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From the Pastor's Desk:
 
March 5, 2026 
 
 
Scripture Focus: KJV Ephesians 5:6-8: “6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)"

Dear Friends,

Living as “children of light” isn’t about perfection—it’s about direction. It’s about choosing, day by day, to walk toward what is true, good, and pure, even when it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes the light will expose things in us we’d rather keep hidden. But that’s part of the gift—it frees us from the weight of pretending.

I’ve been thinking lately about how easily shadows can feel like home. Not the kind of shadows cast by a tree on a summer afternoon, but the quiet, creeping kind — the ones that settle in our hearts when we grow used to living without much light. They can be comfortable in their own way, familiar even, because they ask nothing of us. They let us stay as we are.

Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:6-8 remind us that there was a time when we were darkness—not just surrounded by it; but shaped by it. That’s a sobering thought. Darkness isn’t only about doing wrong, it’s about being cut off from the warmth, clarity, and life that light brings. It’s about living without direction, without the steady glow that shows us where we’re going and who we’re meant to be.

But Paul doesn’t leave us in that place. He says that now that we are light in the Lord, we should walk as children of light. That’s not just a change in scenery, it’s a change in identity. We aren’t people carrying a flashlight through a dark world; we are the light, because Christ’s light has taken root in us.

I picture it like stepping out of a windowless room into the morning sun. At first, the brightness stings your eyes. You squint. You’re tempted to turn back to the dimness you knew, because it feels easier. But if you stay, your eyes adjust, and you begin to see colors you’d forgotten existed — greens that seem to breathe, blues that stretch endlessly, gold that warms your skin.

Walking as children of light isn’t about pretending the darkness never existed; t’s about remembering that it no longer defines us. It’s choosing honesty over half-truths, kindness over indifference, hope over cynicism. It’s letting the light we’ve received spill into the lives of others, even in small, ordinary ways: a word of encouragement, a patient ear, a quiet act of generosity.

And here’s the thing, light doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. A single candle can change the feel of an entire room. In the same way, the light of Christ in you can shift the atmosphere of your home, your workplace, your friendships. You may not always see the difference it makes, but light never leaves a place unchanged.

I encourage you to notice where the shadows still linger (in your thoughts, your habits, your relationships) and invite the light in. Not with guilt, but with gratitude. Because the One who called us out of darkness didn’t just hand us a lantern. He made us part of the light itself. And that means wherever you go, the darkness is already losing ground.

As you go through your week, I encourage you to ask yourself: “Does this choice belong in the light, or am I trying to keep it in the shadows?” I’m praying that you feel the warmth of God’s presence today and that your life shines brightly for everyone you encounter.

With grace and peace,

Pastor/Elder Donald Bridgett