WSR REPORT: THE LIGHT

Good Morning …

I pray all is well - 

I wanted to share this post with you today

I came across it while I was preparing my message yesterday.

The content was originally posted in 2014 – part of a series called ‘The Light’

However, I believe it holds a special significance in view of the past several weeks and ongoing challenges with COVID-19. Sheltered in place for weeks, there has been ample time to reflect … on everything.

Now, I will not pretend to know why all of what has happened has transpired. However, I believe the LORD has the ability to work through every situation and circumstance we encounter – to develop us, to grow us, to shape our character and to help us prioritize and refocus on what is important and essential. We cannot make Him known without knowing Him. Therefore, it is necessary and critical to undergo inner transformation. 

It all begins at home. I hope you enjoy!

Have a Blessed Day!

______________________________________

-originally posted January 25, 2014

‘… and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ Acts 1:8

Many are well familiar with the commissioning declaration in Acts 1:8. However, in verse four of that same chapter, we find the disciples being commanded to not depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father – The Holy Spirit.

Jesus told them that they would be His witnesses,

And that it would begin right where they were … at home

Yet all too often, it is the home which suffers the most – even among those who have dedicated themselves to being the light in their church, in their workplace and in their communities. Know that you cannot effectively and credibly export what is not first cultivated and established at home.

Noted humanitarian Mother Theresa has been quoted as saying, ‘We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.'

I Timothy 5:8 tells us [when speaking of families caring for widows] that anyone who does not provide for his own household is worse than an infidel.

We must understand – whether physical needs, spiritual needs or emotional needs – the light which emanates from one’s life should first be impacting the ones closest to them. My children would have a tremendously difficult time understanding all the giving that has taken place over the years if I only concentrated my attentions outward. However, my aim has always been to convey – by my words, my actions, my life – that they are my number one priority. So I ask …

• Do our families get the best part of us or what is left over after work and other obligations?
• Do they get quality and quantity time?
• Do they know they are loved?
• Do we speak the truth in love?
• Does our commitment to quality and respectful communication extend to the family – or do we raise our voices and use sarcasm?
• Do we actively strive to block the day’s frustrations from entering our home?
• Is there an overwhelming feeling of peace in the home?
• Is dinner special every night or only when there are guests?
• Are we able to laugh and have fun?
• Do they know they are loved unconditionally?
• Do we pray and demonstrate an unyielding and unwavering commitment to the LORD?
• Do the fruits of the spirit permeate the atmosphere - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
• If our family members were asked to describe us, what words would they use?

Understand, no one will hit the mark every day, in every instance – not at home or anywhere else. However, our heart desire should be to want to give our very best to our loved ones, to be our very best – in Christ – for our loved ones. 

I fail often. Yet I will quickly acknowledge my faults, apologize and work to remedy the situation. It is not a matter of being a perfect, excellent, shining example in every interaction with family. It is, however, a matter of striving for excellence in every interaction.

Ultimately, as we tend to the light in our hearts and in our homes, we will realize that the task of shining a light for others is significantly eased. Rather than searching for opportunities to shine the light of Christ, we will find people curiously drawn to the light of love which floods every area of our lives.

2014: The Light … keep it shining … start at home

May God Bless You Abundantly … Have a Great Week!

2014: THE LIGHT ... Free to Shine

Good Morning!

This post is a day late. However, it is not without good reason. I finished my last exam – for this semester – last night! For some reason, this past session was a particularly challenging one. Perhaps it is because I have been going non-stop since January 2013. And now, I am taking an extended spring break. I will not be going back to class until May … PRAISE THE LORD!

I truly need this break as a time to recharge and refresh – to do some goal planning, get some exercise, get some sleep and refill my spiritual storehouse. There are times when you have to listen to what your spirit, mind and body are telling you … and take a break before something breaks. This is that time.

I am believing that the next eight weeks are going to be a time of tremendous peace and growth. It will be an opportunity to dedicate even more time to prayer and reading His Word. And I believe the Holy Spirit will illuminate things that I need to keep transforming my thinking and my being. There will not just be quality time but quantity time as well. There will be even greater opportunities to let the love and light of God shine. And I am convinced that the LORD is going to meet with me and speak to me during this time.

I am so thankful for the freedom that comes from a relationship with the LORD.

'Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the  Lord.' 

II Corinthians 3:17-18

His love is truly my shining light ... in Him there is freedom.

I AM FREE TO SHINE!!! 

Praying God’s tremendous blessings upon you. For those who have experienced a time change and are losing an hour of sleep today … I pray that God will bless you with energy and strength for every task before you.

Here is an amazing and energizing song from Hillsong Young and Free … Alive!

Have a Blessed Week!

2014: THE LIGHT ... OF FORGIVENESS

Happy Saturday!

I pray you had a great week. My week was full of tasks and, if I am honest, I began to feel slightly overwhelmed by everything on my plate. And, while I would like to celebrate the weekend being here – and the opportunity for rest and relaxation – I cannot since this weekend is packed with chores, homework, meetings and class. All is well though. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. There is a light at the end of this tunnel and times of refreshing are on the way. But, I will talk about that next week. This week, I wanted to focus on the light of forgiveness.

I started out my day this morning reading Psalm 109.

Below, I share just a few of the verses penned in this chapter titled –

Plea for Judgment of False Accusers:

Verses 8-15

May his days be few;
    may another take his place of leadership.
May his children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow.
May his children be wandering beggars;
    may they be driven from their ruined homes.
May a creditor seize all he has;
    may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
May no one extend kindness to him
    or take pity on his fatherless children.
May his descendants be cut off,
    their names blotted out from the next generation.

May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord;
    may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
May their sins always remain before the Lord,

    that he may blot out their name from the earth.

Verse 17

He loved to pronounce a curse—
    may it come back on him.
He found no pleasure in blessing—
    may it be far from him.

Those are powerful words from the psalmist and you can really sense his disappointment, hurt, frustration and intense desire for vindication. However, as much as I can understand where David was coming from, I could not co-sign to these emotions as I read these verses this morning. As I looked back over the whole of my life, and despite several severely injurious instances, I realized that I could not earnestly pray those words over anyone this morning … not even those who have been most cruel to me. I found myself asking God to forgive those who have ever come against me without cause. I found myself asking Him to draw them to Himself. I found myself asking Him to be merciful to them … even as He has been merciful to me the countless times that I have failed.

Then it took me back to a section of Scripture that I read earlier this week.

BEHOLD, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion: For there the LORD commanded the blessing – life forevermore. Psalm 133

You see – the place of forgiveness, where brothers dwell together in unity, is the place where the anointing of the LORD is present. It is the place where He commands a blessing. It is the place where new life is granted to relationships and to individual souls.

Therefore, as much as depends on you – live peaceably with all men. 

Romans 12:18

Then your light of forgiveness will shine bright … lighting the path for those lost in darkness. From our demonstrations of forgiveness and love, they will be drawn to the One, Jesus, who is the initiator of the ultimate demonstration of forgiveness and love.

Have a tremendously blessed week!

2014:THE LIGHT ... Power Outage

Happy Saturday!

I pray your week was productive, letting the love of Christ shine in you and through you. And, if you do not know Christ, I pray that the light of God touched your life this week. Now, if you have visited this blog before, you know my aim is to be as transparent as possible. This week was a bit of a challenge for me. I experienced what I would call a slight power outage on Thursday. Understand, there was nothing wrong with the power source – Christ. There was a ‘connectivity issue’ … from my end.

Somehow, in a sinful instant of gratifying the flesh instead of the spirit, I allowed demands which were being placed upon me to cause a momentary short-circuit. It resulted in me being short with a few people as I was not nearly as patient as I could have been or should have been. Now, I immediately repented and went back to apologize to those individuals. Yet, it got me thinking about what we need to do to avoid any flickering or variation of the light we shine for Christ … and what to do when, despite our best efforts, we have a less than shining moment.

MAINTAIN – A steady connection with the power source must be maintained at all times. This cannot be said enough or emphasized too strongly. Bible reading, prayer, praise, worship, reflection & meditation all do an effective job in keeping us connected to the LORD God Almighty. There is a need to reflect upon the love demonstrated by Christ and to draw upon the power which is made available to us through the Holy Spirit. ‘Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face forevermore!’ (I Chr. 16:11)

MONITOR – Situations and circumstances must be monitored and there must be an anticipation of how they might impact one’s life. Like an electric company preparing for poor weather, we must understand and foresee that there will be times when increased demands for light will be placed upon our resources. We must prepare in advance to minimize the likelihood of any power outages or to avoid them altogether. Scripture tells us that we are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices (II Cor. 2:11) and that we should not think it strange when trials come (I Peter 4:12-13). We should be looking and anticipating … and planning a godly response before a demand is made.

MANAGE – Godly responses can be achieved as we manage our light by remaining in a constant state of readiness. Many of us are familiar with the verse in Ephesians telling us to put on the whole armor of God. However, I like how The Message Version of that same text reads:  ‘And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and He wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.' Eph. 6:11-17 MSG 

As stated above, there are times when we will miss the mark. And it is during those times where we have an almost equal opportunity to shine the light we should have had glowing all along.  There will be times when we must … MEND

So what does this mending require?

Immediate response – Ephesians 4:26 tells us, ‘do not let the sun go down on your anger.’ This lets us know that our response, and part of repairing any damage that has been done, is to respond with a sense of urgency. We must turn immediately from anything which does not or has not reflected His glory. Further, we must extend the reach of our response – not only making things right with God, but making things right with man. ‘I AM SORRY…’ These are three little words which can go a very long way when delivered timely and with sincerity.

Restoration of Power – We must go back into maintenance mode a thousand times per day. Through prayer, fasting, repentance and godly perspective, we can restore our connection to the Power Source. Again, there is never anything wrong with The Source. He is glorious and perfect, shining bright at all times. The problem arises when we allow the situations of life to impact us to the point where we no longer allow Him to shine through us (see Luke 11:33).

Effective Damage Control – Go back to the individual or individuals to ensure all is back on track. We cannot be effective ministers of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:18) if there is discord … much worse if we are the cause of that discord. Luke 17:1 tells us, ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!’ Therefore, ‘if possible, as far as it depend on you [on all of us], live at peace with everyone.' (Rom. 12:18)

Restoration of Service – The restoration of service is different from the restoration of power. Our connection with and submission to the source of power, Jesus, is our focus in restoring power. Our connection to others and our services to them – shining the light of Christ – is the focus in restoring service. I Kings 19 conveys to us the story of the powerful prophet Elijah who had just come off the heels of an amazing victory for the kingdom of God (I Kings 18:18-40). However, in this section of scripture, Elijah has appeared to have lost some focus, causing him to respond in an uncharacteristic manner – frustrated, fearful, over-emotional, full of self-pity and weary to the point of death. Yet, the LORD’s instruction [after addressing some of Elijah’s physical and spiritual needs] was for him to ‘get back to work.’ Elijah responded … and so too must we.

I pray you have tremendously blessed weekend and week.

Keep that Light Shining!

God Bless …

2014: The Light ... At Home

‘… and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ Acts 1:8

Many are well familiar with the commissioning declaration in Acts 1:8. However, in verse four of that same chapter, we find the disciples being commanded to not depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father – The Holy Spirit.

Jesus told them that they would be His witnesses,

And that it would begin right where they were … at home

Yet all too often, it is the home which suffers the most – even among those who have dedicated themselves to being the light in their church, in their workplace and in their communities. Know that you cannot effectively and credibly export what is not first cultivated and established at home.

Noted humanitarian Mother Theresa has been quoted as saying, ‘We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.'

I Timothy 5:8 tells us [when speaking of families caring for widows] that anyone who does not provide for his own household is worse than an infidel.

We must understand – whether physical needs, spiritual needs or emotional needs – the light which emanates from one’s life should first be impacting the ones closest to them. My children would have a tremendously difficult time understanding all the giving that has taken place over the years if I only concentrated my attentions outward. However, my aim has always been to convey – by my words, my actions, my life – that they are my number one priority. So I ask …

• Do our families get the best part of us or what is left over after work and other obligations?
• Do they get quality and quantity time?
• Do they know they are loved?
• Do we speak the truth in love?
• Does our commitment to quality and respectful communication extend to the family – or do we raise our voices and use sarcasm?
• Do we actively strive to block the day’s frustrations from entering our home?
• Is there an overwhelming feeling of peace in the home?
• Is dinner special every night or only when there are guests?
• Are we able to laugh and have fun?
• Do they know they are loved unconditionally?
• Do we pray and demonstrate and unyielding and unwavering commitment to the LORD?
• Do the fruits of the spirit permeate the atmosphere - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
• If our family members were asked to describe us, what words would they use?

Understand, no one will hit the mark every day, in every instance – not at home or anywhere else. However, our heart desire should be to want to give our very best to our loved ones, to be our very best – in Christ – for our loved ones. 

I fail often. Yet I will quickly acknowledge my faults, apologize and work to remedy the situation. It is not a matter of being a perfect, excellent, shining example in every interaction with family. It is, however, a matter of striving for excellence in every interaction.

Ultimately, as we tend to the light in our hearts and in our homes, we will realize that the task of shining a light for others is significantly eased. Rather than searching for opportunities to shine the light of Christ, we will find people curiously drawn to the light of love which floods every area of our lives.

2014: The Light … keep it shining … start at home

May God Bless You Abundantly … Have a Great Week!

2014: The Light ... The Need

Good Morning! 

Praying you all had a wonderful week. I set my mind to thoroughly enjoy this last week of winter break. And, alas – after a full month off, school starts back Monday. I am excited though … this semester will be much more manageable than the last. I had a great coffee night with my best friend yesterday and I am ready to hit the ground running. With that in mind, here is the second of our 2014: The Light posts. 

And the focus for today? The Need …

‘… the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.’ John 3:19

Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil –

One of the things I love about the Bible is its unchanging relevance. No matter the culture, despite socio-economic status, regardless of race or gender and transcending boundaries of time and space – the Bible is every bit as applicable today as it was the day it was written.

‘The entirety of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.’ Psalm 119:160

The whole of His Word is true and accurate –

We need only look at some of the topics that generated headlines for the first two weeks of this year to realize the desperate conditions of our generation: legalization of marijuana, child endangerment, random violence, murder, government scandal, sexual assaults, data-integrity breaches, persecution and martyrdom - just to name a few.

There is a true need for light in this world

However, we do not have to look to the headlines to identify this need

We need simply to examine our own lives

Luke 6:42 asks a pointed question and offers unfiltered commentary and rebuke: ‘Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, allow me to take out the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? You actor (pretender, hypocrite)! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.’

You see, the first step in being able to shine a light –

Is combating the darkness in our own lives

‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ Rom. 3:23

Further –

‘the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.' Galatians 5:19-21

Of course, there are some who will look at that list and self-righteously declare: ‘I do not engage in any of those practices!’

Yet, as we discussed last week, II Timothy 3:1-5 tells us, ‘in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” [Italics and bold print, my emphasis]

This word is for everyone - those inside the church and those outside; saved and unsaved. Therefore we must all take the time to honestly evaluate our lives, our hearts, our intentions.

What do we pray for?

Who do we pray for?

Do we forgive … and how long does it take?

Do we think of others, at all?

Do we possess the same giving nature that God has?

Why do we do what we do?

What is our standard in life?

Do we read His Word … to examine ourselves?

‘God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before Him, and to Him we must explain the way we have lived.' Hebrews 4:12-13 NCV

Do we truly think about our own actions?

And, are we determined to become more and more like Him?

Take some time this week to pray and truly reflect on … you

Ask God to show you, through His Word, who you are … and who you need to become

We cannot shine an outward light if the inward light is not constantly attended to and blazing bright

Next week, we will be looking at some ways to focus on the light: individually, in your home and in your local church.

Praying you have an abundantly blessed week!

2014: The Light

Happy New Year again, this first weekend of 2014!

This year I am going to attempt to maintain a better balance between all of my responsibilities and interests. As part of that balance, I will be refocusing some of my attentions here. And the press on my heart for this year ... 2014: The Light

• The light Who is Jesus Christ
• The light which is so desperately needed in dark times
• The light that we as Christians have been called to be

When we look in Scripture, John 8:12, we see Jesus testifying of Himself, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

That is true encouragement for these dark times which have engulfed the earth. II Timothy 3:1-5 tells us, ‘in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.'

Yet, there is a comfort in knowing that we do not have to be consumed by the darkness. Rather, we have the ability to walk in the light and, to not just walk in the light but to carry that light within us and to others through the power of His Holy Spirit.

Matthew chapter five tells us that, “You are the light of the world”

The implication, is that we are to shine as beacons of light, like a lighthouse in the darkness shining the way for those who are navigating their way through the murky situations of life – doing our part to ensure they safely reach home.

There is a quote which so aptly captures the role of a believer as a lighthouse and beacon of hope. It notes, “I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve." - George Bernard Shaw

Likewise, we are built only to serve …

Only, we are not constructed by the hands of men. In Jeremiah 1:5, the LORD speaks and declares, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.  Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as My prophet to the nations.'

The call to be the light is not a glamorous one. It is a selfless call, often lonely and long enduring. It is in many respects a thankless position and is frequently overlooked. However, it is incredibly important and its impact is far-reaching, adding value to the lives of those who benefit from it … even if they are unaware of how it is blessing them.

It is not a difficult job –

Yet, it is a job which will require your steadfast commitment. You may fulfill that call by rising early in the morning and praying for those that will never know of your care, concern and sacrifice. You may fulfill the call by being a dedicated and loving mom and wife or by leading your household in godliness. You may shine the light with your extended family, in your school or in your place of business. You may be able to answer the call for light on the game field or in the local coffee house. In every sector of life there exists opportunities to shine the light of Christ into dark situations and circumstances.

So remember –

‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.' Matthew 5:14-16. 

I am excited about this year!

I am expecting great things and am certain it will be a year of tremendous spiritual growth, opportunities to be a meaningful light in the world and unexpected blessing. Have a blessed day. Here is a great song by Josh Wilson to get your morning going … 

Pushing Back the Dark