Sunday, February 17, 2013

Let the Lower Lights Be Burning




What an awesome week last week!
I have loved hearing your stories and can't wait to hear more!
If you're just joining us Welcome!

As I've been thinking about being a light this week
and we we could be thinking about this week,
I was reminded when reading this talk
about lighthouses and how they can be related to us.

There is a beautiful hymn called "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy"

"Brightly beams our Father's mercy
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

"Dark the night of sin has settled;
Loud the angry billows roar.
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

"Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower lights be burning;
Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save."

A couple of weeks ago, we were discussing this at institute,
and I was surprised about how many people
didn't know what the lower lights of a lighthouse were.
So in case you don't know here's my version of what the lower lights are:

Lighthouses have been used for centuries to guide sailors back to shore.
The main light in a lighthouse is important to find their way home,
but more was needed to help them guide the ship
through the perilous channels of rocks and reef.
So as sailors get closer to the harbor, a second set of lights,
the lower lights, on the shore serve as a reference point.
When they line up the main light and the lower lights,
they are safely led through the channels.
The lighthouse brought the ships to where they need to be,
but without the lower lights the sailors
 wouldn't be able to reach the shore safely.

I love drawing a parallel between this and our own lives.
Many times we are the sailors, on a long journey,
journeying to come to Christ, who is the light of the lighthouse.
We can see the light far off in the distance.
As we get closer Satan tries to block our path
 with things that could keep us from getting to the Savior.
Our Heavenly Father in his infinite wisdom
places people along the shore to help guide us
along the safe path to Him.
When I think of all the people sent into my life as lower lights,
I'm just in awe of how I've been led in my path.
These people don't necessarily do big things,
but they teach me something through their example.

When we are living righteously,
we shine with the light of Christ
and can be the lower lights for other people
who cross our path.

This week I'd again like to invite you to do a few things.
Pray. Study. Ponder. Record. Act. Share.
 As you are on this journey prayer is an important part.
Offer a sincere prayer and ask for the Spirit to teach you
what you need to know to grow closer to Christ.
Have a prayer in your heart as you are studying, pondering, recording
and especially as you go through your days this week.
Study
Read and study Hymn 335, "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy",
Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-16, 1 John 2:10,
and any other scriptures, conference talks, etc.
that you feel will assist you.
Ponder
  Who has been a lower light in your life?
How can you be a lower light in other people's lives?
What other thoughts, feelings, or insights
have come to you as you have been studying and pondering?
Record
Write your thoughts, feelings, and insights
in your journal.  Read through what you have 
written and then ponder again 
if there is anything more the Lord
would like you to learn.
 
Act
Make a goal of something to work on this week.
Maybe it is writing and sending a thank you note
to someone who is a lower light for you.
Maybe it is working on doing something
to help you be a lower light to someone else.
Be sure to share your goal with someone 
so you will be held accountable to do it.
   
Share
Find someone to share with.
Like always we invite your comments on the blog.
Remember however you choose to share,
you are blessing the lives of others.
You never know if your story will
be an instrument in bringing another 
to their Savior.
 
Like always, we invite you to comment on the blog
so we can learn from each other!
Also feel free to e-mail me at meg@soulfulbrilliance.com.
 
Luvz,
Meg :0) 

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