{"id":65,"date":"2019-12-04T13:09:22","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T13:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wordpress-2399\/hope-when-light-gets-in-your-soul"},"modified":"2020-11-04T22:01:41","modified_gmt":"2020-11-04T22:01:41","slug":"hope-when-light-gets-in-your-soul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onehopecanada.ca\/fr\/hope-when-light-gets-in-your-soul\/","title":{"rendered":"Hope: When Light Gets In Your Soul"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“Something about the light perpetuates hope, even as the world tries hard to squash those burning embers before they can flame.”<\/h2>

By Kelly Rempel, One Hope Canada<\/p>

{Read on for six FREE kid-friendly Advent resources!}<\/strong><\/h2>

\"\"When you\u2019re struggling to untangle that crazy string of lights for your Christmas tree, consider the number 640,215.<\/p>

That\u2019s the Guinness record-breaking number of bulbs blazing at a holiday display this year at a home in Lagrangeville, New York. (They also use almost 13 kilometres of extension cords!).\u00a0<\/p>

Not quite bright enough? You could pack up your passport and head to Colombia where the annual Medellin Christmas Lighting Festival will feature 27 million sparkling LED lights. That\u2019s a lot of twinkle!<\/p>

There is something about the light that fascinates us, holds us captive, makes us slow down and take a second look, from the smallest spark to fireworks bursting overhead.<\/p>

Something about the light perpetuates hope, even as the world tries hard to squash those burning embers before they can flame.<\/p>

Long before LED bulbs were even a whisper of an idea the prophet Isaiah wrote about the power of light. \u201cNevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever,\u201d he wrote. \u201cGalilee of the Gentiles…will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in the land of deep darkness, a light will shine.\u201d (Is. 9:1-2).<\/p>

The people of Isaiah\u2019s time had turned their backs on God and were sinking into despair; it was easier to default to the \u201cland of deep darkness.\u201d Sounds familiar, doesn\u2019t it? It\u2019s something that we–that our children–experience every day, even thousands of years later. Sometimes, we don\u2019t even notice we\u2019re in the dark until the light shines in our eyes and we blink in surprise.<\/p>

What better time than the weeks leading up to Christmas to turn our hearts back to the light, back toward hope? Back to the wonder of the baby in the manger who grew to save the world?<\/p>

About 700 years after Isaiah\u2019s prophecy, Jesus declared, \u201cI am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won\u2019t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.\u201d
(John 8:12)<\/h2><\/blockquote>

The land of deep darkness; the light that leads to life. It is a great dichotomy. But it is also a choice. Jesus says \u201cif you follow<\/em>\u201d. The choice is up to us. We don\u2019t have to stay in the darkness. We can turn and let the Light into our very souls. Jesus is that \u201cOne Hope\u201d not just for Canada, but for the entire world.<\/p>

That is the message, the Gospel, the good news that we are passionate to share! Thousands of children, youth and families yearn for just a glimmer to show them there is a way out of the land of deep darkness. How will you share the Light this Christmas?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

*****<\/p>

Check out these free Advent resources to share with kids and families this Christmas as we celebrate the good news of Jesus, the light of the world!<\/strong><\/h3>