You may have heard it, sung it, or hummed it…. but what is the point of that super catchy song from childhood?

This little Light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine…

Ok, now that we’ve got that stuck in your head for the rest of the day…let’s put some real meaning behind it.  What light are you shining? 

Sound like a trick question?  Of all the times you’ve heard that song, has that question lost its meaning?  It started with this phrase…

⁵ But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 5:9)

Jesus told his disciples that while He was here, He was the Light of the World.  He was here to cast light into dark places and reveal what is hidden there.  The Light Jesus was talking about could shine into anything and show that Gods greatness even there, even in the places you think he can’t be, even in the places you hide from Him.  But Jesus knew He wouldn’t walk on Earth forever.  So, He shared this with those who followed Him about what would become of the Light of the World when He left…

 ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden”      (Matthew 5:14)

Those who believe carry the spirit of Jesus inside of them, the Holy Spirit.  The Light of the World is with them always and they are given that gift so they can share it.  To be like a city on a hill, glowing all the good they know of God out for the world to see.

Sometimes we forget to let the Light that’s inside of us, SHINE out for all the world to see.  We get distracted by more tangible things like homework and soccer practice and grocery lists.  We stop thinking about it all together and start doing our own thing.  Other times we’re embarrassed about it.  We wish this Light came with an on/off switch.  Like when that hot guy finally asked you out for a Wednesday night but you’re supposed to be at church.  Or when everyone’s hanging out at a party and you start feeling like maybe you should, or maybe you shouldn’t,  or what if its just once????  We think if only we could put a dimmer on this thing we could skate by and live a little…right? 

Well, Jesus knew that too.  Just like He knows everything about you.  That’s what makes Him the Light of the world.  He knows everything you try to push into the dark.  And He SHINE’s his love there too. Because He loves you.  And He created you not live in the dark but to live in the Light surrounded by His love! So, He didn’t just stop with telling us we’re the Light of the World”, He went on to give us extra motivation and encouragement…

¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:15-16)

We carry the most precious gift in the whole world around with us each day.  We have the Light of the World inside of us.  And its our job to “Let it SHINE”!   So take that little Light of yours, and let it grow BIG! Let it SHINE out for the whole world to see! Let it radiate out of you so much that when you walk into a room people don’t just see a flicker and think something weird must be going on with you… they see a giant glow that attracts them in and makes them want whatever it is that you’ve got!

“Do one thing everyday that makes you happy!” as posted on a sign at my favorite coffee shop. No telling how long it’s been there and how many times I’ve missed it. There are no accidents, I spotted it today for a reason. Just wanted to share it with you!

SHINE on! Enjoy!

Yep. Just felt like we needed a spoonful of joy added to the morning brew of life today.

It’s a holiday week and so many of us seem to be in overdrive trying to get everything wiped off of the to-do list before Thursday. As you work, shop, cook, clean…and hopefully relax a bit – SHINE  His light in all you do and just see how the people around you take to it!

SHINE On. Be Blessed. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We hear it’s better to give than to receive…and it’s oh so true! Today I witnessed a community come together to donate very basic goods in order to help strangers. The coming together of a group for a common goal itself is a gift. The donations and fundraising are like icing on the cake.

Let your heart be filled with joyful giving – Just as Christ gives to us.
Let your arms be extended in loving forgiveness – as he forgives us.

Give and keep giving. This season AND next. Allow Him to keep filling you up.
SHINE On. Be Blessed.

I get so excited about birthdays! I love the celebration and singing and presents! My favorite food in the entire world is even birthday cake! I just absolute love birthdays!

Why do we celebrate birthdays? Why do they seem to be surrounded by such excitement?

I think it has a lot do with the joy in a beginning. People love beginnings. They throw parties at the beginning of something! They toast and cheer and wish all the best for what’s to come!

But as time goes on… that excitement seems to fade. There aren’t typically huge celebrations at the end of things. And even if there is party you can always kind of feel that element of sadness, longing for a new beginning…

I think it happens even with people’s birthdays. The older we get, the less excited we get. The smaller the celebrations and expressions of joy. It’s like we get stuck just trudging through and forget all the potential that’s still left!

Birthday’s should always be special! Beginnings should always be celebrated! They should remind us not of things gone wrong or years gone by… but of HOPE. The hope that comes with something new. They should serve as a renewal of hope. There should be singing and rejoicing at the mircale of something where there was nothing, of a life God created and shared with the whole world!

Christmas seems like its about a lot of things. Reindeer and snowmen, wreaths and Santa. But when it’s all stripped down Christmas is about a birthday. The birth of Jesus, the Son of God. And that deserves the biggest celebration of them all! The Celebration of Christmas should remind is what Birthdays should be all about…

The celebration of Life.
The promise of Hope.
The prayer of Peace.
The expression of Joy.

An awestruck heart thanking God for yet another miracle gift to the World.

As you celebrate Christmas remember the Birthday we celebrate is the greatest one the world has ever known. SHOW UP TO THE PARTY! Sing to the Lord, share your gifts with Him, invite everyone you know, and love Him with your whole heart!

And remember when it comes to your birthday and those in your life not to overlook them… each of us was wonderfully made and fully loved by God and brought into the world on very special days. I have a feeling Heaven celebrates those miracles, maybe we should join in their parties too!

We’ve all heard the expression ” Life is a destination not a race…”

Why does it seem so relevant this time of year? My to-do list never meets the wastebasket. How about yours?  It seems as though it’s never finished. Maybe I have the wrong priorities on my little list? We race to work, race to the store, race to the holiday get-togethers…

Right at this moment while my body is stuck behind a desk,  I will take a breath and in my heart, I will begin to race towards Him.

Though I will stumble, I know He will lift me up and welcome me to Him.

Take a Breath. SHINE On.

It’s the holiday season and everyone is concerned about gifts.

Some are concerned about finding the perfect gift for their special someone.
Some are concerned about finding the gift they can afford.
Some are concerned because they know they won’t be getting a gift this year.
Some are wrapping them in pretty paper and bows.
Some are using newspaper and duct tape.
Some are wishing they had more to wrap this year.

Gifts come in all forms, all shapes, all styles, and for all purposes. But the Christmas season presents us with some of the best gifts of all…

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus, the son of God, the Light of the World, and our Savior. He was the greatest gift the world has ever received. But Jesus came bearing even more gifts when He came…

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.”
John 14:27

As your thoughts go to gifts this season spend sometime thinking on the special gift of PEACE that only Jesus could give but is available to all of us and exists still today. No worry, wrapping paper, or paycheck needed!

SHINE ON in PEACE!

Ever get all worked up about something silly? It doesn’t seem silly at the time, it seems really, really, really, important! Ever throw all your energy into your frustration , start texting your friends, and complaning to anyone who will listen only to look back later and realize that maybe it wasn’t that big of a deal?

We’ve made so many things important in our lives these days. Ten years ago owning a cell phone that you could watch tv on was not a priority. Yet when it goes out of service for a second we start beating it against the desk. TV’s that were box shaped were still A-OK in everyone’s book and no one spent all day envying those who could afford a flat one. These days it seems everything has to be smaller, faster, easier and work ON DEMAND. Anything less and we are fully in our right to get upset and complain and cause a big scene. Right?

All these stresses in our lives… we’ve created. We’ve made them important. We’ve made the them focus of how our lives work.

Simplify.

That doesn’t necessarily mean do without. Just simplify your thoughts. Spend your “thinking energy” on more positive things. Ease the stress in your life by giving the supericial things in life less priority time in your mind and put the “big picture” ones in the forefront.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phillipians 4:8)

Spend your days focused on the these thoughts and see if your day doesn’t seem a little more simple and filled with a lot more praise!

Have you ever stopped and turned because a bright, shiny thing caught your eye?

Did the brightness seem to call to you from across the room, the hall, the store, the mall?

Did it look exciting and did you just know it was something you just had to have?

THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE SEE YOU!

The Light that’s in you, that fills you up, that you share… its gives others that same inescapable feeling that you get when you see bright, shiny things…

Because you are made to SHINE and when you do… LOOKOUT! Because others are going to know that whatever you’ve got, whatever that Light is, its something they’ve just gotta have too!

SHINE ON you Shiny Thing!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

What hope this verse gives those who love God! God works for the good of those who love Him! Is there any more comforting news?!?!? This is a pretty common shared verse among those who are Believers. Its often shared when life throws someone a curve ball… when things just aren’t going as someone planned or expected. Think on this things today…

Do you trust that God works for the good of those who love Him?
Do you know that you are a part of God’s purpose?
Do you feel fully loved that you have been called by God to play a part in His purpose?
Do you know that at the center of everything God is working for good?

Sometimes, its hard to remember these things in our daily lives. It may be hard to see the good, or know what the purpose is, or want to be involved in whatever that purpose is in first place. Being whole heartedly in love with God can give a change in perspective.

In Phillipians, Paul had been thrown in prison because he was a Christian. And yet, even in prison he wrote back to the church at Phillipi the following:

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” (Phillipians 1:12-14)

When most would see Paul’s imprisonment as desperate and full of despair, Paul had a different perspective. He recognized that despite being in chains, good work was still being done! Guards were noticing his faith, Believers on the outside were inspired to do more to share their faith, God’s purpose seemed to be still alive and active. Difficult situations, difficult places, difficult people exist in this world and sometimes there is no way around them and they can cause you to end up in less than desirable situations. But when there is no way out, you find there is only a way through. And the best way through tough times is with a perspective that holds this promise…

“”And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Wherever you are today, SHINE hopes that you will find the strength to share in the same postive perspective Paul had in his trying times. Hold on tight to your love for God, know you have been called according to His purpose, and trust that he works for the good of those who love Him.

SHINE ON with Strength today!