The Sparkle Shines On

One year ago today, I was inspired to write and post “Choose the Sparkle”. You may want to read it before going any further, so you understand where my thoughts are coming from!

“Choose the Sparkle” meant a lot to me, because it was a tangible way for me to understand and explain how each choice we make in the course of our normal day is of great importance. The trace of each decision to love or not to love will live on as the remnants we leave behind.

Which trail do we wish to leave behind as evidence of our lives?

Do we want to leave a sparkly trail of light or one of darkness? Each one of us must make that decision. To either choose the light and sparkle of Jesus or choose the selfish, darker path.

I want to share with you a little reminder that was given to me, that our actions DO matter, and our acts of love live on.

It has been a year since I first spotted those sparkly sequins on the floor at work. Recently, I have been looking closely at the floor, where those sequins first appeared. And guess what…through a year’s worth of dirt, grime and weekly floor scrubbings, they are still there, shining away!

When I spotted them, still there, and still shining brightly, it brought a smile to my face.

Sharing the Lord’s love and light is never in vain. Sometimes you may not be blessed with the privilege to see the good that emanates from your act of selflessness and love.

However, love is eternal.

Love lives on through hearts that are open to receiving it, and in turn, that love is passed on through those same hearts.

So, as we all know, all that glitters is not gold. However, we can be assured that the True Light will always shine through the darkness…the Sparkle shines on!

 

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”   John 13:34-35

¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.   Matthew 5:14-16

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Trusting the Winds of Change

Most of my friends know that I don’t like wind. There are a few reasons for my displeasure, but suffice to say, wind is not my favorite thing.

So what do you think happens every time I go for a walk? It could be the most still of days when I venture outside for my daily walk, I’ll be on my way for about 5 minutes, and then BOOM, the wind hits me with a rage. I’m not talking a gentle breeze, but almost a whirlwind!

I’ve come to realize, that the Lord is definitely communicating with me and teaching me through these winds.

You see, I am a person who has always sought peace and the calming comfort of routine. This need and quest for peace in my life stemmed from childhood, when I used to stick my head in a book at a very young age, and would create my own world. I would literally make my surroundings disappear, and would not even be aware of the craziness happening in the house around me.

This quest for peace directed my life, and I continually headed in the direction of my interpretation of “peace and quiet”. Many times, because of this internal guidance system that was on autopilot, I passed up countless opportunities for growth and even missed out on many joys because I was looking for a “safe” place to be. I had built myself into a cozy little box, and was not even aware that the real motive behind my self- imprisonment was fear. There, I said it…it was fear.

Back to the wind…or should I say the winds of change.

As my relationship with Jesus becomes more intimate, he is guiding and teaching me through his outpouring of grace and love. I am learning to TRUST God and his purpose for me. This trust cannot be forged when I shelter myself from all that I deem uncomfortable or a threat to my peaceful existence.

I am learning to open my heart and soul up to the Lord, and offer him all that I am. AS IS.  Although I am always striving to align myself closer to Jesus and his ways, I trust that he is working in me and through me, bringing me and those lives he touches through me, closer to him.

This involves great TRUST.

Trust, when winds come straight at me, and throw me off my usual course and way of thinking.

Trust, when I choose to not only listen to the whispers of the Spirit in my heart, but HEAR them and act on them.

Trust, that through the winds of change, I will be strengthened and ready for any storm that may come my way, or into the path of those around me.

As I sit, at this moment, I am feeling an extreme calmness of spirit. At the same time, I feel the intense energy and total love of Jesus through my entire being.

I am looking out the window, watching the trees and leaves that are momentarily motionless, as they patiently wait on the Lord to move them in his direction.

And I also wait on the Lord, for he is my all, and is my source of joy, happiness, and true peace.

I wait for the blessings that will be poured over all of his children, through the winds of change.

May God bless you and keep you in his care, as you wait on him and his direction for your life’s purpose.

 

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.   Psalms 27:14

 

 

 

 

The Time is Now

As I sit here looking out the window, I am watching some awesome clouds moving across the most beautiful blue sky. There are some basic puffy clouds seen on most normal days, and there are huge ominous dark clouds moving in. As I watch the view changing by the minute, it caused me to think of how our minutes, days, weeks, months and years are constantly moving and passing by. Our lives are constantly changing.

How are we using that time? How many good works and acts of faith are we putting off until the “perfect” time? How many lives are left in desolation, how many hearts are empty because of our selfishness, laziness or pride?

I propose that you take a few minutes to sit back, breathe in the Love of God, and think about some of those things that you harbor in your heart. Things you would like to do for someone or maybe something you need to say. Those things that pop up in your head every now and again, reminding you that the Lord is calling you through a gentle whisper or a powerful wind. Those thoughts that are sparked in your mind and heart that you are trying to ignore or are putting off until……

The time is now.

What are you holding back? Make the decision to do one thing today that you have been thinking about. One thing that will start a chain reaction of sharing the love of Jesus.

What will be that one extra act of love you will do today?

Maybe forgive that one person who is tearing you up inside and holding your spirit bound? Or ask forgiveness from someone you have hurt?

Listen patiently and lovingly to someone who needs a caring ear and heart?

Send a letter of gratitude to someone in your life that had a positive impact on you?

Or to simply send a note or card to let someone know they are loved?

Offer to help in some way…babysitting, providing a meal, visiting an elderly person in need of some socialization, volunteering?

Provide cash, food, necessities to someone that you know is in need? Maybe anonymously?

Smile at a perfect stranger or someone who is having a bad day and is not being very friendly?

Offer to take someone to Church with you?

Share the Good News of Jesus’ saving love and mercy with someone in darkness?

Today is the day. The Time is Now.

How will you honor the Lord with your time today?

 

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Mark 12:30-31

 

 

 

 

The Renewal of Your Mind

Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.   Romans 12:2

This verse speaks straight to my heart each day. With all that is transpiring around us on a daily basis, how are we to be transformed by the renewal of our minds instead of conforming to the world? How will we know the will of God…what is good, acceptable, and perfect? Am I the first to have ever been confused by this passage? After all, the Lord placed us in the world…doesn’t he want us to enjoy it?

Our senses, that God blessed us with, are constantly pulling in and processing information…whether we are aware of it or not. What I am learning, is that it is imperative that we make ourselves aware of all that we are allowing to enter our belief system and our hearts. We must make it part of our nature to discern as we go along our day. We need to think about our source of discernment.

Where do we find renewal of the mind that is the will of God?

Here are some things to think about:

Will we find it in the opinions spouted in the news or on social media?

Will we find it on the pages of the magazines promoting shallow and Godless lifestyles?

Will we find it while we read the latest best sellers? You know, the ones that are edgy and trendy, covering topics that deep down we know are “just not right.” But reading is awesome and shows an open mind and intelligence…no matter what the subject, right???

Will we find it in the movies we watch, the music we listen to, or the ads and commercials we are bombarded with?

Is it found in our jobs, our entertainment, our sports, our education?

Is it found in our friends and families’ opinions?

Or maybe we can find God’s will in our faith, and in our churches?

How do we discern?

We need to really think about this. Our relationship with the Lord depends on it.

The answer is simple: Through The Word of God.  The only way to discern the will of God, and to be transformed by the renewal of your mind, is to know God through His Word.  Immerse yourself in it.  Align yourself to His Word and His Ways.  His Truth is unchanging.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you and fill you with His Love.  Pray for Wisdom.  Pray for His direction.   Little by little, step by step, your eyes, ears and heart will be open to His ways.  You will KNOW He is with you.

You will learn to discern.

You will start to notice the changes in your heart, mind and soul.  And your love for Jesus will fill you up and draw you closer to Him.  You will no longer be interested in the false enticements of the world, and will continuously look for ways to align yourself with Him.

You will find that you have no desire to be conformed to this temporary, shallow  world…your transformation through His will and His Word will  journey you toward  an  eternity  in heaven with your Heavenly Father.

Praise God!

 

 

 

One More Day

You are reading this, so I know that God has blessed you with another day. No matter what your circumstance, you have been given the opportunity to:

Have one more day to grow in faith and get to know Jesus in a more intimate way than you knew Him yesterday;

Breathe in the essence of God, allowing His Holy Spirit to envelop your whole being;

Give thanks for the air that you breathe, the feelings that you feel, your senses which allow you to interact with God and the people in your life;

Break free from hanging on to the bitterness and pain that is holding you in bondage…FORGIVE…both yourself and others;

Pray for all the people that the Lord places on your heart, especially including those that make you feel uncomfortable, or those that have hurt you or are living in darkness;

Share Jesus continuously by showing love to those around you…pray for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and heart, and you will be guided to the people and the ways you can share His Saving Love and Grace with them;

Enjoy and thank God for the goodness and wonder of the blessings in your life…stop and take time to remember and acknowledge as many as you can. Create a never ending mental list of gratitude;

Offer your daily crosses to the Lord – the boredom and struggles of daily life, your pain, frustration, and sufferings…unite them with the suffering of Jesus in atonement for your sins and the whole world.

Enjoy and savor One More Day…for you are One More Day closer to a wondrous and unfathomable eternal life with Your Father.

What are You Hanging On To?

God sure has his ways of gently reminding me and teaching me what is truly important in this world.

For about a week, my eyes have been really bothering me.  Itching, burning, feeling like something is in them…just plain painful and uncomfortable.  I started to use artificial tears which help a little, and I am making an eye doctor appointment to have my eyes checked out.

Whenever I have symptoms of any kind, I can’t help myself…I start to look for things that may have caused the issue.  It could be a different cleaning product, cosmetic or personal care item, food, medicine, or drink.  My mind started to think of things I’ve changed about a week ago.

When I remembered what changed a week ago, my heart tugged at me.  I knew exactly what it was, and I didn’t want to face the possibility that I would need to live without this thing in my life.

There are many things that I have hung onto in my heart, which bring me comfort and help me to feel grounded.  Sentimental things that I have trouble letting go.  For some reason, having these things in my possession or in my home, give me a feeling of connection  with my past.  My childhood and  growing up years.  Just while writing this, I realize that this thing has been a constant in my life…it was there from when I was a small child, remained in my parents’ home while growing up and moving out.  Then these things were given to my sister and brother in law, and were displayed beautifully in their home.

About a month or so ago, this beautiful set of Great Books that my dad had treasured, was passed on to me.  They sat in my garage, until I brought them into my home about a week ago.  Thinking back now, I remember how my eyes stung as I dusted them off – I ignored it.  When I finally had the entire set in my living room, I actually felt my dad’s presence.  Thinking about them now brings tears to my eyes.

I was so excited that I now had possession of these books…this treasure of times past.  All I could think about was choosing the perfect bookcase  that would honor them in our home.

As soon as I figured out that the books and the dust mites attached to them (the books are over 50 years old) were probably the culprits, I knew the books had to go.  Without hesitation, I packed them away in boxes and took them downstairs to be dealt with later.

It’s now a day later and my eyes already feel better.

So, you may ask what I have learned from all this.

I have learned that sometimes we hang on to the past as an excuse not to move forward.  We hang on to what was or the self-created illusion of what was.  Without realizing it, we give so much power to certain events in life, that we box ourselves in…we imprison ourselves.  As we cling to what we feel we cannot live without, those strongholds are hurting us in ways we do not understand.

As I carried those cherished  books downstairs, and realized that I probably will need to part with them, I felt sad and a little panicked.  Then a new feeling started to well up in my heart, and I never felt this feeling before.

It was a feeling of freedom.  Freedom from the past, and also the freedom to move on.  The freedom to become the person the Lord has created me to be, and to live the life he is blessing me with.

Thank you, Lord, for always  touching my heart and teaching me  in such loving, gentle ways.  Help me to always be open to your guidance and your will.  Most of all,  please overflow my heart  with your love and peace, and help me to share that love with hearts in need of You.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:21