“When Jesus spoke to the people,  he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ ”  John 8:12 (NIV) Light, vital for all life.  Anyone who has ever been through a severe weather event  knows what it’s like to  be in the dark for days.  Once when I  lived in Jamaica in the early two thousands, a  devastating hurricane left us in the capital without  electricity for almost two weeks. When the lights finally came back on,  a collective shout of  gladness  was heard in our neighborhood. Light had come. We no longer had to…

“For I, the Lord your God,  will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not. I will help you.’ ” Isaiah 41:13 (NKJV)   What were you afraid of when you were a child? I was afraid of many things, but, for a time, my greatest fear was turkeys. At about age six, I walked to school with my  older cousin and  had to pass a fenced yard with huge gobblers. The noisy  animals would spread their wings and sweep toward the fence as we passed by. I was terrified, but with my cousin’s confident hand and words,  I  walked past the dreaded spot. In Isaiah 41:13,  the picture…

“When the sun came up,  Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize Him.” John 21:4 (NIV) It has happened to many of us at one time or another.  We failed to recognize a friend or someone we knew well  at a social gathering, at the grocery store, or even in the street. That usually leaves us feeling sheepish. We sputter through an apology, but both we and the other party know that it was an embarrassing oversight. The disciples had had ample opportunities to recognize their risen Lord. It would seem that after the times He had  shown up unannounced in their midst, they would have been…

“The Lord bless you and keep you.” Numbers 6:24 The colorful wrapping paper and the gift bags quickly landed in the recycling bin, and the much-anticipated toys that received a lot of play-time  for a few days now sit neglected  in a corner of the den. As  with children, so it is with us adults. The new wears off pretty fast. Many of us  experienced the heady enjoyment of time spent  with family and friends during the holidays. The delightful musical programs and the specially planned church services all left us with  a warm, satisfying feeling that even prompted us to make bold  resolutions. Can we carry that bouyancy beyond…

Dear Friends: I am sharing with you an excerpt from my favorite devotional book, the  classic My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. The final  words of the entry for December 31  provide a powerful thrust to launch us into the new year. May you be awakened to the joy of meeting 2024 with a secure  and courageous spirit. “SECURITY FOR TODAY:  ‘For ye shall not go out with haste.’  As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, unremembering delight, nor with the flight of impulsive thoughtlessness, but with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will…