As we enter the winter season thoughts of a white Christmas come to mind and we are reminded of the words of Isaiah: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..." (Isaiah 1:18). This is the reason we celebrate Christmas. This is the very reason our Heavenly Father sent His one and only Son into the world:  to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, to provide for forgiveness for our sins, to wash us "whiter than snow" (reference Psalm 51:7). The Lord wants to purify us, to make us holy, and to set us on a lampstand so that our lives will radiate His wondrous light of salvation to the world!

This past week we have taken time out of our busy schedules to refocus on what this season is all about: Jesus Christ; and to recommit ourselves and rededicate our family to the higher and holier purposes of God. He has chosen us to be "the light of the world," and has provided us the gift of His Holy Spirit to keep our flame burning brightly so we will radiate His light and love in the world.  May we remain close to His eternal flame so that our oil will not run dry, as we remain watchful and ready for His return (Matthew 25:1-13)! 

Thank you for taking part in this journey. This rededication journey has provided us an opportunity to consecrate our hearts more fully to the Lord as we come to the close of this year, and to prepare our hearts to offer the firstfruits of the New Year to the Lord with a deeper desire for greater intimacy with Him; and as we continue to answer His call to "humble [our]selves and pray" (2 Chronicles 7:14) for the revival of the hearts of all God's children and the salvation of all men.  As you look to the New Year you may choose to continue your journey the day after Christmas with the Epiphany - a twelve days of Christmas journey of revelation that will lead us into the New Year with eyes fixed on our coming King!  Visit www.trumpetandtorch.org for this free online journey (click on the Scroll Room Devotional Library button and scroll over for the Epiphany journey). May your Christmas be blessed and filled with love! Keep radiating for Him!

LIGHTING THE CANDLE

Dedication Ceremony

We've come to the final night of the candle lighting ceremony in our "Festival of Lights" journey.  Tonight we will add to our dedication ceremony by asking each person to read a portion of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 as they light their candle. The head of household will first light the "servant" candle, representative of the Holy Spirit of God, and read 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:1, "And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."  The "servant" candle will then be passed to the first participant, saying to them,

"You are the light of the world."

The first person will then light the new eighth candle and say,

"Love is patient, love is kind."

The ceremony will proceed as each participant hands the "servant" candle to the next person, saying, "You are the light of the world," with each participant continuing to read through the love chapter, as follows:

7^th candle:  "Love does not envy, love does not boast, love is not proud"

6^th candle:    "Love is not rude, love is not self-seeking"

5^th candle:    "Love is not easily angered, love keeps no record of wrongs"

4^th candle:   "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth"

3^rd candle:  "Love always protects, love always trusts"

2^nd candle: "Love always hopes, love always perseveres"

1^st candle:   "Love never fails."

Our journey with God begins and ends with love (reference 1 John 4:7-21) "God is love" (vv. 8, 16). He calls those who believe in Him to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" and to continue in His love to "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37, 39). God's gift is love and it is meant to be cultivated and shared as the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit of God enables and empowers us to produce spiritual fruit that will satisfy a spiritually starved world. As we have watched each new candle become ignited through the flame of the "servant" candle, we have witnessed how "God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us" (Romans 5:5); and how vital it is that we "remain in Him" so that His light is magnified in our lives, illuminating this dark world with His love, and transforming the hearts of man for the Glory of God. As the last candle is ignited, signifying the fruit of SELF-CONTROL, may we become aware of how urgent the hour is and how little time we have to waste on any other pursuit than answering the call to be the "light of the world!"

PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT

 Devotional

 Read the following devotional to your family.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is...self-control" (Galatians 5:23). 

All of the candles on our lampstand are now lit. What began with one simple flame has spread to ignite many, filling this room with brilliant light and warmth. The Hanukkah Menorah has provided for us a beautiful portrait of what it means for a believer to remain in Christ as it has illustrated the resulting power and fruit that is produced from a life surrendered to the will of God. "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me" (John 15:4).

The fruit the Holy Spirit of God has produced in our lives has been put on display so all the world would see, and be drawn to, the light of Christ. It is for His glory alone that we have been given the indwelling gift of His Holy Spirit to guard us and to guide us along the path of His illuminating Word. The Word of God is the critical and vital key to keep the flame of passion, that was ignited in us through the love of God, kindled, and to become a productive source of light that will yield lasting fruit that will nourish the spiritually starved world. 

This last candle that is lit, the fruit of self-control, is the fruit of restraint and vigilance. The production of this necessary fruit equips the believer, through the increased intake of the knowledge of God's Word, to recognize the seriousness of their calling as a torch-bearer of Christ, and the importance of being diligent so that God's purposes will be fulfilled in the world. 

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'no' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good."

(Titus 2:12-14)

As the days grow darker, evil more prevalent, and the love of most begins to grow cold (reference Matthew 24:12; 2 Timothy 3:3-5) the Lord calls His children to "be self-controlled and alert," realizing the enemy is working overtime to extinguish our flame. "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (1 Peter 5:8-9). The enemy desires to keep us distracted by tempting us with worldly and fleshly pursuits (not all of them evil, but not all of them purposeful for building the kingdom). It is important to keep our minds prepared for action; to be self-controlled (reference 1 Peter 1:13) so that we will not have to always be on the defensive when the enemy attacks, instead investing our time proactively radiating the light of Christ. When Gideon went to battle, the Lord equipped his army with the unlikely weapons of a trumpet and torch; confident the Lord would give them victory, they went out proclaiming their trust in God with their obedience, and then lifting His light as a banner for all to see the power and glory of God (reference Judges 7). The Lord's plan for victory remains the same today as it has been in many battles before (reference Joshua 6; 2 Chronicles 20); He will provide the power we need, through His Holy Spirit, to keep our lamp burning brightly until the whole world is filled with His light and love!  

Remember, "You are the light of the world!" Remain in the Lord and He will remain in you; and He will take great pleasure in setting you, His faithful and obedient servant, high on a lampstand so that His light will radiate through you captivating the world for the glory of God! 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, "You are resplendent with light" (Psalm 76:4). "I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths...O LORD, my God, I called to your for help and you healed me...Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise His holy name. For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever" (Psalm 30:1, 2, 4-5, 11-12). How blessed we are to walk in the light of Your love. You laid down Your royal robes that we might be clothed in Your glorious garment of light. May we acknowledge the seriousness of our call as Your ambassadors of light that our lives would be a beautiful reflection of Your glory until the whole world is covered in a blanket of Your glorious light!  Thank You for fanning into flame the presence of Your Holy Spirit within us, through Your Holy Word, so we will radiate Your light more brilliantly in this dark world. "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" (Revelation 5:13b).  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

BLESSING 

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another"

John 1:16

The Lord has given us a great privilege of teaching and training the next generation to carry the torch of Christ that will radiate His light in this world. One of the most effective ways of "disciplining" those who are younger in the faith is through the example we set for them. When we exemplify a life of self-control and temperance we provide a platform that is above reproach, instilling a desire in others to emulate our walk. "He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it" (Titus 1:8). 

As we come our time of blessing, we recognize that we do not have to stop here. We can continue this new tradition every week, or every day, as we continue to teach and train our children to walk in the way, the truth, and the life of the Lord (reference John 14:6). As we bless our families may we fill them with the nourishing Word of God and provide them the fuel necessary to radiate as brilliant lights for the Lord. 

You may choose to continue to use the framework of the priestly blessing provided in Numbers 6:24-26 to bless the members of your household, expanding the blessing to include other promises from God's Word that are specific to the needs of your children, spouse, or other family members.

"The LORD  bless you and keep you;

the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the LORD  turn His face toward you

and give you peace."

To perform the blessing the head of the household places their hands on the head, or on the shoulders, of each child, spouse, or family member (one at a time), and recites the priestly blessing over them (you can hold hands if you prefer). 

A Special Gift:

A special and unique way to share our prayers and blessings for our friends and family this Christmas is to write a prayer of blessing for them in a card or letter, and place them in our loved ones stocking, a gift box, or envelope for them to read and be blessed with on Christmas day. Additionally, you may choose to look up the meaning of the names of your children and write Scriptures that will encourage them to live up to the name they have been given (you may want to use their middle and last name also). Of all the gifts we will give that will wear out, break, and be lost in the coming weeks and months ahead, the gift of encouragement that has been wrapped in the powerful Word of God will provide a lasting present with eternal benefits!

Be blessed! 

PRAISE & WORSHIP

"Praise the LORD.  How good it is to sing praises to our God,

how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!"

Psalm 147:1

After lighting the Hanukkah Menorah and reciting a blessing, Jewish families will continue their celebration by singing songs. You might choose to close tonight's celebration by singing one of your family's favorite Christmas carols or "O Holy Night."

Note: The candles are meant to only stay lit for a half hour. Be sure to extinguish the flame each night.

The Festival of Lights:  Put on the Armor of Light   © 2009, Traci A. Alexander

Trumpet and Torch Ministries    www.trumpetandtorch.org