November 17, 2024

Let Your Light Shine

January 6, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

In the same way, let your light shine before men,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 HCSB

Sounds so easy, doesn’t it?  ‘Let your light shine….’  Letting our light shine is complex but can become easier if we consider two simple points regarding light:

1) What is the source?   2) What does it do?

Jesus told us He is the source of our light:

Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world.
Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12(HCSB)

While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.
John 9:5 (NASB)

Jesus is the only Source of our light.  Ephesians 5:8 (NLT) states “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!”  His Light shines through us.

So what does light do?  It expels the darkness.  It illuminates…and that’s what we are called to do.  Others must see the Light of Christ in us before we can share His Light with them.

Philippians 2:15b (NASB) says we are to be “…children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world…”.

Charles Spurgeon put it this way:

“Poor world, poor world, it is dark and gropes in midnight
and it cannot get light except it receives it through us.”

We must not hide His Light.  If we do, it is of no benefit to anyone but ourselves.  Jesus intended His Light to shine in us to dispel the darkness of those around us and to illuminate His great love for them.  We are to be intentional in letting this Light of love shine.  Otherwise,

“Hear this, ye humble men and women, ye who have made no figure in society,
ye are the light of the world. If ye burn dimly,
dim is the world’s light, and dense its darkness.”
– Charles Spurgeon

Does the Light of Jesus shine through you or has it been dimmed?

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Father, thank You for the light of Jesus shining in me. Do not let it be dimmed. Remind me to share Your light and Your love with those around me. In Your precious name, Amen – So be it!

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Good Works

January 5, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

In the same way, let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

This portion of Scripture has also reminded me of Colossians 1:10 “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work growing in the knowledge of God” and also 1 Timothy 6:18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and willing to share.”

This shows us that we are required to always do good as Christians.  As we are doing that then we are doing the work of God of which we are called to do.

How do we do good works which praise the Lord?

  • Speech
  • Character
  • Attitude
  • Personality
  • Spiritual life
  • Giving

Everything we do should be pleasing unto God.  And therefore I request each one of us to search ourselves whether we have lived a life that is pleasing unto God in the previous year or not.  If not, it is not too late to come back to God and confess our sins.  (I am calling it sin since the Bible tells us, “To him therefore who knows how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin” James 4:17).

God is faithful and just to forgive us and give us a fresh start. Let the year 2015 be a testimony year to others because of us.

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Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for who You are—You are a great God, awesome is Your Name—marvelous, immortal, invisible, omnipresent God.  We honor You for Your good deeds and we pray, Father, that as Your children created in Your own image and likeness, that we will live a life that is pleasing unto You.  Let people give You glory and honor because of us.  Whatever we do, Lord, let it be pleasing unto You. We need Your grace, Lord!  On our own we can’t make it.  Guide us, dear Lord, always. May Your spirit that dwells in us be awakened by our spiritual life and help us to do good.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen!

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How Will They Know?

January 4, 2015 by

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In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see,
so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:16

We’ve all heard it said that actions speak louder than words.  Even children can come to understand this concept.  Un-kept promises speak volumes more than repeated promises to keep promises.  We learn to trust based on what a person does...not on what they say.  Empty words aren’t believable.  So, it’s only fitting that God would know that if we live the way He says others will notice.

Word of mouth is awesome, but I think part of the reason people were able to believe Jesus is because they could see He was genuine.  Jesus truly cared for the people.  He wasn’t out to point fingers and make them feel horrible; He was relatable—even though, He was perfect.  In John 12:47 He says, “… for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.”

…Some people have faith; others have good deeds.
But I say, How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds?
I will show you my faith by my good deeds…
Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless…
You see, his faith and his actions worked together.
His actions made his faith complete…
So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.
James 2:18-24 NLT (excerpts)

Jesus is our Savior.  Because of Him we are made right with God.  However, to be made right with God and to simply go back to living the way we were—unchanged—that’s ludicrous!  It’s the same as some of the children at the preschool where I work.  When a child learns to walk, they walk!  What is the purpose of being able to walk if you are not going to walk?  Many of our kiddos learn to walk…and then you can’t stop them! Sometimes, you wish they would just crawl. (Although, some of them can crawl as fast as a person can run!)  The point is why be given something and then not use it?

The same applies for our relationship with the Lord.  When we come to know Him, we are changed, and people see this.  Don’t try to hide it…you will be different!  People notice you are different!  LET THEM SEE!  Why?  Because that difference—that light—that change is what is going to make them ask the question…’why?’ And then, your actions have already set the foundation for the words that are about to come out of your mouth.  How can they deny your words, when they have seen with their own eyes the fruit of what you are telling them?

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, let us forever shine as a light for You. Help us to remember that we are always being watched…and that our actions and the words we speak need to reflect You. Amen.

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This Year

January 3, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

this year i’m not looking back to who i was
because i’m gonna be someone i’ve never been
this year i’m not focused on the cracks in the walls
not keeping track of the all times i fall
this year

so long to last year it’s all becoming so clear
there’s no use living in regrets
let’s fight a good fight
let’s train our eyes to find the Light
and make this year the best one yet
starting right here
happy new year

this year i plan on making less of ‘i’ and ‘me’
i resolve to think of us and we
this year i can’t wait to see what good will come
to feel alive instead of feeling numb
this year

so long to last year it’s all becoming so clear
there’s no use living in regrets
let’s fight a good fight
let’s train our eyes to find the Light
and make this year the best one yet
starting right here
happy new year

Singer/Songwriters ~ Dave and JJ Heller

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2014 – Seeking Him Encouragement

January 2, 2015 by

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This past week, my friends Ahmee, Ann, Cynda, Laura and Tina have shared from their hearts as they thought back on this past year….

Cynda shared in Three Things some specific ways in which God changed her.

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Romans 8:31b NLT

She wrote, “…there are three things God has shown me that have changed my perspective and my faith:

  • Yes, but…
  • Lay Me Down
  • Pocket Prayer”

(Click here to read more!)

❤

Ann wrote about God’s revealing something to her in Seeking God Where He Is Found:

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33

“When we came to the 31st December 2013 and as we were going into 2014, the Word of God that was very vivid to me was Matthew 6:33. I studied it and meditated on it…and, yes, I got revelation. Since then the year 2014 has been a year where “all things were added to me” and I am so thankful to my God for everything in the year 2014. God has been so faithful, loving, and kind to me and my family, friends, and relatives. ”

❤

Ahmee wrote in Distractions,
“This year has been for me a year of understanding what lack of focus and distractions can do in your life…. The thing about a distraction—it only has power once it has your focus. However, I have learned that there are things we can do to help prevent ourselves from being trapped by distractions. Colossians 3:1-2 gives the best advice in regards to distraction.”

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,
set your sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

❤

In My Journey This Year, Tina shared some of the things that God has taught her.

She wrote, “I have learned to continue to look toward God for my Strength and my Shield…I have learned this year to focus and trust God more….I have learned to look at myself and know my limits…there and at work…At home I have learned to not be critical of others…I have learned to pray more and wait patiently for God’s grace.”

❤

And Laura shared about all of the changes happening in our world in A New Year. “Our world is starting to crumble. The best thing I can do is to follow Christ with all my heart and try to live as He expects me to do—day in and day out. Maybe by doing this I can be an example to those who are living in the world but want something that the world cannot give them.
As the New Year approaches, I hope that I can grow closer to Jesus as the world continues to live in chaos. Life will be busy and hectic. Time will go by as quickly as it always does, but God comes (as He always should) first. I will continue to pray. I hope that all out there can do the same.”

❤

And as each of them have reflected on God’s goodness this past year, I also want to do likewise.  But my reflection is full of thankfulness for the way that God works in the hearts and minds of each of these ladies…and their faithful efforts to write as He inspires them to encourage and bless us!

Our Seeking Him devotional writing team hails from all over the United States—North, South, East, West…as well as way over in Malawi, Africa!  None of them has ever met each other…not even once sat down over a cup of coffee to strategize or deliberate over what to write or who will write what.  Nonetheless, each week a unified theme from the Scriptures is presented that brings encouragement to each readers’ heart and mind no matter who has written each daily devotion.  Each of them has an individual style but they are all united by, and led by, the Spirit.

For it is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose. Do all you have to do without grumbling or arguing, so that, you may be blameless and harmless, faultless children of God…shining like lights in a dark world. For you hold up in your hands the very Words of life.

Philippians 2:13-16

They, individually and as a team, are an example to me of this truth in action that Paul wrote in this letter to the church at Ephesus.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.  But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Ephesians 4:1-6

I am thankful to God, and to each of you Tina, Laura, Cynda, Ann, and Ahmee (along with Cheris, Clella, and Tonya, too!!!) for your example to us and how your example along with your words has helped to draw me closer to our dear heavenly Father! May He always be glorified through your lives!  God loves each of you…and I do, too.  ❤

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2014 – Three Things

January 1, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Romans 8:31b NLT

As I look back over the past year, there are three things God has shown me that have changed my perspective and my faith:

  • Yes, but…
  • Lay Me Down
  • Pocket Prayer

Yes, but…

Those two words have made such a big difference in my life.  When satan tries to bring up the past, reminding me of my failures or stirs up feelings of guilt, regret, or condemnation “yes, but…” stops him in his tracks.  “Yes, but…look how far God has brought me.”  “Yes, but…look what God has done.”  According to the Scriptures:

He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged
[he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment;
for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation];
John 3:18a AMP

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 NLT

Satan despises those two words—”Yes, but….”  That simple phrase keeps me from getting caught up in the enemy’s trap and shifts my focus. Those two little words give me the opportunity to praise God for all He has done in my life.

Lay Me Down

Too often I get in God’s way.  I run ahead of His plan.  I forget to seek His will.  One night in church we sang ‘Lay Me Down’ by Chris Tomlin.  The words of the chorus resonated deep within me.

“I lay me down I’m not my own
I belong to You alone
Lay me down, lay me down
Hand on my heart this much is true
There’s no life apart from You
Lay me down, lay me down
Lay me down, lay me down”

In John 13:38a (NIV) Jesus asks: “Will you really lay down your life for me?”  I must let go of my pride—I have to give up my rights—if I truly want His light to shine through my life.

Pocket Prayer

I just finished this Max Lucado study.  It answered so many questions I had regarding prayer.  It completely changed my prayer life.  The idea behind it is simple (because prayer should be simple). The basic outline goes like this:

“Father, You are good.
I need help. Heal me and forgive me.
They need help.
Thank You.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.“

Simple, right?  Then I embellish it in the areas I need to pray about.  Funny, sometimes I get so caught up in the ‘You are good…’ and thanking Him that I forget to pray the rest.  And that’s ok.  After all, prayer is just a conversation with God.  If I am all out of words…beyond words…incapable of words, then I just pray this and the Holy Spirit takes it from there.  As Romans 8:26-27 (NASB) tells us:

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we should,
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

It is so freeing when I don’t have to worry about saying the right words or praying the perfect prayer.  As Max says “Intercessory prayer isn’t rocket science.  It acknowledges our inability and God’s ability.”  God’s ultimate Will is inflexible but we can alter His strategy with our appeals and intercession.  Hallelujah!

(click here to find the Pocket Prayer Challenge.  And here for the Before Amen book.)

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I love Christian worship music.  Many, many songs have touched me this year.  But today, let me leave you with just one that speaks volumes about my life.  For no matter where I find myself in this life, His great grace always finds me.

Singer/Songwriter: Matt Redman along with Jonas Myrin

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Why Are You Afraid?

January 1, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.
Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat.
But Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”
Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.
The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked.
“Even the winds and waves obey him!”
Matthew 8:26a NLT

Luke 8:25a NIV asks a tough question: “Where is your faith?”

One thing I have learned—if I am afraid…I have lost my faith in God.  I am no longer trusting in Him.  It means I don’t trust Him not to hurt me.  It means I don’t believe He has my best interest at heart.  When I trust God and place my faith completely in Him, there is little room left for fear or doubt.

Bad things happen.  Whether it is a result of my poor choices, someone else’s choice, a trial I must go through, or discipline I need…bad things happen.  It is a fact of life. Hebrews 12:11 (NIV) states, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.”  What I must remember is that God is in control.  And there is a purpose for the bad things. Everything in my life has been filtered through Him.  Being a Christian doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen.  Storms will come at us, tossing us to and fro.  But those storms are much easily weathered when we cling to our Rock.  The second part of Matthew 8:26 (HCSB) reminds us “Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.”

Look at 2 Samuel 22:3 AMP…

My God, my Rock, in Him will I take refuge;
my Shield and the Horn of my salvation;
my Stronghold and my Refuge, my Savior—You save me from violence.

With God as our Rock, we have no reason to be afraid.
All it takes is placing our faith in Him alone.

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Father, please forgive me when I feel afraid.  Remind me You are my Rock and my Refuge.  When fear pokes at me…bringing doubts to mind…strengthen my faith in You. For if You are with me, who can stand against me?  In Jesus’ name I pray – Amen! It Is So.

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2014 – My Journey This Year

December 31, 2014 by

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My journey this year has been exciting.   My one friend has lost her mom after a stroke.  Another is getting to watch her oldest children go through relationships as young people and see how they navigate with God at the head of the relationships. I have met new friends…older and younger.  We have finished expansions on our home and repainted other areas.  Through this I have learned how impatient I can be.  And then I have learned to continue to look toward God for my Strength and my Shield.

I have seen relationships end and others grow in numbers (those are fun!).  Baby showers are the promise of new life to come.  God has given us the gift of new life around us.  God has given me the responsibility, along with others, to help lead our area in the Children’s Ministry; and it is fun to see the children grow and come through our doors at church for Early Childhood group. I helped organize our team for the Hallelujah Hoedown…which was a blast. It was hot, but it was fun.

I have learned this year to focus and trust God more. Working through the practices for the Hoedown, took lots of time. I was and am very thankful for what time all the volunteers gave to me and to the children this year. I have learned to look at myself and know my limits…there and at work.  At home I have learned to not be critical of others.  I have learned to pray more and wait patiently for God’s grace.

With Everything ~ Hillsong United / Joel Houston, songwriter

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2014 — A New Year

December 30, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been remembering what it has been like the past year, and over the past years as well.  I think about all the busy times and down times my family has had, and I remember many things that happened in my childhood. Needless to say, our children’s childhood is turning out much different.

Technology has evolved.  I had cassettes, records, and saw the birth of CDs.  My children have CDs and mp3.  Computers have always been here for them.  Pay at the pump has always existed.  Debit cards have always existed.  Technology has changed but so has the world.

Growing up, Jesus was a more prominent part of most people’s lives.  The Nativity wasn’t attacked.  The Ten Commandments weren’t under attack either.  You hardly ever heard about anything like the current persecution that is occurring today.  About the only thing people couldn’t do was pray in school.

The world is changing before our eyes. More and more people are losing their way and not following Christ. They are living in the world. Many people are starting to ignore God and refuse the good news of Christ. Our world is starting to crumble.

I think of all this, and I do realize that this is all part of Biblical prophecy.  We are living in the end times.  The best thing I can do is to follow Christ with all my heart and try to live as He expects me to do—day in and day out.  Maybe by doing this I can be an example to those who are living in the world but want something that the world cannot give them.

As the New Year approaches, I hope that I can grow closer to Jesus as the world continues to live in chaos.  Life will be busy and hectic.  Time will go by as quickly as it always does, but God comes (as He always should) first.  I will continue to pray.  I hope that all out there can do the same.

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Dear Heavenly Father: As we begin a New Year, please be with all of us as we continue to go about our busy lives.  We rely on Your strength to keep us going through the good and bad times.  Thank You for Your love and grace.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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2014 – Be Mindful of Distractions

December 29, 2014 by

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This year has been for me a year of understanding what lack of focus and distractions can do in your life.  Friends, family, laziness, entertainment, illness, work, emotions, and doubt (to name a few) are all things that can be distractions!  The thing about a distraction—it only has power once it has your focus.

However, I have learned that there are things we can do to help prevent ourselves from being trapped by distractions.  Colossians 3:1-2 gives the best advice in regards to distraction.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,
set your sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Simply put, the best cure for distraction is to stay focused on God.  Sounds simple enough, right?!?  If only….

Another way to make sure we don’t flirt with distraction is to make sure that we are doing the things that we already know we are supposed to be doing.  Here’s an example:

In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war,
David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites.
They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah.
However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
Late one afternoon, after his midday rest,
David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace.
As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.
2 Samuel 11:1-2

This passage is the opening to the familiar story of David and Bathsheba.  One thing that I have always noticed in this record is that David wasn’t even supposed to be home during this time.  David, being the king, should have gone to war (verse 1), but instead he sent Joab and the army…kingless.  And with single choice, one of David’s most infamous sins was committed.

We are humans.  We will sin.  If the possibly existed for us to not sin, then the sacrifice of Jesus would not have been necessary.  And we will get distracted…whether it be by something someone said or did, or by things we intend to be good.  Distraction is something that pulls you away from the path of God and the purpose He has called you to.  Be mindful of all that you choose to endeavor in because some things may just be a distraction.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, in the year to come, help us to remain focused on You, and to not waste valuable energy on things that You would not have us to do.  Let us purposefully engage in each activity and choice we make, with guidance from You showing us what is and what is not worth the limited amount of time we have here on Earth.  Amen.

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