Oh Elf, Olaf!

We added a bit to our Christmas plush collection this morning with an introduction to Olaf, complete with a Christmas hat and scarf.  He was found this morning with our elf, along with a wintery snowscape - and a small Christmas tree as well.  Daddy titled this blog post as it is just because it is a tongue-twister.  Try saying "Oh elf, Olaf" three times fast.  Go ahead.  I'll wait on you!

Today was a Wednesday, where KidPak had a big Christmas-themed sevice at night.  Madison and Mommy came by to visit, but none of us stayed for the night.  The reason was a hasty attack on some January and February messages that have to be written by Friday, apparently.  This is the deadline for the printer, so Daddy raced home once he discovered that - and started pecking away at the keyboard, doing a bit of research and so forth.  Our new series is just around the corner, and there is a lot of excitement about it.  But there's also ALOT of fatigue right now, as we've been go, go, go, go.  For once we just want to stop, stop, stop, stop.  Meanwhile Madison keeps going to school and other events afterwards, and that's good that she can enjoy the season a little more than Mommy and Daddy currently are.  Daddy wrote the first of eight messages tonight, one based on this series that starts on January 4th, which is not that far away.

There he is again, our Viking friend.  I think his name is "Viking," and I hope we see a bit more of him for this series.  We've got a bunch of Viking messages planned, but the series is more about the region of Scandinavia, about snow, about "Frozen," about flying dragons, and about the Northern Lights.

“You are the Light of the World”

     The Northern Lights are a thing of beauty that cannot be fully described.  Vibrant streaks of color silently flow across the evening sky, illuminating the darkness with noiseless explosions of green, pink, yellow, blue, white and even purple.

     What causes this to happen can be scientifically explained, but many years ago, people of the north came up with legends and stories to explain the Northern Lights.  One story suggests that our Creator – after finishing His work on the earth – travelled to the far north, where he still builds great fires, which reflect southward, to remind those He created of His lasting love.

     While this is just an old bit of folklore, the fact remains that our Creator is the Light of the World.  In the book of James, he is called the Father of the Heavenly lights.  And to take things a bit further, He wants us to be the light of the world as well.

     The light chases away dark.  In darkness we are lost, struggling to find our way, and frequently running into things that we shouldn’t.  In darkness, there is fear.

     But in the light there is hope.  In the light, there is salvation.  When we come into the light, we see the truth about things, and we can find our way.

     And we can show others the Way as well.  In fact, our lives should be a bright source of warmth for those around us.  The Bible tells us to let our light shine.  Then others will be drawn to us – and ultimately Jesus.
     The Northern Lights shine bright in the darkness illuminating the sky and drawing people from all over the world.  Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going, so let your light shine. 

    

 

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“You are the Light of the World”

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly Lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV

“God brought you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 NIrV

“You are the light of the world. A town built 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 NIV

“The sky’s awake so I’m awake.” - Anna

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1.  We are the ________. We are made in God’s image, a shimmering light shining in the darkness.  We have the hope of the world burning bright within us!
“You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14 NIV

a.  snowflakes            b. rock            c. light

2.  Light chases away the __________.  If you are the light, then darkness cannot be present.  In darkness we are lost, struggling to find our way, and frequently running into things that we shouldn’t.  In darkness, there is fear.  But in the light there is hope. 

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 NIV
a.  courage     b. darkness    c. Vikings

3.         Light ________ others.  Our lives should be a bright source of warmth for those around us.  Let your light shine, and let it draw others to you – and ultimately Jesus.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NIV
a.  repels        b. draws          c. keeps

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Notes/Stamp

Memory Verse:  “You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14 NIV