In The Fire Light: "They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps on the gold lamp stand every evening." II Chronicles 13:11
When I was a young boy, my Dad and I would take walks after dinner. He was a Navy Officer and he always enjoyed pointing out the stars. He explained that sailors used the constellations in the night sky to direct their ships.
Pop would point to the heavens and say, "See those stars that look like a "W"? That's called Cassiopeia's Chair. And see that cluster of little stars altogether, those are the Seven Sisters or Pleiades!” He also described, “Those four stars that look like a big square and the other 3 stars that bend off the corner are called the Big Dipper." I would squint and strain until I found those small dots of light and found their connections. I remember thinking to myself, "I wonder if their light is from heaven, like pin holes poking through behind the night sky?"
My father's observations inspired me so I learned the constellations and their names. I bought book after book to study the stars and their positions.
One very cold night in January, a dozen of us sat at a table and shared Communion. Afterward, each of us shared about our encounters with Jesus in the CommunionFire.
They were brilliant conversations. It was as if each person had been ignited by the presence of Jesus. One after another spoke of the “light of Christ”, the “light coming from a crown on Jesus head”, “light before their feet” it was like fireworks exploding into the night sky. It took me back to those nights with my father.
During the Communion, The Holy Spirit said, “Love one another.”
It’s curious isn't it, but when you look up at the stars they seem to have an invisible connection. Stars relate to one another. They form constellations. The world has always thought that the stars fixed positions can exert influence on their lives. Sailors use them for direction. The Church, like the stars, influences the world. What influence is that? It’s our love for one another. We love because He first loved us. We take that love to one another and to the world. His love shows the light of heaven… and each time someone receives Jesus, they too, become part the glory we see in the stars.
When I was a young boy, my Dad and I would take walks after dinner. He was a Navy Officer and he always enjoyed pointing out the stars. He explained that sailors used the constellations in the night sky to direct their ships.
Pop would point to the heavens and say, "See those stars that look like a "W"? That's called Cassiopeia's Chair. And see that cluster of little stars altogether, those are the Seven Sisters or Pleiades!” He also described, “Those four stars that look like a big square and the other 3 stars that bend off the corner are called the Big Dipper." I would squint and strain until I found those small dots of light and found their connections. I remember thinking to myself, "I wonder if their light is from heaven, like pin holes poking through behind the night sky?"
My father's observations inspired me so I learned the constellations and their names. I bought book after book to study the stars and their positions.
One very cold night in January, a dozen of us sat at a table and shared Communion. Afterward, each of us shared about our encounters with Jesus in the CommunionFire.
They were brilliant conversations. It was as if each person had been ignited by the presence of Jesus. One after another spoke of the “light of Christ”, the “light coming from a crown on Jesus head”, “light before their feet” it was like fireworks exploding into the night sky. It took me back to those nights with my father.
During the Communion, The Holy Spirit said, “Love one another.”
It’s curious isn't it, but when you look up at the stars they seem to have an invisible connection. Stars relate to one another. They form constellations. The world has always thought that the stars fixed positions can exert influence on their lives. Sailors use them for direction. The Church, like the stars, influences the world. What influence is that? It’s our love for one another. We love because He first loved us. We take that love to one another and to the world. His love shows the light of heaven… and each time someone receives Jesus, they too, become part the glory we see in the stars.