Barbara's Banter

Choices change our lives…

By Barbara Dahlgren

When someone is going through a hardship, they need comfort and encouragement – not judgment and condemnation. If we aren’t careful, we can make false assumptions about someone else’s trials. Here are a few…

A trial is God’s way of punishing people for their sins. Not true! God doesn’t need to punish us for sin. Sin brings its own punishment. We don’t know why someone is ill. When God healed the blind man in John 9, the disciples asked who had sinned to cause this blindness, him or his parents. Jesus said, “Neither!” (John 9:1-3)

People always bring afflictions upon themselves. Not true! We don’t know why someone is having a trial. After Jesus told the disciples that no one had sinned to cause the man’s blindness in John 9, he went on to say why this man was blind: “…that the works of God should be revealed in him.” We don’t know what God is doing an another person’s life.

If people have enough faith, they won’t be having trials. Not true! Did David lack faith? Did Paul lack faith? Did Job lack faith? Did Jesus lack faith? I don’t think so!

Bad things happen to good people all the time and we don’t know why. And shame on those who go to suffering people and add to their misery by telling them if they had enough faith they wouldn’t be going through some horrendous trial. If we learn anything from the Bible, it’s that all God’s children got problems – or will have problems.

Some faithful Christians will get diseases and die no matter how many sincere prayers are said for healing. Some will be gunned down by random acts of violence no matter how pure their lives have been. Some husbands will leave beautiful wives no matter how faithful and loving those wives have been. Dedicated Christians will face loneliness, death, anxiety, suffering, temptation, fear, exhaustion, conflict, poverty, and uncertainty just like everyone else.

People don’t need judgment or condemnation when they are going through trials. They also don’t need platitudes that might be helpful in the future, but certainly not during present suffering. Hurting people do not want to hear…

• This was part of God’s plan.
• The Lord works in mysterious ways.
• All things work together for good for those who love the Lord.
• God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.
• What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
• You need to pray more.
• You’ll be just fine.
• Be thankful it isn’t worse.
• I understand how you feel.

We don’t understand how people feel. Everyone is different. Everyone processes what happens in a different way. To say we know how someone feels is presumptuous. It, just like all the other platitudes mentioned, does nothing to alleviate a suffering person’s present distress.

So how can we comfort people? Sometimes by saying nothing but just being there. We can be available, give a hug, or sit with them in silence. Send a card saying we can’t imagine the pain they are feeling but we are so sorry for what they are going through. Bathe them in prayer.

Consider this…We can come alongside hurting people with an open mind and willing heart. In addition, we can ask God privately to guide us so we can be a help, not a hindrance.

One final thought… People don’t want to feel condemned or preached to in times of trouble. They just want to feel like someone cares.

Choices change our lives…

By Barbara Dahlgren 

The psychological use of the word closure usually refers to experiencing an emotional conclusion to a difficult life event. Many want to be able to pinpoint this conclusion instead of feeling a sense of ambiguity, so they express the need for closure. This need for closure varies depending on personalities, but for many, not having the closure they think they need prevents them from having peace and moving on.

Unfortunately, we can’t always have closure – at least not the way we want it. Why? Because there are areas of our lives we cannot control. However, we can control whether or not we allow certain events to hold us captive for the rest of our lives. This makes a real difference in how we live our lives. Do we cope? Do we become bitter or better? Do we move forward?

Here are just a few examples of events beyond our control:

• Your twenty-year-old son dies in an unexpected car accident.
• Your mother always favored your brother over you.
• Someone breaks up with you and won’t tell you why.
• A friend has a grudge against you and won’t tell you what you’ve done to upset him.

You cannot bring a child back to life and tell them how much you love them once they are gone. To forever live under the guilt of words unspoken keeps you in a world of regret. “If only I had done this” or “if only I hadn’t said that” are destructive thoughts because you can’t go back and change it. You can, however, determine not to let another day go by without telling a loved one how much you love them.

You cannot make a parent acknowledge their injustice to you if they don’t see it. You cannot make someone see what they don’t see or don’t want to see. After you become a parent, you may decide your parents just did the best they could so you will love them anyway. Either way you can definitely be determined not to make the same mistakes with your own children. If your parents were abusive, you may decide to sever your relationship with them.

You cannot force people to love you. If they don’t love you, then let them go. Who wants to be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t care for you? Decide what you can learn from the situation and move on.

You cannot make people tell you what is bothering them if they refuse to talk to you. If you have apologized for what you’ve done or what they think you’ve done, then what more can you do? In the future, choose friends who care as much about how you feel as you care about how they feel.

Closure is not about altering the past. Closure is not about changing others. Closure is not about pretending bad things didn’t happen. Closure does not mean something disappears. Closure doesn’t mean you block out a painful memory. True closure is about moving on. And in order to move forward, we need to let go of things in our past that would prevent that – things that hold us captive like guilt, regret, unfulfilled expectations, loss, or whatever it is that keeps us thinking we can’t be happy unless we get what we want.

Sometimes this kind of closure seems impossible, but with Christ all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). In Philippians 3:11-13, Paul says he knows he falls short in being the ideal Christian but through Christ he is able to let go of what lies in the past and move towards what God holds for him in the future. We need to press forward.

Consider this…If we are moving forward, we will have to leave some things behind. One of those things may have to be our idea of closure.

One final thought…We think closure brings peace. Actually, only God can give us peace.

Choices change our lives…

By Barbara Dahlgren

What does it mean to be enthusiastic? Enthusiastic people have an intense enjoyment of life. They make an ordinary drive through the countryside an adventure. They make opportunities out of problems. They turn strangers into friends.

Why? Because enthusiastic people are interested in those around them. They don’t go through life in a ho-hum manner. They appreciate the gift of life and live it with warmth, zeal, and passion. They love God. They love people. They love life.

Let’s take a deeper look at the word enthusiasm. In the Greek, “en” means “in.” “Theos” means “god.” So basically enthusiasm means the Spirit of God within a person. Now there’s a concept for you! God living in you! When God lives in us, how can we help but be just a little enthusiastic?

Even from a physical perspective, we know that increasing our intelligence can be important. We know that having talent is a plus. We know developing skills can be helpful. However, you will find that it is enthusiasm that gives all those things the extra boost needed for happiness and success. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

Enthusiastic people are creative and get things done. They are doers of the Word, not hearers only. (James 1:22) They work with all their might in everything they do as if they are doing it for God. (Colossians 3:23) They are eager to serve. (1 Peter 5:2) They are eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:14)

Since God is with us everywhere we go, we should never lack for enthusiasm, but we do, don’t we? We block that Spirit. We stay self-absorbed. We don’t smile. We don’t connect with others. We are embarrassed to let God’s Spirit overflow from us to others.

So how does one keep enthusiasm? Perhaps the answer is in Romans 12:2. Paul says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It’s this renewing of the mind and spirit that keeps us enthusiastic.

We must approach each new day with fresh eyes. We shouldn’t awake defeated before we even start by saying, “Good Lord! It’s morning.” We should awake eager to walk through another day with God. “Good morning, Lord! Thank you for another day of life!”

Consider this… Each new day is the one God has made. We need to rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24) That’s what enthusiasm is all about. Enthusiasm keeps life interesting and exciting. It keeps us from getting bored with daily routines. It keeps us energized, engaged, and focused.

Focus is so important. We must keep our focus on Jesus. From a spiritual perspective, we can’t “work up” our own enthusiasm if it is going to be real. True enthusiasm can only come from God living in us.

One final thought… If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing with all your heart.

Choices change our lives…

By Barbara Dahlgren

Blessings are mentioned specifically over 400 times throughout the Bible and implied many more. No wonder Christians use the term freely in their walk with God. Prayers are filled with asking God to bless our children, grandchildren, spouses, parents, relatives, friends, co-workers and so on. We sign our cards with “God bless” and use phrases like “Have a blessed day.” There is no better word to describe God’s goodness towards us and hopefully we thank him daily for our blessings. However, I think it’s also important that we be a blessing to others.

When God told Abraham to leave his country, God told him what he would do. “I will make you a great nation. I will bless you. I will make you a great name and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:1, 2) The NLT says, “…and you will be a blessing to others.” I meditate on that scripture a lot. Am I a blessing to others?

We know it is more blessed to give than receive. (Acts 20:35) We know that we should share our blessings with others. (Matthew 10:37) But I think being a blessing to others goes deeper than that. A blessing is something conducive to happiness, good fortune, or a godsend. Do people feel better or blessed just being around us? Or would they rather hang out with someone with a brighter outlook on life?

As Christians we are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14-16) Our job is not to solve the world’s problems, but show forth a little light in the darkness. Did you know that light travels faster than sound? Does our very presence light up the world of those we meet? Or do we light up a room and make everyone happy by leaving, which is just another way of asking, “Are we a blessing to others?”

Being a blessing to others is not contingent on everything going right in our lives. When Paul and Silas were imprisoned they chose not to curse their situation. They still praised God. Their example blessed the other prisoners and the prison guards. (Acts 16:25-31) Sometimes our actions during times of adversity can bless others and we won’t even know it. If we yield to God, he can do miraculous things through us that we are totally unaware of.

Consider this… We really don’t know how many lives we touch. It is said that one person can influence up to 10,000 people in a lifetime. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could be a blessing to each and every one of them in some small way?  It could happen. We just need to ask. “Lord, please make me a blessing to others!”

One final thought… The world would be a better place if we adopted John Wesley’s philosophy.

Do all the good you can

By all the means you can

In all the ways you can

At all the times you can

To all the people you can

As long as ever you can

Choices Change Our Lives

By Barbara Dahlgren

Often our feelings and emotions are substituted for faith. Deep and satisfying experiences are part of the Christian life, but not the essence of it. Trials, conflicts, battles, and problems are encountered along the way as well. These are part of our journey. Regardless of our feelings, we need to rely on the indwelling of Christ in our hearts and walk in obedience to Him. This is where many Christians get into trouble. They try to walk by feelings not by faith. So we must learn to trust God’s Word and His power more than we trust our feelings and experiences.

If we all followed our feelings, it would be a scary world, indeed! Feelings are ever changing. One day we are up and the next we are down. Feelings are unpredictable and unreliable. Some people say, “If it feels good, do it.” Afterwards, those same people might say, “Boy, I wish I hadn’t done that!” What feels good one day, may feel horrible the next. Our feelings can be as fickle as we are. Feelings should not rule our lives.

The Bible says we can be angry, but do not have to sin. (Ephesians 4:26) In other words, we should control our emotions, instead of letting our emotions control us. Cain did something horrible when he couldn’t control his feelings. He killed his brother Abel. Cain did not know how to deal with his feelings of jealousy, resentment, and inadequacy. Following our feelings can sometimes get us into trouble.

We need to learn to make decisions that are not based on feelings. We must make right choices regardless of how we feel. God can help us do this. He won’t do it for us, but He will guide us in the right direction through prayer, meditation, and reading His word. We need to choose to follow godly principles, instead of human nature.

We have to listen to what God says, not what people say. People want to debate scripture based on how they feel. Truth is truth, regardless of how we feel. People might say, “Follow your heart!” There may be some truth there, but remember that God warns us that sometimes our hearts can be deceitful and lead us in the wrong direction. (Jeremiah 17:9, Proverbs 28:26) Feelings can cloud issues, because feelings are not facts. Just because we feel something, does not make it true.

Believe it or not, our feelings are important to God. Jesus felt deeply about things. He wept. (John 11:35) God keeps track of our sorrows and tears. (Psalm 56:8) He came for the brokenhearted. (Luke 4:17) He rejoices with us. (Zephaniah 3:17)

God created feelings and expects them to be an outlet for what happens in our lives. However, He never intended them to be a guide for what is right or wrong. It’s unwise to base decisions totally on how we feel. We might feel attracted to someone, but if that someone is already married, better look for someone else.

Sometimes we must fight our feelings or they will lead us in the wrong direction. Feelings of desire can lead to adultery. Feelings of jealousy can destroy relationships. Feelings of hatred can cause death. Feelings of success can lead to being self-centered.

Consider this… Our feelings are uncertain and constantly changing, like shifting sand. However, Jesus is constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) So perhaps we should let Him rule our lives, instead of our emotions. If we focus on Jesus, the emotional roller coaster ride of life will not get out of control. (Hebrews 12:2)

One final thought… We don’t want to be at the mercy of our emotions. It’s much better to be at the mercy of God.

Choices change our lives…

By Barbara Dahlgren

Balance is a part of our daily lives. We want to eat a balanced diet, send our kids to schools with a balanced curriculum, and balance our check books. Balance holds us steady and allows us to cope with life. It keeps us healthy and happy.

Without balance we tend to go to extremes leading to terrible results. If we eat, eat, eat too many carbs, we get fat. If we work, work, work without rest, we get sick. If we spend, spend, spend without thought, we go bankrupt.

Unfortunately, we all have a tendency to be unbalanced. We think if a little of something is good then a lot must be better. That is not always true. Prescription drugs, medicinal herbs, or even trace elements might be helpful in moderation but too much could lead to illness or even death.

Just as there should be balance in our physical lives, there should be balance in our Christian lives as well. Zealous Christians don’t always understand this and have difficulty seeing the bigger picture.

This was an area of growth for Peter. At first Peter did not want Christ to wash his feet, until Christ explained, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.” Then Peter said, “Wash not only my feet but my hands and head, too.” (John 13:6-11) Peter also told Christ he would never deny Him, but he did. (Matthew 26:35, 69-75) Christ knew Peter didn’t fully understand certain things. Peter tended to be a bit of an extremist…and so do we.

After Peter grew in grace and knowledge, his statements became more balanced.

Unbalanced Christians go to extremes and miss the mark. For example, some devote their lives to diligent theological study and can debate doctrine with the most learned. However, they neglect to have an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus and can’t apply scriptures to their daily lives. Others do just the opposite. They think all they need to do is pray, but they don’t study the Bible so they are swayed by every new idea that comes along. (Ephesians 4:14) They don’t know what they stand for.

Consider this… Balance does not mean compromising beliefs or being unsure of your faith, nor does it mean shoving spiritual understanding down someone’s throat with clever arguments.

Balanced Christians know how to combine Bible study with a Christ centered relationship so they can live life to the fullest. They know how to trust God. They know the Christian life isn’t an either/or scenario. They realize we need intellect and emotion, head and heart, form and freedom, plus grace and knowledge. (2 Peter 3:18)

Leading a balanced Christian life is important. Without balance, we fall – physically and spiritually.

One final thought… The key to keeping good balance is knowing when you’ve lost it.

Choices change our lives…

by Barbara Dahlgren

Perspective or how we see things determines how we live our lives or react in any given circumstance.

Without good perspective, even everyday living can become a burden. Each day we have deadlines to meet, bills to pay, and appointments to keep. We have houses and cars to maintain. We have relationships with spouses, kids, parents, siblings, and friends to nourish. Our lives are full of stress, stress, and more stress. Plus, we have those unexpected inconveniences which can be time consuming and throw us “off our game.” It’s overwhelming. When we get overwhelmed, it’s hard to discern the difference between an inconvenience and a tragedy. This is why perspective is so important.

Do we muddle through life or look for God in all our circumstances? Do we view others as an inconvenience or as children of God? Do we see problems or possibilities? Do we focus on conflicts or do we focus on Jesus? Do we make mountains out of molehills or molehills out of mountains? Do we discern what is really important or stay in a perpetual state of crisis management? We must focus on Christ and ask God for His peace if we are to experience joy in our daily lives.

Keeping good perspective helps us evaluate our circumstances. A flat tire, a snoring spouse, a missed appointment, a late airplane, a lost game, the guy who cuts us off in traffic, the gossipy co-worker, a criticism, the slow Internet connection, the stock market being down, or our weight being up is not as big a deal as a loved one dying or finding out we have cancer.

Of course God can take care of even the direst of situations but we could save ourselves a lot of turmoil and grief if we didn’t act like a bad hair day is the end of the world.

Consider this… a bad day is not a bad life. Before we over react, we might want to ask ourselves if it what we are experiencing will really even matter to us five years from now, much less to anyone else.

Keep a healthy perspective. Don’t look down at the ground; look up to Christ. With Christ in our lives all is not lost! Most times it’s not as bad as we think! As Scarlet O’Hara would say, “Tomorrow is another day!” Let’s get a good night’s sleep and wake up with the knowledge that God loves us! Always keep this perspective in mind – with God in our lives, each day and every tomorrow can be filled peace and joy.

One final thought…

Two people can look at the same thing and see something different. Be the person with the good perspective. Then you will be able to see more clearly.

Choices change our lives…

By Barbara Dahlgren

Each New Year we make resolutions to help us change our lives for the better. Although we usually have every intention of keeping them, all too soon they are abandoned because change is hard. Most of us want changes to instantly happen without any effort on our part. We think if we write them down they will miraculously come to pass. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works.

That’s why for the past few years I’ve resolved not to make resolutions, but to focus on daily choices instead. So my blogs have been devoted to choices and will be until I exhaust my idea file about choices. Hmmm??? Not sure when that will be, but one things for sure, we will never exhaust our need to make choices. We face them daily.

Some choices are proactive and some are a little more passive, but just as important. In other words, what we choose not to do is as important as what we choose to do. On the surface, consciously “choosing not” to do something may seem complacent, perfunctory, or lazy. I assure you that it is not any of these things. In fact, what we “choose not” to do can take a great deal of thought and self-control, plus save us a lot of present and future trouble. Ultimately, what we choose to do or not do greatly impacts our lives and the lives of those around us.

Here are some givens in life: God has forgiven us for our sins. Nothing we can do will ever earn us salvation because it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8) Nothing we can do will make God love us anymore than He already does.

However, even though God gives us salvation, grace, and love, He does not automatically give us good habits or moral character. Those qualities are determined by the choices we make.

Right choices bring peace of mind; bad choices bring difficulty.

God does not need to zap us when we do something wrong, because wrong choices bring their own penalties. When we make wrong choices, we punish ourselves. It’s the cause and effect principle. What we sow, we reap. The seeds we sow today determine the harvest we reap tomorrow. Although God always forgives us when we make poor choices, the effects remain and we have to deal with and live with them. Choices set off a chain of events which shape our lives and sometimes the lives of those around us.

While it is that true time and chance happen, many of our problems could be avoided if we trained ourselves to make better choices. A lot of trials are brought on because of our poor choices; other trials may not be our fault, but still we must choose how to respond to them. So there is always an element of choice in everything we do.

Consider this… The Bible is full of exhortations encouraging us to walk in the way of the Lord. As we read the Bible we can listen for God’s voice whispering to us, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” (Isaiah 30:21) God exhorts us to do this or don’t do that, but the choice is ours.

Some choice quotes about choices…

“We all make choices, but in the end our choices make us.” ~Ken Levine, video game designer and author

“It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities.” ~J.K. Rowling, author

“When it snows you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels.” ~Anonymous

“Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways.” ~Proverbs 3:31

“One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” ~Roy Disney, co-founder of Walt Disney Productions

Yet Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

As one year closes and another begins, we can reflect on what’s passed and look forward to what lies ahead. A year gone by is usually filled with good and bad. We can learn from the bad and move on. But let’s not forget to think about the good things that happened. In fact, the Bible encourages us to think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable… If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”

How can we be sure our next year will be better than the last? We can’t – not really. But we can be sure that we can make it through if we stay focused.

Proverbs 4:25-27 (NIV) tells us, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” To go one step further, we need to be looking to God. Only He has the power to save us. (Isaiah 45:22) We need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:2) We lose power, hope, and purpose when we don’t focus on the right things.

We will all face turmoil and trials in life. However, we can’t afford to let problems block our focus. Think of this biblical example from 2 Chronicles 20…

Jehoshaphat’s kingdom of Judah was being threatened by the armies of many nations like Ammon and Moab who joined together to annihilate Judah. These huge armies were strong and surrounded Judah. There seemed to be no chance of survival. So people from every town came together to seek help from the Lord.

The men, their wives, and children stood in the courtyard of the temple and Jehoshaphat prayed a heartfelt prayer extolling God’s greatness and acknowledging Judah’s lack of power to withstand the inevitable attack. It ended with, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

God told the people not to be afraid or discouraged. He told them to face the enemy and stand firm. They would not have to fight this battle because it was the Lord’s. The people fell down in worship to God.

Early the next morning, Jehoshaphat encouraged the people to have faith in the Lord. As they headed off to battle, he appointed men to lead the way by singing and praising God. “Give thanks to the Lord. His love endures forever.” As they sang, a miraculous thing happened. These armies began to attack one another instead of Judah. By the time Judah got to the battleground, they saw only the dead bodies of their enemies.

Consider this… When life gets overwhelming, hard decisions need to be made, or the enemy is attacking, stay focused. Keep your eyes on Jesus and pray, “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on you.” Read Scriptures. Thank God for what He’s already done in your life. Sing praises. Pray, pray, pray: “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You.”

With Jesus in our lives, we are never alone or forsaken. (Hebrews 13:5-6) I don’t know what this next year will hold for us, but I do know we can face anything if we keep our eyes on Jesus.

One final thought… May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions!

Yet Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

When I think about the birth of Christ, I think of light. A star shone bright casting a light to guide the wise men to where Christ was born. Jesus, Himself, will later tell us, “I have come into the world as a Light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” (John 12:46)

Jesus is referred to in Scripture many times as the Light. Jesus, the Light, came to the world, but men loved darkness instead of the Light. (John 3:19-21) As Christians we should love the Light, not darkness.

The contrast of light and darkness is often metaphorically used in the Bible to contrast good with evil. There is so much evil and darkness in the world that it’s easy for us to get discouraged. Yet, most would agree that it is “better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”

That familiar saying was first spoken in public in 1961 by Peter Benenson, the British lawyer who founded Amnesty International. A candle encircled with barbed wire became the society’s emblem. Paul said something similar when he told us to “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” He goes on to reveal what this armor of light is: “Put on the Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:12-14)

Jesus living His life in us makes us a light in the world as well. Our lights should not be hidden. People don’t light a lamp and put it under a bowl so no one can see it. Instead they put it on a stand so it will give light to everyone in the house. We are encouraged to let our lights shine before others, that they may see our good deeds which glorify our Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

We should never underestimate the ability of our light to influence the world for good. Impacting just one person with the light of Christ can make a big difference. Unfortunately, many would rather curse the darkness than shine their lights. Some would prefer to condemn others rather than share God’s love and grace.

We should never let the darkness in the world keep us from shining a light, no matter how small we may think it is. Jesus tells us that darkness cannot overcome light. (John 1:5) Although we might feel like a small candle in a vast darkness, even a small candle can benefit others. It offers light and warmth. Even the small ways we reflect the light of Jesus can benefit others.

We are God’s children – children of light. (1 Thessalonians 5:5) Everything we do can bring light to others. (Colossians 4:5-6) Being a good example shines a light. The testimony we share shines a light. The scripture we quote shines a light. The encouragement we give shines a light. The love we show others shines a light. We are told to let our light shine before others. (Matthew 5:16)

Consider this… Sometimes we forget that we were all once in darkness, needing light. Now we are children of light. (Ephesians 5:8) This would not have been possible without the birth of Christ – the Light coming into the world.

One final thought…

“How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a weary world.”

~William Shakespeare