What Wattage is Your Light?

Let’s sing it together….one more time! "This little light of mine...I'm gonna' let it shine!" What a great old song we learned as kids. "This Little Light of Mine" is a gospel song written for children in the 1920s by Harry Loes. Obviously, its message was as needed in the 1920s as it is now almost 100 years later in the 2020s. It was a dark time in the 1920s with the stock market crashing. The economic boom and the Jazz Age were over, and America began the period called the Great Depression.

And here we are in the almost 2020’s where our world is still filled with darkness and so many people choose to live in the dark. Those lost souls may never find the light anywhere in the world except from you and me and the gospel that we live in front of them -- not so much by what we say....but how we demonstrate God's love in our actions to them. People are watching us. And it is our light that draws them in to ask: "Why is your life so peaceful and full of joy?” And we can boldly reply "It's God's love!" St. Paul reminds us, "You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8).

I had an aha moment about the variations of light that we should consider as LIGHT bearers. There are times when we need to let our light shine as a soft, calming, sensitive and tender candlelight to those around us. Other times, our wattage needs to be amped up boldly and brightly to bring about clarity and illumination so that those who see us, see the truth of God's love and Word. Then there are times when we need the high beams of flood and spot lights -- that dispel the darkness as we lift up He Who is the One deserving to be in the spotlight -- after all HE IS THAT LIGHT.

I know I need to wisely discern which light wattage I should be using at any given time. My “little light” needs to be regulated in those moments so that it is Jesus’ light – not MY light that makes the difference in their lives -- especially when sharing about Him. As I sing "This little light of mine, I'm gonna' let it shine" -- I'm considering: "Do I need to turn up the dimmer switch or turn it down?" Do I put away the harsh, cold light that is insensitive and makes others just want to stay away from my light? Those decisions are best accomplished by checking in with THE LIGHT SOURCE -- He Who knows everything about everything will guide us and help us light the way for others to come to Him.

So, let's "let it shine, let it shine....all the time", being God’s light that dispels darkness in the faces and places that need His loving light the most. It’s about shining our lights for Him Whose light is bearable, lovable, healing, and draws people to Him. Shining Jesus to this world is the way to go and if people around us can’t handle it, then let’s give them some shades!

"The Heavens Declare the Glory of God, and the Sky Above Proclaims His Handiwork" Psalm 19:1

Tuesday night (August 8th), Denise and I were playing Pickleball at the outdoor courts here in my community. The Texas heat means that we want to only play early morning or late evenings. While the wind is a factor for outdoor play, it also opens up the opportunities to be amazed at God's heavenly handiwork.

We noticed, to the East, the most beautiful orange/red moon just coming up behind the homes, pictured here. This photo doesn't do it justice. We remembered hearing about the solar eclipse that is happening August 21st. Suposedly it will be a huge astronomical event, with amazing visibility. When we googled this moon, however, we didn't find anything But this brilliant, scientific mind and zeal to know more (LOL!), checked it out the next day and I found it was Lunar Eclipse, not a Solar Eclipse. The 2nd photo here was taken in Spain.

So, what is a lunar eclipse? A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes BEHIND the Earth and into its shadow. The Moon doesn't have its own light source; it is reflecting light from the Sun onto the Earth. So when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are all aligned, it means the Moon will pass into the shadow of the Earth. A lunar eclipse only happens during a full moon. A total lunar eclipse is often referred to as a blood moon. A solar eclipse is just the opposite. It occurs when the Moon passes BETWEEN the Sun and the Earth. A solar eclipse is also a lot shorter than a lunar eclipse and limited to a smaller viewing area of the world. You're welcome. I'm pleased to give a little scientific reporting to you, my FB friends. LOL!

But, Denise and I wondered (before I found out the next morning) why that orange/red moon Tuesday night, as we never heard about it. We, both, are in tune with what the Bible says about the moon being turned into blood in Joel 2:31, "The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes." And it also appears in the Book of Revelation 6:12 "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood". So, along with the awe of the few minutes we had to look at this "heavenly sight", we both were saying "Come, Lord Jesus! We are ready to go! Take us up to be with You!" After all, Titus 2:12-13 says that the grace of God teaches us “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the BLESSED HOPE — the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” This night raised our awareness of that blessed hope we have as believers.

You might be thinking "Silly, delirious girls! You must be overheated by the Texas sun!" That's okay. I get it. But, for these two girls, we believe that just as Jesus came to this earth the first time as a baby, we also believe He's going to make a sonic boom re-entry in His Second Coming, because He said He would, "I will come again" John 14:3.

Max Lucado puts it this way. "As Christ came, He will come. But He won’t come as He came. He came quietly in Bethlehem. He will return in glory with a shout. “All who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out” (John 5:28). In Bethlehem, the just-born Jesus slept. Upon his return, “The Lord will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). At the first coming, few people noticed. At His second, “All the nations of the world will be gathered before Him” (Matthew 25:32). In Bethlehem, Joseph placed Jesus in a manger. At his return, Jesus will be seated on a throne: “The Son of Man will come in great glory, with all his angels. He will be King and sit on His great throne” (Matthew 25:31). WOW, thanks, Max, for that awe-inspiring message on Christ's coming.

So, knowing all that -- why should we worry or fret about what today or tomorrow might bring on this earth? It just makes sense to be concerned when we live in a world of wars and conflict and where God is mocked and shunned. Aw! But not so for those of us who are devoted followers of Christ. We have nothing to fear or dread because as St. Peter said in 2 Peter 3:13 “What will happen next, and what we hope for, is what God promised: a new heaven and a new earth where justice reigns." So, go ahead, Lord, and perform Your wonders in the heavens and the earth and then, please come and get us!

Three times St. John recorded in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, Revelation 22:20, Christ's wonderful promise: “I am coming quickly”. With St. John, and all Christians, we respond with deep yearning: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” In the meantime, we will be determined to be faithful, vigilant, hope-filled, devoted followers of Christ and continue to look up to the heavens at God's incredible handiwork.

What is Your Little Light Shining?

Day 193 of Photo Inspirations -- What is Your Little Light Shining?
At my Life Group this week, we were discussing "letting our lights shine", when one of our gals mentioned that she had taken a course in college called "The Study of Lasers".  She went on to tell us that light travels in straight lines.  A laser produces light, but unless the laser light bounces off of something, you cannot see it.  The beam is invisible in normal air.  However, you can see the beam if there is something in the air, like smoke, that the light can bounce off of.  It takes time for our brains to understand what our eyes see.  Because of that, a fast moving laser beam spot will not look like a spot at all, but like a line of light.  That's AMAZING!

We had just talked about lighting a candle to dispel the darkness in our world.  Then she said, "There's a lot of difference between candlelight and laser light, and there are a lot of different lights in between:  incandescent, flourescent, halogen, LED.  She said, "Singing 'This little light of mine, I'm gonna' let it shine' sure takes on a whole new meaning with those thoughts.  Right?"

Different light sources have different purposes.  A soft candlelight brings calmness and sweet ambience to a room.  An incandescent light bulb is what Thomas Edison invented.  An electric current passes through the filament in the bulb, heating it to a temperature that produces light.  And, it can be dimmed or made brighter.  Then there's the flourescent light that gives a flat, cold light, often bluish and harsh. It is a daylight-equivalent and cannot be put on a dimmer. Then there are the LED -- Flood or Spotlights.  Those are the lights that cities are brilliantly lit up and it causes the evil lurkers to hide from them.  And, then there is the laser light.

I had an aha moment about the variations of light that we should consider since we are LIGHT bearers.  Unquestionably, there are times when we need to be soft candlelight that is calm, sensitive, and tender to those around us.  Other times, our light must be bold and bright to bring about clarity and illumination and eyes of understanding to be opened to the truth of God's love and Word.  Then there are times when our lights are flood and spot lights -- that dispel the darkness as we lift up He Who is the One deserving to be in the spotlight -- after all HE IS THAT LIGHT.  And then there is the LASER light that is the LASER Sword of "God's Word that is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."  Hebrews 4:12

This aha moment spoke to me about the times when I need to regulate my "little light" and pay attention to which light I should be shining at any given time -- especially when sharing about Him.   Yes, now as I sing "This little light of mine, I'm gonna' let it shine" -- I'm going to consider "Do I need to turn up the dimmer switch or turn it down?"  Do I put away the harsh, cold light that is insensitive and makes others just want to stay away from my light?  And, what about pulling out my LASER Sword of God's Word?  Those decisions are best accomplished by checking in with THE LIGHT SOURCE -- He Who knows everything about everything will guide us and help us light the way for others to come to Him.

And the LIGHT Keeps Shining Brightly

Day 4 of 365 days of my photo inspirations for 2015:
Tonight I was taken with the lights on many homes that are still brightly lit and shining in my children's Texas neighborhood.  While many Christmas lights have been put away for another year, I, and many others will conclude our Christmas season on January 6th, after the 12 days of Christmas, and at the celebration of Epiphany (the manifestation of the Lord)  and the day commemorated when  the Wise Men brought their gifts to the Christ Child.

As I saw those homes tonight, I was touched by our desire to hold onto the lights a little longer -- it makes for such a tender and welcoming invitation to those homes.  But, most of all, those lights continue to remind us of THE LIGHT that shines ever brightly in our hearts.

We will take down the lights from our homes, but it's up to us to represent and be THE LIGHT to our family, our neighbors and our world.  We are "the chosen ones" to be the peacemakers, servants, joy and hope bearers to this world that needs that LIGHT so much.

Though Jesus is the ultimate, ever-ready, radiant, source of LIGHT that dispels darkness.....He told us in Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shines to all that are in the house. Even so let YOUR light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

What if OUR LIGHTS were shining so brightly that when people pass our way, they draw toward THE LIGHT and their world of darkness is dispeled?    Let's  BE the Light that keeps on shining -- all year long!

Living in the Sweet Spot

Want to know the secret to my joy, my peace, my place of absolute contentment?

I’ll admit – “I’m in a sweet spot!” Even, the very day of the “big reveal” of my Sweetheart’s diagnosis – Stage 4 Kidney Cancer – I was enveloped in a blanket of peace. And to this very day, I know what it is to live in that peace. And, I am absolutely adamant about protecting that blanket with everything that’s within me…..and outside of me. Indeed, it is my “security” blanket.

I don’t watch horror flicks – on TV or theaters. I don’t read books that cause me to entertain thoughts of darkness, and neither do I put myself into situations that draw me into darkness, nor those “issues” that create darkness – anger, envy, strife, jealousy, sadness, grief, etc. If I find myself even getting close to those places…..I look for the closest “escape hatch” that I can find.

That’s why I, along with about 30 others who were with me, all got up and left a Broadway play that was displaying those “dark” emotions: anger, jealousy, killing a husband, cheating on a wife, and lots of cursing.

And that’s why I made a decision many years ago…..to forego Halloween. I live in the light…..why would I choose to be part of a custom that applauds the darkness? Witches, ghosts, devils, death, horror, blood, violence, skeletons, haunted houses?

I found that what we entertain, welcome, and think about is what we’ll get more of. And my greatest LIGHT source – is God’s Word. That’s why the scriptures are so vital to me – they’re my absolute Statements of Faith, Peace, Comfort and Joy -- Isaiah 26:3 ”You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” And, Philippians 4:8-9 “...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (words of St. Paul)

So, today, if you find yourself depressed, sad, afraid, doubting -- those places of darkness -- I lovingly encourage you to move toward THE LIGHT. Put light in your heart and home by eliminating the sources of darkness. I promise you…..you’ll find the SWEET SPOT…..where I live! There’s nothing like it! It’s Candyland everyday!
— feeling peaceful.