Tag Archives: Spring

Advent, Devotional

The Dawn of Redeeming Light

Leave a comment

Read John 1:1-14

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine” (Isaiah 9:2 NLT).

Image created by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of AI developed by Microsoft.

As someone who has always cherished both books and movies, I find immense joy when the two mediums come together in a meaningful and visually stunning way. My love for C.S. Lewis and his works, especially The Chronicles of Narnia, is profound. Lewis, along with his friend J.R.R. Tolkien, whose The Lord of the Rings series is another favorite of mine, has a unique way of weaving deep, spiritual truths into the fabric of fantasy. These stories are not just tales of adventure; they are rich with allegory and meaning that resonate with the themes of our faith.

In “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” Lewis introduces us to the magical world of Narnia through the eyes of four siblings: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. They discover this enchanted realm through a wardrobe in an old country house. Narnia, once a land of talking animals and mythical creatures, is trapped in an eternal winter under the tyrannical rule of the White Witch. The arrival of the children sets in motion a prophecy that signals the end of the Witch’s reign.

The theme of light overcoming darkness is central to both the Bible and this Narnian tale. In John 1:1-14, we see the profound declaration that Jesus is the Word, the Light of the world. This passage begins with the cosmic scope of creation, emphasizing that Jesus, the Word, was with God and was God from the very beginning. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

In Narnia, this light is personified by Aslan, the great lion and true king of Narnia. Aslan’s return brings hope to the oppressed Narnians, just as the coming of Christ brings hope to a world in darkness. The gradual thawing of Narnia’s winter as Aslan approaches mirrors the spiritual awakening that occurs when we encounter Christ in our lives.

One of the most powerful parallels occurs when Aslan sacrifices himself to save Edmund, who had betrayed his siblings to the White Witch. This selfless act reflects Christ’s sacrifice for humanity, paying the price for our sins. Just as Aslan rises again, breaking the “deep magic” that governs Narnia, Jesus’ resurrection conquers death and sin, offering us new life.

Isaiah 9:2 beautifully complements this theme, prophesying the coming of a great light to those living in darkness. This prophecy finds its fulfillment in Jesus, whose birth we celebrate during Advent. The imagery of light breaking through the darkness symbolizes hope and salvation, themes that are central to both the Advent season and Lewis’s beloved story.

Reflecting on these themes, we see that the light of Christ is not just a distant glow but a powerful force that changes everything it touches. John 1:14 states, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”. This verse encapsulates the miracle of Christmas: God becoming human to live among us, bringing light and life to all.

In our own lives, we often face seasons of darkness, times when hope seems distant, and the cold grip of despair feels unrelenting. Yet, the message of Advent, echoed in the story of Narnia, is that the light has come and continues to shine. Just as the arrival of Aslan brings spring to Narnia, melting away the long winter, Christ’s presence in our lives can thaw the coldest hearts and bring new life where there was once only darkness. Friends, behold! The King has come and the cold winter of sin and death is no more. Step into the light and feel Christ’s warm embrace.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Christ’s light has the power to transform our darkest seasons into periods of growth and renewal. Embrace God’s light and let it guide you towards hope.

PRAYER
Lord, may your light shine in our hearts, melting away our fears and doubts, and bringing the warmth of your love. Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.

Devotional

Summer of Love

Leave a comment

Read Matthew 22:1-14

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away” (Luke 15:7 NLT)!

Summer has always been a time I have looked forward to. As a child and teenager, summer meant that I was not in school and was free to stay up later than I could during the school year. As an adult, I long for Spring and Summer because those are the happiest times of the year for me. Let me reword that. I long for Spring and Summer because, during those seasons, I am the least depressed.

I am someone who has battled depression and anxiety my entire teenage and adult life. Perhaps I had it earlier than that; however, that is when I became aware of it. My depression and axiety are not gone during the Spring and Summer, heavens no. They’re both very much there; however, the warmth of Spring and the summer sun help to brighten my mood and make my days better than they are during the Fall and Winter.

It turns out that I not only do I have depression and anxiety, but I also have what is known as Season Affect Disorder (SAD), which is depressive disorder where the shorter days and lack of sunlight causes depression. For me, when Fall and Winter approach and the days get darker quicker, that causes my depression to be worse than it otherwise is.

So, as was aforementioned, I have always looked forward to Summer and it is durinng the summer that I get creative and have fun, especially in ministry. One such example of this is the current worship series that I am in the midst of, entitled, Summer of Love. During this series, we have explored what it means to be a part of God’s Kingdom. We learned about what it means to be loving friends, a loving community and even a loving family as a way of witnessing to the love of God as well as inviting more people into God’s Kingdom.

Pastor Todd “warming up” for Sunday Worship!

With a title such as Summer of Love, I had to do something fun and creative and, as far as I could see it, I could only really choose one theme: 60’s Hippies! I was going to decorate the santuary up like it were Woodstock minus some of the inappropriate elements. That means our sanctuary was beautified (in my humble opinion) by tie dye tapestries, wallflowers, peace signs and LAVA LAMPS! YES! We purchased two lava lamps and had them a-flowing during worship. As for me, check out the picture above and the one here as well. I was dressed like a hippie.

It has been maximum fun; however, it also has been a living testimony to the vibrant presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Reflecting on my own life and my own personal struggles, I must say that we can live our lives in a perpetual Summer of Love with the help of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is possible and God wants that for you and I.

How, you might ask? Well, by placing our faith and trust in Christ who promised we would never be left alone no matter where in the world we are! No matter your situation, no matter what season in life you are in (literal or metaphorical), Christ is with you and LOVES you. God has placed loving friends, community, and family around you. If you find that you are lacking those things, dig deep to see where they are in your life and also be open to God leading you to those things.

Once you realize God’s love for you, that’s HIGH that is hard to kill and certainly hard to contain. You will want to share that LOVE with others in ways that make them realize their inherent value in God. That is what God calls us to in Christ…to a perpetual summer of love where we are free to express that LOVE as creatively and joyfully we wish to! Friends, God has invited you to a never ending PARTY…who’s ready to join? See ya there!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“All we are saying is give [love] a chance.” – John Lennon, altered by Todd Lattig

PRAYER
Lord, help me to grow in your love so that I might bring others into your Kingdom. Amen.