grief

The Light of the World

December 17, 2017trishLeave a comment

Last week I attended a funeral for a dear friend’s husband. The church was beautifully decorated for Christmas. As I sat there I couldn’t help think that it is because of the birth of Jesus that we can have hope and peace in the midst of sorrow. Our loved ones no longer with us who believed Jesus was the Son of God, that He was born, lived and died so we can have the gift of life with God forever, are celebrating and worshipping directly with the Son of God!

“What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by.” John 1:4 MSG

Jesus came into existence to bring light and life. Many people believe in the moment of death “all the lights go out.” But Jesus promises the light of heaven.

Jesus said,”I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 NLT

God is light, not a light. Light is a part of His essence, as is love (1 John 4:8). God is light and it is His plan that we shine forth His light. The light of God is His righteousness, goodness, holiness. To shine forth His light means to become more like Christ everyday, to know God, understand truth and live in obedience to God’s Word.

In contrast, to walk in darkness refers to all that is opposed to God. It is a life characterized by disobedience and lack of relationship with God. Darkness and light are two opposing forces trying to make claims upon us. We must decide if we are going to live in the Light or in the darkness.

Light provides energy to promote the giving and sustaining of life. Jesus gives us everlasting life.
Light guides us as we travel. Jesus guides us through our journey to our heavenly home.
Light has a way of exposing the evil that is concealed. Jesus is goodness itself.
Light warms and comforts us. Jesus welcomes us and calms us.
Light dispels darkness. Jesus pierces the darkness of sin and death and conquers them.

If I choose to walk in the Light I must humbly trust Jesus to reveal the light through me. It is God who puts when and where I find myself on my journey. This rang true at the recent funeral I attended. My friend shared during her husband’s service how it was through the invitation of my husband to go on a mission trip together to Russia to do dentistry that her husband developed a love for missions. Pictures flashed on the screen of both of our husband’s in their Russian hats in front of St. Peter’s Basilica and them doing dentistry on some Russians. Pictures continued of subsequent mission trips this man took followed by him and his wife starting an African medical mission working with local African doctors and dentists. All because my husband invited this man on a mission trip. We never know our influence. Only God can measure the significance of our influence and visibility. I may influence one person who will then influence the world! My focus should be on following the Light, Jesus, wherever He leads.

On a recent walk, as I came near our beach, this was my view:

It was such a statement to me: Will you choose to follow me and walk in the light?

I pray you will choose to follow the Light of the World. May you be reminded this holiday season that the little baby whose birth we celebrate came so we can live in the light and not in darkness. He loves you, has delivered you from the darkness, and wants what is best for you. Walk as children of the Light!

On the journey,
Trish

PS Yes, I know it has been since May that I last posted but I hope to be back on a more regular posting!

What will you do with change?

May 8, 2017trish1 Comment

Change can be unexpected, unwanted and hard. Recently I went back to Taylor University, my alma mater, for some meetings. So much change has occurred since my time at the school. This was the place I met and fell in love with my husband Neal. Anxious feelings were mounting.

After a stop at the historic Ivanhoe’s Restaurant for a lunch of the best-ever strawberry shortcake, I headed to the main entrance of campus

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I drove around to see all the many changes and additions of buildings and landscaping. After parking my car, I walked the old “loop” past Neal’s dorm and into my dorm. Things looked pretty similar except gone is the land phone at the end of each hall that all the girls had to use to place and receive calls! Continuing the loop brought me to the old/new science building where Neal spent many hours.

The Reade Liberal Arts building was next on the loop where most of my classes met and the media center where many of my elementary education projects were assembled. Past the old student union building around to the newly renovated chapel auditorium and student union building which included a Chick-fil-A restaurant. Since when do college campuses have fast-food restaurants? Now I am dating myself!

The renovation chapel and new student union

Before heading back to my car I finished the loop at the dining commons which looked the same from the outside.

I recalled many fond memories from my Taylor days, many with Neal. Memories included walking hand in hand with Neal around the loop to classes and meals, and the place of our first kiss. I found myself smiling most of the day!

The campus is vastly different since our years there. These changes are a sign of progress and growth, while maintaining the core mission of who Taylor is. My life has greatly changed since my days at Taylor, not what I had envisioned. I thought upon graduation I would marry Neal and grow old with him, teach school, become a mother and grandmother. We would go on mission trips; possibly in retirement go into full-time mission work. Some of those things have happened but I never thought about life being difficult. We all have our difficult stories. Thinking about the future at Taylor did not include a difficult adoption, an employee stealing thousands of dollars, having breast cancer, spending hours at a counselor’s office, starting a church, not teaching full time, taking a different career path, Neal getting non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma and dying, and so on…

Life can take us down a different path than we imagined but it can be good. We tend to fear and become anxious about change because we do not feel in control of life. It takes us out of our comfort zone.

There is one who does not change – God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). He guides us in the way we should go (Psalms 32:8). The Lord himself will lead us and be with us. He will not fail us or abandon us (Deut. 31:8; Josh. 1:9).

This journey is not one I envisioned. The changes in my life have not been easy and definitely out of my comfort zone. How we respond to what life throws at us is our choice. We can become bitter, angry and feel miserable all the time. Or we can choose to accept these changes and learn from them. The changes in my life have brought growth in ways I could not imagine. I have experienced a deeper love for God and His peace and comfort. I have done things I never thought I could do, like install a garbage disposal or corral cattle!

life is like underware

How will you choose to respond to change?

On the journey,

Trish