The Volume 22 Issue 3 May-June 2020
Shining Light®
The Lighthouse Inside There’s a great and mighty lighthouse Its light rays shining bright. It guides the vessels on the water With its powerful beams in the night! Eddystone As a city on the hilltop Lighthouse Can’t be hidden from our view, Page 2 So the lighthouse, shining brightly Is a light that’s shining true!
Even so, we as children, May shine though life’s dark sea; Self-made Barriers There’s work to be done; souls to save Page 5 For even you and me! Abigail Wall (Age 11)
Go to the Ant Page 7 The Eddystone Lighthouse Sis. Agnes Anselm
At the English coast about fourteen miles south of no one imagined the outcome of that terrible storm of Plymouth’s shores is one of the deadliest reefs, a row of the century. The keeper of the lighthouse sent word to hidden rocks below the surface of the sea. It is called Henry Winstanley that he was worried about the tower’s the “Widow Maker” because many women lost their ability to stand another storm. Winstanley got ready to husbands at this reef. It was the age of sailing, and in go to his lighthouse once again. Although everyone told 1695 alone as many as fifty ships a year were wrecked on him to stay on the shore, he said, “I built the lighthouse the Eddystone Reef because they had no modern navi- and I am in charge of it.” There's no thrill in easy sailing, gation instruments. Hundreds of sailors lost their lives, The storm was already increasing in intensity, and and legends of the deadly it looked very dangerous. reef spread all along the coast. The candles in the lighthouse When the sky is clear and blue. But in the early summer were burning out and urgent- of 1696, a man named Henry ly needed to be replaced. So Winstanley took the challenge Winstanley got into the boat. to tame that killer reef and to “If a ship passes by this night There's no joy in merely doing build the first lighthouse on it. in this storm, it will wreck for It took him three trouble-filled sure if the candles stop burn- years to build it, and it looked ing. I have to go,” he thought. impossible. Just to get to the The storm became stron- Things which anyone can do. reef was a dangerous jour- ger and stronger. Before the ney in a little boat that took morning sun rose, it had the men 6-7 hours through swept the lighthouse away But there is some fulfillment strong currents. Once there, it into the sea, and most of the was not even easy to get onto houses in Plymouth were also the reef! But Winstanley was gone. Many people died that determined, and he kept on night in Plymouth. But there That is mighty sweet to take, working through all the dif- was a ship that safely reached ficulties, cheering on his men the haven because Winstan- through the entire project. ley kept the candles burning Finally, on November 14, in his lighthouse until he was When you reach a destination, 1698, Henry Winstanley was swept away. Hundreds of able to climb up to his lan- souls that otherwise would tern room and light the first candle that was to shine on have drowned in the cold water were saved because of You thought you couldn't make. the Eddystone Reef! And so the world’s first lighthouse the light. was lit! This was a very exciting event for all the people. After this storm, the people realized that Winstanley They swarmed to Plymouth and looked through their had been right, and they built another lighthouse on the telescopes to catch a glimpse of the light. They called Eddystone Reef. The second one is long gone too, but him a hero, whereas before he was called a madman for one can still see the base of the third lighthouse, and a even trying to do it! Winstanley’s work was not in vain. fourth one has been built next to it. It is not as beautiful In the next five years not one single ship was lost on as the one Winstanley had built, but it fulfills the same the Eddystone Reef because of the burning light of the purpose–keeping ships safe from that deadly reef. lighthouse. Winstanley himself traveled back and forth What an amazing true story! Let your light shine all many times to make repairs on his lighthouse. the time, even when hard times come. You never know But then in 1703, a terrible storm approached, and who will pass by and be saved!
The Shining Light*** Page 2 THE SHINING LIGHT Subsidiary of The Gospel Trumpet
Editor: Sis. Christine Thilmony Please direct correspondence to:
The Shining Light P.O. Box 1139 Greenville, OH 45331 E-mail: [email protected]
The Shining Light is operated under the authority of the general ministerial body of the Church of God.
Henry Winstanley (1644–1703) was an English painter and engineer who con- structed the first Eddystone lighthouse after losing two ships on the Eddystone rocks. He died while working on the proj- ect during the Great Storm of 1703.
The Shining Light*** Page 3 School Is Fun!
The Shining Light*** Page 4 Self-Made Barriers
A self-made barrier is something that probably quite a few of us face. It may seem a little strange to us that someone would make for himself or put for himself a barrier or wall in the way to keep him from doing well! Many people want to do good things for Jesus like shouting, praying out, and testifying, but they can’t get them- selves to do it because they have a self-made barrier in the way, and they can’t seem to surmount the wall.
They give excuses like: “I can’t” or “it’s not for me” or “they will laugh at me.” It’s not that someone is holding them back or holding them down, but they themselves are adding another stone to the barrier with each excuse. “I’m afraid,” “I don’t know how,” “I’m not sure,” “I don’t trust myself—I might make a mistake” are some more examples of self-made barriers.
All these barriers are really very foolish because the saints are behind you, and if you do make a mistake, the saints are willing to forgive! The devil laughs with glee when he sees you are surrounded with barriers because it will hinder and stop you from serving God as you should. So let’s quickly break down any barriers that surround us and go forward for Jesus. He deserves our service!
Sis. Rebecca Neufeld
TheThe Shining Shining Light*** Light*** Page Page 5 5 Make a Difference! Sis. Rachel Bontrager
In 2020, the world we live in is so dark that even the smallest burning candle will make a difference. The time of wondering if there is something for you to do is past. There is so much sadness, confu- sion, and suffering on all sides that even the youngest child who can give a sweet smile will be sure to touch somebody’s heart. Dear child, you can forever bury the idea that you are not worth much, or that there is nothing that you can do. If you can preach, preach! If you can sing, by all means sing your heart out every chance you get! But if you cannot preach or sing, can you pray? Can you just lift your eyes off of yourself, look around, and notice who needs some love? Look for opportunities, whether big or small. You may wonder who it is you should reach out to. The answer is anybody who needs it. Look around in your own home. Maybe you could lift your mother’s load by offering to wash the dishes, or by being a peacemaker between your brothers and sisters. Maybe you could help a struggling, younger sibling. If you are in service or at school, look around. Do you see someone who is lonely or troubled? If you see a child who seems to have a hard time fitting in, make sure they feel included in your circle of friends. Perhaps you could encourage an older person by praying with them, or by telling them how much you appreciate their example. If you get the opportunity to go to town with your mother, or you go with the saints to do outreach, once again, look around. Notice all the sad and lonely people. Notice those who go to great extremes in hopes of drawing attention from somebody. They are craving love. You don’t have to preach them a message. Smile at them. Show them you love and care about them by waving, or by talking to them if you can. Perhaps it is difficult to know exactly what to talk about, but you can make an effort to find out what interests them. Sometimes just listening to somebody and letting them talk shows them that you really care. There is something that each one of you can do. Look around you every day, and seize every opportu- nity to be a blessing to those around you.
The Shining Light*** Page 6 Go to the Ant
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” We have heard this often, and many of you would know this verse by heart. Here is another verse: “Go to the ant thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” I want you to think about the ant. How big is an ant? And think deeper. How big is an ant’s brain? It’s not very big. For a large ant, it would be about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Now, think about your brain. It’s pretty big, and very big in comparison to the ant’s brain. The Bible says that the ant doesn’t need anybody to tell it to work. The ant has no ruler, and it doesn’t need one. It sees what needs to be done, and just does it. If the ant does that, how much more should you? You should much, much more. Whatever you see to do, just do it. If you can do it, you probably should without someone having to come tell you. Perhaps your little sibling made a mess and spilled the whole toy box. You might think, “I’ll just wait until Mom comes in and sees the big mess. If she tells me to pick them up, I will then.” However, it would be best to pick up the toys before your mom ever even sees them. I am sure you can think of many other examples! You will be a great blessing to those around you if you learn from the ant and do as it does!
Sis. Cynthia Pamer
The Shining Light*** Page 7 The Secret
“Mother,” said a girl of ten years of age, “I want to know the secret of your going away alone every night and morning.” “Why, my child?” “Because it must be to see someone you love very much.” “And what makes you think so?” “Because I have always noticed that when you come back, you appear to be more happy than usual.” “Well, suppose I do go to see a friend I do love very much, and that after seeing him and conversing with him, I am more happy than before, why should you wish to know anything about it?” “Because I wish to do as you do, that I may be happy also.” “Well, my child, when I leave you in the morning and evening, it is to see my blessed Savior. I go to pray to Him. I ask Him for His grace to make me happy and holy. I ask Him to assist me in all the duties of the day, especially to keep me from committing any sin against Him, and above all, I ask Him to have mercy on your soul and to save you from the ruin of those who go down to hell.” “Oh! That is the secret,” said the child, “then I must go with you.”
Reprinted from The Children’s Friend, 1841