Tag Archives: bright

New Year Visions

new year visions

On the cusp of a new year, we like to envision a fresh start, a change for the better, a bright future. We can so often put all our hopes and dreams on a new year. And there is nothing wrong with doing that, as long as we recognize that life does not always go the way we planned and we may be disappointed on any one of the 365 days to come.

The difference for us as Christians is that we put our hopes and dreams on Christ and not on a particular set of days. Putting our hopes and dreams on Christ opens our minds to the fact that every morning is a new start because of his forgiveness. Every day is a new opportunity to serve him. Every 24-hour period is a gift from our Savior, who died that we might live for him. Yes, there will be troubles, there will be detours, there will be unexpected bumps in the road, but our confidence in our risen Lord assures us that we will grow and learn and become stronger because of his presence with us.

As Ephesians 4:15 tells us, “We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” No matter what your age, make growing up into Christ your goal for the year. He will make it happen! Happy new year to you all!

Binary Stars

binary stars

I recently watched an episode of the TV show Cosmos with Neil deGrasse Tyson in which they talked about the existence of binary stars. Binary stars are two stars that orbit around a common center of mass and are gravitationally bound to each other.

This concept got me to thinking that we who are lights of the world for Christ often are inexorably tied to other lights in the Christian “solar system,” if you will. Our light for Christ may be forever linked to the one who first shone their light of Christ to us. Our light of faith may be tied to other “lights” who were in the same confirmation, Sunday school or Bible class with us. Our lights may also be drawn to the “lights” that shone in our families—our spouse, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Knowing that we have lights that are attached to us in this way helps us to shine brighter, confident in their encouragement and support. When our lights might grow dim because of some darkness we have experienced, we know that our “light” partners will brighten our light and life again with their love and care.

What binds us together in our special unions as Christ’s lights is the light of Christ himself. That common draw in the lives of all Christ’s tandem lights is what keeps the bond between us strong in our faith. Making Christ’s light the center of all our relationships keeps us bound in the warm glow of his grace and favor. Savor and value the unique bonds with other “lights” God has blessed you with in the vast constellation of his people.