Be the LIGHT!

“Christians make a difference in this world by being different from this world;they don’t make a difference by being the same.”from Unfashionable by Tullian Tchividjian

I LOVE this quote!

Jesus told us that we are “the light of the world.” He said, “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

When we were out in the desert in Arizona, we were staying at a remote resort outside of Phoenix. At night we could go out on the balcony and look out into the darkness. It is so DARK in the desert. But, when we turned towards Phoenix, the city was a shining light in the darkness. It was BRIGHT and could be seen for miles and miles and miles. Jesus says WE are to be that light…..

The world is HUNGRY for something different. The world is lost and hungry and suffering and debilitated and ailing……it is darkness. Flip channels to any variety of reality shows and watch for a few minutes and you will see people who are empty…searching…needing…

The world looks to the Church to be DIFFERENT. Yes, the world is quick to condemn us as Christians. But, usually it is because we are hypocritical…saying one thing and doing another…. If they were honest, they would tell us that they WANT us to be DIFFERENT.

When you are in the dark, what is it that you stumble around for? What is it that you are searching for? What is it that you desire more than anything else?

LIGHT

Are we shining? Are we shining the Light of Christ?

Or…are focused on BEING LIKE THE WORLD? Are we allowing the world to seep in…little by little…so that the lines are blurred and we can’t be distinguished from the world?

"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor….In your anger do not sin. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, vulgar talk or coarse joking, which are of out of place, but rather thanksgiving…..
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. (Ephesians 4 and 5)

Lord, may I be a Light shining for You. When the world looks at me, may they see something different…holy, set apart, separate. Lord, be big in me. Lord, I choose to put ON YOU. I love You, Lord.

When "they" say SHUT UP, I will shout louder...

Have you ever read about my friend "BART" in Mark 10?  How I want to be like blind "Bart"!  Here is his story:

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
I love that he SHOUTED. He is not afraid to cry out to Jesus. Listen to what happens next...

⁴⁸ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
 
Isn't that always the way? Someone is always there to tell us to be quiet....don't bother Jesus....He is too busy.....He isn't concerned with our "little problems."

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

Jesus STOPPED.....stopped what He was doing....stopped where He was going.
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
Don't you love that? Jesus asks each of us, "What do you want Me to do for YOU?"

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 

That is the cry of my heart- Jesus, I want to SEE. Give me eyes to see You. Give me spiritual eyes. Like the words to "Amazing Grace," I was blind, but now I see." Look what happens next.

⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. 

Notice that the man's FAITH healed him. Lord, may I have faith like that! And, what does he do next?

He FOLLOWS Jesus.

May I always follow You, Jesus. May I always follow You.

Father, thank You that You are ever ready to heal me....all I have to do is ask. May I always seek hard after you, no matter who or how many are telling me to "shut up." May I be like the man and SHOUT LOUDER! Lord, may I have that kind of faith! Lord, thank You for Your compassion. Thank You that You open wide my eyes to see You. Thank You that, although I was blind, now I see. Thank You, Jesus. Praise You.

Don’t Waste Your Life

2012 seemed to pass by so quickly and another new year is just beginning. I have found, if I am not careful, I can allow time to slip by too quickly, and when I look back, I am disappointed, feeling like I have wasted this precious time!

Have you made New Year’s Resolutions yet?

Sometimes I make Resolutions with the best intentions, but all too quickly they are forgotten.

Resolutions seem to be important to all of us. As I have talked to women, a common desire has resonated- to find out and fulfill her "purpose". Nobody wants her life to be a waste! Most people want to leave a fingerprint on the world, to make a difference, to have an impact on others’ lives. We want to our lives to be special.

Have you ever wondered what God wants to do with YOUR life? What His purpose is for your life?

Does He have a plan?

Yes, God does have a plan for our lives!

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord.
“Plans for hope and a future. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.”

So, how do I live out these plans, WITHOUT wasting precious time?
Paul writes in Ephesians, “Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.”

PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT BEING DELIBERATE AT LIVING OUR LIVES- PAYING ATTENTION, ON PURPOSE KIND OF LIVING.

Be careful how you live. Here, the Greek literally means, “don’t stumble through life.” Do you ever find yourself “stumbling through life?” Does life ever seem to fly by so quickly that you find yourself saying, like me, “Where did 2012 go?!”

I saw a billboard once that said, “Time flies, but you are the pilot.” I loved that. That is what Paul is saying here. You are the pilot, and fly carefully! “Be careful how you live … and try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.”

Do you know what the Lord wants you to do?

Have you ever thought about it? Maybe you’re thinking, “I didn’t know the Lord wanted me to do anything!”

What is the first thing God wants us to do? He wants us to hunger for Him! More than service or obedience, or anything, God wants us to seek after Him in an intimate, real, living, breathing relationship with Him. Jesus said the greatest commandment was "to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength. Then, love your neighbor as yourself.”

You see, sometimes we get confused and we have a religion, but we don’t have a relationship with the One who so desires us.

“What else does God want from MY life?”

Jesus wants a relationship with Him, AND He wants us to make HIM our FIRST passion. God wants our wholehearted devotion, and He wants our whole life. Our whole life, not just part of it, not jut on Sunday mornings, ALL of it!

Romans 6:13 says, “Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your WHOLE BODY as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.”

Give ourselves completely, completely to God- every part of our lives in total surrender to Him.

So often, we only allow God into the “spiritual” part of our lives. We go to church on Sundays. We have our “quiet times.” We even are reading through the Bible. But, God wants so much more than that- He wants it all- my whole life. Not just the areas that I think are “OK” to give to Him, the “churchy things, GOING TO CHURCH, GOING TO LADIES BIBLE STUDY, RETREATS, SERVING IN THE CHURCH, NOT JUST THOSE THINGS, but every area, my marriage, my relationship with my kids, my home, my friends, my work, my free time. He wants every thought, every decision, every choice to be surrendered to Him, totally making Him Lord of my life!

So, for me, this year, 2013, I purpose to NOT waste my life! I intend to slow down and make God my first priority. I want to get lost in my relationship with Him. I want to spend time at His feet, filling up on Him. I want to give Him everything....

New Year’s Resolutions

As I was reading my past resolutions, I decided to reprint them from 2011. These are STILL the cry of my heart. I was encouraged by them and hope that you, too, will be.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for Christ Jesus took hold of me…But, one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” –Philippians 3:12-14


Father God, pour out Your Wisdom on me, Lord, as I come to You at the beginning of this New Year. Give me a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation so that I know may know You better. Lord, I want my resolutions to line up with Your Will and Your perfect plan for my life. I know I can make all of the plans I want, but they will only succeed if they are yours. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but t is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” So, I am purposing to “trust in the LORD with all of my heart, NOT leaning upon my own understanding, but acknowledging You, God, in every area of my life, every “resolution” I have, then You will direct my steps, You will make my paths straight." I know You have “plans for me. Plans to prosper me and not harm me. Plans for good and not evil.” I thank You, Lord that You have a purpose for me and that You already have a calling in store for me. For I am “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do!” So, Lord, with Your help, let me dedicate this year, 2013, to You. Let me purpose in my heart and mind, and with my actions glorify Your Name with my life. I want to choose to be “a living sacrifice,” giving You all that I am, and everything I have. I can only do it by the power of the Holy Spirit! I can only do through You! Thank God, I can only do all things THROUGH Christ, who strengthens me! Thank You, God that I don’t have to do it on my own! Praise You, Father! Praise You, Jesus! And thank You, Holy Spirit!
Well, thankfully, each year offers an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to Christ. Thank God that He offers “do overs”, and even though 2012 was an awesome year (although challenging), I have the gift of a new beginning. I tend to look at all of the things I WANTED to do in 2012, but didn’t. I tend to “beat myself up” about not accomplishing all that was on my heart. But, Lord, You are merciful, full of grace, and very patient- even when I am impatient. Thank You that this is chance to renew my mind in Your TRUTH!

I am going to thank You that I am a new creation! The old has gone and the new has come! I put off my old self, right now, right here where I am. I am putting off the old self- the old mistakes, the old failures. I am made new in the attitude of my mind and am putting on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. I am getting rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. I am kind and compassionate to others, forgiving just as in Christ God forgave me. I am an imitator of God, as a dearly loved child and living a life of love. Like Christ, I am giving myself up as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph. 4-5)

In 2013 I am purposing to be a better helpmate to Brian. Lord, after You, let me make Brian my first priority, even when I don’t feel like it. I am purposing in my heart, “to be submissive to Brian so that, even if he doesn’t believe the Word, he may be won over( to living for You) without words but by my behavior. I want Brian to see the purity and reverence of my life, and God, I want You to be pleased with my gentle and quiet spirit. I know a “wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears hers down with her own hands.” Help me to be a wise wife in all matters, looking to You for guidance and sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. I long to be that Proverbs 31 woman honoring God by honoring Brian. In 2013, Brian will “have full confidence in me and he will arise and call me blessed and he will praise me.” (v. 11, 28)

Lord, I pray that I would also be a wise mother. May “I speak with wisdom. May faithful instruction be on my tongue.” May I be a constant encourager to my children, their biggest cheerleader, coach, and mentor. Again, “May no unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, only words that are useful in building others up.” Help me to shine Your Light to my children, Lord. Help me, by being a compassionate, gentle, joyful, loving, peaceful, patient, good, and self-controlled mother, draw them closer to You. May they see in my relationship with You, Jesus, something they want! May they be encouraged to seek after You with all of their hearts because Mama loves the Lord! Lord, I pray for each of them- Andrew, Ashley, Aly, Aaron, and Abigail. May each of my children be IN LOVE with You.

I pray over my ministry. Lord, again, I know You have plans for me. Guide me and lead me. I pray You will bring opportunities to speak Your Word, encouraging women and leading them to the only source of LIFE, Jesus Christ. Lord, I pray this would be a HUGE year where many unbelievers trust in the Name Jesus Christ. I thank You, Father that You have called me to be a speaker. Help me to organize my ministry and help me in the area of time management. Lead me and direct me, gracious Father. “The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever- do not abandon the works of Your hands.” Thank You Lord, that “the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love…" Thank You, Lord, that “when we take great delight in You, You will give us the desires of our hearts.”

And, because this is a new year of homeschooling, I pray over this as well. I purpose to give You my plans. Lord, lead us and guide us. Fill me with Your peace and patience. Help me to teach my children what is truly important. Give me the wisdom and knowledge to teach and lead them.

I love You, Lord! I love You, Lord!

Praying for a Blessed 2013 for you.....

Greetings to all of you! I wanted to wish you a Blessed New Year!

Yes, I pray it will be "happy", but even more so, I pray that the JOY of the Lord will be yours. I pray that you experience His Peace and His Presence, even if you are experiencing the most challenging of trials. May the "JOY of the LORD be your strength." I pray that your joy "will know no bounds." I pray that even though you may grow tired, your strength will be renewed, and that "you will soar on wings like eagles." I pray this will be a year filled with His abundance, His grace, for "His grace is sufficient for ALL your needs," and His blessing. May you know Him in a deeper way. May you experience all that He is.

May the "Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine down upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace."

...from Ephesians 3
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever, AMEN!

May YOUR 2013 be more than YOU can ask or even imagine, filled with His love, His power, His Presence......

Be blessed.