Glad to see that the people of Hawaii are safe. Let’s continue to send our ❤️-felt 🙏ers to the many residents who were affected by the heavy downpour brought on by #HurricaneLane. 🌧🌊
Whenever people face fierce storms, there is always a chance that electricity may go out. That’s when we rely on flashlights, crank radios, battery-operated lamps or oil lanterns 💡 to survive darkness during natural disasters. Oil lamps make great decor today, but they also serve as a source of emergency lighting in case of power outages. My Mom got me started on collecting them when I was a young girl, complete with real wicks—some used olive oil... others required kerosene. I love them all so very much! I had a pink one, a beautiful little white one, green, blue... you name it. Some were antiques. I even inherited one from my grandmother that she gave to my mother. Unfortunately, I lost them all in my house fire years ago. I remember my mother telling me stories of how she used to clean the kerosene lamps as a young girl when she lived on her ranch with my grandparents. One night, while she was cleaning them, a moth kept circling the flame of one of the lamps. My grandfather said to my Mom, “Come here, Olive, watch!” They watched the moth get closer and closer until the flames consumed it. He then said to Mother. “My sweet daughter, there are different forms of light. Choose the light that comes from reading God‘s word.” He added, “This is what happens to people who play with fire. They keep trying to get closer and closer to the dangerous flames until they burn up into ashes.” That’s why the photo of the girl carrying an oil lamp sparked an interest for my Sunday message.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
This passage is a great metaphor. “WORD” is the word of God... the scriptures that brighten our soul when we are in the dark. The “lamp unto my feet ” represents guidance so we can see where we are headed while we walk in darkness, and the “light that shows us the path” is the brightness of hope that we receive from those special scriptures that speak to our hearts so that we may safely reach our destination.
I have recently focused more diligently on my personal study of the scriptures. They are amazing blessings in my life and bring great inspiration that often leaps right out of the pages when I read the Bible. As a child, our parents read the written WORD to us until we were young adults. They would often say, “You’ve been taught this great principle of governing ourselves wisely so exercise the habit of daily reading.” As a young adult, I found great strength in living the commandments, even though the world that I grew up in was very different and complicated. When I read the stories about the bad choices people made in the bible and how they changed their lives for the worse, I came to a deeper understanding that our God does NOT change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
As a young mother, I would recite scriptures and read them with my children. It provided insight, not just for them but they also helped me find the strength to carry on. Every time I read them, I found something different, something unique as though the Bible was speaking directly to me. If you’re lonely, if you’re struggling or if you just need a friend in the Holy Spirit, find the courage and pick up God‘s word and read from the wisdom of the ages. It will not disappoint you!
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (Timothy 3:15-17)
I do know this, the ways of the world may change but Gods words never will. Developing a relationship with and finding a friend in the Savior, and feast upon God’s words in your heart. Doing this WILL remove the darkness and light your path. I’m at QVC today, I think I’ll pick up an oil lamp to start a new collection, and place it on my bookshelf to remind me that even in our darkest hours, we can find light through the word of God. 😘💋
Have a #Happy #Sunday and would love to know what your favorite scripture is. 📖 😘💋
