Have I told you how much I enjoy reading your comments? I really do. Whether you’re reiterating a point, presenting a different perspective or sharing a page from your own life, I love reading your thoughts. In those brief moments, my imagination transports me to a quaint, eclectic little tea room nestled somewhere in the heart of the urban sprawl that surrounds me. There I sit, sipping hot green tea from a porcelain antique tea cup – with my freshly manicured pinky in the air – while laughing and talking with a good friend. I just love it!
Ok, back to reality…:-)
Check out what a few of you had to say in response to my Letting My Light Shine, Part 1 blog post a few weeks ago:
Becky confessed: I can shine bright to the world, but too often I snuff out my witness in tired, crabby moments at home. Of course we’re all human (fallen) but you’ve reminded me that “before men” also means “before your children” or “even when no one is looking.”
Now isn’t that the truth! I’m sure we all could make that confession. Raise your hand if you’ve ever been guilty of being a flood light to the world outside your door but just a night light, at best, before your family, friends or those closest to you? Guilty as charged, right? I know my hand is up.
Michelle shared this beautiful story: When I first read the scripture, I immediately thought about my run this morning in the fog. There was another lady running with me but, ahead of me. At times, her body would turn into a mere silhouette, only to disappear from my eyesight all together. During those moments, I had to say a prayer and trust that if I keep running I would eventually see her up ahead. It wasn’t until she turned around to stop and check on me, that I could see the head lamp she was wearing shining through the fog. Life is sometimes like that. There are times when you can’t see your way through and you feel like you’re alone. Then someone comes along with the spirit of God shinning through.
Those last two sentences alone speak volumes of truth, don’t they? God, through His word, has charged us to be that lady running in the fog with the head lamp on.
Deborah said: What I took from that (Isaiah 60:1-3 is the “that” she’s referring to), and from yours is that we need to bring light to all we encounter, whether in deed or with words, or through God’s word. We should always strive to brighten someone else’s day, not dim it by focusing on our own desires.
I love her last sentence so much. I remember when I read it I had to stop and just soak it in. How many times have I not been the light of Christ someone desperately needed to see because I was too consumed with me? Too many to count, I’m sure. There are probably too many times to count just today alone. Thanks, Deb, for the reminder.
Elisa asks: …the question popped in my mind, “why are we so timid when it comes to letting our light shine?” Is it because we are truly thinking of self?
Uh oh…there’s that nasty four letter word: SELF! Didn’t Deborah just finish checking me about my SELF?? Geesh… You guys are a tough crowd. As God would have it, this leads me right to the doorway of my shortcoming in the area of letting my light shine. Recently, the Lord used a situation on my job to expose how my entanglement in the thoughts, opinions and approval of someone else can drastically overshadow (if not completely extinguish) any flicker of light I could be to the world around me. My rude awakening was that it’s so easy to become “timid when it comes to letting our light shine” if I’m more consumed with what others may (or may not) think about me than I am with what God has challenged me to do and to be to those around me.
LIGHT.
Whatever did we do with the sweet song we learned as kids? “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…. Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine….let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”
I challenge you to let each others comments soak into your heart and mind today. And may we all go about our days looking for opportunities to be God’s light and let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
P.S. Feel free to drop by and share a “light” story with me. You know I love reading your comments.
Ugh. I do that often – shrink when I think somebody won’t receive my light well. And aren’t those the people who probably need it most? Our pastor once told us that we can’t assume people don’t want to hear about God. In fact, it could be they really do want to talk about spiritual things, and are just waiting for someone with enough courage to bring it up. So…I’m gonna let it shine!