focus on the light

FOCUS ON THE LIGHT

As we get real with each other we step into a place of vulnerability.  No one is comfortable with feeling exposed.  Just like Adam and Eve, we want to run and hide. I love how God asked them who told you you are naked?  As if he didn't know…He desires for us to be honest with Him even in our sin.  He knows everything about us down to the hairs on our head, yet we live like if we keep this “whatever” hidden it will be ok.  Your “whatever”  may have caused you deep hurt and may leak into all your future relationships.  God isn’t asking you to go exposed & naked into the world.  He’s offering you His covering, grace and SALVATION!  I never thought of how Adam and Eve made themselves fig leaves once they had sinned but God didn’t leave them in their own covering…HE MADE THEM CLOTHES.  We can choose to stay hidden, embarrassed or shameful hiding in the darkness or we can step out in the light of HIS LOVE and allow Him to clothe us in the gift of salvation, His grace.  As a child of God our identity is not in our past, our failures or our sins.  These are the things we tend to focus on and they keep us from seeing all the good things from God.  

My Salty Sister and I were sitting on her daughter’s back porch having a quiet time together as the sun was coming up.  She took a picture of the sunrise as the light was peaking through the clouds creating a little masterpiece for us.  Frustrated, she turned her phone towards me and said why does it keep doing this?  I said because it’s focusing on the LIGHT!  It wasn't capturing all the clouds we were seeing because it was focused on the light…we both giggled as I said…”there’s a sermon in that”. 

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now, rather, WE FIX OUR GAZE on things that cannot be seen, For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will LAST FOREVER.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Much like the picture she was trying to take we miss out on the beauty and peace in life when we don’t focus on the Light. We can live our whole life focussed on the clouds (our past, the current season we don’t understand, the seemingly unanswered prayer and even the smallest frustrations of everyday life) all the “whatevers”. When we bring all of it into His Light, God can use it for His glory.

My niece helped me create the dot on the ‘i’ on my Salty Sisters’s logo.  It is a crescent moon.  The moon doesn’t have any power to create light.  What we see is the reflection of the sun.  We are created to focus on the SON, so HE can be seen.  Gives new meaning to moonshine!  I spent a lot of my life trying to create my own light.  Growing up singing “This Little Light of Mine” I was determined to shine.  I think most of us fall into the if I do the right things, God will bless us, so I tried to shine even when things were a mess.

Today is 7 years since my life turned upside down.  The day my husband told me the truth about what was happening in his life.  I was on my knees crying out to God before the scheduled phone call was to take place.  I clearly heard God reassure me that “He had me”.  I walked out of my house to the back porch to take the call.  No, I had no idea what was coming, but I knew God was with me.  There were many times I focused on the clouds, his sins, my sins, the need to understand all the whys, the what ifs, BUT GOD never gave up on either of us or our son.  We were broken before that day, however it was the day that spelled out something had to change. There is beauty in the broken. I heard that a lot during the past 7 years and honestly I hated to hear it.  I didn’t want this broken life -I still don't- but I am reminded daily this life is not all there is.  When I’m more focused on my comfort than my calling, that is when life is really upside down. You know what…God has remained faithful…surprise, right?!?

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuternonmy 31:8

The hurt…hurts, it hurts deeply and is ugly.  It leaves tear stains on pillow cases and leaves us paralyzed doubting God’s goodness and mad at Him.  Hello, have you read Psalms?  My hurt, your hurt, is not God’s desire for you. We have to choose to bring it back to Him, allow His love to cover us and focus on THE LIGHT.  This is more than forgive and forget that is said so flippantly.  Forgive them, forgive yourself and move forward closer to GOD.  You aren't supposed to create your own light, you are supposed to reflect HIS to shine!

After a new believer is baptized at our church Bro. John places salt on their lips and gives them a candle to serve as a reminder for them to go have an impact and be an influencer as the Salt and Light. I love this reminder.  I can’t have an impact in isolation, that’s why Salty Sisters is part of my calling.  It is helping me to share my story for His Glory and encourage you to do the same.  No matter “whatever” circumstances you find yourself in, God will never leave you, Salty Sister…Focus on The Light!