Let Your Little Light Shine

Photo by Scott Carver

The moon was phenomenal last night. It was big, it was full, and just beautiful. Since I don't have a clue how to take a picture of it worth showing to anyone (and of course, no camera), I borrowed a similar image from a friend.

I found myself actually hoping for a blackout, so I could see just how brightly it was shining.  Then I remembered - the moon doesn't shine. It reflects it's light off the sun. Oh yeah. I'm supposed to do that too, only my light is a reflection of the Son, not the sun. The sun's light just make my skin glow and turn red. But the Son's light, it chases away the darkness and burns deep into my soul. The difference is, the Son's light can penetrate so deeply within me that I begin to shine as well. I guess this kind of a Son burn is good for you.

Sometimes, in the daylight the moon is still visible, but it never shines as bright as the sun. And the Son will always shine brighter that those He is reflecting off of. We have to remember that when we think our own light is shining. We don't have our own light. We are full of darkness until the light of the Son comes in. So sit in the light of the Son for a while, and then go out and shine!

Almost there...

Moses fascinates me. Here's this guy who, by a strange set of circumstances, is watching his own people being mistreated as slaves in Egypt. He gets angry, kills a guy, then runs to the hills. Along comes a burning bush and turns his whole world upside down. He resists, as much as he can, the call on his life. He has a little debate with God about why he can't do what God is asking him to do. But, as usual, God wins and Moses becomes something he thought he could never be.

Fast forward a bit, and we find Moses at the end of Aaron's life, and God's telling him he's not going to make it to the Promised Land either. So what does ol' Mo do? He throws a tantrum, runs and hides in a cave and has a good old fashioned shouting match with God.

Wait... that's not right. He goes back to the Israelites and keeps leading them, knowing full well that he was not going to reap the benefits of all that time in the desert. Personally, being almost there, I think I may have opted for the shouting match.

The important thing is that we never stop...

serving...
	going...
		loving...
			growing...
				discovering...
					helping...
						giving...

Whatever it is God is calling us to do, we have to do it. And then, we have to keep doing it. Even if we think it's not going to turn out as we had planned.

Especially when we think it's not going to turn out as we had planned.

Only with God: Angels

An angel appeared to Mary.
An angel appeared to Joseph.
An angel appeared to shepherds.
And again to Joseph.

Each time, "don't be afraid" were among the first words spoken. 

"Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God." Luke 2:14

Sometimes you can read a passage a hundred times and miss something all together. I don't know if I've read the Christmas story a hundred times, but I've heard and read it a lot. And guess what? I still don't completely get it. Seems every year something new jumps off the page, keeping the Word of God alive. Have you read it lately? Go ahead. Read it. I'll wait here for you. 

What struck me today as I read of the encounter between the angel, the heavenly host (or as some translations say, an angelic choir, many other angels, the armies of heaven) and the shepherds. Peace on earth for those who please God. I realize not every translation reads that way, but what a great reminder of how we should live. Want peace? Live your life to please him. How do we do that? 

Only with God...

Only With God: Magi

Where does a new star that appears in the sky come from?

How does it seem to move, beckoning those who see it to follow?
Why would men, sometimes referred to as wise, actually choose to follow it?

Only with God...

Only with God: Shepherds

Shepherds doing what shepherds do. Minding their own business, really. When what to their wondering eyes should appear? Angels, of course, bringing good news - the gospel - to those who the world called the least worthy to be in the presence of royalty.  Sent not to a palace, but to a lowly manger in a cave in Bethlehem to meet the King of kings and the Lord of lords. How would anyone believe it was true?

Only with God...