DEVOTION: Walking In The Light by Leila Halawe

Recently a friend and I decided to participate in a charity fun run. It’s an annual event held at night in a popular park area in Sydney with some breathtaking views, and as such, it tends to attract a few thousand people. As it was a night event, each participant was given a headlamp to wear to ensure they could see in the darker parts of the park. I had been to this park before and knew it well, and I didn’t really think I needed the headlamp, but I decided to wear it anyway.

The race started and I excitedly set off with my friend, confident and ready to race to the finish line. However before long, I found myself slightly tripping over things unseen on the running track and just barely keeping myself upright. I was being jostled left and right by the other runners that had packed into the park, making it hard for me to see the track or where I was stepping. I kept looking down to see if I could sidestep the obstacles but it was too dark to really see anything, so I readjusted my headlamp and centred it so that when I looked down, it shone directly in front of my feet. For the remainder of the race, I relied on my headlamp to light the path at my feet and I was able to finish the race without any further stumbles or injuries, as I was able to see exactly where the branches and dips were and run around them.

Our walk with God can sometimes be like a run in the dark. We occasionally get confident in our own ability and think that because we’ve been somewhere, or encountered something before, we can navigate it alone. We rely on our own earthly eyes to see what’s in front of us and think that we know where we are going, only to catch ourselves stumbling over something or falling over altogether. I know for me, there has been many a time when I have relied on myself, confident in my own ability to manage something, only to find myself stumbling and crying out for God before I hit the ground. 

It’s only when we rely completely on God that we can navigate through the twists and turns of life without fear of tripping on unseen obstacles. Psalm 119:105 reads, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” and that is exactly what walking with God is like; a light shining in the darkness directing us where to go. God sees what we don’t and He wants nothing more than for us to rely on His eyes and His light to guide us. Our walk with God isn’t always easy; we don’t always see what’s up the road and walking into the unknown can be somewhat frightening and unnerving. However, if we just follow the light that He is shining, if we just keep our eyes fixed on Him and keep our mind on His Word, we can be confident that we are walking on the right path and not headfirst into the trees.

Leila Halawe is a Sydney based coffee loving nonfiction writer and blogger. She has published a mini devotional and shares her life via Looking In (www.misslays.com), a blog about being a carer for parents with cancer, drinking coffee and random ramblings. You can connect with Leila via Facebook at Leila Halawe Author (https://www.facebook.com/misslays/) and via Twitter at Leila Halawe (@LHalawe).

Shedding Light

Just as there are some people who make you feel good about yourself, there are others who, without saying a word, diminish you just by the type of person they are. Someone I know is extremely enthusiastic involved in community activities, friendly and talks easily to anyone. Yet I find this person so over the top that I am overwhelmed and end up shrinking in on myself whenever they are around. It’s not that I don’t like this person. I do and wish I could be more like her. It’s not the way God meant us to be, comparing ourselves with others. Yet she makes me feel inadequate. And it’s not even a conscious decision on my part. It just happens whenever we are in close proximity. Inadequacy and inferiority rears their ugly heads. It’s like this person sucks all the life and light out of me.

When it comes to light I admit to a fascination with lighthouses. Not that I would like to live in one. I’ve read a couple of books about it and it feels like an isolating experience. But there’s something about the whole concept of a lighthouse shining light into the darkness and being a beacon and warning to sailors of the dangers in the sea that presents a beautiful picture. Here is a photo of a lighthouse taken on a recent trip further down the south coast.

 

When I read the words of Jesus where He says ‘I am the light of the world,’ I tend to picture a lighthouse, standing tall and strong and straight, guiding people on the way with its shining light.

 

I’ve read a couple of books recently which have been amazing and yet disappointing in some ways. Largely in the language used and the way characters are presented.  While the story lines were interesting, it was a challenge to read books where the morals and language go against what I believe in.  However if the story line is compelling enough I will persevere despite my own reservations. That doesn’t stop me from commenting about what I perceive to be those negative aspects in a review though. You can find my reviews at Goodreads. This is one such review http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17622847-three-hours-late?ac=1 and sometimes I post reviews on my blog. http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale/Other believers may choose a different option. They may choose to read only Christian fiction or only nonfiction. But none of us should stand in judgement on another believer if they choose differently.

When it comes to my own writing, I believe I am called to present a different perspective to that presented by the world. That doesn’t mean writing sugar coated stories where no-one has any problems, but writing realistically about the world and providing some hope. Those who are called to be followers of Jesus are called to be different. Therefore what we choose to write about and the way we write it is also called to be different, like a lighthouse shining a beacon in the darkness. Would you agree? What are you doing to shine a light in the darkness of this world?

Streets on a Map, is now available from Amazon as an E book. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=streets+on+a+map+by+dale+harcombe Dale has had seven children’s books and Kaleidoscope a collection of poetry published. She has also written bible studies and Sunday school lessons. For several years she wrote about Christian living, marriage and home related topics More information about Dale can be found at www.daleharcombe.com or on her Write and Read with Dale blog  http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale/

Candlelight reflections

It’s been a big year for me – and I’m sure for many of you too. My fourth novel, 'Jenna', was released in August, I’ve spoken over thirty times in a variety of settings and sold my books in all sorts of places, plus been involved in the usual family, social and church activities. So now when I go to my computer to pick up my current writing project where I left off, sometimes my mind takes a while to tune in to the task at hand and be focused in the right direction. Before I begin to write for the day, I always try to sit quietly and acknowledge God’s presence, but one thing I’ve discovered that helps me in an ongoing way to remember I am not alone is to light a candle and place it on my desk. Often I can be typing away and stop to think for a while, perhaps stuck as to what to write next – and then I catch sight of that flame burning brightly nearby and am reminded again that God is with me, whatever difficulties I am encountering.

I have been given some beautiful candles over the years – too beautiful, I used to think, just to burn! However, this year I decided I would begin to use my special candles one after the other and remember the person who gave it to me, as I also remember God. In fact, one young friend gave me a wonderful, handmade candle recently that I just had to use straight away. The casing around this candle is made from the coloured soils of the Atacama Desert in Chile and has a special design cut into the sides, enabling even more of the light to glow through the shape of the design. I have other beautiful ones too, including a special delicately perfumed one called ‘Serenity’ made from soy wax and given to me by a dear friend at the launch of my fourth novel; a delightful little one in purple tones presented to me after speaking somewhere; and another from my daughter, featuring Australian gum leaves.

I am aware, however, that not everyone shares my love of candles – particularly some of the men in our family! That’s okay – everyone is different! But if you aren’t too averse to the idea and perhaps feel the need for a tangible reminder of God’s presence with you as you write, I’d encourage you to try it. As I gaze across now at my beautiful, glowing Chilean candle, I am remembering too Jesus’ words from John 8:12: ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ Jesus has promised he will be with us, showing us the way ahead through whatever ‘darkness’ we are facing, whether it be problems in our writing journey or in our lives in general. How privileged we are to have him walking beside us every step of the way!

But I am also remembering Jesus’ further challenge to us in Mark 5:13 that we ourselves are the ‘light of the world’. He goes on to say in the following verses: ‘A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.’ That’s the amazing privilege we have as Christian authors – to put our words out there, to use the gifts God has given us to the full and to seek to shine our ‘light’ as brilliantly as possible for God’s praise and glory.

Go on – go ahead and light your candle!

Jo-Anne Berthelsen writes contemporary general fiction and lives with her minister husband in Sydney, Australia. To learn more about Jo-Anne, please visit her website, www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.