“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven”: Acts 9:3
As this new year begins, the only direction we need is to be guided by God’s light. Allow The Light of Christ to illuminate our paths in everything we say & do. Christmas season (the time given to us to celebrate Jesus Christ was born) passed with me being very unwell and in bed and I missed a plethora of Services and family gatherings but the reality of who Jesus IS in my life meant I was never alone and I know I will never be. The enemy wanted me to succumb to the low feeling and pain but Jesus’ presence & His Word, especially when I thought “I can’t take another moment of pain”, kept me and reassured me that this too, soon, shall pass. In that hazy time of sickness & sleep I began to think hard about the sick & terminally ill. those who are in hospitals, those with family but have no visitors, those who are homeless and are sick, those in war zones who are sick, those who are suicidal, those whom have trouble in their minds, mental distress; those with no family or friends and are sick, those in prisons who are sick and I began to weep.
I am one of eight biological siblings with numerous foster-siblings; in-laws, nieces & nephews and we all come together regularly almost every Sunday but at Christmas we all stay together from Christmas Eve until New Year, yet as I listened from upstairs to family prayers joyful song, testimony, breakfast & dinner table sharing, and laughter from downstairs, I felt loneliness, I felt tearful. Being sick seemed to zap any joy I had in me and left me feeling vulnerable. I thought hard of what others are experiencing. My family ensured I was taken care of yet being sick for that time laid made me low. With Christmas passing I am still blessed to be surrounded by loving family & today I ask you to think of the lonely, the displaced and the homeless for whatever reason this season because when the Christmas & New Year festivities quiet down, many plights still continue including sickness. This 2017 extend your hands ?of kindness and if you are already doing something, will you do more please? Every day? I’m joining you too. Let’s make 2017 the Year of Difference?& let The Light which fell upon Saul who became Paul in the book of Acts 9, shine through you, to touch & brighten someone’s life from TODAY! Jesus is The Light & The Rock of our salvation, if we allow Him to lead us we can make a difference in someone’s life today. Pray with me that God will direct us to those who are sick, in need, displaced, on the brink and lonely and that we will touch them by the hand & love of Jesus. Happy 2017 to you all, in Jesus precious name, may your joy & peace be full.
Samantha??
