The evening air is a bit nippy, so let's gather around the campfire. I've brought some s'mores fixings that we can pass around--plenty of marshmallows, graham crackers, and of course chocolate!Speaking of chocolate, I also thought I'd bring a few cookies. (Nobody's counting calories, right? Besides, we'll be getting a good workout on the water tomorrow paddling in rafts and canoes!) I recently tried some Laceys, which are "crunchy almond wafers sandwiched with velvety dark chocolate." Oh. my. goodness! I never thought I'd fall in love with them, especially because I'm so picky, but they are fabulous!
And Michelle C., since it's your birthday today feel free to help yourself to as many cookies and s'mores as you want! ;) Anybody up for joining me in a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday"?Now, last year at Camp Humility our first evening included a devotional on the Light, since we were spending time around the light of a campfire. I'd like to discuss light again tonight.
It is said of Jesus in John 1:4-5 that "in him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
Last night I finished reading Pompeii: City on Fire by T.L. Higley (you can read my review on Amazon.com). What a powerful read! And you know why it was so moving? Because it depicted the reality of the darkness of evil and suffering in the world, but it also depicted the light of a life secure in the Messiah--a light that seems incomprehensible as it shines brightly in the face of death and pain. It was a heartbreaking and frightening read (especially because I'm afraid of volcanoes), but it was beautiful because faith was not extinguished even when the earth spewed forth molten rocks, lava flowed, and evil tried (but failed) to take control.
I'd like to shar
e a quote from a pocket inspirational called Jesus, Name Above All Names by Roy Lessin regarding Jesus as "The True Light"--"God still guides seeking hearts to the one true Light. As the world around us grows darker, the light of Jesus Christ shines even brighter. He is the Light of truth, of hope, of purity, and of beauty. That Light shines through the faces of those who know Him, through the eyes of those who see Him, through the character of those who walk with Him, and through the hearts of those who love Him."
As we watch the flames of this campfire, let us take a moment to remember that the Light we believe in will never fade, and the darkness of this world--the trials we go through, the pain we endure, the sorrow we face--will never be able to overcome that Light. In fact, we can see the Light more clearly when it shines in the darkness.
And isn't a wonderful comfort and honor to know that God can use His followers to share that Light with others?
8 comments:
It is amazing what God can do through our lives. I am always amazed by a story my dad has experienced in his work.
My dad is a very faith-based man. He LIVES his faith, but he doesn't preach unless you ask him. ;-) He had a job where he just lived his life, nothing beyond that really. There was a co-worker there who was not a Christian, but he and Daddy got along well.
The man eventually quit his job and moved out of the area, but once in a while we would make it over there and we would stay with him and his wife. One time at dinner, the man turns to Daddy and says "We don't usually pray before meals, but we know you do, will you please lead us?"
WOW! That is just by living his life! Talk about amazing example.
Thanks for the post, Amber. :))
I think for this session of Camp Humility it would be appropriate to sing This Little Light of Mine! It's one of the first songs I ever learned in Sunday School and we still sing it to this day.
Happy Birthday Michelle and pass the cookies please. I'm partial to Double Stuf Oreos. ;-)
XOXO~ Renee C.
This post reminds me of a poster I used to have in my classroom. It read: "God's promises are like the stars; the darker the night the brighter they shine." I love a campfire!
Casey,
That is awesome! As they say, actions often speak louder than words, and to live out your faith in such a way as to inspire others is a beautiful thing indeed. :)
Thank you for sharing that story, and thanks to your dad for being a great example to us! :)
~Amber
Renee,
Great idea--very appropriate for this campfire session, for sure! :) Why don't you start us off? Then we'll all join in!
And mmmm...did you bring some of those Oreos to share along with the Laceys? ;) Yum!
~Amber
Renee Ann,
That's a beautiful quote! Thank you for sharing. :)
I love a good campfire, too! They're calming and they encourage community. :)
~Amber
Oh, how I love to sit by a campfire! We actually sat around our fire pit in the backyard on Saturday night, roasting marshmallows. Fun family times!
Amber, I love when you said, "In fact, we can see the Light more clearly when it shines in the darkness." It's so true! And like Casey mentioned how her dad "lives his faith," I think that's a wonderful reminder for all of us. If we're living a life that looks like Christ, people are going to see something different about us, without even mentioning His name.
Happy Birthday to Michelle C.! Hope it was wonderful! : )
Michelle
Michelle,
Me, too! I love campfires. :) How neat that you got to enjoy campfire time recently with your family!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! I agree that the way we live our lives speaks to people around us more than our words. That's a sobering and yet motivating thought!
That reminds me of a blog article a friend pointed out to me on the Novel Journey blog a while back that included "Selections from Madeleine L'Engle's Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art." One part of the post said:
"Not long ago a college senior asked if she could talk to me about being a Christian writer. If she wanted to write Christian fiction, how was she to go about it?
I told her that if she is truly and deeply a Christian, what she writes is going to be Christian, whether she mentions Jesus or not. And if she is not, in the most profound sense, Christian, then what she writes is not going to be Christian, no matter how many times she invokes the name of the Lord."
Christianity is not a compartment or part of our lives if we are believers. It IS our lives. Our following after God should involve all that we are, and it should be evident in all that we say, do, and write. And that is only possible through His grace. We will mess up, but God's grace covers us and helps us to "keep moving forward," to quote the movie Meet the Robinsons. :)
Hope you don't mind the long comment! Thank you for joining our campfire tonight! :)
~Amber
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