Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain,
Are You Afraid of the Light? "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."-- John 8:12
Lately, I've been listening to a lot of Joe Purdy. And one song in particular from his 2007 release Take My Blanket and Go is haunting me. "Good Days" tells the story of someone who has very few of them. Most days, it seems, the person Purdy sings of would rather just stay in bed. Days are all-too-difficult because in the light problems must be faced--problems that seem to sleep once the sun goes down. Yes, the nights bring relative peace. Here's the verse playing in my head:
You lit a cigarette
And you got out of bed
And you stood on the balcony there with your feet wet
I begged you to come in out of the cold night
You said it ain't the dark that I'm afraid of, it's the light...
While I'm not sure Purdy has the gospel in mind when he sings these lyrics, I cannot help but go there. The phrase "it ain't the dark that I'm afraid of, it's the light" is what we all say apart from Christ.
Jesus said it this way: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.
So what must happen for us to stop hating (and fearing) the light? What alone can bring us out of our caves of iniquity where we live paralyzed with fear?
"The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ."
Indeed, the One who said, Let light shine out of darkness, "made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6).
Jesus stands forth today and declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Let us, therefore, beg people to "come in out of the cold night" and into the warm day of salvation. Then with the Psalmist they will sing, "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light" (36:9).
REFLECTION The Apostle Peter also picks up on the imagery of darkness and light to describe the Christian life. For example, in 1 Peter 2:9 he says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” The Christian is one who has been called out of darkness and placed in the marvelous light of God’s salvation. Why? To “declare the praise of him” who did this breathtaking work! Are His praises on our lips this day?
PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of March 7, 2010 FOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING
David Robertson In a Florida hospital in a diabetic coma
Dave Sheldon [Terry Lindgren’s Uncle] Diagnosed with Hepatitis C and Liver Cancer
Elma Frick Recovering from a fractured vertebrae
Steve Lindgren Diagnosed with serious stomach problem, complicated with diabetes
Lois Lohmeyer Recovering from a collar bone fracture, healing process will be long, pain is severe
Alice Bacon Recovering from surgery to repair a fractured wrist.
Nora Horecny Fracture of vertebrae, having pain
Leah Robison Recovering from a broken foot
Pat Otten Recovering from a broken foot
Craig Lowry [Father of OSLS preschool childcare student, Marissa] serious health concerns
Shirley Atkins Continued healing of a broken foot
Frank Walker Recovering from another surgery attempting to save his leg
Solissa Arms [Friend of Pat Kuecker] Recovering from injuries from auto accident
Rosina Walker Strength
Pauline Rye [Mother of Noble Rye] recovering from a stroke
Lt. Daniel Berschinski [25 year old fellow soldier and friend of Matt Kuecker] at Walter Reed fighting infection in his amputated legs, which were the result of injuries sustained in and IED explosion.
Sarah Austin [Family friend of The Mueller Family] undergoing testing
Linda White [Sister of Sharon Coleman] Cancer, praying for comfort and peace, and for God’s will to occur
Bob Wolke [Brother of Pat Otten] suffering from severe pain
Orval Bestian [Brother of Shirley Atkins] heart problems
Kim Hunter [Friend of Pat Kuecker] 37 yr. old suffering from multiple health concerns
Karen Jackson [Friend of Melissa Nelson] waiting for a transplant
FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM CANCER Dominique Lupo, Alice Puckett, Pastor Don Dengler, David Sheldon, Thomas Davidson, Phil Sanders, Barbara Robertson, Lorna Benkendorf, Ruth Smith, Lu Aiella, Jim Bush, Kay Mitchell, Leona Walker, Pam Russo, Brock Douglas, Joan Beck, Kim Phillips, Karen Gardner, Roger, Jana Maher, Joe Howley, Judi Rice, Jack Quinlan, Mark Hayden, Joanne Leeming, Venessa Brady, Joey Eckler, Jim Siegfried
FOR THOSE SUFFERING CHRONIC ILLNESS Bill Berger, Daniel Shorter, Bob Farley, Christopher, Lance Muessle, Erin Brady Worsham, Nick Zimmer
FOR THOSE CONFINED AT HOME, A NURSING HOME OR REHABILITATION CENTER Ray Wahlbrink, Isabella Tappendorf, Dorothy Ordel, Mary Rose Crask, Jim Ashley, Ricky Hayes, Inge Kaulitz, Lydia Eggers, Mim Hawkinson, Nancy Heiden, Myrtle Wiggins, Glenna Goepfert, Elvera Weltzin, Jerry and Marge Tauscher, Virginia Alexander, Helen, Dennis Krause
FOR THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY Matthew Kuecker, Jason, Chris and Kim Wolter, Matt Fitzgibbon, Joshua Burkett, Roy Oberhaus, Don Wheeler, Lori Alix, James Marshburn, Tony Crespo, Donnie Tyler, Zachary Holland, Michael Alexander, Jeffrey Davis, Erik Sheldon
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. --2 Peter 1:2-8
In Christ,
Paul Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church
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