LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

I love this scripture. Every time I read these verses I am reminded of who God has called me to be, not for my purpose but for His. So often I hide my light from the world and when I do, I can feel my countenance sink and my joy wane as I shrivel and shrink into my shell that makes me invisible to the world. By nature, I am not an outgoing person. In fact, given my natural tendencies, I am a very shy, insecure little mouse who is much more comfortable hiding in her hole in the wall where no one can see than I am stepping out to let my light shine. But the light that is within me is not of me, but of the Lord; Christ is my light. By hiding the light that is in me, I am hiding Christ from the world. My countenance and my joy sink when I hide my light because I am hiding Christ! Yes, Christ is my light, my joy, my peace, my strength. When I stop thinking and worrying about how others perceive me and just allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through me, others are drawn to that light; they want what I have. Though they may not know it at first, they want Jesus.

Often as Christians, we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us when we are around other like minded individuals…other Christians. Yet when we are among non-believers, when we are out in the world, we hide our light from those who need it most. Don’t get me wrong, our brothers and sisters need to see that light too, it just might be the encouragement that they need to press on. However, when do you need a flashlight or a candle most…when the electricity is out and you are surrounded by darkness or when the electricity is on and every light is on in the house? The world is filled with darkness and many have become so accustomed to that darkness in the world that they don’t know what it would be like to have light…the electricity isn’t out, they just don’t know what electricity is; they don’t realize they only need to flip a switch by asking Jesus into their heart. When we allow Christ’s light to shine through us, through our life, we are introducing the world to the possibilities that await them by walking with Jesus.

You and I are called by God to let the light that is Jesus Christ shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. We are the light of the world…it is time to stop hiding!

COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• What is the basket that you hide your light under?
  
• How will you remove that basket to reveal the light of Jesus Christ in you to the world?
  
• When will you do this?
  
  
  Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.

RIGHT AWAY, ALL THE WAY AND WITH A HAPPY HEART

Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD deceitfully, And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood. (Jeremiah 48:10)

The word deceitfully in Jeremiah 48:10 is also translated as “negligently” in the NASB translation or “with slackness” in the ESV. This verse really caused me to pause and take notice of how I am doing the work the Lord has for me. I find that while I do step out in faith and I eventually do the work He has called me to, I don’t always do it right away. This reminds me of a little saying we have in our house, “Obey right away, all the way and with a happy heart.” I realize that while I eventually do as God commands, I don’t always do it right away, all the way and with a happy heart. In fact, many times I find I will hesitate or question and do things in my time not the Lord’s time; I compromise and do what I am willing to do but not the things I find challenging or unpleasant; and then when I finally give in to the Lord I do it not with a happy heart, joyfully, but kicking and screaming making sure to voice my displeasure. The question is, “Is this really obeying God?” Though it is hard to admit, I would say not.

We are all called by God for a purpose to do the work He has for us. This requires us to put Christ first in our life; above our wants and desires, above our children’s activities, above our daily tasks and chores, above our flesh. Yet, so often we give the Lord our leftovers…what is left of our time, our devotion, our energy; but He doesn’t want what is leftover, He wants all of you and all of me. Only then can we fully experience the life and the joy the Lord has for us. I want to experience God completely; in all His glory, all His wonder, all His righteousness, and all His love. How beautiful and glorious that would be and all it takes is for me to put the Lord where He desires to be, where He deserves to be…FIRST. How will you put the Lord first today?

COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• Where do you put the Lord in your life? What do you give priority to over the Lord your God?
  
• What is the work the Lord is calling you to?
  
• What would it look like to obey God right away, all the way and with a happy heart?
  
  
  Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.

LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Just the other day I was faced with a decision regarding a product for my business that comes with a hefty price tag. I knew that if God was not in this decision, if I did not seek Him, then most assuredly I would be making a foolish decision that could cost me greatly. So, I immediately took it to the Lord in prayer and while I awaited a response, I continued to research this product and get excited about the potential, the possibilities that this one product could bring. In fact, I got so excited that I almost clicked on the purchase button at least three times. What kept me from purchasing that product was my Bible; I kept seeing it there sitting on my desk. Every time I got a glimpse of that Bible, I got that check in my spirit to seek God’s will in God’s word. Yet, I found myself resisting, an unfortunate but common response for my rebellious self. I wanted this product; I wanted it bad and while I truly wanted to do God’s will in my heart, my flesh was not willing to wait to hear from the Lord. So, I continued to resist opening that Bible on my desk for fear that I might just hear God’s answer and it just might be “NO.” While I resisted, I found myself reasoning not with God, but myself. My flesh came up with some really great, logical reasons why I should purchase this product. I had pretty much convinced myself that I “needed” this product; I just had to figure out where the money was going to come from. This was going to require some thought.

The next morning, I had it all figured out; I knew exactly what I could do to finagle my finances to get what I had now convinced myself I needed and while I would be going further into debt, it would all pay off when I got the results promised. However, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to click that purchase button until that evening. In the meantime, I finally opened that Bible on my desk and the funny thing is…I already knew God’s answer even before I began to read His word; as if the scales from my eyes had been removed and my ears had been opened by simply opening the Bible. My “worst fear,” that answer that I was trying so desperately to avoid was confirmed in God’s word. I knew God’s will and I would not be finagling my finances that evening to buy that much “needed” product…the answer was “NO.” It ‘s weird, at that moment I stopped resisting and when I did, I found that peace that can only come from God; a true knowing of the direction and path the Lord intended for me.

When we rely on our own understanding, we are putting our faith and our trust in our flesh which is flawed and sinful by nature. The Lord, however, is not flawed and sinful, but good, righteous and sovereign. When we trust in Him, He will direct our paths perfectly. It’s true, we may not understand His reasons or His ways, but we can rest assured that His will is perfect and His path is straight.

COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• In what area of your life are you putting your faith and trust in your flesh, leaning on your own understanding?
  
• What would it look like to trust in the LORD with all your heart, to acknowledge Him in all your ways?
  
• How will you put your trust in the One that perfectly directs your paths today?
  
  
  Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.

HE CALLS ME FRIEND

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all the things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:11-17)

I sometimes find it difficult to fully comprehend and appreciate God’s love for me. It is easier for me to wrap my head around God’s other attributes. For whatever reason, I am more comfortable with God’s justice, righteousness, holiness, jealousy, omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience than I am His love. Yet, in reading John 15:11-17, I am struck by what Christ has done for me.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 11:13) I can watch a movie, a tale of fiction, where the hero of the film willingly sacrifices his life to save others and I find myself moved to tears because of his sacrifice. But I don’t know if I have ever allowed myself to fully drink in the sacrifice Christ made for me. Not only did He die for me, but He calls me friend! Really? I mean think about this for a second…if my favorite movie star knocked on my door today and we became fast friends, you better believe I would be telling people about it. And, if my movie star friend willingly gave his life for mine, I most certainly would be singing his praises. Isn’t that exactly what Christ has done? Christ, the SON OF GOD, has knocked on my door and asked me to follow Him, to be His friend and He willingly died for me that I might have eternal life! Yet, am I telling others; am I singing His praises to those who don’t yet know Him? It is easy to sing His praises to other brothers and sisters in Christ, but am I telling everyone I know about what He has done for me? Unfortunately, I am faced with the sad reality that I would more likely tell others about my movie star friend that saved my temporal life than the Lord, my God who saved me eternally. Wow, that stings!

I have heard the story of Christ’s sacrifice for me since I was a young child, but I don’t know that I have ever really allowed it to land. With the celebration of Easter or Resurrection Sunday fast approaching, I intend to fully submerge myself and meditate on Christ’s love for me and the sacrifice that He made for me because of that love. Maybe then I can begin to comprehend and appreciate the magnitude of His love. Maybe then, I will sing His praises to all I meet and not just to the saved.

COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• What does Christ’s sacrifice mean to you?
  
• What impact does this have on your life?
  
• How will you prepare for Easter or Resurrection Sunday?

Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.

HE LOVES YOU

O LORD, You have searched me and know me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. (Psalm 139:1-6)

Ever since I can remember, I have always struggled with letting others see the authentic me for fear that I would be rejected, laughed at, ridiculed and judged. The funny thing is I desperately want others to see me for who I am; to see me, imperfections and all, and just love me for me. Isn’t that what we all really want, to be loved for who we are; for who God created us to be? Yet, even after 37 years, I find myself still longing to be known; to be known by my husband, my friends, my family, my colleagues, my neighbors. My desire is not to be famous or to be known for what I do; but to be known for who I am at heart. However, I am faced with the realization that I rarely show others who I am at heart making it difficult for anyone other than God, my creator who formed my inward parts, to really see me for me and love me with all my scars and imperfections.

I was reflecting on this today and I realized that I want people to see through the mask, the façade I often wear. I want people to stop with the niceties and the fluff that has no meaning, no heart and call me out in love! Even as I say that it terrifies me and excites me at the same time, as I have become quite comfortable hiding behind my mask.

Yet, no matter if I feel known by others or not, there is such a comfort in the reality that God does know me and He really sees me at heart. He not only knows what I do, but He knows my thoughts before I think them and my words before I speak them; He knows everything about me. No matter what mask or façade I present to the world, God sees right through it. The truly amazing and wonderful thing is even after seeing me, all of me, He loves me more than I can fathom. I am just overwhelmed with amazement and joy when I think about His love for me; after all, despite all my faults, my failings and imperfections He loves me, He really loves me!

God made each of us and knows us intimately. He is constantly thinking precious thoughts of us. No matter what masks we wear or façade we put on for the rest of the world, He sees us for who we really are at heart and He loves us! I would say that is good news and is definitely cause for joy, celebration and thanksgiving. Won’t you join me in celebrating God’s love this week?


COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• Dive in and fully immerse yourself in God’s love for you this week. What does that mean for you? What does this look like?


• Meditate on Psalm 139 and journal around God’s love for you.


• Select at least one day this week where you will leave all your masks at home, packed away. Give each of your masks a name and write each one down on a separate piece of paper. Then, pack each one away in a bag or a box and put it in your closet for the day. What was revealed to you in this process? What did you discover?
  
  Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.

What are you wearing?

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:1-14)

As I read these words, I am struck by the importance of the right garment. I don’t know about you, but when I get a wedding invitation, I tuck it away somewhere where I can come back to it and consider it at a later date and hopefully not forget to respond. Yet, despite my best intentions I often totally forget about that invitation until the last possible moment, the last possible day to RSVP. So then I hurriedly respond to the anxiously awaiting couple, with little thought to anything other than my meal choice when given the option. Then the wedding is forgotten yet again until the long awaited day comes and I am somehow caught by surprise and have no idea what I am going to wear. So I hurriedly rummage through my closet trying to ascertain what dress I should wear. When I finally settle on a dress and head off to the wedding, I find myself insecure and wondering if I chose wisely. As I am seated in the church and await the start of the ceremony, I find myself looking around me to determine if I made the right choice, hoping to be comforted by the attire of others. I find it so funny to really think about the process I go through from the time I receive the invitation to the time of the actual ceremony and unfortunately, how totally self-absorbed I can be.

Our invitation has been delivered; it was delivered long before we even existed and has been waiting in our mailbox for the time when we will retrieve it from the box and RSVP. My invitation sat in my mailbox for 36 years before I actually accepted and received it. Oh what a beautiful invitation it is; more beautiful than any invitation I have ever seen! We don’t need to put any thought into our meal choice; our every need has been met. While there is a dress code, the wedding garment was sent with the invitation; we only need to put it on. But wait, no date is specified…there must be an oversight. How do we know when to get ready, how do we know how long we can procrastinate, how do we know when to put on our wedding garment? The reality is we don’t know when we will be called home to be with the Lord, but if we have not put on Christ, if we have not put on our wedding garment, we will be cast out into the darkness. Therefore, we must put on our garment now and wear it always that we will be prepared and ready when we are called. However, the wedding garment only fits when you remove your old clothes; we must put off our old self and put on Christ.

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:11-14)

What are you wearing? Are you ready? Do you have your wedding garment on?

COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• Where is your invitation? Is it still sitting in the mailbox, have you tucked it away for a later date, or have you accepted and received it?
  


• What are the old clothes that you are wearing that prevent you from putting on your wedding garment, that prevent you from putting on Christ?
  


• What would it look like to remove, to put off, those old clothes and put on Christ today?

Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.

Walk as Children of Light

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’” (Ephesians 5:8-14)

We are living in a time when darkness permeates all aspects of our world. There is less and less light visible in the world around us as the darkness continues to grow. Darkness has crept into our schools, into our entertainment, into our government, and into our homes and our families. If you look closely, you may even see darkness creeping into the church as we continue to compromise God’s Word as a nation.

Yet, amongst all the darkness in this world, we are to walk as children of light; for we are no longer part of the darkness, but light in the Lord through His saving grace. So what does it mean to walk as children of light? Paul reminds us that we are to be: finding out what is acceptable to the Lord, having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness and instead, exposing the unfruitful works of darkness for what they are.

So what is acceptable to the Lord and how can we find out? Well, we cannot find what is acceptable to the Lord by looking at the world that’s for sure. We must find the answers we seek in God’s Word. Only through consistent study and meditation on God’s Word can we truly discover what is acceptable to the Lord our God. For as we grow to know and understand the Lord more and more through the study of His Word, we develop a deeper relationship and knowing of who He is and therefore greater wisdom in what is acceptable to Him.

What does it mean to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness? Does it mean that maybe we can dabble in a little of this and a little of that, maybe throw in some of the other…I mean after all, it’s not like it rules my life right? WRONG, we cannot walk in darkness and in light! When we compromise even a little and allow ourselves to fellowship even in the slightest with the unfruitful works of darkness, we are allowing darkness to gain a foothold in us that will take us away from fellowship with the Lord one little compromise at a time. So, in order to say “yes” to God and walk as children of light, we must say “no” and put off ALL unfruitful works of darkness. Then, we must expose them, for all things that are exposed are made clear by the light.

God is calling to us to awake from our spiritual sleep, our spiritual slumber; to arise from the dead, arise from the darkness; and Christ will give us light. It is time to stop sleep walking through life and start sharing my light with the world. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16) How about you, are you ready to let your light shine?


COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• What does it look like for you to walk as a child of light?
  
• What would others notice about you?
  
• Pray the Lord would expose any fellowship you may have with the unfruitful works of darkness and journal what the Lord reveals to you this week.

Copyright © 2009 Radiant Sun Life Coaching. All rights reserved.