We Have a Lamp Inside Us -- Light it Up With a Smile!

I've been on both sides of a smile -- giving it and receiving it. I learned from first-hand experience the importance of a smile. I've been the "new girl", already nervous about my first day on-the-job, and a kind and warm, smiling fellow employee meets me with the biggest smile and welcome that cuts right through all those jitters. I learned from that experience, when I was the employer or a fellow employee and absolutely knew I could be the "smiling" light the new employee needed.

My pastor in Tulsa told my husband and me that whenever he looked out at the crowd, he would purposely look for us because we were affirming and embracing him through our smiles. Oh, I've been on his side, too -- looking out at the audience.... to find that smile worn by a loving and supportive listener.

Have you ever delivered a message or announcement to a group or crowd of people and did your best to overcome those mellow, icy stares or frowning faces looking back at you? You really do have to hand it to speakers, teachers, leaders, pastors, and ministers who can motivate audiences who are looking back at them with those seemingly unhappy, sullen and serious faces.

I know some folks just can't help it. They have a natural frown and they're not really unhappy. In fact, I often walk past a mirror or I see a photo that someone has taken of me that I didn't get to pose for, and I think "Donna -- be on purpose with smiling -- think about it, and SMILE!" God has something to say about smiling:

Proverbs 15:13 "A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of the heart, the spirit is crushed."

Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Psalm 34:5 "Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed."

Besides God's ideas, there are other good reasons to smile:
~ Smiling can make you happy (even when you're not).
~ Smiling can help you de-stress.
~ Smiling can help you land a job.
~ Smiling can lead to laughter.
~ Smiling just feels good.

This isn't profound, but I know that a smile says "In spite of my circumstances -- good or bad -- I am blessed and I win!" I'll take that! I'm smiling BIG! Let's give out smiles -- it just may be the turn-around someone needs to brighten and lighten their day and load!

That RADIANCE – That Glow!

That RADIANCE – That Glow!
A dear saint, my Mama, used to say to me when I felt less than pretty or RADIANT -- “Pretty is as pretty does!” Honestly that annoyed me because I could only see a freckled (often with pimples) face, brown dish-water colored hair, the skinniest, flat chested teenager in ALL THE WORLD. All my friends seemed to be have come into their own flawless selves, complete with all the curves I DIDN’T have. Even way back then, it was ALL about appearance, and MY appearance, in my opinion, sure didn’t measure up. But, THEN, came my relationship with God that soared, and that stinkin’ thinkin’ lost its priority in my life. Thank God I improved with age – in wisdom, self-esteem and realizing what true beauty was all about.

My word for today is RADIANT -- sending out light; shining or glowing brightly, characterized by good health, intense joy, happiness.

Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” There are many ways to fix a girl up and make her look pretty, but it is the inner beauty that God looks for. My saintly mom really got it right when she said, “Pretty is as pretty does.” It even holds true today. It is what we do that defines us. A woman who loves, trusts and lives her life with values, standards and has a heart toward God ensures that her life is beautiful from the inside out.

A woman OR man after God’s own heart, who has deep trust and faith in Him is most grateful for God’s praises of her/him. AND, those praises from God and the inner peace and joy that come from their relationship with Him produces that RADIANCE that others are drawn to and want to know that “RADIANCE” beauty secret.

I remember, as a young bride, I would hear someone say to me, “You look RADIANT!” Again, as a mother-in-waiting for my newborn baby to arrive I’d hear “You are just glowing!" What was that glow about? It was an almost heavenly joy and thrill of great expectation,hope and happiness.

Psalm 34:5 says "Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." I've witnessed that firsthand. I’ve seen people praying or praising God and their faces shined beyond normal. When I am in prayer, there are times that I feel RADIANT. I know what it is to have had the consolation of being totally absorbed in God and forgetting about myself. I felt like I was glowing. Jesus told his disciples that “the righteous will shine like the sun” (Matthew 13:43). “Shining like the sun” is quite the SHINE, and for the most part, we are LIGHT bearers because Christ lives in us and His RADIANCE shines through us as we reach out in love to serve others, as we share His peace, joy and comfort, as we rise and SHINE and give God the glory for his goodness and His mercy.

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.“

Need self-esteem? Want to be RADIANT and beautiful? “Pretty is as pretty does.” Lean into God and the closer and tighter we get to Him, we'll take on the “family” resemblance and the more beautiful and RADIANT we will be.

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!