how the light gets in

by Andrea Smithberger
how the light gets in
  • November 1: Honoring
  • Day 2: Signaling
  • Day 3: Revealing
  • DAY 4: Reminding
  • Day 5: Reflecting
  • Day 6: Changing
  • Day 7: Surrounding
  • Day 8: Healing
  • Day 9: Filtering
  • Day 10: Spreading
  • Day 11: Unveiling
  • Day 12: Distinguishing
  • Day 13: Challenging
  • Day 14: Nourishing
  • Day 15: Unassuming
  • Day 16: Leading
  • Day 17: Delighting
  • Day 18: Reaching
  • Day 19: Shining
  • Day 20: Reviving
  • Day 21: Growing
  • Day 22: Comforting
  • Day 23: Holding Space
  • Day 24: Beckoning
  • Day 25: Stunning
  • Day 26: Igniting
  • Day 28: Introducing
  • November 2020
  • Tag: Comforting

    • What if

      Posted at 1:03 pm by How the Light Gets In, on March 11, 2021

      If you’d rather listen, click here for What If

      How the light gets in is the name of this podcast and my blog but what we do here is so much more than taking in pretty sunrises and silver-lining type ideas. You know that though.

      Do you remember how we went looking for light back in November? If you don’t, go to the blog (it’s not super organized, sorry) but, there you’ll find a bunch of words ending in -ing.

      Those words represent a random idea that sort of hatched in the fall of 2020 – when the country was throbbing with growing racial tension, divisive politics and of course Covid. And, as if the world couldn’t feel dark enough; the actual amount of sunlight was going to be cut short starting November first. 

      Where I live, we set the clocks back an hour in the Fall for Daylight Saving Time.

      Watching the news, setting the clocks back and losing an hour of sun was just the push I needed to find the list.

      Then, we began what I thought would be a month long exploration of that list. As it would turn out, writing out all those verbs was a good exercise for my mind to be aware of all the ways I could think of. But on November First, when I started the self- assigned work, I quickly realized the words, the ways, the verses, the images, the memories would be put on my heart one light filled day at a time.

      Do I believe God put this assignment on my heart? Yes. Just stick with me.

      We took it one day at a time starting with the word Honoring on November 1. The next day was Signaling, then Revealing, Reminding, Reflecting, Changing, Surrounding, Healing, Filtering, Spreading, Unveiling… For each word, I would look for a picture to go with it and a scripture or share a lesson I’d learned.

      It didn’t take long for me to realize this work and the words were all leading to what I’ve come to learn about Jesus.

      I know you know I love Jesus but I promise this wasn’t supposed to be about anything other than looking for light.

      But it ended up being about so much more. And I think the work is beyond me, that it is for you too.

      It’s been a few months now since we wrapped it up. And, I’m feeling another tug. Maybe it’s because we’re about the change the clocks again. This time we will “Spring Forward” and set the clocks ahead an hour. While we are losing an hour of sleep, we are gaining more light. 

      In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden light.” 

      I’ve always thought Jesus was saying “my yoke is easy and my burden isn’t that heavy.” 

      But now, I’m wondering WHAT IF, what if Jesus is saying, “My yoke is easy and my burden is LIGHT.”  Reflecting, healing, honoring, nourishing, reaching, growing, comforting, unassuming, beckoning LIGHT.

      To me, Jesus is all those things. And after exploring all the ways the light gets in, I’m wondering what if He was saying “my burden is light.” It is hard, heavy, intentional work trying to reflect, hoping to honor, reaching out to comfort others.

      Jesus is light.

      Your burden is light- when you think about it; It feels like a great privilege and a great burden.

      According to the Farmers Almanac, the general idea behind Daylight Saving Time is that it allows us all to make better use of natural daylight. 

      So, how will YOU let the light in?

      There are so many different ways: Delighting, Leading, Challenging, Reaching, Igniting. The list on my messy blog is just the beginning. Jesus shows us.

      Your burden is light.

      Literally.

      Light is not easy. It can be heavy lifting these days. 

      In our world, at this time, where darkness is so heavy; what if you can look to Jesus and see how your burden is light?

      Posted in March 2021, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Beckoning, Burden is Light, Challenging, Changing, Comforting, Delighting, Distinguishing, Filtering, growing, healing, Holding Space, HONORING, How the Light Gets In, Igniting, introducing, Jesus, leading, Matthew 11:30, Nourishing, Reaching, Reflecting, reminding, Revealing, Reviving, Shining, signaling, Spreading, Stunning, surrounding, Unassuming, Unveiling
    • Day 28: Introducing

      Posted at 9:01 am by How the Light Gets In, on November 28, 2020

      I feel ready now. You should too. For 27 days, we’ve been looking for how the light gets in. Our hearts and minds and eyes and ears have all been in training for the next step. And it starts tomorrow.

      Advent means “the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.” In other words, Advent is INTRODUCING the light.

      INTRODUCING

      Jesus.

      All along, the sunbursts, sunsets, candle glows, light switches; the way we looked for them and found them or they found us and were dependable and beautiful and magical and powerful and small and overwhelmingly huge – it was always leading us to Jesus.

      Advent is about honoring the God made man, King born as a baby. Advent tells us about the star in the night sky signaling to 3 wise men where to find the King of Kings. And when they followed it, they found their way through the dark and doubt to a manger revealing Jesus. Their story alone about following their heart and ancient writings reminding us that faith is more than a tradition but action too. Advent is a time for reflecting on how you’ve seen light these past few weeks and to keep that going. It takes 21 days to make a habit, we just went beyond that together. So, if you need to see more than a changing in your patterns, if you need a transformation; you can start now. This is the time of year to remember those words, “God so loved YOU that He sent His only Son.” It wasn’t enough that God would be an Old Testament tale, He sent Jesus for us. And he promises us to go ahead of us, surrounding us in our pasts, present and futures. We are human beings and life offers many ways to break us, doesn’t it? Those stories in the Gospels of Jesus healing hurt and broken people are true. He didn’t stop there. I am living testimony to that. He isn’t done. Jesus is the Peace filtering through the noise of the world with truth. The story of Jesus goes beyond the pages of an old book, spreading love for all. Cable networks pack on layer upon layer of lies, wrapped in their own spin. We are living in a culture determined to spread misinformation and cancel anything and everything. Why not use this season to turn the tv off for a bit and read through the story of Jesus? Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all offer their own perspective. Allow the details and differences to be an unveiling of the connection He wants with you. Through this month, together we’ve seen God’s word distinguishing, challenging and nourishing our hearts. To think that the same God who pushed up mountains and knows every star by name didn’t arrive in a robe, surrounded by lights, wielding a scepter but would come to save us through an unassuming baby… I mean. It’s that kind of gentle power I want leading my life. Do you remember my “banana butt” story? Our God is so old and powerful and real and here that He sees every detail of your life and mine, delighting in them to dazzle us. Jesus is God’s way of reaching us on this Earth. Jesus was both human and God. He came to give us an example of how to live. It is our holy obligation to keep shining His truth and light for ALL to see and feel welcome. You are made in God’s image. Therefore, if He is light, you are light. Do you know that? Do you own that? That should make you stand taller knowing you bear the image of a beautiful, spectacular God. So, image-bearer, use this time to read and hear more of God’s word for you, about you, over you. It’s time for your heart to start thumping with the reviving knowledge of who your God is. If this time of year is heavy for you, a friendship with Jesus might be just the comforting you need. Jesus is a master of holding space for you; only stepping in when you want, asking good questions and praying for you all the while. There is a calling for you to come closer. Jesus, the Light of the world, is beckoning for your heart. Can you hear Him? If it feels stunning, sit with it. Take a deep breath and let it all sink in, igniting the fire you were born to share. My gosh.

      Allow me to introduce Jesus.

      Blessing, Teaching, Listening, Loving, Defeating, Healing, Inspiring, LIVING

      Jesus.

      Posted in November 2020, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged Advent, Beckoning, Challenging, Changing, Comforting, Delighting, Distinguishing, Filtering, healing, Holding Space, HONORING, How the Light Gets In, Igniting, introducing, Jesus, leading, Light, Nourishing, Reaching, Reflecting, reminding, Revealing, Reviving, Shining, signaling, Spreading, Stunning, surrounding, Unassuming, Unveiling
    • Day 22: Comforting

      Posted at 8:23 am by How the Light Gets In, on November 22, 2020

      Day 22; Honey shows us how comforting the light can be.

      The old girl reminds me how warm and enveloping light feels. Every day she seeks out the brightest spot and basks in the warmth of it.

      COMFORTING

      Random transition here but – I used to think it was bad to write in my Bible. I thought it somehow disrespected the book or God. Or maybe I just thought it looked messy? Either way. My Bible was crisp and clean.

      Not anymore. Scriptures are underlined, highlighted and circled. There are dates and names scribbled all over it.

      To flip through my Bible and devotionals and read through it all is powerful for me. To then sit with the scriptures that held meaning in the moment feels like basking in comforting light.

      …this was a rough time

      I was bitter (and confused and angry) because of all we were going through as a family. I thought I’d been a good Christian and deserved a smooth life because of it.

      Oh, how much I’ve learned and am learning… God is not transactional. This world is broken. Just because I’m a good Jesus follower doesn’t guarantee an easy ride. God is all-powerful but still very present in the most precise of details in my own little life and I’ll never get over it.

      Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with whole hearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him. “Go back and tell Hezekiah this is what the Lord the God of your father David says, “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.”

      2 Kings 20:2-6

      I held onto that promise for another two years.

      Then there’s this. Haha.

      Lily’s scribbled inspiration circa 2016

      Find a cozy, quiet spot and read this from Isaiah 30:15-21.

      Find your strength today sitting in quiet stillness. Let the comforting truth that no matter which way you turn, an all-powerful God is beside you whispering the way to go.

      Posted in November 2020, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged 2 Kings 20:2-6, Bible, Comforting, Hezekiah, How the Light Gets In, Isaiah 30:15-21, Jesus Calling, Streams in the Desert

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