"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."~John 9:5
When I was growing up, we lived in a house that was over-shadowed by the two-story apartments behind us. Every night for 16yrs I would lay in bed with my thoughts synchronized to the rhythm of my neighbors' lights being turned on, and off, and on, and off, and so on. I didn't have blinds for a long time(the ones I had broke), so the effects where the equivalent of a full on strobe light party in my bedroom into all hours of the night. You are probably concluding right about now that, "this girl didn't get much sleep for those 16yrs!" Ya, I didn't!
Anyway, looking back at all those nights of watching my bedroom walls light up, and trying to trace each shadow back to its original source, got me to thinking. I realize now that my neighbors had no idea that their OCD light switch compulsions were in fact robbing me of my beauty rest. Their intentions were simply to turn on the lights in their own world; never to know how their light was affecting someone else's darkness.
"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world!" What a powerful statement! And how wonderful is it that when Jesus ascended into heaven, he didn't leave us in the dark! Instead, this now becomes OUR statement! As long as we are in the world, we are the light of the world. The cool thing about light, is that there is no darkness that can escape it.
Light=hope, light=refuge, light=guidance. Friends, let us shine our light of Christ brightly in every circumstance; you could chase away someones darkness without ever knowing it...as long as you are in the world, and you are shinning!
P.S. May this post encourage you to be more considerate about putting on strobe parties in other people's bedrooms, if you happen to be one of those two-storied-dwelling-people that is!:) And yes, I do now have blinds!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
This is a post from this same time last year, and I think it is a good reminder of all that God has done!
"Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." ~John 15:1-5~
I have come to this new place in my life where I can see that I am bearing much fruit. The Lord has been blessing me so abundantly with so much opportunity and success in everything I put my hands to.
A lot of the things I was praying for these past two years have been graciously answered beyond my expectations, and I am in awe as I watch the visions God gave me and the words he spoke over me unfold before my feet just as he said they would.
I have been given so much more than I asked for, but this season of prosperity I am in is not how I thought it would be. He has changed me through the process, and I find myself with all new struggles. I am full of joy and excitement for what is ahead, and at the same time I feel the discomfort of being pruned and shaped from the inside out.
My circumstances have changed, but more than that, my heart has been completely changed. The way that I think has completely changed, and I personally cannot take any credit for it.
A lot of people focus on the part that says " ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7) including myself, but what it says before that is that if you want to bear more fruit you must be pruned!
I have to admit, that I haven't always believed that what I was praying for would ever be answered. I believed God could do anything, but a part of me was never convinced that He would do it for me. I sort of thought I would only see Him do it for everyone else...and honestly, I think it was a cop-out so I could stay where I was comfortable!
He revealed to me that I was not giving Him my whole heart, so my heart went wild with pride, fear, doubt, and complacency, and He could not prune it out because I was not letting Him. I waisted so much time wondering why I could not change myself; why I could not just be different; why I could not grow anymore.
A professional gardener can take his sheers to a tree or a shrub, and make it look beautiful, all while encouraging it to grow up, thus, clearing the walk way it was blocking before. But someone with no experience tries to go and do the same thing, and butchers the the poor thing, and it almost hurts just to look at it!
God wants to trim off the bad branches, clear my path, encourage me to grow taller and fuller, and make me look beautiful. Instead, I take the sheers and either butcher myself, or just let myself grow wild and out of control, not to mention I'm blocking my own path! Well, I finally gave Him the sheers.
Though it is uncomfortable during the process, I feel more beautiful now than I ever have. I feel clean and fresh, and closer to my Lord. When I look ahead, I see challenges, but I am not discouraged. I just take a deep breath and... Abide in Him!
I know there will still be stretching to do, and times for the need of endurance, but I also know that I can Trust in Him that I will reach the other side in better condition than when I started.
"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." ~John 15:8
I have come to this new place in my life where I can see that I am bearing much fruit. The Lord has been blessing me so abundantly with so much opportunity and success in everything I put my hands to.
A lot of the things I was praying for these past two years have been graciously answered beyond my expectations, and I am in awe as I watch the visions God gave me and the words he spoke over me unfold before my feet just as he said they would.
I have been given so much more than I asked for, but this season of prosperity I am in is not how I thought it would be. He has changed me through the process, and I find myself with all new struggles. I am full of joy and excitement for what is ahead, and at the same time I feel the discomfort of being pruned and shaped from the inside out.
My circumstances have changed, but more than that, my heart has been completely changed. The way that I think has completely changed, and I personally cannot take any credit for it.
A lot of people focus on the part that says " ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7) including myself, but what it says before that is that if you want to bear more fruit you must be pruned!
I have to admit, that I haven't always believed that what I was praying for would ever be answered. I believed God could do anything, but a part of me was never convinced that He would do it for me. I sort of thought I would only see Him do it for everyone else...and honestly, I think it was a cop-out so I could stay where I was comfortable!
He revealed to me that I was not giving Him my whole heart, so my heart went wild with pride, fear, doubt, and complacency, and He could not prune it out because I was not letting Him. I waisted so much time wondering why I could not change myself; why I could not just be different; why I could not grow anymore.
A professional gardener can take his sheers to a tree or a shrub, and make it look beautiful, all while encouraging it to grow up, thus, clearing the walk way it was blocking before. But someone with no experience tries to go and do the same thing, and butchers the the poor thing, and it almost hurts just to look at it!
God wants to trim off the bad branches, clear my path, encourage me to grow taller and fuller, and make me look beautiful. Instead, I take the sheers and either butcher myself, or just let myself grow wild and out of control, not to mention I'm blocking my own path! Well, I finally gave Him the sheers.
Though it is uncomfortable during the process, I feel more beautiful now than I ever have. I feel clean and fresh, and closer to my Lord. When I look ahead, I see challenges, but I am not discouraged. I just take a deep breath and... Abide in Him!
I know there will still be stretching to do, and times for the need of endurance, but I also know that I can Trust in Him that I will reach the other side in better condition than when I started.
"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." ~John 15:8
Monday, December 15, 2008
Christmas will be different this year!
Christmas will be different this year, that's for sure,
my family is not the same as it was before.
No Christmas cheer, or laughter in the air,
Peace, hope, joy and love have been replaced by despair.
It's hard to say what the next few weeks will bring,
having a Merry Christmas seems like such an unlikely thing.
In spite of the sadness of how things appear,
I've reason to hope, and no need to fear.
For Jesus is Lord, and mighty to save,
He is loving and faithful, and He'll make a way!
Traditions change, and though it's hard to let go,
new season are sure to arrive with blessings in tow.
As bad as things seem in the eyes of uncertainty,
My God is ALWAYS good to me!
Prayers are filling up heaven's bowls,
and if I wait for the out-pour,
Christmas will be different this year, that's for sure!
my family is not the same as it was before.
No Christmas cheer, or laughter in the air,
Peace, hope, joy and love have been replaced by despair.
It's hard to say what the next few weeks will bring,
having a Merry Christmas seems like such an unlikely thing.
In spite of the sadness of how things appear,
I've reason to hope, and no need to fear.
For Jesus is Lord, and mighty to save,
He is loving and faithful, and He'll make a way!
Traditions change, and though it's hard to let go,
new season are sure to arrive with blessings in tow.
As bad as things seem in the eyes of uncertainty,
My God is ALWAYS good to me!
Prayers are filling up heaven's bowls,
and if I wait for the out-pour,
Christmas will be different this year, that's for sure!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Just a quick update
Sorry I haven't posted any photos in a while.
As far as what I'm up to here ya go:
1. I've lost a total of 28lbs!! I feel great and I am reaching my goals...its very exciting
2. I got a new promotion at work and that is going very well.
3. Some neat things are happening in my family as a result of years of praying, crying, believing, and praying some more! Thank you to everyone who has been praying for my family!! I'm also learning not to underestimate the little things...because they really do add up to big miracles!!
4. Jesus Christ is my favorite person ever! He has done things in my life that are making me smile uncontrollably. More to come soon....But God is good, So good so good!
Blessings :)
As far as what I'm up to here ya go:
1. I've lost a total of 28lbs!! I feel great and I am reaching my goals...its very exciting
2. I got a new promotion at work and that is going very well.
3. Some neat things are happening in my family as a result of years of praying, crying, believing, and praying some more! Thank you to everyone who has been praying for my family!! I'm also learning not to underestimate the little things...because they really do add up to big miracles!!
4. Jesus Christ is my favorite person ever! He has done things in my life that are making me smile uncontrollably. More to come soon....But God is good, So good so good!
Blessings :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)