Light of the World

When Jesus declared himself the Light of the world many think it happened during the Feast of the Tabernacles. One of the nights during the feast would happen in the temple's court for women where they would light four large lamps and they would dance under the night sky with the lamps lit and sing praise songs and worship!

Wow!

Don't you love this image in your head?

I do!

Jesus lights the world, but also the night skies for each of us. Some days are so dark that the only way through is the LIGHT of Jesus...we cling to His Light, His Promises, His Love and we make it through because He lights the way! He is the Way!

Today remember who lights the path day or night!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Run...run...run

I've read the past several days, but not posted. Very unusual action for me to miss blogging what I believe the Holy Spirit is teaching me for the day. I've still been having the lessons, but I felt it was a time for just me and God! Treasured special moments.

This morning I felt lead back to something from yesterday that I wanted to write about and get your thoughts about it is found in the reading from Mark 8 about Jesus feeding the four thousand. The words just jumped off the page that Jesus said to the disciples...I feel sorry for these people. The people were so hungry to be spiritually fed that they had been with Him for three days and eaten nothing! We miss a meal and we are shouting - I'm starving! These people were picking Jesus over physical needs.

Jesus actually used the words meaning himself this time and in Matthew in the same passage about this time. Jesus felt their need. He knew their need because He walked here on earth! Jesus sees our needs and feels our pain.

He feels compassion for us! Today whatever you are feeling know in your heart that Jesus knows and He cares! Cling to these special words!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Laughed at him

Have you ever been the one that others were laughing at and you knew it?

It hurts, doesn't it?

The photo really grasp the feeling of being laughed at or ridiculed.

I wonder how Jesus felt. We are told He felt feelings that we felt, but He made them leave and went on with His duties.

Look at the story found in Mark 5 about the young girl that Jesus brought back to life. Jesus had just healed the woman with the 12 year bleeding issue, because she knew if she just reached for His robe it would happen! A father knew is daughter was very ill and close to death, so he was pleading for Jesus to come to his home. He healed the woman on the way to this man's home.

When they arrived at the home a lot of weeping and commotion were happening and Jesus responded with Why? She is only sleeping. Jesus was telling them its only temporary and they laughed at him.

First off weeping and commotion were a sign that death had occurred in this culture. Most of the people would have been paid wailers..I found this interesting that you paid people to come and wail and carry on. Burial happened fast, so these folks came quick.

Laughed at him in the original language actually means "were laughing in his face" or "laughed Him to scorn," not a good feeling, if you were the receiver of such an act. We all know it. We have all been on the receiving end of it. Jesus made them leave and with a lot of force. He wasn't happy with their reaction of being shallow and unbelieving, so He was forceful and showed His authority with orders to leave! Imagine this gentle man of healing knowing what He was about to do and these people laughing at Him ~ but He backed it up! He didn't want them to witness this miracle first hand, so out with you...What do we miss because we don't believe?

The original Aramaic words Jesus said to the little girl were Talitha, cumi which meant "lamb" or "youth arise". He talked to this little girl as if she were already living not dead. Absolutely no question you are alive rise....

I wonder how the ones that laughed felt when they saw this little lamb walking and talking? Believe today and don't worry with laughter!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

A lamp is placed on a stand...

Mark 4:21

...A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.

When you enter a room and the lamps are on doesn't it add a sense of welcome and hospitality? I never use to pay attention to things like that, but recently I've noticed how much a lamp sets the tone for a room.

Reading this morning, I was imagining Jesus sitting in a room with the disciples explaining all the stories about the seed, the lamp, the yeast with a lamp lit across the room lighting it for them to talk or around a campfire. A light that without it lit would have made it a dark setting where it would have been hard to grasp exactly what Jesus was saying, because their minds would have been wandering with the sounds that would have been happening, the darkness would have surrounded them and everything would have taken on a different tone. I believe with the lamp lit the mood was set for them to understand. Think about it for yourself and see how you imagine the scene set. After all, we were told yesterday that the disciples ask for Jesus to explain the parables to them. Bringing a light into the setting would have helped them to understand what He was saying...I don't know, but that is how I picture the scene.

A lamp in those days would have been referring to a small clay bowl made with a spout to hold a wick with oil that served as its fuel. They would then have them either coming from a place in the wall that was made to hold them or in a wealthier home a special table would have been holding it. They were suppose to share the message nothing hidden. Darkness hides things. Secrets are told in the dark. Things we don't want others to know are hidden in the darkness, but turn the lamp on and all will see and understand!

Share the message today! Turn your lamps on and share God's Word with one another!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie