Well, I appreciate the Trustees and Carl making the call to cancel church because of the hurricane. It gave me the opportunity to once again have “Church on the Tractor.” I love being on our tractor. Sometimes when I need to get away and just think, I will get on the tractor and mow. I can talk to God out loud and sing at the top of my lungs and no one hears. Sunday, I found myself singing, “Shine Jesus, Shine.” I think it once again goes back to our new state of normal. It seems like now more than ever we need for “Jesus, the Light of the World to shine upon us.” John 8:12 says, “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.” While the days may seem a little darker to us, we have the “light of life.” I think of it as a spotlight, shining down from heaven, radiating love, joy, hope and peace to us. The light then reflects off of us and bounces off OR infiltrates others. We can’t let the fear, the frustration, and the ugliness we see keep the light from bouncing off of us. (Can you tell I am preaching to myself?) The reality is, God hasn’t changed. He is still the same loving Father who sent his son to die on a cross for us so that we could have eternal life.  I have changed. I am having to take in more of His light, (love) to combat the darkness around me. Does that make sense? When I do that there is less light to share. John 1:5 reassures us that no matter how dark things may seem, “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has NOT overcome it.”

The light we have in us can overcome the darker days we are experiencing.  Walk outside, open your arms wide and sing or say these words as a prayer:

Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light

Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me

As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me.

Now walk back inside and know that YOU are filled with His Light and are ready to let your light shine!