Tag Archives: Light

Jun1

DAY 152

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Sometimes, God sends trials not to bother us, but to light our path...A lighthouse is only effective in the dark and in the storm. (by Lisa R.)

Sometimes, God sends trials not to bother us, but to light our path…A lighthouse is only effective in the dark and in the storm.
(by Lisa R.)

As I was deciding on how to put my day into words, (after such a rough week). I saw this comment from, hope4theheart.wordpress.com, “With forgiveness comes freedom. Wise choice!” It made me laugh out loud (yup, I lol’d). Why? Because I was thinking the same thing. Today I feel FREE! Like yesterday did not happen. Yes, I am aware it did happen, I am not delusional. But when I made the choice to let it go, when I decided to not make it the focus of my mind…it had no control over my emotions anymore. I am really and truly no longer upset. I don’t hold any festering feelings. Today, as I look back I find that I am thankful for all that has happened (no I am not crazy). If these events had not taken place, I wouldn’t have learned that I had this in me. I wouldn’t have seen the beauty of tapping into God’s resources. “Life is hard, the world is cold. We’re barely young and then we’re old… Yes, life is hard, but God is good” (Life is Hard (God is Good), by Pam Thum).

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT).

So what I am thankful for today? Freedom!

May12

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought #55

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart. (Picture by Lisa R)

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Mark 5. This Chapter made me take pause, and look at the human condition. Sometimes God will do something amazing and miraculous, however, in order for the work to be accomplish we must let go of something. “When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet Him, this man lived in the tombs and no one could bind him any more, not even with chains. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet…Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones”  (Verses 2-5). This man was in agony, he had lost control of who he was created to be and is under the control of an entity that does not have his best interest at heart. “Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’ And he begged Jesus again, and again not to send them out of the area…’Send us among the pigs allow us to go inside of them. He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned” (Verses  9-13). This is why I don’t eat meat! “Those attending the pigs ran off and reported this to the town and countryside, and the people went to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus they saw the man who had been possessed, sitting there and in his right mind; and they were afraid [what!!!]. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region” (Verses 14-17). What?! Afraid?! Why? Because Jesus healed a person in pain? Because the man was in his RIGHT mind? My belief, because Jesus removed a sin that they were comfortable with. The possessed man was hurting and in pain, his very being had been taken away from him. Jesus RESTORED him, yet instead of rejoicing the people asked God to leave. Sin is dirty and painful, yet we have become so comfortable with it; that we don’t rejoice when God comes in to clean it up. No, instead we plead for Him to leave.

Apr15

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought# 30

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.

Matthew 5. Verses 1-11 are known as the Beatitudes (because this is what our attitude ought be). I won’t go over them here, but I would encourage you to read this Chapter it is chock-full of practical life application (I am always amazed at how current the Bible is). “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl..let your light shine before men” (Verses 13-16). We are called to be salt and light. We are meant to bring flavor. We are meant to help people see. However many times we hide, afraid to be the things we are called to be. What’s the result? Discontentment. You want to accomplish your reason for existence? Do what God has called you to do. Yup, it really is that simple. Be salt. Be light.

Apr14

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought# 29

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.

Matthew 4. The Chapter begins with the temptation of Christ. Jesus after His baptism fasted for 40 days and nights (if you think that is not doable, I can tell you that it is). During His fasting satan comes to tempt Him. First temptation: Physical need, “If you are the Son of God command these stones to become bread” (Verse 3).  Jesus’ reply, “It is written: ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God'” (Verse 4). The second temptation: Demonstration of power, satan takes Jesus to the highest point of the temple “‘If you are the Son of God.’ he said, ‘throw yourself down’. ‘For it is written: He will give His angels charge concerning You, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone'” (Verses 5-6). Christ’s reply, “‘It is written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test'” (Verse 7). The final temptation: Authority, satan takes Jesus to the mountain and shows Him the kingdom of the world, “‘All this I will give You’, he said, ‘if You will bow down and worship me'” (Verse 9).  Jesus replied, “‘Away from me, satan! For it is written’: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only'” (Verse 10). Christ was tempted in all the areas that we struggle the most, yet He withstood. Yes, I know He was God and man, but understand this: His humanity was not a cover that He threw on. He felt what we feel. He understands our weakness and out frailty. He was 100% man (it wouldn’t have been called temptation if He wasn’t). Lastly, I saw something else while reading this Chapter, something that I understand a little differently (now that I have just finished reading the Old Testament). After His temptation Jesus begins His ministry. He preaches this, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Verse 17). I use to read that and think that He meant time-wise. However after my journey through the old testament I think the meaning is twofold.  Yes, He is talking about time (His concept of it not ours). But I believe He is also talking about proximity, Jesus’ very presence had brought the kingdom of heaven to earth. People were communing and communicating with God! How sad that we were (and still are) too blind to know it.

Mar30

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought #15

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.

Zechariah 1-2. Chapter one of Zechariah is so amazing because God feels personal (not that He doesn’t always). “The Lord was very angry with your forefathers. Therefore tell the people: this is what the Lord Almighty says, ‘Return to Me’, declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” His words are like that of a friend. He says, “I was angry because you didn’t listen”. “You didn’t hear or obey when I was trying to protect you, so in my anger I turned away”. I have had those kinds of conversations with friends. I have had to say, “Look we aren’t seeing eye to eye”. “Our goals don’t match”. “I think we need some time apart”. God in Chapter One explains Himself, explains His previous actions, and then offers a truce. He offers them a chance to accomplish what their forefathers couldn’t. “Return to me, and I will return to you”. In Chapter Two Zechariah continues his conversation with God and His angel. However, Chapter Two contains the most beautiful sentence I have ever read. Zechariah is speaking with The Angel of the Lord who is explaining to him what he is seeing (Zechariah had a vision). Then the angel says, “For whoever touches you touches the apple of God’s eye” (Verse 8). My translation, whoever dares to harm God’s elect, dares to harm GOD.  God continues the thought by saying, “Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming and I will live among you”.  Having a bad day? Feeling unloved? Unwanted? Under-appreciated? Remember this, you are the apple of God’s eye…He is always with you.

Mar15

DAY 74

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The foundation of who we are is built one stone at a time...don't rush the process. Don't hate the journey.

The foundation of who we are is built one stone at a time…don’t rush the process. Don’t hate the journey.

I have been reflecting lately on the reason why I started this blog. Why, I started this journey of thankfulness. 2012 for me was a long year. I felt like I saw more downs than ups. It seemed (from my perspective at least) like every time I took a step forward, I took a million back. I grew tired, I questioned God’s plan. Is this really what happens when you’re obedient? Does God really love me, really have my best interest at heart? With my emotions in an uproar and leading the way, I couldn’t see anything beyond what I was feeling (so even if good things were happening, I was blind to them). I had a desire to go back to Korea (I still do). However, every movement that I made toward that desire was thwarted. I felt lost and unhappy. Looking back I genuinely can’t believe that I am where I am now. I remember the day it stopped, when my heart said, “this has to end.” It was New Years Eve 2012, I remember thinking, “I can’t spend another year feeling this way.” I sat on the bed in my aunt’s house and prayed this prayer.

“Lord I can’t handle another year like this. I need a perspective change. I need to see what you’re really doing. Please show me what I need to do.”

i am thankful chalkboardAt that very moment the answer came to me, the reply was this: be THANKFUL. It sounds so simple, and in some ways it is, but in many other ways it is the hardest goal I have ever tried to achieve. Why? Because thankfulness requires that I look past the circumstance that obstructs my view to the lesson that I am meant to learn. Once you see the lesson, you understand the trial. Life will always have obstacles, but in the past 74 days I have learned to accept them and learn from them so that I will able to avoid them in the future. So be thankful every day, even for the bad, horrible things. It will change your view of your situation, of your life. It will bring back hope and light.

So what am I thankful for today? I am thankful that I am on DAY 74 of my journey to thankfulness.

Mar9

DAY 71

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Take a look at the picture…Did you do it? Do it again. Do you notice it…? This is merely a picture, a 2D image of the real thing, and yet the rays of the sun are so bright it is almost blinding (I have a point I promise). I took this picture one day on my way into work. I looked up and saw the sun reflecting through the tree branches and thought to myself, do I do that?  Do I shine through my adversities, or do I complain about them? When people see me do they see light, or do they see darkness? When someone feels hopeless, do they see hope in me? I took this picture to remind me of what I am called to be…a LIGHT in the darkness.

lightWe live in a dark and cold world (we may not like to hear this, but it is still true). Women are kidnapped and sold into slavery. Children are abandoned and abused. Not everyone around us is good. Not everyone has right motives. It is DARK. We are in desperate need of LIGHT.  Why? Because light dispels darkness. Don’t believe me…look at the picture again. Everything is clearer in the light. I have a light inside of me, it teaches me to love (even when I don’t want to), to listen and to HEAR. It teaches me to reach out and touch (even when I am scared). I willing follow the light. Why? Because everything, EVERYTHING is clearer in the light…(the SON-light).

So what am I thankful for today? That I have a light to share with others, because times are dark.

Feb16

DAY 47

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You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there. Edwin Louis Cole

You don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there.
Edwin Louis Cole

The words to the song goes. “I am a felon, I tell no lie. Hand on the Bible and to the sky. I wanna live, I [don’t] want to die…it could have been the end, [man]. One way, hell’s gate. BUT the LORD stepped in, chose to show GRACE. Could have been dead, [man], but I’m ALIVE and the old me gone, cause everyday, [man] I BURY me.”

I recently discovered this song by Thi’sl who is rapping about his life. The words are heavy and sometimes hard to swallow, yet they are also laden with hope. Here’s what I thought after listening to this song: If  I met him on the street, how would I have treated him? Why is this my thought? Society has taught us to judge the outside. We don’t take the time to see the person. I wonder even now, how many people still see the felon, and NOT the person who was shown GRACE; the one who takes the time everyday to bury the old him. Ed Cole said it perfectly, ” [In life], you don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there”. Thi’sl chose not to stay there.

 

So what am I thankful for today? That I am learning to see the person and not the appearance.

 

 

Feb15

DAY 46- How To Un-Traffic Jam Your Life

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Today I realized something, AMAZING. In these 46 days I have learned to *UN-traffic jam* (yes I know it’s not a word, but it works) my life. Let me explain, prior to starting this venture of finding one thing to be thankful each day. I was the queen (okay, more like second in command) of finding things to complain about. This personality defect often left me feeling claustrophobic in my life, much like the way one feels in a traffic jam. 

Natives who beat drums to drive off evil spirits are objects of scorn to smart Americans who blow horns to break up traffic jams. - Mary Ellen Kelly -

Traffic jam: where you are sitting in a metal box, with an engine that is supposedly powered by horses and yet, you are going nowhere…extra, extra SLOW.

This very apt description was my life. I was trapped on a road going nowhere at a speed of ZERO. I remember thinking, “I feel frustrated, irritated…STUCK.”   One December 31st of last year, I had a conversation with God that went something like this: “Lord I can’t go through one more year like this. I can’t keep spinning my wheels only to end up in the same spot. I need a change. I need more than this.” Actually I had different forms of this same conversation with God through much of 2012. But on December 31st, I felt Him answer this… “stop looking at what you don’t have and be THANKFUL for what you do have”. My first response was to think, “well, what do I have?” In answering that question I discovered I had so much more than I couldimagine. What I have: health, a family that loves me. I have a good job, great co-workers, amazing friends and I have…GOD. My traffic jam was of my causing. I CHOSE to be stuck.  How do you de-congest a traffic jam your life? THANKFULNESS.   So what am I thankful for today? That even with traffic on the journey, I am still moving forward. Also thankful that traffic jams don’t last forever…traffic ALWAYS clears.