Easter - The Light

Easter is coming very soon.  Many will celebrate the day with the bunny, candy, and hidden eggs.  The real reason for this day is Jesus, the light of the world.  I came across this poem on the internet and wanted to share it with you.  This is the true reason for Easter - Jesus.

God, the creator, called light into existence and then separated it from the darkness. He made the sun, moon, and the stars to give light both day and night. All throughout the Bible, darkness is used to portray wickedness and blindness to spiritual truth. In fact, this darkness is powerful, enslaving men and women to walk under its brutal reign. Sadly, these slaves are not able to break free from its power; rather, they love this darkness and by walking in it, they are doing what they want to do.


On a seemingly normal evening some 2,000 years ago, a special star gave light to mark the place where the Light of the World would enter space and time. Born of a virgin, his name is Jesus. He spoke about deliverance from darkness, its lord, and its power; he said, “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The people, who walked in darkness, saw this great light, but they shared condemnation with the darkness and its lord because they still loved the darkness, themselves having evil deeds. What’s worse is that their lord, the god of this world, poisons their minds and blinds their eyes so that they cannot see the light of Jesus. These servants of darkness took the perfect Lord of glory, the Light of the World, the One in whom is no darkness, and they crucified Him. Hanging on that tree, He died.

However, darkness and its power could not defeat the Lord of glory for he rose from the dead in triumph and continues to shine his light in the darkness. 

There was a day when the same God, who said, ”let there be light” in the midst of darkness, looked into my dark heart and shined his glorious light. I believed in Jesus, that his death and resurrection could deliver me from darkness. So I asked him to do just that, to deliver me from the reign of darkness and to place me into his kingdom, where his light shines freely. He did! I now walk in the light and enjoy its life. One day I will see even more of God’s light. That heavenly city will not need stars, sun, or moon; Jesus himself will shine and his glory will be the only light I’ll ever need.

Day One of Gratitude Challenge

Colossians 3:12-17 (NASB)

¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. ¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

It has been said that “gratitude is learning to recognize and express appreciation for the benefits we have received from God and from others.”  The scripture above shares with us that we should allow God's Word to DWELL within us - which means to abide or live within us.  Get rid of the negative things that cause "heartache" and put on a new heart filled with God's blessings. 

Attitude of Gratitude

New Year Attitude of Gratitude Challenge. 

Okay, maybe I should be starting a diet as that is the usual New Year's challenge that people vow to complete.  I used to do that each year but it never worked.  I do intend to lose weight but that will be part of my Attitude of Gratitude Challenge.

I now realize that there is more to a problem than just the problem. . . What?  I am overweight.  Why is that?  It is more than just being overweight.  How did I get there and why?   How do I fix this problem(s).  I am starting my transformation with an attitude adjustment.  I am starting with GRATITUDE.  I am a Christian - but am I truly grateful to God for the blessings in my life?  In my recent bible study of God's graciousness and gratitude, I realize that I do not measure up.  Gratitude is more than saying THANK YOU.  It is the demonstration of gratitude through my life.
 "Attitude determines Altitude."

Gratitude is the key to transformation.  “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord giving thanks to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

This challenge is inspired by Revive Our Hearts.  Here is to a new heart and new year.

Thought for the Day

Verse for today.

Are you too busy to hear God?  He is there.  Always and forever.

Kyria Blog: Square Dancing with a Dog

Kyria Blog: Square Dancing with a Dog  by LaTonya Taylor

For the last few days, I’ve been taking long, slow walks with my new-to-me dog, Jazz.

But these haven’t been the leisurely, quiet walks you might envision. Instead, Jazz and I walk two or three steps, then turn around and head in the opposite direction. Another few steps are followed by another turn. Basically, it looks like we’re doing a strange human-canine square dance, with each partner swinging the other.

Jazz, a silky terrier, joined my home a few weeks ago. Before that, she lived in a foster home with a couple who nursed her to health after rescuing her from a neglectful situation. In the few weeks since she came to live with me, I’ve enjoyed having a cute little companion who follows me from room to room and sits contentedly nearby while I work or read. I’ve also liked having a reason to walk a couple miles every day.

Then the square dancing began.

Because Jazz is a rescue, she wasn’t leash-trained when I got her. At first, I thought—naively, I now know—that she would quickly realize that she was tethered to me, and adjust her walking pace to mine. Instead, Jazz pulls me around with every muscle in her 11-pound body: through doors, down stairs, and up and down the sidewalk. A couple weeks ago, as we walked past a strip mall full of glass doors, I saw our reflection: a very short woman being walked by a very small dog.

I consulted a friend who is a former dog trainer, as well as the teacher at our obedience classes. Both suggested that, on our walks, I walk with Jazz at my side until she runs ahead and starts to pull. At that point, I either stop walking until she returns to me, slackening the leash, or I turn and walk in the opposite direction. The point of the exercise is to help Jazz understand that she needs to follow my lead.

What I like about this training method is that it employs Jazz’s intelligence. She’ll slowly realize that our walks are better—and faster—when we move together. But I don’t like the halting pace of our walks these days, and the test of my patience versus Jazz’s polite stubbornness. While I know the training will be worth it in the end, I’m not enjoying it right now.

As Jazz and I do our dance, I sometimes think about what it’s like to be caught in this kind of pattern spiritually. To my great frustration, I sometimes find myself dealing with the same old problems, time and time again—and moving two or three steps forward, then turning around and heading back . . . :

• toward imbalance between the energy I give to my work and personal lives.
• toward neglect of the spiritual practices that help me stay connected to God.
• toward an isolating perfectionism that can keep me from developing deep relationships.
• toward a tendency to get stuck wallowing in past pain or disappointments.
• toward an intense focus on a particular discipline, only to become distracted or get
derailed.
• toward a level of busyness that occasionally leads to burnout.

It’s not unusual for me to crash and burn, then realize that I’ve done it again: gotten caught up in something I thought I’d conquered. After walking a few steps in the right direction, I’ve gotten turned around again.

In moments like these, I can relate to the people in the Bible who struggled to get right and stay right. I sympathize with the children of Israel, whose route to the land God had promised them had its own twists, turns, and stalls. I’m less critical of Jesus’ disciple Peter, who could be zealous and misguided at the same time. I understand the prophet Elijah, who suffered a momentary setback after a time of great spiritual triumph. These people knew what it’s like to move forward, back, and slowly forward again. Re-reading their stories encourages me.

I’ve also found that staying in touch with close friends who have insight into my life is helpful. These friends gently warn me when I’m headed into an old pattern, and sometimes see it before I do. And as I watch the lives of my church family and friends, I’m reminded that we are all in process together—moving through life as God’s children whose lives are guided, and restored, by his grace.

I have a feeling it will be a while before Jazz and I walk together smoothly in the same direction. In the meantime, I will take the opportunity to exercise my patience—and to reflect on what it means to move toward the holiness and health God calls me to.

Kyria Blog: Square Dancing with a Dog

Kyria Blog: Square Dancing with a Dog