When the Light Is Out But You're Too Stressed to Notice

When all my family was here last weekend, Ryan decided we should introduce Hannah to First Monday. We loaded into two cars and headed out. I was in the lead car with Ryan and Hannah. My niece, Katie, sister (Cookie), and kids were in the car behind us. 

We hadn't driven far before my sister texted me to let me know my tail lights were out. No brake lights. Nothing. They had already diagnosed my problem. Either a fuse or a short.

My lights had gone out, and I was completely clueless.

It took me a few days to get to my mechanic's shop when it was open. I dreaded the visit. I had visions of expensive repairs to correct the problem.

As it turns out, the cause of my lightlessness was not a fuse or a short. Both light bulbs had burned out. It only cost $15 to repair. 

This morning, I pondered the lights-out situation and wondered how long the problem existed before I knew about it. No one flagged me down to tell me. No one mentioned it after I got out of my car. I never thought to check them.

When you don't see your own light, how do you know it's gone?

We're supposed to be the light of the world, but what if we don't know our light's out (or dimmed)? If people can't "see" our light, all our words are pointless. 

Yesterday was one of those rare days when I was at the end of my rope. The expectations for what I "should" do far exceeded the reality of what I could do. I did what I was "supposed" to do, which meant I couldn't do what I thought God had called me to do. 

I was already stretched too thin...I spent the day fighting back tears and struggling with exhaustion. I wanted to lash out at the people who weren't exhausted and overwhelmed. I hate to admit it, but I resented their cheerfulness. 

Those not-much-like-Jesus feelings were a good indicator that my soul-light was dimmed nearly out.

I should've stayed home. 

My light wasn't extinguished completely, but it was so dim as to be impossible to see. Exhaustion will do that. Especially emotional exhaustion.

Today, I'm making a different decision. I've already had my quiet time, studied my Bible, gone through my prayer list. 

For the rest of my day, I'm doing what I know I must, those things that only I can do, and I'm doing them in order of priority. I'm taking Sam to the grocery store, helping him settle down for the day, finishing novel edits. I may or may not try to cut my grass. I may, or may not, pull weeds. 

Today, first things will be first.

The most important thing has already happened. I've given my lights-nearly-out-in-my-soul problem to the Light Giver, God Himself. I've asked Him to bring the kind of refreshment that rekindles the flame and helps it burn brighter. I've surrendered the good and embraced the best.

I don't quite know what to do about all the challenges I face, but I know Who does. I know He'll give me wisdom when I need it.

I'm surely not the only one who pushes until near collapse, who faces problems too big for them...If you're in that fragile place of dim-lighted illumination, take heart. Our God is light, and He longs to give His light to us, His light-bearers...Why not take your failing light to Him and allow Him to rekindle the flame and restore the glow?

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:4,5 nasb
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: When God Mandates Rest and We Refuse to Comply

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Or you can mail your check or money order to: Global Outreach/ PO Box 1, Tupelo MS 38802. Be sure to put Account 4841 in the "for" line

The Importance of Light

It happened gradually. One light bulb after another burned out. The stairwell light was out. Even the oven light was out. Yesterday, I realized there were light bulbs out in almost every room of my house. 

Hauling the ladder from the barn to replace one light bulb had seemed like too big an effort, but the tipping point had finally arrived. It was worth it.

After a quick trip to stock up on light bulbs, I determined to recruit the first able-bodied person who stopped by my house to help me. It wasn't long before a friend dropped in. It took a while, but we replaced all the light bulbs.

There's light throughout my house again, and it feels surprisingly extravagant after the weeks of increasing darkness.

Last night, Maggie and Mamie were tired early and barked until I put them to bed. (They sleep at the foot of my bed.) When I didn't join them immediately, they barked some more. Finally, I gave up my knitting downstairs, grabbed a book, and headed to bed. 

Propped against the headboard, book in hand, I could see it all. The lights illuminated every corner of the room.

That's what light does. It comforts and illuminates. It shows the way.

For many people, the world is a dark and comfortless place. It's our job, as disciples of Christ, to provide the light, for it is His Word that gives us light.

When light is absent, it's not the fault of the darkness. It's the fault of the light-bearers. 

Are you allowing the light of Christ to shine forth from your life? Does the love of Christ provide a gentle glow that draws others to Him?

Darkness expands when light fails. 

Let's be sure our light shines in such a way that all will see the love of Christ in us. 

Make a difference. Be the light. 

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.    Psalm 119:105

You are the light of the world...    Matthew 5:14

Let your light so shine before men, that they see your good works, 

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.    Matthew 5:16 

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In case you missed one of this week's posts, here are the links:  Living in Goshen: God's Best, Embracing Our Personal Gethsemane, What is the Point of Suffering: Extracting the Precious, Mamie and the Ink Stain, The Blizzard That Was Not,  The Truth That Matters Most: My Redeemer Lives and Truth That Matters: God Sees. 

Be sure to check out my new Amazon Author Page.
#light #bethelight #Christian #faith #letyourlightshine

Maggie the Wonder Dog and the Hurt Eye: Avoiding the Light

For those of you who missed yesterday's post, Maggie the Wonder Dog somehow injured her eye and has a severe corneal abrasion. (The link to that story is at the end of this post)

She's been a trooper, but corneal abrasions hurt. Bright light is especially painful, so she's chosen the room with the dimmest light this week.  

As we've avoided the light to make her eye more comfortable, I've been reminded that, as believers, we are the light of the world. We can present that light as a burning bright laser beam, akin to a flashlight in the face, or as the warm and welcoming glow of a candle. 

Those with the wounds of sin are often like Maggie, avoiding the light because of the pain it can bring. When we, as believers, present the light of Christ in a harsh, hard way, that too-bright light can be so painful it drives those in need of Christ's love farther away. When presented in a warm glow, however, the light of Christ can welcome and draw those in darkness to Him.

What kind of light emanates from your life? Does it draw people closer to Jesus or push them away because of the harshness of the glare? 

Let's be sure we, the light of the world, are emitting The Light that, when lifted high will draw others to Christ.

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In case you missed any of the past week's posts, here are the links:  The Blessing of Protection, Becoming a Writer: Cover Reveal, I Shook His Hand Once, Knowing the Goal, Remembering My Way, and Maggie The Wonder Dog and the Hurt Eye.

The most read post of the past week: Remembering My Way.

Here's the link to The Clay Papers, available as an e-book for personal use or to send as a gift for only 99 cents. 

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#light #eyepain #lightofhteworld #JesusChrist

The Lamp of the Body

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” (Luke 11:33-36 NIV)

Jesus transitioned from His discussion about signs to a discussion about light. Matthew Henry includes these verses as part of the section concerning signs. At first glance, the two passages seem discordant, but, on closer inspection, they are not.

The "sign of the Son of Man", the resurrection of Jesus, would be the only sign they would be given, He told the crowds. It would be the sign that made the truth about Him clear. His truth, then, is like a lamp that gives illumination to those who are uncertain. 

The word translated as lamp is lychnos and indicates a small, hand-held oil lamp like the one in the photo above. The lamp gives just enough light for the one holding it to see the next step or two. The word translated as "lights" (as in "lights the lamp") is haptō and is a word that indicates "fastening" or adhering the flame to the lamp.  

This idea of adhering the light of Christ (hapto) has been discussed in previous posts and you can read them: here and also here.

Jesus reminded his listeners that a lamp, once lit, is placed on a lampstand to provide lamp to all within the room. In that same way, the light of Christ, His truth, has not been hidden away. It is not obscure or so difficult that it cannot be understood. His light is available for all who will have it. 

We will consider allowing the light to fill our lives tomorrow, but for today, let's focus on our desire to have the light. Do we want the truth of Christ to fill our being? Are we willing to allow Him to illuminate every corner of our lives with His truth? If we are honest, there are times when we'd rather snuggle into a little darkness. It is when we allow the light into every area of our lives, dispelling the darkness, that we find joy infusing our being. Our temptation is to embrace the darkness, at least in part, but our call is to the light. It is a struggle, and one we will battle until we enter eternity, but it is a struggle we must win.

We must have the light of Christ, for it is only through His light that the cold darkness in our soul can be replaced with the warmth of His love. For today, let us choose the light of Christ, His truth, and pray that those we love will choose His light for their lives, as well.

Filled with Light

 

photos courtesy of National Eye Institute

"No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays." (Luke 11:33-36 NASB)

We've taken a little detour through the world of eye disease to help us understand the importance of having "clear eyes". Most of the photos used to illustrate the different types of vision loss were variations on the photo above, all from the National Eye Institute. Shocking difference, isn't it? In the normal vision photograph above, the faces are clear and the colors are bright. In the diseased vision photograph, the faces are partially obscured, and the colors are dull and muddy. There's a big difference, isn't there?

Jesus said that, when our "eye is bad" our body is filled with darkness. It's hard to understand until we compare the photo illustrating normal vision (clear vision) with the photo illustrating "dark" vision (or diseased vision) Take a moment to look at the photos and compare them to the light (or darkness) present in your own life.

If we are to be lamps on a lampstand, the light within us is kindled by the Holy Spirit. When the eye of our heart is "clear" (or not diseased) we are able to receive light and see all around us clearly. When the eye of our heart is "dark" (or diseased), the reception of light is decreased and our vision is drastically altered. 

Jesus cautioned his disciples to "watch out that the light in you is not darkness." That phrase seemed odd to me, but I've learned something from our study of eye disease. Most of the eye diseases are asymptomatic (have no symptoms) until the late stages. The only way to "watch out that the light in you is not darkness" is with a regular "eye" exam. Trained professionals can examine our eyes to determine whether or not they are normal, diagnose disease at an early stage, and institute treatment to prevent worsening of the disease.

Wouldn't it be nice if we had an "eye of the soul doctor" who could diagnosis the first seeds of sin before they get roots and grow in our lives? We do! One of the Holy Spirit's jobs is the convict and correct us. Our job is to listen and follow His leading. There are times when He has quite a job with me, but my desire is to listen closely and change quickly. I've received more than enough sin-induced discipline in my life; I don't want any more. 

There are two main ways I've found to keep my vision clear. (Not that I'm perfect at all.) 
1. Allowing an accountability partner to speak truth with love. My friend, Shelia, and I have been praying together once a week for years. We've studied together, discussed the interpretation of Scripture together, and prayed together. Over time, we've held each other accountable in more ways than I can tell. It is not uncommon for Shelia to say, "That sounds like fear (or whatever sin I'm about to head into) to me" or "I'm not sure about that" when I'm heading in the wrong direction. She's honest with me and holds me to a higher standard, and I do the same for her. If you don't have someone in your life who will help you stay accountable, ask God to give you someone. I'm a much more faithful follower of Christ because of my friend. 

Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17 NASB

2. Studying Scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to convict and correct through it. When I read Scripture, I ask God to speak to me through it. He never fails to give me a fresh insight, but sometimes I have to wait longer than other times for it. If I am faithful to persist in study, He is faithful to teach me. Holy Spirit will reveal any areas of darkness in me. It's up to me to allow change.

Having a friend to help is a priceless treasure, but no one takes the place of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. He is the spiritual equivalent of a "trained professional" for the eyes of our heart. When I ask, "Show me my heart the way You see it," He does. Although I don't always like what He shows me, I can't change what I don't know about. 

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth...

John 16:13 NASB

Today, let's take a few moments for an "eye exam", and ask the Holy Spirit to examine the eyes of our heart, show us areas of darkness, and help us to make any corrections that need to be changed. When our eye is clear, our whole body will be full of light. What a wonderful goal!

Open the eyes of our heart Lord, we want to see You...

Spiritual Macular Degeneration

"No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays." (Luke 11:33-36 NASB)

We are taking another detour, this time through a few eye diseases, to help us understand the importance of clear spiritual vision. Today's topic is the eye disease known as Age-related Macular Degeneration. (AMD)

AMD is, as the name implies, a problem that can develop as we age. It causes damage to the macula, the area of the retina that is responsible for clear central vision. The macula allows us to see things that are straight ahead of us. AMD does not usually cause total blindness, but a loss of central vision that can be very debilitating. If you look at the photo above, you can see that the entire photo is blurred but the face of the child (the central portion of the photo) is especially blurred.

We can develop a kind of spiritual AMD, as well. When we do, we lose our central focus. I know this is true, because I've had spiritual AMD a few times. Maybe you have, too. When I allow sin into my life, whether by overt acts or by the drifting that comes with busyness, I lose my focus and my clarity of vision. It seems that, almost overnight, my heart of faith is clouded by hazy vision. Most debilitating, however, is that my central vision, the part of my heart that focuses on God alone, becomes deeply impaired.

The best treatment for AMD is prevention, and the National Eye Institute recommends four important lifestyle changes that can help prevent the vision loss of AMD.

~ Avoid smoking

~ Exercise regularly

~ Maintain normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels

~ Eat a healthy diet rich in green leafy vegetables and fish

If we apply those recommendations to the prevention of spiritual AMD, they might look something like this:

~ Avoid sin

~ Exercise your faith regularly

~ Spend time in prayer to keep your perspective balanced

~ Ingest the Word of God through Bible study 

Years ago, someone very close to me was diagnosed with AMD and was referred to a retina specialist in Memphis. I can still recall that visit. Her physician was very clear about her options. "The only good study on prevention of macular degeneration showed that people who eat a diet high in spinach and dark green leafy vegetables had significantly lower rates of AMD. The best prevention is spinach at least four times a week." This dear woman's response was, "I don't like spinach," and she opted for oral vitamins, instead. As her disease progressed, she became more willing to eat dark green, leafy vegetables, but I grieved that she waited so long to do the one thing that might have helped. 

If we want to have a life that is filled with clarity of vision and the ability to see the One who should be at the center of our lives, we must do what is necessary to keep our vision clear. The bad news about AMD is that the majority of cases cannot be reversed. Prevention truly is the best treatment. The good news about Spiritual Macular Degeneration is that the prevention steps are also the steps that are the cure. 

If our spiritual sight is clouded, our central vision is obscured, there is a cure. We can turn from that which impairs our focus and return to the One on whom we should be focused. In an instant, our Spiritual AMD can be changed to clear vision and fill our hearts with light.

"Open our eyes, Lord. We want to see Jesus."

Choosing the Light

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” (Luke 11:33-36 NIV)

In this passage, Jesus refers metaphorically to the "eye"as the lamp of our body, through which the light is received. When our eye is healthy, the light can come in unimpaired and our body is filled with light. When our eyes are damaged by cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, or other diseases of the eye, the light that enters is reduced and the images we see are distorted. Rather than filling us with light, they can, in a way, fill us with darkness because the light is not allowed to enter.

This principle has become extremely clear to me because of my neighbor, who has a chronic problem with double vision. To hammer a nail, he pounds repeatedly in the general direction of the nail, hoping to hit it occasionally and thereby drive the nail into the board. It is extremely inefficient and fraught with difficulty. Very few nails are successfully hammered into place.

When I have clarity of vision in my spiritual eyes, the light of truth can enter unimpaired and fill me. Just as having light in a room allows me to move about freely, so the light in my life also allows me to move in freedom as I live the life Christ expected me to live. 

"What is the sign that God expects from us for the evidencing of our faith?" Matthew Henry asked. His answer, "The serious practice of that religion which we profess to believe, and a readiness to entertain (or embrace) all divine truths when brought to us in their proper evidence." 

God expects me to live out the faith I claim and to embrace His truth when it is revealed to me. I am to live like I say I believe if I am to please God and demonstrate His grace and mercy to the world. Obedience is not optional. 

That living requires "clear eyes" that are not clouded or darkened by the distortion sin causes. It requires that I allow the light of Christ to fill me. Imagine for a moment having a life that is filled with light, no darkness at all. 

Selah. Pause and consider.

If I embrace the truth I know, rejecting the sin I prefer, I can be a shining example of God's grace to those around me, much like a lamp shining in a darkened room. I can be, if I choose to be.

Therein is the problem. CHOICE. Will I choose light or darkness? Will you choose light or darkness? We can't have both. If you and I are to live as those who have been redeemed, we must choose the light, allow it to fill us, and live accordingly. We cannot continue to reserve even a tiny bit of darkness for our own pleasure. 

Just as Joshua told the Israelites as they stood on the brink of the promised land. There is a choice to be made, and it changes everything.

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15 NASB)

Maggie and the Sunbeam

Maggie the Wonder Dog's favorite spot in our house is on the edge of my green ottoman in front of the big picture window. She spends as much time as possible there, usually stretched out and napping. Until recently, I thought it was just a comfy spot for her. 

A few weeks ago, Maggie made a day trip with me and we carried her "upstairs bed" along. When we returned home, the extra bed ended up on the floor in the great room. The next day, I was off work and doing some household chores. Maggie's not much on helping with housework, so she was sleeping on the ottoman. After an hour or so, I realized she had moved to the other side of the ottoman. She got up and played for a while, then started dragging her bed around. She spent the next several hours dragging the bed around, positioning it just right, then snuggling down. It took me a bit, but I finally realized she was chasing the sunbeams. Her first spot on the ottoman is her favorite because that's where the sun shines in on her. She worked all afternoon being sure she could rest in the light of the sun. 

I wish I was as diligent about resting in the light of the Son, don't you? The Heavenly Sonlight of Christ should be the place we most want to inhabit and the place of our greatest rest. Like Maggie dragging her bed around, we need to make whatever adjustment is necessary in our position or priority to be sure we are right in the center of the Light from above. Has your faith walk grown a little cool?  Perhaps you need to move closer to the Son. 

In case you aren't sure how to get in position, take a hint from Maggie. She looks for the light and keeps moving until she's right in the center of the beam, and we should, too.