Let His Light Shine!

Recently, singer, songwriter, author, and speaker, Kathy Troccoli tweeted that: "the lord will take a flashlight to your heart if you let him..."  In total agreement, I believe that 'flashlights' are good!   Living in a part of the country where thunderstorms and hurricanes can come from seemingly out of nowhere, I've reached for one on many occasions!  So my usage of flashlights has generally been during crisis situations. Think about it, how often does one reach for a flashlight when the lights are on?  Or when the sun is shining?  Generally speaking, we tend to need that light when the power goes out!  When the flashlight switch is turned on, that light can make a welcomed and needed path through the darkness, granting the possessor the ability to navigate with greater skill.   

Without wanting to add to or take away from Kathy's intriguing comment,  I do want to say that I have and do allow Jesus to shine His light in my life. I have to! The Bible says that, “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;" (Jeremiah 17:9a)..."Who can know it?" (Jer.17:b) Only He can truly identify those areas that still need to be yielded to Him. Make no mistake, He already knows the content of my heart and yours, the what and the why of what we do--"I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.(Jer.17:10)  Being the Light of the world, Jesus makes a path for us to navigate through life optimally, yet granting grace when we fail--"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)   

Yes, flashlights are good...especially in, but not limited to, e M e R g E n C i E s!  So when the choices and decisions of life beckon to tempt my heart to act like it's old (wicked) nature (Jer. 17:9a), I will need to turn to the Light of life for direction, wisdom and strength.  If need be, recall His plan for mankind, in general. More specifically, His plan for me. Whatever it takes to regain my attention and to align my will to His once again.

With a heart like mine, the 'flashlight approach' is my only hope!  In fact, most times it is a welcoming, comforting place to be; in the spotlight of His loving scrutiny. He re-DE-fines and RE-fines a heart's motive--“If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15).  Am I acting out of love for Him?  Or is something else the driving force?  Isn't the reason for following Christ, one that desires to live in His presence always?  Even forever? As believers we do and will! (John 14:1-3).

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."(1 John 1:7)..."these things we write to you that your joy may be full." (1 John 1:4)!!!

Let His light shine! 

Make His Thoughts Your Thoughts

Have you ever reached a point in your thinking where you thought that your life just didn't matter much anymore? A time when you questioned your very existence? Ashamedly, I know I have. But I want to remind you, as well as myself, that those thoughts originate from the pit of hell. 

You'll recall the classic Christmas-time movie, "It's A Wonderful Life"? In it the main character, George Bailey, reached this same assumption. George was 'assigned' an angel named Clarence who showed him otherwise. Clarence walked George through the different events in his life and challenged him to consider how things would've turned out if he'd never been born. It's truly a stirring story line that one never tires of!

Friend, if I could assume the place of an angel in your life today, I would tell you that YOU are here for a reason too! Don't give in to the lies that whisper in your ear telling you otherwise. If you woke up today, God wants you to know that He loves you! What more evidence is needed to get out of bed and to literally DANCE on through the day?? Okay, maybe a little BOUNCE in the step would be a great start! Listen,

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward YOU, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give YOU a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (emphasis mine)

Read again His letter to you, the Bible. You'll re-discover and confirm what His thoughts are toward you and what the future holds, or better, Who's hands the future is in!

RESPECTING ONE ANOTHER

When I first started to  read the Bible in my teen years, I began to see the truth that every man, woman and child is created in the image of God.  Created in His image is reason enough to grant other a certain level of respect too.  In fact, as a mother, I try to instill this principle in my children by not tolerating name calling, hitting each other, or taking advantage of someone else's property.  My family is not perfect. For us, it's generally three steps forward, two back kind of thing. 

Because I have this view of others, I tend to think that it should be reciprocated back to me, not elaborately, just simply, in a kindly fashion.  But as I sat with this thought in mind, I began to consider our precious Savior (Philippians 2:8-11).  Who SHOULD be respected, loved or admired more than He?  My life cannot even compare to the sacrifice He made for all of mankind!  Let alone, think that I DESERVE any kind of appreciation.  Oh, don't get me wrong.  I enjoy when others show thanks for my deeds of kindness or when I get a hug for just being 'Mom', but I cannot allow myself to become tift over not getting those PERKS.  I need to do right, regardless of the pending level of appreciation returned.

The example of Jesus, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:8)...should be my standard (Romans 8:29).  He gave of Himself with no real proof that others would give reverence, love, or appreciation in return.  I'm not advocating that we be 'doormats' for others to wipe their feet on, for that is not respecting what God made our own selves to be!  The one doing the 'wiping of the feet' shows that he doesn't understand that even he was created for more, more than the disrespect shown to his brother by such actions.  

I believe that if God's love/love for God was the motivation for our actions, both on the giving and receiving end of respect for one another, the less disappointment we would experience (Hebrews 11:6). Our reverence, love, gratitude, and appreciation for what Jesus did for us,  cannot help but overflow in altruistic ways toward others.  But FEAR of un-reciprocated respect sometimes is, but should not be, the reason for not allowing our lives to yield that fruit of the Spirit that we possess in Christ (Galatians 5:22-26).  Could fear be a good enough reason to shrink back from His plans for each of our lives?  I dare say that I've failed miserably in that regard. For "perfect love (for the Savior) casts out fear (of everything else) (1 John 4:18)--my interpretation.  

God is the ultimate Judge in all things (Joel 3:12). His word says to 'love one another as I have loved you' (John 15:12).  Each one of us will make application of His commandments in the unfolding of our everyday circumstances.  He sees the heart of the giver, and the receiver (1 John 3:20).  To build our lives on the wood, hay or stubble foundation of expectation is, well, worthless. But the foundation of 'gold, silver and precious stones' of Jesus example is eternal.  The crucible will be used for the defining Day of reckoning (1 Corinthians 3:11-13). 

I WANT to be found faithful!  Lord, help me in my weakness.