Guiding Light

One very special Christmas gift – specially painted by Steph, for us to hang at Cornerstones, is now in place.

It reminded me of an old story…

The evangelist D L Moody told this tale;

On a dark, stormy, night, when the waves rolled like mountains, and not a star was to be seen, a boat, rocking and plunging, neared the Cleveland harbour. “Are you sure this is Cleveland?” asked the captain, seeing only one light from the lighthouse.

“Quite sure, sir,” replied the pilot.

“Where are the lower lights?”

“Gone out, sir.”

“Can you make the harbour?”

“We must, or perish, sir!”

And with a strong hand and a brave heart, the old pilot turned the wheel. But alas, in the darkness he missed the channel, and with a crash upon the rocks the boat was shivered, and many a life lost in a watery grave.

Then he turned to the congregation and said “Brethren, the Master will take care of the great lighthouse: let us keep the lower lights burning!”

His sermon inspired this hymn

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy from His lighthouse evermore,

But to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.

Dark the night of sin has settled, loud the angry billows roar;

Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights, along the shore.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother, some poor sailor tempest tossed,

Trying now to make the harbour, in the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor struggling, sinking sailor you may rescue, you may save

Christians are called to shed the light of God’s love in this dark world – thanks for the beautiful reminder Steph!