We visited with four-year-old Alex last week. We went actually to visit her parents, James and Jesse (This really is the mother's name!) but Alex was the center of attention and conversation.

She showed me all her toys and all her baby sister's toys. She took me into her bedroom so I could see and admire her new "big girl" bed and pictures on the wall. She raised the blinds on the window. It was sort of frosty so she started to play tic tac toe. She asked me to play with her so since she already had an X, I drew an O. She jumped up and down and said I'm going to block you so she put an X over my O!

Her mother, Jesse, later told me that they were in the car a few days ago. Alex, in the back seat, said, "Mom! You won't believe this! I'm playing tic tac toe with myself and I'm winning every time!"

Wouldn't that be something if we could do that in life?! But the fact is we can't do anything really in our own strength. It is only in God's strength that we accomplish anything worthwhile.

Well, when Alex became busy with something else during our visit, Jesse sat beside me and said I want to tell you what Alex said this week. We were driving home from school and Alex tells me from the back seat,

"God's wife is so pretty."

"Is she?" Jesse asked

"Yes, she's so pretty."

"Where did you see God's wife?"

"At church, of course, she's married to our pastor!"

I laughed delightedly and said, "That's the sweetest thing anyone ever said to me." What an awesome thought but I can barely live up to being the wife of the pastor!!

Don't you love how a little child's mind works?

Mar 10:15 "I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Alex is always telling Jesse and James, "You know, Jesus loves us."

It's simple in her mind. Everything in the world belongs to God and He loves us.