Little Light

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Jill English Johnston

Little Light floated about, shining her light as brightly as she could.
“Oh Daddy,” she said, floating up and down excitedly. “I’m bigger this year. I’m bigger. I just know it.”
Daddy Light smiled down at Little Light. “Yes, Little Light,” he said. “You are definitely bigger this year.”
Little Light beamed. “Then I can shine all on my own this year,” she declared. “Can’t I?” she added, a bit uncertainly. “I can shine all on my own on the Special Day, Like Big Sister and Big Brother?”
She loved the Special Day. Every light came out on the Special Day to shine their brightest and best.
“We shall see,” Daddy Light told her.

Little Light flew off to find her friend, Little Yellow Light.
“I am so excited,” she cried when she found Little Yellow Light. “The Special Day is almost here. Daddy said I might be able to shine all on my own. Do you want to practice shining together?”
Little Yellow Light only glanced at Little Light and said, “No, I do not have time to practice shining. I am on my way to get more light. It is the season, you know.”
She did not even say good-bye, but quickly floated away.
Little Light sadly watched her go.

A flash of light flew by.
Little Light jumped, startled. Brother Light did not stop as he speed away.
“Where are you going?” she called after him.
“To get more light, of course.” Sister Light slowed down to answer as she flew by Little Light. “It is the season, you know.”
“But why the hurry?” Little Light wanted to know.
“Well, because,” Sister Light replied, “the Blinking Lights said it is the season to get more light, so more light we must get.” And off she flew.
Little Light was puzzled.

Later, Little Light asked her mother, “Mother, why is my friend Yellow Light, and Brother and Sister Light in such a rush to get more light?”
“Hmmmm?” Mother Light replied. She watched the Blinking Lights, blinking off then on, off then on, over and over.
As they blinked, the Blinking Lights told everyone to hurry and get more light. “It is the season,” they said. “So don’t delay. Hurry and get more light.”
“Mother,” Little Light tried again.
“What?” Mother Light said. “Oh, Little Light. I can’t talk right now. I must go and get more light.”
Little Light sighed.
“Whatever is the matter?” Mother Light gave Little Light a worried look. “Are you not feeling well?”
“Oh, I am fine. But…” Little Light started to answer.
Mother Light brightened. “Wonderful. Then come with me to get more light.” She quickly floated off. Little Light hurried to catch up.

The crowds of lights jostled Little Light about as she followed Mother Light. The other lights rushed here and there, scooping up more light like it would all soon be gone.
“Why is everyone in such a hurry to get more light,” Little Light asked loudly, to be heard above the noise.
A bright green light paused for a moment and looked at Little Light.
“Did you not hear the Blinking Lights?” the green light said. “It is the season to get more light.” The green light shook her head and quickly hurried away.
Above the buzz of lights hurrying about, Little Light heard the Blinking Lights announcing where the best deals on light could be found. They urged everyone to hurry and show up early for these great deals before they were gone.
“But isn’t light available all the time?” Little Light persisted. “Why the rush to get it now?”
Another light, a red light, flickered angrily at Little Light’s remark.
“Well,” the red light said indignantly. “Of course we have to get light now, it is the season you know.”
The other nearby lights flickered in agreement.
“The Blinking Lights tell us it is time to get light,” a blue light said.
“The Blinking Lights must surely know the right time to get lights,” added another light.
“Shush, now, Little Light,” Mother Light said. She glimmered in embarrassment and hurried Little Light along.
Little Light felt troubled by this.

Little Light followed Mother Light from place to place, wondering when Mother Light would be content with the amount of light she carried.
Little Light noticed that some lights carried much more light than other lights. And some lights seemed to hurry around but carried little or no light at all.
Not too far away, a little red light cried and flashed her dim little light. “I want more light,” she said. “I want more light.”
“It’s not fair,” a dim green light carrying very little light declared. “Why should those lights have the privilege of getting more light?” She flashed her green light enviously toward some very pretty purple lights floating about with their overflowing piles of light.
A dim yellow light grumbled and flickered in agreement.
“Mother,” Little Light said, “Why do some lights carry much more light than others? And why do some lights carry little or no light at all?”
Mother Light glanced up from looking through a stack of light to see what Little Light was talking about.
“It takes energy, Little Light, to get light,” she replied. “And some lights have more energy than others. Those with more energy can get more light. Those with less energy can only get a little light.” She floated away, satisfied with her answer.
“Or not get any light at all,” Little Light said sadly, as she watched one dim little light follow quietly behind his dimly lit mother, who carried no light at all.

Mother Light finally floated over to a counter to pay for her light.
The pale green light behind the counter flickered wearily as she took Mother Light’s energy and handed her the light all prettily and neatly bundled up.
“Thank you,” Mother Light said politely as she took her light. “Have a wonderful season.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” the light said, sighing as she looked past Mother Light at the long line of jostling, grumbling, pushing lights, waiting to pay for their loads of new lights.

On the way home, Little Light saw a strange sight.
A crowd of dim lights gathered around a couple of bright white lights. The white lights offered the dim lights some of their energy. Some of the dim lights blinked gratefully as they accepted the energy from the white lights. Some of the dim lights blinked with embarrassment, but took the energy offered to them. Some of the dim lights, however, blinked angrily, suspiciously looking at the energy offered to them and comparing it to the energy offered to other dim lights.
“Mother,” Little Light said. “What are the white lights doing?”
Mother shrugged. “They are sharing their energy with those who do not have any.”
“That is wonderful,” Little Light declared. “So they can get more light too.”
“Hummf.” A bright blue light floated by, looking disapprovingly at the white lights. “How silly to give away energy to help the dim lights.”
Little Light was puzzled. “But why?” she asked the bright blue light.
“Hummf.” The bright blue light said again. “The dims lights should shine brighter if they want energy to get more light.”
“Huh?” Little Light said.
But the bright blue light seemed quite pleased in his logic and floated away in a huff.
The bright white lights smiled and continued to share their energy with the dim lights.

The next day, Little Light drifted about happily. She loved the fact that the season also brought days off from Light School.
As she floated on her way, hoping Little Yellow Light would be done worrying about getting more light, she saw something that made her stop and look more closely.
She saw the many lights still floating about, hurrying here and there. But as they did, the lights kept a distance from a small band of lights, ten weakly shining lights. The ten lights floated away from the other lights, all on their own.
Little Light counted nine violet lights and one orange light. She floated closer.
The lights shone, not dimly, like the dim lights with little energy, but weakly, feebly, blinking oddly as if there was something wrong with them.
As she drew near, they pulled back away from her little bright light.
“Whatever is wrong?” she asked.
“Do not come any closer,” one of the violet lights said.
Little Light paused. “Why do you shine so oddly?”
The weak, feeble lights blinked unhappily.
“Our lights are not working properly,” another light said. “Do not come any closer or your light might stop working properly as well.”
“Oh,” Little Light replied. “Whatever will you do?
She brightened suddenly, with an idea. “If you get more light, will that help? Maybe the white lights will give you some of their energy to get more light.”
“No,” one odd light said. “Even if we had the energy to get more light, it would not help. We might have more light, but we would still shine feebly and still blink oddly.”
“We are not able to be helped,” another odd light said.
Little Light flickered in frustration.

The nearby lights began blinking and buzzing in excitement.
Little Light looked around. What were they excited about? She flew closer to find out. The lights crowded together and Little Light tried to squeeze between a couple of large lights. She knew it was impolite, but she wanted to see. The lights shoved and pushed about so much that Little Light finally gave up.
She floated back away from the crowd. She watched and waited. Behind her, the weak, feeble lights floated by themselves.
She heard “oooos and aaaahhs” from the other lights. She tried hopping up and down to see. But could not. Little Light sighed.

Then Little Light saw him. He was a beautiful Great Gold Light and he slowly approached the crowd. She stared in wonder.
The Great Gold Light shone brightly. Brighter than any light Little Light had ever seen. He was different than all other lights. Brighter. Bolder. Warmer. Welcoming.
Little Light watched as the Great Gold Light floated by the crowds. But the crowds did not notice. They continued to clamor about whatever had their attention. The weak, feeble lights, however, noticed him. They watched him as he passed by.
“Can you help them?” Little Light called to him. She was not sure why, but she was sure the Great Gold Light could help. She twinkled with delight when he stopped and looked at her. He looked to the ten weak, feeble lights huddled together away from the crowds.
The Great Gold Light approached the ten lights. Their lights glowed with uncertainty and a little hope.
“Can you help us?” one of the lights asked.
The Great Gold Light smiled and then shone brighter and brighter, his light growing and shining all over the lights until they began to glow brightly, nine bright violet lights and one bright orange light.
The once weak and feeble lights cried out with joy and flew away, shining brightly as they went.

“How wonderful,” Little Light laughed. She beamed at the beautiful Great Gold Light. He still glowed brightly. “How did you do it?” she asked.
Not too far away, the Blinking Lights continued to blink their message “Get more light, get more light. Use your energy and get more light.”
“That’s what I do,” the Great Gold Light said. “I bring light into the world.”
“Oh, you must have a lot of energy to have so much light to give,” Little Light said.
All around, the other lights continued to use their energy to get more light, hurrying here and there, trying to find the right light, the best light, unaware of the wonderful thing that just happened.
“I do not need energy,” the Great Gold Light answered. Little Light looked at him curiously. He smiled. “I share my light,” he said.
Nearby, the crowd continued to gather, buzzing and bustling, but paying no attention to the Great Gold Light who shared his light.
Little Light wondered what he would do next. Would he shine brightly and get the attention of the lights rushing about in search of more light? Would he shine brightly and overwhelm the silly Blinking Lights?
Little Light noticed the orange light, now shining brightly, approaching the Great Gold Light again.
As he flew up, he said “Thank you. Thank you, sir, for making me to shine so brightly.”
The Great Gold Light shone warmly and said, “Go and shine, your light will always glow brightly.”
At that, Little Light giggled with delight.
But Blinking Lights continued with their message, and the other lights continued to rush about.

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The Third Book; Sacred Pathways

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Jill English Johnston

In my journey following Jesus, I have met many who have been fairly certain their way of worshipping and praying is the right “way” to worship or pray and that other ways are wrong.   I have also met many, and myself included, who have been frustrated as they struggled with the concept of the right “way” to pray, struggled with connecting with God, or have felt out of touch with certain forms of worship.  Why, for some, does connecting with God seem so easy, but for others, it is not?

Then I found Gary Thomas’ book Sacred Pathways.  The ideas Thomas presents in his book were introduced to me at a prayer retreat.   They intrigued me.  As soon as I returned home, I ordered the book.  I further explored Thomas’ concept of Sacred Pathways and discovered that 1. I am not alone in my frustration; and 2. our frustration may stem from the misconception there is a right “way” and a wrong “way” to worship and pray.

For my struggling, frustrated traveling friends, this book is for us.  It can also be for the other group, but they may have to approach it with an open mind.

Gary Thomas presents the idea that God has created each of us uniquely and in doing so, we each have a unique way of loving Him.  He identifies nine different spiritual temperaments,  nine pathways of connecting with God.  Each of these temperaments contribute to the body of Christ and each of these temperaments, I think, teach us about the beauty and complexity of God’s heart.

As I eagerly read Thomas’ book, I quickly identified my dominate temperament.  I also found that I had one or two other temperaments that were somewhat strong as well.  Thomas encourages us to find comfort and confidence in worshipping God in the unique way in which He has designed us.  He provides ideas to further explore worshipping God in our temperament and offers examples of others who share the temperament.  Additionally, he provides cautions for the temperaments, where worship might become something destructive, lead to where our Heavenly Father did not intend.  He also exhorts us to explore the other temperaments as a means to supplement our own journey on our pathway and to better understand those whose temperaments are different from our own.

The Nine Pathways are:

Naturalists – loving God out of doors
Sensates – loving God with the senses
Traditionalists – loving God through ritual and symbol
Ascetics – loving God in solitude and simplicity
Activists – loving God through confrontation
Caregivers – loving God by loving others
Enthusiasts – loving God with mystery and celebration
Contemplatives – loving God through adoration
Intellectuals – loving God with the mind

Personal note: While Thomas combines creativity with the Sensates, I would break out a tenth temperament: Creationist – loving God in creating.  Whether music, art, sewing, woodworking,  the written word, or any other form of creating, I think we join with our Creator in the creation process and that it, in and of itself, is another form of worship.

If you have been experiencing a dryness in your time with God, or if you have longed to have the rich spiritual walk you see others experiencing, then this book is for you.   Be assured that our Heavenly Father is inviting you to experience Him in the unique way in which He has created you.  Come, pray and worship, delight in the Father who delights in you.

 

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The Second Book: Prayer; Does it Make any Difference?

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Jill English Johnston

Prayer: Does it Make any Difference by Philip Yancey, is an excellent follow up to EM Bounds’ book Power through Prayer.  In his book, Bounds contends that we don’t see God’s power because we don’t seek God in prayer.  But Yancey’s book asks the question, what about when we do seek God, and we still don’t see His power?

What about when we do pray?
When we cry out to Him.
And we cling to His promises.
But heaven seems silent.
Our prayer goes unanswered
And we wonder why.
What is God doing?
Why does He not answer?

Reasons haunt us.
Did I not pray enough?
Confess enough?
Believe enough?

And we end up with broken dreams, broken hearts, broken promises.
What then?

That’s where Philip Yancey takes us – to that place of what and why?
What is prayer?
And why do we pray?

From the perspective of a fellow sojourner, Yancey walks us through this thing we as Christians are called to do, this thing called prayer. Throughout the book, he shares the personal prayer testimonies of everyday people as well as quotes and wisdom from many “giants” in the faith.  His first section, aptly called “Keeping Company With God” takes a look at us, takes a look at God, and brings us together in relationship.  Yancey then moves on into the mysteries of prayer, drawing us into discovering the prayers that Jesus prayed, and the prayers that he did not.  He also invites us to peer into the prayers of Old Testament men and women, exploring the idea, “does prayer change God?”

When I reached the section, “Prayer Dilemmas,” I found that my reading of the book had been quite timely with certain events in my life.  With a friend’s diagnosis of cancer, we rallied with family and friends around her, praying over her, claiming promises of healing, carrying her to the feet of Jesus, like the four friends who carried their friend on the mat, expecting answers, hoping for miracles.  And when we faced unanswered prayer, we wondered why.  When we sought healing and it did not come, our hearts were broken.  
In the midst of it, I marveled that I was in the book’s section of prayer dilemmas.  How I appreciated Yancey’s words of wisdom and insight, his chapter on living with the mystery of unanswered prayer and asking the question of what we ought to pray for.  As I wrestled, like Jacob, with a God I could not comprehend, I took curious comfort in the fact that I did not wrestle alone. Throughout history, God’s people have wrestled, pondered, questioned, this thing we as Christians are called to do, this thing called prayer.  

And in the end I found, that really, all I can do is crawl up next to my Father’s heart and trust that He is good, even still.

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The Parable of the Texas Feast

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Jill English Johnston

There once was a very special dinner prepared.  A dinner cooked up Texas style, as only can be done in Texas.  It had some great fixings.  As any Texas dinner cannot be without, it had BBQ brisket and BBQ pork and sausage.  It also had a couple of types of beans, and to go along with that, macaroni salad, macaroni and cheese and green beans, corn and rolls, as well as coleslaw, fruit salad, and garden salad.  To top it all off, the Texas dessert consisted of banana pudding, peach cobbler and, of course, brownies.  An incredible feast.  A Texas sized Feast.  For Texas sized appetites.

The guests were invited and soon they all arrived.  It was dinner time.  It was time to eat.  The guests sat down at the tables prepared for them.   The food was laid out on the buffet tables.  Ready to be served up.  Ready to be enjoyed.

But an interesting thing happened.

Not all of the guests enjoyed the food that had been prepared for them.  In fact, many of them hardly ate anything at all.  Oh, there were many reasons.  Some of the guests ate too much junk food before they came and were too full or sick to enjoy the feast.  Some of the guests were confused as to what was expected of them and sat for most of the dinner, wondering if they were allowed to eat.  Other guests received some conflicting messages and did not know whether or not the food was actually for them.  Sadly, some did not like the food that was being served and chose not to have any.  But thankfully, there were others who were hungry, knew the food was for them and, after a time, helped themselves to the wonderful feast, enjoying all of the food prepared especially for them.

What does this mean?  What is this strange feast?  Who are these guests?  When one considers the dinner, does it not seem that, in a way, it is analogous to how we, as Christians, approach the blessings of God.

God has laid out for us, His children, incredible blessings.  In fact, Ephesians 1:3 tells us that we have every spiritual blessing in the heavens.  Much like a feast laid out on a table.  These blessings are available.  For us.  But are we partaking?

Do we enjoy the blessings God has provided for us?  Or are there those  who hardly experience His blessings at all?  Oh, there are many reasons, are there not, that His blessings, like the feast, are not enjoyed.  We fill up on other stuff, worldly stuff, not good stuff, and find ourselves too sick or too full to enjoy His blessings.  Or we are confused and do not know what is expected of us, do not know what has been given to us.  So we sit out, wondering if we are allowed to enjoy God’s blessings.  Sometimes, we receive conflicting messages from well intended Christians and we do not know whether or not God’s blessings are even intended for us.  And finally, sadly, we may not like God’s blessings, wanting something else, not accepting to have what He has to offer.  Oh, but that we would be like those who are hungry, know they are for us , and take and enjoy.   For indeed, this is why God has invited us to His table, this is why God has given us His blessings.

You, dear child of God, are blessed.  Do not miss out.

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The First Book: Power Through Prayer

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Jill English Johnston

It amazes me to think, and I had to constantly remind myself as I read, that this book was written at the end of the 19th century, over 100 years ago.  Even then, EM Bounds, in Power Through Prayer, cried out for men to pray, chastised men for disregarding prayer, criticized men for neglecting the vital ingredient in serving God.  For all our technology, we are not any different than those who have gone before us.  There have always been things that have kept us from and distracted us from the greater work of prayer.   I think that the problem we have with prayer is a condition of our falleness rather than the state of the world around us.  How often have I struggled, faltered, rushed, forgone time alone with my Father.  Here I am… open the door, He says.  But off I rush, wondering why I am failing, wondering why there is lack of power in my life.  Anything done without prayer – a real seeking the heart of God, prayer – is done in my own strength and with my own ideas, not His strength, not His ideas.  If we want to serve, if we want to impact the world for His Kingdom, we need His anointing.  God’s anointing is His pleasure to put us to work in His plan with His power because we have diligently and persistently sought His heart.  The apostles appointed deacons to serve so they could devote themselves to prayer.  But did the deacons also find prayer important?  Do some positions require more praying?  Or are we all called to pray and our service, our ministry, our work is the overflow of that time spent with the Father?  EM Bounds aims his book at preachers.  I am not a preacher, but I can replace the words preacher and preaching throughout the book with other words: teacher, teaching; leader, leading; disciple maker, discipling…  The power of prayer must be at the heart of every role if it is to have eternal impact and not just earthly good.  To spend time with the Father is to learn His heart and to know it is good; He is good.

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