Thursday SHINE.....
Today's Reading: 1 John 3
Good morning, SHINE girls!
I have a little surprise for you! Lisa Inlow is guest blogging!
**Applause, Applause!**
For the record, I get kind of tired of hearing myself speak, so I asked my sweet Lisa to post today.
If you are new to SHINE, Lisa is a regular guest poster. She is also one of my very best friends, and one of my spiritual mentors. Yep, she's all that and a bag of cool ranch Dorito's.
I bet she's blushing by now.
As usual, her message is exactly what I needed to hear. It always is.
Be blessed by Lisa's words today.
This Little Light Of Mine
1 John 3, along with it's preceding chapters seems to me to have a similar thread running through. And this is the Lisa Inlow version...
First. Get off the fence! I.E., if you love ME, serve me with your whole heart, every day, all day long. Don't have one foot in the world, and one foot on the Straight & Narrow...doesn't work.
Second. Love people. All people. Nice people. Not nice people. And all those folks in-between.
Okay, so what about this scenario. I have a friend, she and I are wonderful fence-riders. We have a decades long friendship, were we've straddled the fence, walked in the world big time, and every blue moon, we've tiptoed on the straight and narrow...but not for long, we hop back on that fence together.
Let's say I've started maturing and growing in my walk with my Savior. I start seeing the joy, light, peace, love, all while walking with Him, on the straight and narrow.
My friend and I get together and do our [usual] thing, go to our usual place, talk about our usual stuff, gossip a little, maybe drink one too many margaritas or glasses of wine, gossip a little more, throw the hubby's under the table, shop too much where you have to hide bags in your closet or trunk b/c your husband will be upset...this is what we've always done...for years.
I drive home and my spirit is pricked, I feel guilty, and know I did not walk in or show my friend, the light. Did I just get back on the fence?
1 John 3:6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.1 John 2:3-6 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Now let's get to the nitty gritty. I love my friend, always have, always will. But I see some things differently. I know I need to tighten up, straighten up my behavior, and conversations. I want to. I am in love with Jesus, and He is showing Himself to me. He is pushing me to mature, grow-up. Now what?
Girls my hands have been frozen over my keyboard b/c I cannot express to y'all how much I struggle with this very thing, the "now what"...cuz I dig me some girlfriends and all girlfriend say and do. It can be very medicinal, or just plain fun, right??
So how do we stay on the path of Light, being sold out for Jesus, truly SHINE for Him, daily...and love our friend who is not fully walking in the Light, but yet don't climb back on the fence with her because it would be so awkward, otherwise??
We pull her to the Light.
Will it be awkward when you see a gossip session is starting up that you change the subject or say, "I don't feel comfortable talking about this, can we talk about something else"? YES.
You look smokin' hot in a dress and you know it's too much but your friend is pushing you to purchase. To say, "I know [insert husband name here] does not want me to spend this much money tonight" [awkward pause] YES.
Is there a chance she will give us the cold shoulder or worse, throw us to the curb? YES.
Stay in the Light. For HIM.
Love others by showing them the Light. And this is tough...even when they are not interested or are having fun in the darkness. I've been in the darkness, and it is fun...for a short time.
I wish y'all knew how this post comes from way down deep in my heart. Truly walking with my Savior and striving to be a light to others can [for a time] push the others away. And it is no fun. I have learned that while pleasing people, being safe, not rocking the spiritual boat, riding on the fence, I was displeasing the Father.
Loving others by shining my feeble light, is showing love to my Savior. Who hung on that cross for me. Who took on all my nasty filth, out of pure love for me.
I think He is worth it. And I will continue on. For Him.
Do y'all remember this song from children's church?
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? NO!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? NO!
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
SHINE sisters, it's time to SHINE our lights. All day. Everyday.
Regardless.
Good morning, SHINE girls!
I have a little surprise for you! Lisa Inlow is guest blogging!
**Applause, Applause!**
 |
| She may kill me for posting a picture without asking her. I'm okay with that. She is just so beautiful, I had to show her off. This is us at our birthday dinner. |
For the record, I get kind of tired of hearing myself speak, so I asked my sweet Lisa to post today.
If you are new to SHINE, Lisa is a regular guest poster. She is also one of my very best friends, and one of my spiritual mentors. Yep, she's all that and a bag of cool ranch Dorito's.
I bet she's blushing by now.
As usual, her message is exactly what I needed to hear. It always is.
Be blessed by Lisa's words today.
This Little Light Of Mine
1 John 3, along with it's preceding chapters seems to me to have a similar thread running through. And this is the Lisa Inlow version...
First. Get off the fence! I.E., if you love ME, serve me with your whole heart, every day, all day long. Don't have one foot in the world, and one foot on the Straight & Narrow...doesn't work.
Second. Love people. All people. Nice people. Not nice people. And all those folks in-between.
Okay, so what about this scenario. I have a friend, she and I are wonderful fence-riders. We have a decades long friendship, were we've straddled the fence, walked in the world big time, and every blue moon, we've tiptoed on the straight and narrow...but not for long, we hop back on that fence together.
Let's say I've started maturing and growing in my walk with my Savior. I start seeing the joy, light, peace, love, all while walking with Him, on the straight and narrow.
My friend and I get together and do our [usual] thing, go to our usual place, talk about our usual stuff, gossip a little, maybe drink one too many margaritas or glasses of wine, gossip a little more, throw the hubby's under the table, shop too much where you have to hide bags in your closet or trunk b/c your husband will be upset...this is what we've always done...for years.
I drive home and my spirit is pricked, I feel guilty, and know I did not walk in or show my friend, the light. Did I just get back on the fence?
1 John 3:6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.1 John 2:3-6 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Now let's get to the nitty gritty. I love my friend, always have, always will. But I see some things differently. I know I need to tighten up, straighten up my behavior, and conversations. I want to. I am in love with Jesus, and He is showing Himself to me. He is pushing me to mature, grow-up. Now what?
Girls my hands have been frozen over my keyboard b/c I cannot express to y'all how much I struggle with this very thing, the "now what"...cuz I dig me some girlfriends and all girlfriend say and do. It can be very medicinal, or just plain fun, right??
So how do we stay on the path of Light, being sold out for Jesus, truly SHINE for Him, daily...and love our friend who is not fully walking in the Light, but yet don't climb back on the fence with her because it would be so awkward, otherwise??
We pull her to the Light.
Will it be awkward when you see a gossip session is starting up that you change the subject or say, "I don't feel comfortable talking about this, can we talk about something else"? YES.
You look smokin' hot in a dress and you know it's too much but your friend is pushing you to purchase. To say, "I know [insert husband name here] does not want me to spend this much money tonight" [awkward pause] YES.
Is there a chance she will give us the cold shoulder or worse, throw us to the curb? YES.
Stay in the Light. For HIM.
Love others by showing them the Light. And this is tough...even when they are not interested or are having fun in the darkness. I've been in the darkness, and it is fun...for a short time.
I wish y'all knew how this post comes from way down deep in my heart. Truly walking with my Savior and striving to be a light to others can [for a time] push the others away. And it is no fun. I have learned that while pleasing people, being safe, not rocking the spiritual boat, riding on the fence, I was displeasing the Father.
Loving others by shining my feeble light, is showing love to my Savior. Who hung on that cross for me. Who took on all my nasty filth, out of pure love for me.
I think He is worth it. And I will continue on. For Him.
Do y'all remember this song from children's church?
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? NO!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? NO!
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
SHINE sisters, it's time to SHINE our lights. All day. Everyday.
Regardless.
