Light, Shadow or Reflector?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RjmtL7nmw0

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

⁹) “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

2) “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.²Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,³now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.The Living Stone and a Chosen People⁴As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house^[a] to be a holy priesthood,offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”⁷Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”⁸and,“A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.⁹But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society¹¹Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹²Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deedsand glorify God on the day he visits us.¹³Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. ¹⁶Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ¹⁷Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,fear God, honor the emperor.¹⁸Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. ²⁰But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,that you should follow in his steps.²²“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”²³When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sinsand live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” ²⁵For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Vote, Vote, Vote

It’s time to Vote. “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.” ~John Lewis

I so agree with the late Congressman John Lewis. He suffered much to have this wisdom. In a very different way as a Christian woman and one that has voted often I feel my vote choice for this election has been compromised. I’m one that appreciates the art of debates. And, humbled to be privileged to live in a democracy. Yet, to have Christian leaders out with big bull horns saying I’m not a Christian if I don’t vote their choice leaves me thinking that is abuse. Are they saying I’m going to hell if I don’t vote their choice? If I not a Christian what am I?

I prayed for those leaders and for me and others that might feel discouraged and not inspired to vote. Then I was lead to a great theologian that has been proven over time to always point us to the one to follow and that is Jesus Christ.

He is suffering and being treated for cancer at this very time but offers hope in every way. I so appreciate these words he offered on my vote in this article, “liberty of conscience.”

Sharing this article by Dr Keller…https://www.christianpost.com/news/tim-keller-rejects-claims-that-christians-must-vote-a-certain-way-says-stop-demonizing-opponents.html

Let your light shine

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
..let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15,16

Light-Vote-Light-truth-light-example-light-kindness-light-love-light-hope

Light-not complacency-light-not lies-Light-is and Light is not.

We would just love to hear about your understanding of good deeds that will cause or has caused others to glorify your Father in heaven!

Autumn Joy by Sara

So sad for all of us having to battle so much darkness around us.🧡
I looked into the recesses of the Fall sky and saw shades of grey. I said, “sky why were you so glistening blue yesterday? And, today you are just a dull grey? I heard the breeze around whisper dull grey gives space for the 🍁 🍂🎃 autumn colors to delight the psyche and palette alike. Yes, chase the flying leaves! 😱I did and one caught in the wavy coat of my beautiful dog 🍑 as she struck her stride. A slight giggle from deep within gave memory to gift cards that lay in a misery work pile. 😳 My reserved white space gave way to iced pumpkin cookies and cinnamon with Chai tea. Two for me and a few “ones” to share here and there. My sky broke forth into shiny silver. I wondered only for a “pause” what got in my psyche and told me shiny silver was a dull grey? Why do I need to turn my pumpkins into hollering Jack-O-Lanterns? My cookies into faces of a mystic? Maybe it’s the joy lodged between my psyche and my palette.

“…where does my help come from?” Psalm 121:1

Isaiah 28:2 “Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand.” Exodus 15:2 “The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

**“The** Lord hurled a great wind on **the** sea and there was a great **storm** on **the** sea so that **the** ship was about to break up. And there *arose a fierce gale of wind, and **the** waves were breaking over **the** boat so much that **the** boat was already filling up. All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.”
Jonah 1:4

As summer gives entrance to fall giving Autumn a golden glow;

Wingless Caterpillars gives Butterflies wings to fly,

So does seasonal life stories have the potential to nourish the soul.

Awee, we have such a one from Jennifer Walker Smith, the daughter of Esther Walker, the skilled Biblical storyteller.

Jennifer writes and shares unfettered in every way. Take a couple of minutes and listen if soul food seems needful for your day.

“But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. Psalm 92:12-14 NLT”

Tell your story-we have a story

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NASB).

“The same Greek word for “glory” is used twice in the phrase from glory to glory, yet each usage refers to something different. The first “glory” is that of the Old Covenant—the Law of Moses—while the second is that of the New Covenant, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Both have astonishing splendor.

The Old Covenant was given to Moses directly from God, written by God’s own finger (Exodus 31:18). That root of our Christian faith is glorious indeed; it’s the glory we’re coming “from.” Yet the New Covenant, the glory we’re going “to,” far surpasses that of the Old.

“But, as we move from glory to glory, there’s something even more important about the glory of the New Covenant that Christians must understand: its supernatural power to transform us. And that brings us to God’s ultimate purpose and destination for every believer, to transform us into the image of his own beloved Son (2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:28–30; Philippians 3:20–21)

“Before he finishes with the topic of being transformed from glory to glory, Paul presents yet one more astonishing claim: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Online Ask Recommended Resource: 1 & 2 Corinthians, Holman New Testament Commentary by Richard Pratt

I’m still trying to take it all in! The photos are breathtaking because I’v heard the end. Glory to Glory! This is the invitation the Lord makes to all that call out to Him (Psalm 145:18) to have our lives radically transformed here and now, by opening our eyes to see the glorious journey He is taking us on “from glory to glory.”

A Hymn of Prayer

“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Revelation 2:5

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 382
Text: Adelaide A. Pollard, 1862-1934
Music: George C. Stebbins, 1846-1945
Tune: ADELAIDE, Meter: 54.54 D

“1. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.

2. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Savior today!
Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now,
as in thy presence humbly I bow.

3. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

4. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me! “

I grew up often hearing this hymn while attending church. It was always about myself. Or, those in our little church that may have been in a difficult spot at the moment. Today, I awoke with the words from this hymn springing up from within and singing the words for our nation, USA!