What came into being
    through the Word was life,
    and the life was the light for all people.
 The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.

John 1: 4-5

This week my word is going to be “light.” It may be my word for the rest of the Christmas season and on into 2023. Lord knows right now the world needs more light – and healing; a lot more.

So Rebekah and I finally got up into the attic and started to drag our some seasonal decorations. We started with two things – the Nativity and some lights.

Thinking about it, they are pretty much the same thing. If we want to introduce more light into this world than we must begin with Jesus. “Light and life to all he brings; risen with healing in his wings…“

Rebekah and I are behind, we have been behind for quite a while now, so everything had to begin with cleaning. Lots and lots of cleaning. But you see the light reveals things, and so there is no getting around it.

Max was impressed. He followed us around, just watching every pass of the vacuum cleaner, every washed window pane, every decoration that came downstairs, every participant in the manger scene that anchors everything we do.

But light. Light in the darkness. Light that shows the way. Light that reveals what is hidden. Light that heals. Light that we can follow. Light that invites.

When Jesus spoke again 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

Whoever follows Jesus will have light, and life, and healing. Amen – DEREK