I have a lot of candles in my home. Most of them just sit on the shelves gathering dust and waiting for another power outage to take out those pesky electric lights.

Every now and then, though, I do take the time to light up one or two of them. It feels good to sit quietly and watch their flickering, little fires beat back the darkness around them. It puts me back in touch with the candles burning within myself as well.

Enlightenment for me hasn’t come from flicking on a single switch but rather from lighting one candle at a time in my heart, mind, and soul, I know that I still have a long way to go too, but I am lighting more candles every day. Most of the candles burning inside of me, in fact, weren’t even lit by me. They were lit by other shining souls I met along the journey of my life.

The brightest flame they lit is the truth that God loves you, me, and everyone in this world. With this flame you can light enough candles to brighten the whole universe. Some of the other flames they ignited in me and that I want to pass on to you are these.

Love is stronger than hate. Giving brings more joy than receiving. Forgiveness heals our hearts. Love and joy are both choices we make and gifts we share. Hate comes from ignorance, but love brings wisdom. We are all Children of God. And we should not only claim our birthright, but live up to it as well. We are all one family here and we should do our best to help each other’s candles burn as brightly and beautifully as possible.

Take happiness then in lighting the candles of learning and love inside of yourself. Take joy when others light them inside you as well. And with love and goodness share their light with everyone everywhere. Remember that we all come from God’s light. Until we return to it we all should do our best to burn brightly and cast the darkness out of this world.

You are strong . . . .
when you take your grief and teach it to smile.

You are brave . . . .
when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.

You are happy . . . .
when you see a flower and give it your blessing.

You are loving . . . .
when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.

You are wise . . . .
when you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are true . . . .
when you admit there are times you fool yourself.

You are alive . . . .
when tomorrow’s hope means more to you than yesterday’s mistake.

You are growing . . . .
when you know what you are but not what you will become.

You are free . . . .
when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.

You are honorable . . . .
when you find your honor is to honor others.

You are generous . . . .
when you can take as sweetly as you can give.

You are humble . . . .
when you do not know how humble you are.

You are thoughtful . . . .
when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.

You are merciful . . . .
when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.

You are beautiful . . . .
when you don’t need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich . . . .
when you never need more than what you have.

You are you . . . .
when you are at peace with who you are not.

“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven all their sins and all the blasphemies they utter. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.” - (Mark 3:28-30)

This verse strikes a chill in folks because they sometimes fear they may be guilty of this. However, in this context, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit meant attributing Jesus’ ability to do miracles to the power of demons in his life — saying he could do his miracles because “He has an evil spirit” — and not giving credit for the miracles to the Holy Spirit of God.

Sit down and read awhile in the Gospel of Mark and be reminded of the great power of Jesus to heal and cast out demons, then realize that power, the Holy Spirit, is  at work in you as a follower of Jesus. Give glory to God for such
an incredible presence in your life!

Prayer : Almighty God, when I see the incredible power displayed in the ministry of Jesus I cannot help but wish I were alive in the days when he performed these miracles. However, I am humbled to realize that the Holy Spirit who empowered these miracles is the gift of your presence inside of me, given by your grace to empower, comfort, and encourage me. Use the Holy Spirit to conform me to the character and compassion of Jesus, in whose name I thank you  and praise. Amen.