About Light

It's a silly little reason really.  And honestly, I didn't REALLY understand what it was doing in my little brain at the time.  But today in church God did a little whiffling through the rolodex of my mind, and brought to the very front, the following comment that was made recently regarding me:

It all started awhile back when someone (I can't remember who now) said something to the effect that Dana is as real for God in person as she is online.... that she lives a TOTALLY sold out life for God.  My mind has been wrestling with that ever since just asking and wondering HOW DO I GET THERE?????  (sorry Dana, hope I didn't make you blush

Nice isn't it?  You want to know what my brain said about that:

HOLY CRAP! THAT IS A HECK OF A LOT TO LIVE UP TO OH MY GOSH I DON'T THINK I CAN DO THIS BOY DO I HAVE EVERYBODY OUT THERE IN THE WORLD FOOLED OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH

And that my friends, is when I went into my little hidey hole and really started to think about things.

See because I know me.  And truly there is not much about me that is inherently me that's worth presenting to the public.  My immediate response when I saw that was that it's not me.  And since it's not me I must be living this huge hypocritical life, and therefore anything I say is subject to be misinterpreted making me out to be greater than I really am.  Immediately walls were erected and the lines of communication between the thinking part of my brain and the writing part of my brain were cut and pretty much the entire communicatiing part of me closed down because I would NEVER want to make God look bad with my piddly little life.

That's where I have been.

Until Yesterday.

Yesterday God had a lot to say to me about a lot of things, some of which are still processing and percolating, and which will probably make their way out onto this stage eventually.  But what He wanted to say to me most was this:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Foolish Foolish me! and my foolish pride!

Because obviously something good and wonderful about me must be something I produced, yes? And since it is something I produced, then it must be subject to random screw ups, yes? and therefore it must be guarded and protected lest my one wonderful work be messed up by none other than me, yes?

WRONG.

Any salt and light that I produce, has nothing to do with me.  Not one thing. 

And that is where I made my fatal error. I tried to take something that was all about God, and I made it all about me, and in so doing, I doomed myself to failure. Nothing that is in me can live up to anything that is of God. Really, it’s just totally amazing that He can do anything with me AT ALL!

I love the way God works with me sometimes because not only did he bring these words into my mind and use them to tell me something about myself, but He made sure to really hammer the point home by having my husband begin the youth worship service with these words:

Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand.

GOD SMACK!

I AM the light of the world. Not, I may make you the light of the world when you get it all together and have enough verses memorized, but YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! Right here. Right now. Right where you are today! And if God is so big and great that He can meet me like that and make me look good, well then Glory to God indeed!

"Bringing out the God colors in the world” I like that.

I think maybe I’ll spend a little less time worrying about how I might make God look, and a little more time appreciating how He makes me look!

Comments

[Andrea]

It's amazing that people can see in us something that we cannot see ourselves - God in us! Blessings :-)

[SMilhoan]

Wouldn't it be interesting to know how people really perceive us, instead of always processing it through the filter of our own frame of reference - our perceptions, definitions, baggage, and understanding?

We never know all we touch and how. And that thought is so sweet and so scary. I love that God can use even me. But I am also convicted to not hinder his ability to shine his light through me. To be more available and pliable and useable by just being more willing and ready and subject to his will and calling.

You have a unique blessing. This medium encourages feedback, so you have the fortune, or otherwise :), of having a clearer idea than most of what impact you make. Cherish it!

[KathyK]

Hi, Dana. I found your blog from Keri's place, and I'm so glad I did. I've been going through a spiritual struggle lately, and you've really helped me clarify some things. Thanks for letting His light shine through you - you've brightened my world this day.

[Crissy]

Praise the Lord Dana... love you girl. I love the idea of being salt seasoning so that the people of this world might taste Godliness. That is awesome!!! And woot... you quoted me... LOL.

[Amy A.]

That's an awesome thought, kind of along the lines of something I was thinking about yesterday - how weird!

[Aleta]

Love... this... blog! It is so true. Thanks for sharing. ((hugs))

[~Leann]

*standing ovation* I also totally love that Kathy Troccoli song, too. (((DANA)))

[Laura]

When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:4

You're in Christ, your piddly little life can't help but be glorious!
(((((((hugs)))))))
Laura

[Jamie]

Big ol' cheesey grin! No more hiding under a bushel!

[Pattie]

Dana! Thank you for sharing this. Isn't it humbling that He puts His treasure in jars of clay, and makes us strong in our weaknesses? This whole thought process is mind-boggling to me. Love your thoughts, and love you too!

[Nattie]

See what I mean when you say that I am a better woman than you are?! I am not. I told you. It is all God. See?! You know. (((Dana))) Here's to being God colors. :-)

[Becky]

Praise God - that is an excellent revelation! I love this song by Kathy Troccolli:

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Cause We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let's raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world