<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br><br><div dir="ltr">Reverend Dr. Carolyn Peters,National Federation of the Blind, Vice President Ohio, President Ohio Com. of Faith, 937–6 57–5134,<div>Dr.Carolyn.peters@gmail. com</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> "Marilyn Baldwin via groups.io" <commmdb=aol.com@groups.io><br><b>Date:</b> January 6, 2023 at 7:03:26 AM EST<br><b>To:</b> Nfbfl-faith@groups.io<br><b>Cc:</b> Tish Kooper <tkoop35@gmail.com>, Charlotte Campbell <charmondv11@gmail.com>, Karolyn Campbell <karolyncampbell20@gmail.com>, "Kelly J." <kellyjo124@live.com>, rhonda.randolph0907@gmail.com, John L Williams <jwjwlliiams775@gmail.com>, silamiller <silamiller@comcast.net>, Tom Anderson <tanderson81452@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[nfbfl-faith] MFwd: Epiphany Devotion 1.6.2023</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> nfbfl-faith@groups.io<br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">Today we celebrate Epiphany, the visit from the Wise Men to Jesus. Thank God for the birth of His Son for all people. <div><br></div><div>Marilyn Baldwin </div><div>Chairman </div><div>Communities of Faith Committee </div><div>NFBF </div><div><br><br><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> "The Florida-Georgia District, LCMS" <kkeene@flgadistrict.org>P<b>rth oPpDate:</b> January 6, 2023 at 6:01:03 AM EST<br><b>To:</b> commmdb@aol.com<br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Epiphany Devotion 1.6.2023</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> kkeene@flgadistrict.org<br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<div id="preheader" style="color: transparent; display: none; font-size: 1px; line-height: 1px; max-height: 0px; max-width: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden;"><span data-entity-ref="preheader">Let Your Light Shine So That...</span></div> <div id="tracking-image" style="color: transparent; display: none; font-size: 1px; line-height: 1px; max-height: 0px; max-width: 0px; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden;"><img src="https://r20.rs6.net/on.jsp?ca=5aae6995-d3fa-4855-86fc-80e15a3e07d4&a=1129473950623&c=f3f27626-6d28-11ea-8a8c-d4ae52a68661&ch=f3f54612-6d28-11ea-8a8c-d4ae52a68661" alt="" data-unique-identifier=""></div> <div class="shell" lang="en-US" style="background-color: #284fa1;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]> <v:background xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" fill="t"> <v:fill type="tile" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/f93c4e9f601/552f8e42-3402-443c-ab26-72720b870ea5.jpg?rdr=true" color="#284fa1"/> </v:background> <![endif]--> <table class="shell_panel-row" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background: url('https://files.constantcontact.com/f93c4e9f601/552f8e42-3402-443c-ab26-72720b870ea5.jpg?rdr=true') no-repeat center top / cover;" background="https://files.constantcontact.com/f93c4e9f601/552f8e42-3402-443c-ab26-72720b870ea5.jpg?rdr=true"> <tbody><tr class=""> <td class="shell_panel-cell" style="" align="center" valign="top"> <table class="shell_width-row scale" style="width: 680px;" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="shell_width-cell" style="padding: 15px 10px;" align="center" valign="top"> <table class="shell_content-row" width="100%" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="shell_content-cell" style="border-radius: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; padding: 0; border: 0px solid #3c245e;" align="center" valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <table class="layout layout--1-column" style="table-layout: fixed;" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="column column--1 scale stack" style="width: 100%;" align="center" valign="top">
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<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0;" align="justify"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(37, 141, 35); text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">Advent Theme: "</span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(37, 141, 35); text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">So That's!" </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(37, 141, 35); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">We live in a day when nearly half of all Americans truly don’t know why we celebrate Christmas. It is with that in mind that I chose our theme: "The Great…So That’s!” Throughout the Scriptures that phrase “so that” shows up numerous times. I have discovered that when it does, it is like a billboard flashing a message that reads, “Listen carefully!" So, I pray that between now and Epiphany, you will listen and take to heart the Lord’s great “so that’s!” </span><span style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(37, 141, 35); font-weight: bold;">President Rockey</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0;" align="center"><span style="color: rgb(40, 79, 161); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Today's devotion is written by:</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0;" align="center"><a href="mailto:jrockey@flgadistrict.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(40, 79, 161); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; font-style: normal;">Rev. James H. Rockey, President, Florida-Georgia District, LCMS</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0;" align="center"><span style="color: rgb(40, 79, 161);">Orlando, FL</span></p>
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<table class="image image--mobile-scale image--mobile-center" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="image_container" align="center" valign="top"> <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001wxdBu-dYgyG2hSpLoVcIK6ELt4v3T14O3qTsungUhIaKhI4K19S-pOXk4Wjdc11uKVDETa9geRpwoln0MSY7o1IMSmZLP6Q9sGmv8o9K8IKf5IcMPmXUcGQhvAtli11tdJy7yzCueDiC9TPnDr0CWjswA1MkAV6zKEU2nGuoZci3DExSOR-4ABem6L5ncdqyJZ-ie0dK3F2wJU3CipDiT4TAeCv1ml7j&c=i_9S3b8vsX6v5Vdhq83HxAumJ8yG5dVq6iXjekPi_5PYrlzEkDVNoQ==&ch=oflUQrbWZS-19XjSpLkUddzUepf-vO02gHBXUg-Kw3JEoEhfYIPqow==" data-trackable="true"><img data-image-content="" class="image_content" width="69" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/f93c4e9f601/e854970a-f035-4403-93fd-b56293a71060.png?rdr=true" alt="" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" data-unique-identifier=""></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="text text--padding-vertical" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout: fixed;"> <tbody><tr> <td class="text_content-cell content-padding-horizontal" style="text-align: center; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #171717; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; display: block; word-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px;" align="center" valign="top"><div><div><span style="font-size: 12px; color: rgb(41, 75, 147); font-weight: bold;">Click above to listen to an audio version read by the author.</span></div></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td class="column column--3 scale stack" style="width: 33%;" align="center" valign="top">
<table class="text text--padding-vertical" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout: fixed;"> <tbody><tr> <td class="text_content-cell content-padding-horizontal" style="text-align: center; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #171717; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; display: block; word-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px 10px 0px;" align="center" valign="top"><div><div><span style="font-size: 12px; color: rgb(41, 75, 147); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Click below to read the theme verse on Bible Gateway.</span></div></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="image image--mobile-scale image--mobile-center" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="image_container" align="center" valign="top"> <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001wxdBu-dYgyG2hSpLoVcIK6ELt4v3T14O3qTsungUhIaKhI4K19S-pOXk4Wjdc11upLaG5Ntg9qGMyXBPVEVJQsebSD8oONxynmUgbSrBpYXuotUouM-SsTmGf7s0rp3f7TFNsiyg1eOtBvtcNdQAolYVkj8cqyNVQ9eFcTAR1B-OX4BRStiHL8b5-9-bJrSh2OF2L3lTHOEXYomIpvba7H_8sMlv9B13N8Mrh8D28AI=&c=i_9S3b8vsX6v5Vdhq83HxAumJ8yG5dVq6iXjekPi_5PYrlzEkDVNoQ==&ch=oflUQrbWZS-19XjSpLkUddzUepf-vO02gHBXUg-Kw3JEoEhfYIPqow==" data-trackable="true"><img data-image-content="" class="image_content" width="116" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/f93c4e9f601/b119f237-66a4-4c3c-a5c6-5b327a80f6a2.jpg?rdr=true" alt="" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" data-unique-identifier=""></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="layout layout--1-column" style="table-layout: fixed;" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr></tr> </tbody></table> <table class="layout layout--1-column" style="table-layout: fixed;" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="column column--1 scale stack" style="width: 100%;" align="center" valign="top">
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<table class="text text--padding-vertical" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout: fixed;"> <tbody><tr> <td class="text_content-cell content-padding-horizontal" style="text-align: center; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #171717; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2; display: block; word-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" align="center" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0;"><span style="font-size: 16px; color: rgb(40, 79, 161); text-decoration: underline; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Let Your Light Shine So That...</span></p></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="text text--padding-vertical" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout: fixed;"> <tbody><tr> <td class="text_content-cell content-padding-horizontal" style="line-height: 1; text-align: left; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #171717; font-size: 14px; display: block; word-wrap: break-word; padding: 10px 20px;" align="left" valign="top">
<table class="image image--float-right scale image--mobile-scale image--mobile-center" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="mso-table-lspace: 5.75pt;"> <tbody><tr> <td class="image_spacer hide" width="15" height="1" align="center" valign="top" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="" width="15" height="1" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" data-unique-identifier=""> </td> <td class="image_container scale stack" align="right" valign="" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"> <img data-image-content="" class="image_content" width="112" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/f93c4e9f601/552f8e42-3402-443c-ab26-72720b870ea5.jpg?rdr=true" alt="" style="display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" data-unique-identifier=""> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="image_spacer hide" width="5" height="5" align="center" valign="top" style="height: 1px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="" width="5" height="1" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" data-unique-identifier=""> </td> <td class="image_spacer_bottom hide" height="5" align="center" valign="top" style="height: 5px; line-height: 1px; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="" width="1" height="5" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif" data-unique-identifier=""> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text: Matthew 4:12 - 16</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-weight: bold; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">Leaving Nazareth, (Jesus) went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— so that what was said through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled…"the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (ESV)</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">In the same way, let your light shine before other</span><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">s, </span><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5: 16</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0;" align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know it’s easier than we might think for people to know where we’ve been or what we’ve been doing? When the kid with chocolate all across his face says he doesn’t know who ate the last piece of cake, he isn’t fooling anyone. We know what he’s been up to. Maybe it’s the smell of BBQ on your clothes, the receipt that falls out of your pocket, or maybe it’s your knowledge of a certain sport or team, but there are clues that tell others what we’ve been up to. In fact, over time people perceive deeper things as well. Because the truth is, whether we are aware of it or not, what and who we spend our time with changes us. </span></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0;" align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, let me ask you, “What have you been doing? Who or what has left a mark on you? What do you reflect?” And more specifically, would anyone think you’ve been with the Lord? Do you show signs of having been in His presence or in His Word? Are you being conformed to his image or another’s? </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I’ve reflected on my life this week, at times I felt good and at other times quite convicted. Thankfully, despite our sin and struggles, we are always invited to spend time with God, and when we do…we are not only blessed by His love & mercy, but reflect His glory in our lives. When it comes to us living as God’s witnesses and Light, I am reminded that in truth, we can’t really share His love fully without first experiencing His love. For as the Apostle John wrote, “We love because He first loved us.”</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Consider also Exodus 34 when God gave Moses the 10 Commandments.</span><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. (Ex 34:29)</span><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This isn’t just figurative language. The Hebrew says that the very “skin” of Moses’ face was radiant when he came down the mountain. Why? Because he had been with the Lord. His face glowed with light. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this point, you may be tempted to think, “How am I supposed to shine like Moses did?” But the truth is that if you know Jesus, you have witnessed glory that Moses never saw. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3: </span><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">“</span><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Now if the ministry… carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory…will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?” </span><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">(2 Cor. 3:7-8). </span><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9);">Today, on this Epiphany Festival Day, we celebrate that Christ came for the glory of His people Israel and as a Light unto the Gentiles – to us & all people! His light shined forth with the glory of the Father. YET – as His people we who have been in His presence now reflect that light! We are called to be His witnesses…His light in this dark world. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes at night the moon really catches my attention with its light. Yet sometimes I look and can’t find it. In truth, the moon is radiant only when it is in the right position to receive the light of the sun. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s the way it is with us as well. Our lives are filled with light as we are in relationship with the Lord – as we are in His Light. Then our faces and very lives will be radiant. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years when I’ve led mission trips, they are more than us just “going” and “building” or serving in some way. They begin with us spending time in the Light of the Lord. In the morning, we do Devotions & spend time in prayer. Then each night we spend time in God’s Word, worship & song. There we grow personally & together. We then go out radiating the Light of Christ through our words, service & sharing the joy of the Lord’s salvation.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0;"><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this Epiphany season we celebrate that Jesus came to be the Light of the world. YET, we are also reminded that He SENDS US! So let us continue to daily spend time in His presence </span><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">so that </span><span style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">we then go and reflect the light of Christ! AMEN</span></p>
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