Christmas Lights

Christmas lights. I've seen them every 27 years of my life, and they have always represented a joyous time of year filled with gifts, family, and being home. During this season they are everywhere... in the stores beckoning shoppers to come and spend more money, in front of buildings, and in the homes of people. They bring such joy to my heart when I see them! Who can resist looking at them and appreciating their beauty in the midst of a dark night? Its a very small grasp of the light that Jesus brings to our dark world, of the beauty that He brought us 2000 years ago when He was born, and so now more than ever I appreciate Christmas lights and how they represent God in their small way.
Tuesday night Crystal, JoAnn, and myself went out with Ate Bevs and Ate Mildred to visit women in prostitution who work at bars. Ate Mildred directed us to walk down the street and to pray for what we saw before we beagn to interact with anyone. Among the row of buildings there were different businesses including a tire shop, a wood shop, and multiple bars. Ate Mildred said,"The bars have Christams lights on them so people know what they are," and looking up the street I could see a line of buildings with Christmas lights. The very symbols of such joy and appreciation I had always known were now being used as beacons for men to come and satisfy their lusts. They twinkled the same but all beauty had been destroyed by what they represented now. I was so sad as I realized how God's heart must break at the sight. As I prayed I had a sense that the women they illuminated were ignorant that these lights should be a small representation of the Light of the World that had come into the world for them. Truth was being held back and my heart just cried out for it to be set free and reign down on that street. Even now a few days later my heart echoes that prayer I first felt.
I will never look at Christmas ligths the same. They not only symbolize the things I thought before, but now they hold the burden of what I saw that night. I was riding on the back of a tricycle last night coming home, and as I passed Christmas lights on the road my heart was burdened with the need to pray for the women. And my prayer was to see truth revealed of who Jesus is and for the Christmas lights to be redeemed by that truth for them. Would you join me in this prayer and share this burden, that when you see Christmas lights you too will remember the Samaritan women of Manila.

All i have

In Matthew 13: 45-46 Jesus describes the kingdom of God like a man searching for fine pearls and when he found one of great value he sold everything he had and bought it. I have met people here who bring this verse to life. There is a pastor who along with his family lives in the slums with the people he reaches out to. His home is small and made of cement blocks and boards, which is also used for the church services he runs (home church!). His salary of $100 monthly is not adequate for him and his family to live off of. Yet he continues to serve God and the people around him fatihfully. There is a woman who teaches preschool for free at another site because there are no funds to pay her, but she answered the call God gave her. There are women who have been serving the prostitutes in Manila relentlessly for years, with small victories only to show for it. There are men who have been working with the poorest of the poor, at times burning out, but who have stayed in the race with Jesus as their vision to finish the race well.
They have sold everything they have for the kingdom of God, and still remain joyful and wholly satisfied. I too have seen a pearl of great value, but I have yet to sell all I have for the sake of it. I'm learning to let go and give all to Him who is worthy.