The Light Came Down

1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Be the light or look for the light.

Tim and I turn the Christmas music on in the car and cruise through a few neighborhoods to view Christmas lights. We have a few favorites we hope to see every year, and we’re pleased when a few pop up we haven’t encountered before. On a street new to us we saw a sign pointing people to a display. When you see a sign, that usually means we will come upon a home where someone has taken the extra steps to create a light show. Sure enough, we turned the corner and oh my, the lights shone.

The house, covered in strands hanging from roof to foundation set the stage for the many lighted blow-ups in the yard. I have to say, the folks who set up this display had organized it and made it attractive and fun. We were drawn to the light.

John tells me that God is the light and anyone who loves God and follows Him will be a light in the world. I see this two ways, we either are the light, because we choose to follow Jesus or we need the light of Jesus’ love. There was a time when I chased the light, and I thank God He offered me grace and hope. I pray now I am a light in the darkness of this world. My hope is, if you need the light of Jesus, you embrace it this Christmas. 

The light Jesus brought to the world, coming to us as a baby and growing into the teacher and Savior shines rays of hope.

Light was my word for 2022. I’ve clung to Jesus’ light and shared it as I followed Him.

Merry Christmas!

Childhood Remnants

bygone Christmases

tucked in my heart-

opened once a year

lights

garland

tinsel

pine fragrance

fresh off the lot

silver sparkles

red, green, and pink

remnants of

childhood wonder

 

Romancing Christmas: That Romantic Glow

They walked hand in hand as snowflakes danced around the twinkling lights on the low pines. Is there anything more romantic than sharing the beauty of Christmas lights on a dark evening with the one you love? Maybe, but it’s definitely in the top five.

The lights in our local park.

In 1880, Thomas Edison hung the first string of electric lights outside his laboratory in Menlo Park. Two years later, his friend and partner, Edward H. Johnson, draped a string of electric colored lights around their indoor Christmas tree in 1882. His family found delight in the colorful novelty. Although electric lights were not the norm for several years, they did eventually catch on and become more affordable.

Now we see extravagant light displays all over the country. From Rockefeller center to small town parks, sparkling colors and white lights twinkle in the night. My husband and I enjoy driving around the neighborhood to admire our neighbors’ displays. We enjoy walking in the park and seeing the decorated trees.

Romance + Lights =

·         Stroll through a light display together

·         Decorate the tree together

·         Sit by the Christmas tree with a cup of cocoa

·         Take an evening drive and view the lights

·         Go to the town tree lighting ceremony together

Enjoy the glow of the season.

Hospitality in a Small Town

A woman bundled in a blue sweater and fleece vest hung greenery around the window. Her helper added a sparkly ribbon. Down the street, several people flocked on the bridge and draped greenery and bright red bows. Trees shrouded in lights lined the main thoroughfare. These acts of preparation confirmed hospitality in a small town.

One of the things I love about villages and towns is their tendency to work together for the good of the residents. The town I live in plans a Christmas parade every year to open the blessed season. I grew up in a village. Just before Christmas, many people opened their homes to show and sell their handmade items. Folks gathered, chatted and enjoyed the welcoming arms of their neighbors.

Now when we come home in the evening, we’re welcomed by snowflake lights and trees shining along the street. A little shop in town has an open house as do several other businesses. My husband and I love to drive around and view the displays our fellow townsfolk hang. One of the churches hosts a living Christmas tree where the choir sings the story of Jesus birth. Some years there’s been a live Nativity.

Christmas in a small town is the best. People wave and shout Merry Christmas. They celebrate the reason for the season. As much as I enjoy visiting the nearby city and seeing the fancy lights, I wouldn’t trade in the small town celebration of the holidays.

Do you have memories of small town life during the holidays or do you live in a town now? Share your happy experiences.