Walking in the Light

This morning I had such an amazing God Prompting opportunity!  God placed an unchurched friend in my path, whom I have known for quite a while, to ask me for help.  Not for a handout, but for a handup.  So I gave some suggestions and offered to help in several different ways and at the end God prompted me to invite him to church.  He tells me he doesn't go to church but oh by the way his daughter goes on Thursday nights and we begin to discuss what Thursday night looks like and share names of people whom she knows.  All good stuff.

Afterward, I considered the conversation and thought WOW what a small opportunity to do such a BIG THING!

I believe that we as Christians may sometimes forget the fear and uncertainty which can reign in the heart of one who doesn't follow Christ; how as we grow and search for our identity, we find ourselves simulating walking in the dark and searching for a light switch. 

This led me to look up the comparison of light vs dark and I happened upon a couple of interesting facts:
1- Photosynthesis is the process which plants use to capture and store energy from the sun.  This process takes the energy contained within light and converts it into chemical energy of bonds between atoms which power processes within cells.  This is the reason that our atmosphere contains oxygen.
2- The body also needs light to effectively perform.  The eyes process the light which objects reflect or give off which allows us to see.  And the body itself needs sunlight specifically to produce vitamin D which has a multitude of benefits so we can function properly.

In comparison:
1- Most Plants which find themselves in the dark rarely survive.  In fact, before dying they will slowly wither away before they finally give up.
2- The human body can survive without light; however a blind person must modify their lifestyle to accommodate the darkness and if a body does not get the right amount of vitamin D in the human body can create weakness, chronic pain, depression and fatigue even leading to cancer and diabetes.

So we can see the benefits of light in general to our world as we know it, now how does this relate to the Christian life?  

Well Ephesians 5:8-14 tells us:  ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 

Everything illuminated becomes a light . . .  So just like plants capturing and storing energy eventually using this light from the sun we also have the ability to capture and store light from each other through Christ and be able to pass it on to others who live in darkness!  WOW what an illuminating concept!

So what do we do with this?  Well Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14 that "We are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."  In 1 John 1:7 we are told that "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin."

So we have the opportunity to live "in the light of Jesus" and are able to "transfer the light of Jesus" to others through our relationships, through our fruits; always remembering that the light doesn't come from us but through us as a gift from our Heavenly Father.

So for my friend who lives in a life of uncertainty and fear, what are the benefits of my asking him to Church?  Well, He has the opportunity to hear the Word of God, to meet others who "Live in the Light" and to "Live in the Light" himself.  

The benefits of Living in the light as we have found in 1 John 1:7 is that we have the opportunity to fellowship with one another (inspiring and encouraging one another) and we have the truth of Jesus' Blood cleansing our sin giving us the promise of Eternal Life which is the greatest gift of all!

So, one chance meeting, one God prompt, one act of obedience leads to a seed being planted for God to water and hopefully allow another to walk out of the darkness of fear and uncertainty and find The Light which comes from Jesus for himself to include the beauty which comes with it.  

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!

Thank you Father for infusing me with Your Light.  Please use me as a light to shine to others who may be in darkness so they also have the gracious opportunity to find eternity with You.

Your Obedient Daughter,
Eve

Self Esteem or High Esteem

I find the stages of life interesting.  Do you ever sit back and consider each stage and why you react to things the way you do?  Do you ever find it interesting that every generation suffers through the same tendencies of control in the name of independence and/or the need to reach out and seek love and acceptance?  Just in different situations?

I grew up in a financially poor family, but one full of hugs.  My dad was a very hard working individual, working 6 and sometimes 7 days a week just to put food on the table.  My mom was a homemaker for 1/2 of my childhood years raising myself and 3 of my sisters.  So as you can understand we had quite a bustling household.

My "self-esteem" issues began I think around 8.  This is when I started reaching out for affirmation that I was beautiful, smart, funny, and that I mattered to someone.  You know, all of the same things that every girl likes to feel.

As time wore on, my need for affirmation grew and in a society of Seventeen magazine and Jordache jeans (which we could never afford), I always felt under-loved and under-appreciated.  Now this isn't to say that anyone made me feel that way, mind you.  This was always my perception.

This need would follow me for many years.  This need changed my outlook on myself, on my life, the choices which I made, the people I hung out with, etc . . .  There were many tears, many moments of self pity and many prayers which sounded like "Lord, why did you make me this way?"

It grieves me to see the young ladies of today go through even a small ounce of this.  I will find myself saying quite often, "If I only knew then what I know today. . . . "

So I come to this conclusion, 1st- How can I help those find their worth?  2nd- What is it that I would tell that 8 year old girl from 32 years ago?

I think I would start with a couple of verses:

Psalm 139:14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But He said to me:  "My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me..

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus..

Philippians 4:13
I can do All Things through Christ who strengthens me..

In these short verses we learn:  We are beautiful, God made us and therefore He made us beautifully.  It's okay to be weak, we are strong in Him.  Do not worry, lift up your worries to God, He will guard your heart and your mind.  I can do All things through Christ.

How to make an 8 year old understand these things?  A 16 year old?  A 21 year old?  A 30 year old?  Well first, they must have the relationship.  Then I believe these verses (and others which The Holy Spirit blesses) be memorized, placed on a mirror for daily introspection.  A mentor reminding and guiding in the way to develop and strengthen a relationship with Jesus.

I memorized Bible Verses when I was younger, but I did not understand the relationship until the last 10 years.  Does that mean you have to be an adult to have such relationship?  Absolutely not, but you must open your heart to Him first.  And as with any relationship, there is building involved.  Conversation (Prayer), Spending time Learning the Heart (Reading the Bible), Enjoying time together (Worship / Devotion).  These things learned whether at 8, 16, 21, 30 or even 40 like me will only develop the peace that much sooner allows you to live the Full and Beautiful Life God intended.

And the affirmation I was always seeking?  Well, the affirmation was always there, My Heavenly Father always thought I was beautiful, smart, funny, loved, appreciated.  I just couldn't see it because I was seeking it from other people, instead if from Him.  I traded my self esteem for His High Esteem.

I Love you Father, thank you for your creating me, for loving me and believing in me, thank you for washing away my self esteem so I can hold You in the Highest Esteem.

Your Loving Daughter,
Eve