Looking for a place to feel inspired and challenged? Like to share a smile or a laugh? Interested in becoming more familiar with Canadian writers who have a Christian worldview? We are writers who live in different parts of Canada, see life from a variety of perspectives, and write in a number of genres. We share the goal of wanting to entertain and inspire you to be all you can be with God's help.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Epiphany – Lawrence
This is the season in the Christian church when we celebrate the coming of the Wise Men to see Jesus in Bethlehem. The Wise Men were guided by God through the means of a star in the heavens.
During this whole season of the Epiphany we talk about light coming upon the world. This light is the light of Christ. What are we to do about this light of Christ that we are given? In Isaiah, we read, Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1 (NRSV). God sends us light and we are to respond to it by rising up and cultivating the talents we have been given to the glory of God.
The Wise Men came to Christ over 2000 years ago; but God continues to give us epiphanies today. We need to be observant of the hints of His glory, giving thanks for these bright spots in our lives.
Since November, we have received a tremendous amount of snow and the grey and short days can be disheartening. But there are uplifting moments in our gloomy winter days, if only we will see them. The other day, I saw a bright red bird on the snow pecking at the seed under the bird feeder. The red was startling against the pure white snow and my spirit was uplifted. This Pine Grosbeak, for that is what it was, does not usually come this far south—it is a northern bird, though I have seen it once before in the summertime. A gift of joy was given to me that day and I gave thanks to God for this blessing.
The days are getting longer, too, giving us hope that spring will come again, and life will return to the earth and to our spirits. It is probably no coincidence that the church proclaimed this time of returning light to be the season of Epiphany in the church calendar, with its emphasis on the light of Christ.
The Wise Men brought gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold to Christ. What gifts will we bring? The drummer boy of song brought his expertise in drumming; I want to improve my writing talent and find new ways to glorify God through my writing. What talent will you use to proclaim God’s glory to others?
© Judith Lawrence
www.judithlawrence.ca
Books by Judith: Glorious Autumn Days: Meditation for the Wisdom Years, and Grapes From The Vine: a book of poetry, are both available from www.lulu.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
Write Canada is more than a professional networking conference. It’s a safe place where beginning and intermediate writers can learn ...
-
It's an old proverb: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Sometimes elephants come crashing through our front door - uninvite...
-
Dreams are baffling things. Like high quality china they have a strength that defies logic. Yet after years of bumps and bangs that sugges...
-
I have been feasting of late on Marilyn Chandler McEntyre's Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies . She exhorts all of us -- and mo...
-
Here is my most recent Christianity Today column. It has engendered by far the strongest viral reaction of any of my columns--repsonses bo...
-
“I’m going to build a raft, and then I can float it across the lake.” My ten-year-old grandson Austin’s face brimmed with excitement ...
-
“When you choose your vocation,” I often told our children, “pick something you’d get up and do every day, whether or not you get paid!” I’v...
-
A Happy & Blessed New Year to you all! The following lines were written several years ago to accompany a Year End / New Year homily. Whi...
-
I have noticed this year that instead of acknowledging the season as the Holiday Season, people are beginning again to rec...
-
Hudson Taylor: To China with Sacrificial Love By Rev. Dr. Ed and Janice Hird -an article for the Engage Light Magazine Who would have...
No comments:
Post a Comment