Light in the Darkness

                                     Light in the Darkness 

                                                               Philippians 2:14-15

                                         Do all things without complaining and disputing;

                                         that you may become blameless, children of God 

                                       without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse

                                  generation. among whom you shine as lights in the world.

                                          This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine 
                                          This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
                                          Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine! 

How well I remember singing this song with all my little friends in Sunday School. We would hold up our pointer finger pretending it was our light that would never go out. We were all going to shine for Jesus forever! 

                  "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, 
                   but have the light of life.                                          __John 8:12                                                
Jesus became the light of the world to make a way for us in the darkness. Without Christ in our lives we are lost, like sheep without a shepherd. We live our lives without hope, and with no promise for the future.                                                                                           

Before coming to Christ my life was without purpose. I simply did the same thing over and over every day, for no other reason than to pay my bills. Life seemed so mundane. Then I heard a pastor speak and it was like he was speaking just to me: "You can't know your purpose until you know the One who made you." His words got my attention! He then went on to introduce the audience to Jesus Christ. At that point in my life I knew Jesus as the Son of God, the One to whom we prayed and sang about in church. However, I didn't know we could know Him personally. That day I confessed I was a sinner, asked for His forgiveness, and invited Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior. By faith I was saved. My life has not been the same since. I have purpose where I once had confusion, light where I once walked in darkness, and hope for all my tomorrows.

                    If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart
                    that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the
                    heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession
                    is made unto salvation.                                            __Romans 10:9-10

Newly released Daily Devotional

Availaible  on Amazon.com as paperback, as well as ebook. Also available by contacting me at 452eagleswings@gmail.com 

Lay It Down

                                     Hebrews 12:1 

                                               Let us lay aside every weight,

                                       and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

                           and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 

There is much we could say about this Scripture. We could discuss sin, how it threatens to steal our peace, our testimony, discouraging us as we walk in the love and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Or we could confer about what it means to run the race with endurance, with persistence and resolution. However, what piqued my interest was the laying aside of every weight. 

When I think of a weight, I immediately think of something heavy, hard to carry. We all know what it is like to lay awake at night, overwhelmed with worry or grief, concerned about what the future holds for us, or a loved one. This is a weight, something heavy to carry as we face another day. We can have a hard time accepting the forgiveness of Christ; continue to carry around the guilt and shame of our past. This is a weight. It tears us down and wears us out, our peace is gone, and the joy of the Lord escapes us as we try to rise above the nagging in our soul. What is it in your life that you feel you must carry around, refusing to lay it down at the feet of Jesus? Jesus says lay it down, give it to Him. He can carry whatever it is that keeps us from living the life He died on the cross to give us. 

                          "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 

                            and I will give you rest.

                            Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, 

                            for I am gentle and lowly in heart,                                      

                            and you will find rest for your souls. 

                            For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

                                                                                 Matthew 11:28-30 

Jesus did not die on the cross so that we would continue to walk in defeat. He brought us to Himself, forgiving our past, willing to carry our burdens, so that we might live in freedom. There are no magic formulas or correct words that make it possible to lay down our weight. Laying down our weight only comes when we decide once and for all to be obedient to the Word of God, casting all our cares on Hm. 

                           Cast your burden on the LORD,

                           And He shall sustain you;

                           He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. 

                                                                                 Psalm 55:22

                        This devotional was taken from my newly released Daily Devotional,

                               "Living in the Vineyard,"  Listening for the Voice of God

                                             Available on Amazon.com or by emailing

                                       me at 452eagleswings@gmail.com.  Cost $20.00

                                                           Also available as an ebook