shine
Today, let them see You in me.
Today, let me walk in Your love.
Today, shine through me!
God’s Love Wins!
til next time
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God smiles
God smiles. “For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;” (Psalm 149:4 ESV)
We don’t have to look far to see how gracious God is to us. His grace (getting what we don’t deserve) and His mercy (not getting what we deserve) are examples of His great love for us.
My prayer for you today comes from Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)
24 ‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
25 May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
26 May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.’
May today find you noticing the blessings of God. Blessings are all around us. He is with us and He will make a way where there may seem to be no way. (Isaiah 43:19)
Favor and peace – Thank you God! He is working all things out for our good. (Romans 8:28) He is able to do more than we can even begin to imagine. (Eph 3:20) His grace is enough. (2 Cor 12:9)
May God bless you today and may we not forget that it is God. Throughout the day stop, look up and thank Him for the big and the small things. It is also good for us to remember that He blesses us to be a blessing to others. (Gen 12:2)
Let your light shine. Let them see Jesus in you.
til next time
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deep need
Two scriptures got me through today.
Jesus tells us – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)
AND
“I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NET)
My deep need for Jesus to help was so very evident to me. I didn’t want to just “get” through the day. I didn’t want to waste today by grumbling. I wanted to shine for Christ!
What about you? Do you realize your deep need for Him? Do you look for His help?
This song says it all for me today.
https://youtu.be/bEeSS-0bPHQ
Selah,
til next time
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2017 and so it begins
“Things don’t get better as you drift away from God.” Curtis Girod
“Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
His going forth is established as the morning;
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.” Hosea 6:3 NKJV
Don’t drift. Go after the things of God. Dig into His Word. Start the year with determination to know God more. As you do this, your life will reflect Him more and more.
May our theme for 2017 be — Shine through me, Jesus!
This little light of mine is not just a children’s song. It is a way of life.
“Lord, may Your light shine in me and through me.”
People may not read the Bible but they can’t avoid us, at least not all of the time. What is it that they see when they come in contact with us? What does our words and our actions reveal about our relationship with Christ?
Letting Christ shine through me — this is my heart’s cry!
til next time
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super moon
Did you take a moment to look at the super moon awhile back? Maybe you even took a picture? I did. Sadly, it did not capture the beauty. Yet the source of the beauty wasn’t the moon.
If it weren’t for the sun, the moon would be dark. What we see is a reflection of the sun’s rays bouncing off of the moon.
When people look at us, are they seeing the light of Christ?
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
December is here and with it can come the stress of getting the shopping, decorating, and baking done. Then there is the calendar that is already full. For some, adding school programs, work parties, family gatherings to an already stretched calendar is a potential recipe for added stress.
The other extreme is also out there. I was talking with a lady who shared with me that the holiday season is the worst time of year for her. Loneliness and sadness are nipping at her heels. Her calendar is too open.
Whatever the reason may be, if you are feeling overwhelmed this December, I encourage you to take a few moments (right now would be good) and talk with God. Cast your cares on Him, lay down your expectations at His feet, and allow His peace, love and joy to fill you again.
Now, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
btw – I want to be a ‘super moon’! Reflecting brightly the light of Christ!!
til next time
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be still?
Are you troubled? Does life have you stressed out? Would you describe your life as peaceful or chaotic?
Check out yesterday’s post on peace.
Picking up where I left off.
“Be still, and know that I am God;”
What a wonderful truth. God is in control. When life seems uncertain, when problems attempt to overwhelm us or when we are in the middle of something huge, we can be still and know who is God.
Psalm 23:2 “He leads me beside the still waters”
Sometimes we can be so focused on what is going on around us that we go rushing past the still (quiet) waters. In rushing past, we miss the opportunity for God to refresh our hearts.
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Did you know that this verse doesn’t end there?
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10(NJKV)
This takes my thoughts off me and puts them back on God. God is in control. He sees all.
He longs to use each one of us to reach a lost and dying world. There is so much darkness in our land.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NASB
Let God shine through you on purpose!!!
To God be the glory!
til next time
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light in the darkness
bug zapper
Bugs are drawn to the light. If that light is a bug zapper, well, you know the end result. 
As Christians we are to let our light shine. People are drawn to the Christ they see in us. When they get close to us, do they find love in action or do we resemble more of a bug zapper? Are we quick to express judgment, disapproval, or irritation?
Oh, I hope that is not what they find.
“Don’t be a bug zapper Christian. We cannot shine a bright appealing light and offer nothing but pain. We must offer a real warm and inviting love that welcomes all and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work – not trying to do it for Him in our own way.” Susan Briggs
It is the Holy Spirit that brings about change in a person’s life. It is the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth. (John 15:13)
We are to let our light shine so that others will see and glorify God. Just like a light bulb lights up a dark room, may our lives brightly shine forth the light of Christ.
“I don’t want to be a casual Christian. I don’t want to live a lukewarm life. Cuz I want to light up the night with an ever lasting light — I don’t want to live a casual Christian life.” “Casual Christian” by DeGarmo and Key
W.O.R.K.S.
What we do and how we do it matters.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
We are not saved by our works or by how good we are. Salvation is through Jesus Christ only and it is the gift of God. That said, sometimes people tend to throw out what comes next.
We are created in Christ Jesus for good works!
W. O. R. K. S.
W – Will of God
God has a plan for our lives. (Jeremiah 29:11) It is good.
“That we should walk in them.” —-Are we walking in the plan God has for us?
What is God calling you to do?
Maybe get up earlier and spend some time with Him praying for your friends and family?
Could He be dealing with your financial fear by nudging you to prove His promise when it comes to tithes and offerings? – to grow in your trust of Him.
He could be asking you to lay down an activity, not because it is bad but your love for it gets in the way of what He wants you to be doing instead.
Maybe God is dealing with you about the amount of time you spend watching tv or online because it is robbing you of energy and time needed to step out in faith for what He is asking you to do.
Maybe He is impressing on your heart to bless someone – or prompting you to increase your giving to Missions.
Maybe He is nudging you to help someone.
I have had all of these promptings at one time or another.
Delayed obedience is disobedience.
Good intentions not followed through are just random thoughts. It is an excuse to not actually have to do something. You don’t even feel bad about not doing the right thing because you ‘intend’ to do it.
Will of God
It is much less demanding to think about what God’s will for my life will be one year from now or when I am pain free or when things settle down or when this happens or that happens than to focus on the Spirit’s leading today.
Which leads us to O.
O – Opportunities to do good – What opportunities will you make the most of today.
Galatians 6:9-11(KJV) “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Colossians 4:4-6 (NASB) “that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
God wants to use you right where you are
in that job you may not like
at that event you will be attending
at that ‘just so happens’ encounter
when you are talking with your friends
opportunities are all around us
Make the most of them, and Be Ready – (Ranger Motto)
R – Ready to give
Three main ways we give: money, time, and talent. We can also give things. Our home is decorated with the love of others. Another key thing we can give is patience to people as God works in their lives.
Paul tells us in Acts “And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20 :35)
The World’s way is to love things and use people to get them.
God’s way is to love people and use things to bless them.
Proverbs 11:24-25 NKJV
“There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.
Follow the will of God for your life, make the most of the opportunities God brings your way and be generous. A stingy person is not a happy person.
Sometimes walking in the spirit can seem like an uphill journey through distractions and difficulties –a rugged winding road. Keep moving forward. Allow God to interrupt your plans, look for ways to bless people and be kind.
K – Kindness is not optional
Kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit listed in Gal 5:22
Eph 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Being kind is the right thing to do.
“Maybe you don’t feel like doing what’s right. But people who want the right results ignore the feeling and do what’s right anyway. Will you?” Jan Grace
Kindness in a world full of selfishness is one way we will Shine for Jesus.
S- Shine for Jesus
Matthew 5:14-16New King James Version (NKJV)
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
“see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven!!”
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! For Your glory Lord!!
til next time
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About
Welcome to my fish bowl!
Things that matter to me are: God, family, friends, helping people, taking time to really live in the moment, and trying to slow down in a fast paced world.
To find out more click here.
