Gratefulness
Decidedly GRATEFUL
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, THAT THEY WHICH COME IN MAY SEE THE LIGHT. Luke 11:33
I would love to hear from you. Feel free to leave a comment or share a thought at [email protected].
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18
My goal is to encourage you to count your blessings. Living for God can be a trial or a joy – the choice is yours. There will be no picture of me, the blogger, and no personal facts about me because this page is not about me – it is about the God of my salvation, the strength of my days. You will probably learn a bit about me through my posts simply because we are all the sum total of our experiences but it is not my intention to do anything other than share the joys I see in living for God. As I told someone recently, this is for me – blessing you will simply add to the joy of what I am doing.
Debra
If you are interested in receiving notices when a new blog has been placed please email me and leave me your email address. I am not tech savvy and don’t know how to post a link for you to sign up but I will eventually learn that – so we’ll go semi “old-school” for now
I can’t believe April is already here and Easter is just around the corner. It’s actually starting to warm up, buds are poking up out in the garden and the grass is needing to be mowed again.
I am so thankful God has had His hand on me this past winter as I nursed and buried my sister. My memories keep her alive and God continues to give me comfort.
My plan has been to tell you why a lighthouse was chosen for my blog page. I know it’s not a great picture and, novice that I am, I don’t know how to find a better one (yet) but it speaks to me, so for now I will leave it. I know this blog is about the little blessings God sends our way and I might sound just a TAD preachy today, but this is what has been burning in my heart, so buckle up and ride along with me as I tell you about my lighthouse.
An old song tells us there’s a lighthouse on the hillside. It goes on to say that Jesus is that lighthouse. Guess what – the scripture doesn’t call Jesus a lighthouse. It does tell us He is the light of the world (John 8:12). Jesus told the crowd following Him in John 12 that while we have light, to believe in the light, that we may be children of the light.
The scripture does tell us WE are the light in Matthew 5:14 and that we must not be hid. Acts 13 tell us that He has set us to be a light to the gentiles. And that is the meaning of my lighthouse.
My life should be lived in such a way that others see Christ in me. Do I handle my children with love or impatience? Do I do my daily chores in a spirit of love or am I resentful because there are at least a hundred other things I would rather be doing?
A thought came to me as I was mentally preparing this blog – when I stand before God (as we all will one day) I pray He says well done. But will there be a little addendum to that….”Well done in the Sunday School Class you taught – your worship during your last night in church was sweet smelling to me, but I just spoke with your next door neighbor and they were sent away. It seems you never mentioned me to them.” Oh Lord, don’t let me be found guilty of missing the opportunity of an open door.
I was thirteen when my family moved to a new place and a new church. I was quiet, insecure and friendless. We hadn’t been there long when an elderly woman in the church invited me to go to lunch with her after Sunday Morning Service. I will honor her by referring to her by name. Sister Sutlivich was a widow with no children but she loved the Lord and she saw my pain and reached out. We dined in a cool little cafe in a part of the city that I hadn’t seen before. Over the year that we lived in that city I had many lunches with Sister Sutlivich, went to her home, learned of new cultures and how her deep love for God carried her through her loneliness. I wish I could say I kept up with her but to my regret I have to admit I didn’t. I heard several years later she had passed away – but I have never forgotten her or the light she shone in my life as a vulnerable young teenager.
Am I reaching out to the young person in my local assembly that might be just a little different than everybody else? When my neighbor down the street heads my way do I duck back inside because I don’t feel I have time to visit at that moment – will I miss the open door? And when my friend shares her fears do I take her hand and pray with her or do I simply give her words of encouragement? Words of encouragement are great but can we reach into ourselves just a little bit deeper to share more of the light God has placed within us?
Easter is just around the corner. The love God showed us by bearing our sins was the ultimate sacrifice. He only asks us to be a light in a lost and dark world. Am I up to the challenge? Is there someone I can encourage this week? Can I whisper a prayer for the homeless man by the side of the road? Can I hold my child and murmur words of consolation over a slight by a friend? Am I willing to weep tears of intercession for a lost loved one – or for a need God has placed on my heart without even showing me what that need is?
Lord, let my light so shine that others may see Thee instead of me!
And may God richly bless you as we go into the Easter season remembering His great love.