Shine like the stars

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You are the light of the world… let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16). Are the words we use, the things we share in person and on social media, are they shining the light of Christ? Are our God-given lights shining with good deeds that result in praise of God?

Be …blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation … among whom you shine like stars in the universe (Philippians 2:14-15). Are we different from the world, living blameless and pure, so that God’s light shines through us in a dark world?

For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of the darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:5-7). Are we sharing God’s truth, the good news of Jesus, or are we sharing ourselves, our opinions and agenda? Will others look at us, mere clay pots, and see the shining power of God?

Heavenly Father, thank You for the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ who gives us the light of Christ in our hearts. May we shine for You! Help us be blameless and pure, remembering we are Your servants who are given Your mighty, excellent power. Father, help us shine for You so that others will see You and praise You!

 

Image from Nasa

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Through the wound

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I’m currently healing from retina surgery. A membrane had formed on the back of my eye, puckering, causing the vision to be distorted, and the optical nerve to be inflamed. Surgery was the only option for healing.

The surgery went extremely well. Although I continue to have some distortion, with time that should be corrected. Without that eye-wound being healed, my eyesight would have continued to get worse and possibly lead to blindness.

We all have wounds. We’ve all been wounded. The devil wants those wounded to stay in their wounded state, to remain trapped in the offenses done against them. If we don’t come to God with our wounds, if we refuse God’s healing, we can’t see beyond our wounded areas which leads to a distortion of our view of others, ourselves, and the world.

Fortunately, God is our Great Physician, Jehovah-Rapha the God who heals. Jesus came to bind the broken-hearted, heal wounds and heal lives, he restores sight to the blind, and sets captives free. Nothing is impossible for God and nothing can stop the love of God.

Jesus asks, “Do you want to get well? Come to Me and I will give you rest.” (John 5:1-9, Matthew 11:28).

As Christians, we don’t have to walk as the wounded. Jesus offers freedom, rest, and healing for every wound and every soul that comes to Him. The compassion, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ restores sight blinded by sins committed against us and sins we have committed. Jesus restores what the enemy meant for evil and makes all things new.

Please don’t allow the devil to keep you trapped in your wound. Come to the One wounded for you, who reaches out with nail-scarred hands to bring healing and restoration.

“When we press past the pain in prayer, when we press into Jesus, peace sutures bleeding hearts and holds them tenderly until they heal.” ~ Gwen Smith 

“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.” ~ Jeremiah 17:14 (NASB)

“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” ~ Psalm 103:2-4 (NIV)

“Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” ~ Isaiah 43:18-19 (NASB)

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28 (AMP)

*Gwen Smith, I Want It All, (Colorado Springs: David. C. Cook, 2016) https://amzn.to/2zD49Tx

Through the wound first appeared on https://lisabuffaloe.com

The great heist

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Two men hatched a plot and bought the abandoned building on Main Street. They didn’t talk to anyone, just went to the building in the morning and left late at night.

Across the street, old-timers on the front porch of the General Store, watched and wondered what the two strangers were doing day-after-day in secret.

One night when the stores and bank were closed, a boom shook the small town. People ran to see what happened. Dust and debris filled the air and a huge crater now stood next to the bank.

Screams and desperate yells came from the pit. The two strangers, covered in sewage, tried to claw their way out of the nasty, slimy hole they had created. The men thought they had tunneled to the bank and dynamited the vault, but instead blasted open a concrete sewage tank.

One of my older relatives chuckled as he told the story from years ago in his small town. Crime definitely didn’t pay in this instance.

Sin also doesn’t pay. The devil makes many promises, even makes sin look like a sure-fire way to get what is wanted. But, just like these unfortunate criminals, sin only leaves a slimy mess.

“Evil people fall into their own traps; good people run the other way, glad to escape” (Proverbs 29:6 MSG).

Fortunately, the grace of God reaches down to rescue those trapped in their pits of sin. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17 NKJV).

For those who call to His Son, Jesus Christ for help, His merciful love washes away the repentant sinner’s stains and leaves them white as snow.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7 NKJV).

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV).

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18 NKJV).

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