Weekly Update – 3rd November
So there’s October gone.
Clocks have gone back, we’ve had our hour extra sleep and we’re now freewheeling into the (I’m sorry, I’ve got say it) Christmas Season.
Of course, there’s much to do before then, and this week’s ramblings from me were going to be all about the parable of the lamp (Matthew 5:15-16), which I thought was quite apt given that the evenings are now so dark, we’re all turning our lamps on much earlier in the evening.
“No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven”
It’s funny isn’t it, how you can hear something, know something and yet miss something all at the same time.
I’m sure I’ve said before, but I’ve been singing ‘this little guiding light of mine’ since pre-school (a side-effect of having scouter/guiding parents means I know many (too many?) campfire songs). But until a couple of years ago I thought I was singing about a Guiding light (as in Girl Guiding). It took a Christingle service, and Fiona spelling it out, for me to realise that I was singing about Jesus’ light. Honestly, my stupidity amazes myself sometimes!!
But it was hearing the parable earlier this week that highlighted the second sentence to me.
I know that Jesus is the light, I understand that we are called to be like Jesus, so that we then become the light, but I had missed the point about others then giving glory to God. My understanding of the parable stopped where I thought it referred to me. How self-centered!!
I thought aiming to live my life as Jesus showed us; to be kind, loving, serving was enough. But of course, unless I tell people; declare; announce; shine a light; on my life being because of Jesus, how would others know. And if others don’t know, how can they then come to know Jesus? How can they give glory?
Writing these few words once a month becomes a family affair in my house, and whilst struggling to focus on what to say, I asked for suggestions. ‘Batman’ was my ever-helpful husband’s suggestion. So, let me finish with this thought…
Don’t be like Batman, doing good but hiding in the shadows – Step out, be the light that Jesus calls us to be, but let His light shine too, so that all may know that anything we do, we do in Jesus’ name, and they too, may come to glorify God.
(now we’ll find out if anyone in my house actually reads these words!)
May the blessing of light be upon you, light on the outside and light on the inside.
Jenny
And onto Christmas….
The Christmas Market is on Saturday 30th November.
We need you.
Within this newsletter, and subsequent notices this month, you will find lots of information on ways you can help (and if you think you have a different skill set to offer that hasn’t specifically been requested, let me know, we’d love to have you on board).
