The future light of Jesus is available now

Advent 2025, Week 4: John’s Light of Christmas Past/Present/Future, Part 5 In the previous posts this week, I’ve point out how Jesus is the light of Christmas past and present. Now we travel to the future, when Jesus, the light of the world, returns.  In Revelation 21:23–24, we read a vision of that future light,Continue reading “The future light of Jesus is available now”

A new light is shining in the darkness

Advent 2025, Week 4 – John’s Light of Christmas Past/Present/Future, Part 2 What is the darkness in your life?  Maybe it is in a relationship.  Maybe it is inside you, like anxiety, which is a part of my life, or depression.  These long dark nights, like yesterday, the winter solstice.  The longest, darkest night ofContinue reading “A new light is shining in the darkness”

Do you feel comfort and/or anxiety in God’s presence?

Advent 2025, Week 3: Psalm 139, Part 2 This guest post is by Molly Stouffer, a ministry student at Regent University. In Psalm 139, verse 11, David writes, “Darkness shall cover me.” The word, “cover,” in the Hebrew is the same word that’s used all the way back in Genesis 3:15, when God is speakingContinue reading “Do you feel comfort and/or anxiety in God’s presence?”

The confusion of darkness

Advent 2025, Week 3 – Psalm 139, Part 1 This guest post is by Molly Stouffer, a ministry student at Regent University. I want you to imagine with me waking up in the middle of the night. And instead of drifting off to sleep again, you realize something. You aren’t where you fell asleep. You’reContinue reading “The confusion of darkness”

Peace in the midst of dark times

Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Part 2 Matthew was there.  He not only saw the light of Jesus’ peace change others, Matthew personally experienced what happened when Jesus light of peace enters the darkness of a person’s life. Matthew’s life was dark, without peace. He was a tax collector.  Hated by his fellow JewsContinue reading “Peace in the midst of dark times”

Ancient wisdom for the dark times in life

Advent 2025, Week 1: Psalm 112, Part 4 When we are in dark, difficult situations, we are often self-focused, wallowing in our misfortune and hurt.  It is not wrong to sit with our pain. In fact sitting in our pain is needed for a time. As I mentioned in the previous post, when we feelContinue reading “Ancient wisdom for the dark times in life”

Mighty children and fabulous wealth

Advent 2025, Week 1: Psalm 112, Part 3 Two of the primary hopes parents long for is (1) that their children do well, and (2) that they have enough money to provide for their kids. Parents can expend mountains of emotional energy on these two important concerns throughout the parenting years, and even long afterContinue reading “Mighty children and fabulous wealth”

How Jesus fulfills a prophecy about being light in the darkness – Christmas 2022, Part 4

One of the guys who wrote the story of his friend Jesus, as I said in an earlier post this week, was Matthew.  Matthew, like John, was one of the 12 disciples who followed Jesus around for three years, learning from Jesus how to shine light in the darkness of the world.  Matthew tells usContinue reading “How Jesus fulfills a prophecy about being light in the darkness – Christmas 2022, Part 4”

Hope for those in darkness – Christmas 2022, Part 3

Where do we find light in this dark world? Where do we find hope? Sometime people seek answers in harmful ways and places.  They seek answers by indulging in the pleasures of life, or in addictive substances.  Could be in social media, pornography, or television.  All kinds of entertainment.  We try to bring light intoContinue reading “Hope for those in darkness – Christmas 2022, Part 3”

LED headlights and people struggling with darkness – Christmas 2022, Part 2

My family has a 2010 vehicle with old headlights.  We also have a newer 2017 vehicle with bright new LEDs.  The difference is amazing.  I need to turn on the 2010’s high beams if I want to match the brightness of the 2017’s regular lights.  Have you ever been out driving, and a vehicle withContinue reading “LED headlights and people struggling with darkness – Christmas 2022, Part 2”