Listen

Arise! Shine! Your light has come; the Lord’s glory has shone upon you. Though darkness covers the earth and gloom the nations, the Lord will shine upon you; God’s glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light and kings to your dawning radiance.

Isaiah 60:1-3

Think

My daughter started playing Christmas music, without apology, the first of November. We decorated for the holidays right after Halloween (I know, I know!) which means I am ready to pack up Christmas and get back to normal. And yet, after Christmas, I know things cannot go back to normal. We cannot go back to destroying our planet, throwing insults across political lines, rushing so much that we do not see each other. We cannot go back. We must be changed by the light and love of Christmas.

When Jesus was born that holy night in Bethlehem, nothing went back to normal. There was good news of great joy for all the people, and the world changed.

Arise, shine, for your light has come.

May the star of Bethlehem guide us into 2025 with great joy and a whole lot of light.

Michelle Thomas-Bush

Question to Ponder:          

What was a moment this Christmas where the light and love of God shone bright for you?

Pray

God of light, whose presence is shining on my path like a lamp unto my feet, and whose rays shine into even the darkest corners of my world, shine on. Shine on my tired life, shine on my cold heart, shine on the face of injustice. Then, may I shine on in all I do. This I pray in the name of the one who is the light of the world. Amen.

Go

God has called us to move into a new year as bright manifestations of light and love.

May we be epiphanies ourselves, illuminating God’s presence in the world.

Today and always shine bright.