Let a Little Light Shine
“You are the light of the world … Let your light shine before others …” Matthew 5:14-16 Edwin Binney was an inventor and owned a company with his cousin Howard Smith. They made colors for factories—red for barns and black for tires. In 1903, at the urging of teachers, he invented a colored oil crayon made of wax that looked similar to a chalk stick. Binney didn’t know what to call his invention, so he asked his wife, Alice. Alice mixed two French words together. The word craie, which means a stick of chalk, and the word ola, which means oily. Craie Ola. Binney spelled it, Crayola. In 1904, Binney and his cousin took the crayons to the World’s Fair. Children loved them. The box had 8 colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, brown and...
Read MoreSeeing Grandma Through a Child’s Eyes
When I haven’t seen Grandma for a while, she looks different than I remember her . I think maybe I forget things change. I keep her in my mind the way she was before, like when we played together last time. This time when I saw her, I noticed her face looked really tired. She’s very old now—she’s 94! Her skin looked pale, and her eyes weren’t as bright and sparkly as I remembered. But then something special happened. When she smiled at me, her eyes got a little bit of that sparkle back. It made me happy to see that. I’ve been talking to God a lot about Grandma. When it’s quiet, and I’m just thinking, I pray that she feels good and happy. Even though I’m sad thinking about her getting older, when I pray, I feel this warm feeling inside, like God...
Read MoreNever Alone
When we feel worried or anxious, God is always with us, and we never have to face anything alone.A new year can be exciting… but it can also feel a little scary. New schedules. New classrooms. New friendships. New expectations. Sometimes all those “new” things can make our hearts feel tight inside. We start to worry about what might happen, or whether we’ll be okay. But here’s the good news: we are never alone. God promises to be with us in every moment, not just on the good days, but on the hard ones too. When we feel anxious, confused, or unsure, God is close. He listens when we pray. He gives us peace when our thoughts feel loud. And He reminds us that we don’t have to figure everything out on our own. When worries start to creep in, we can stop,...
Read MoreAfter the Decorations Come Down
For several weeks last month, energy, enthusiasm, expectancy, and excitement surrounded us. Everywhere we looked and went, there was singing, music, twinkling, and blinking. It was the order of the day for most. Which rehearsals are on the schedule? My brother and I get to help Grandpa with his huge tree. I cannot wait to see what is in that striped box. Are my clothes ready for the concert? I was chosen to portray Mary, the mother of JESUS. What gifts do I need to buy? When are my cousins arriving? I promised to help Grandma with baking. Now the relatives are gone. The surprises are over. The decorations are packed away for eleven more months. Have you lost interest in those gadgets already? Are you disappointed? Before you sink into the doldrums, read Luke...
Read MoreThe Gift Who Always Fits
God is the gift who always fits. “Every good and perfect gift comes from GOD.” James 1:17 We so enjoy shopping and buying gifts for others, right? Especially for those whose preferences we know. Their favorites—colors, hobbies, songs, sports, foods, and places. Being on the receiving end of gifts is a treat, too. Wrapped with bows. Bagged or not. Searching for the right gift takes thought, time, and cash. How many of your gifts were: A. the wrong size, color, or style B. returned or donated What do you say when the giver asks, “Have you worn that sweater I gave you yet?” or “Did you say pistachios are your must-have?” Well… did you like it? Though we may not always give or receive what we want, long-awaited favorite, GOD—the Ultimate...
Read MoreNo Snow, No Problem: Cookies Still Count
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”— Jesus (Acts 20:35) Give cookies; count blessings. “I do not want Christmas to come this year,” Hannah said. “Do you want presents?” Grampa Hippo asked. “I do not want Christmas. Not even presents,” Hannah said. “What is wrong?” Grampa asked. “It does not feel like Christmas without snow,” Hannah said. “What else feels like Christmas to you?” Grampa asked. “I like baking cookies with you and giving them away,” Hannah said. “I like that too,” Grampa said. “We can still bake and share.” Grampa set the dough on the table. “We can bless people with cookies,” he said. Gramma stepped into the kitchen. “Are you making cookies?” she asked. “Those are my favorites.” Hannah...
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If it’s in the Bible, The Pirate Preacher knows the story. Monday nights he leads a “Jesus Study” in Moore Square, Raleigh, NC. Each Sunday you will find him in the park and at the bus station helping others enjoy the abundant life Jesus promised.
The Pirate Preacher helped launch Christian Devotions Ministries and is the former CEO of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, a Christian book publishing company. He’s also a “Blessed Selling” author and Writers’ Coach.
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