Illuminate
It’s a new year with new challenges and opportunities! Our theme for 2022 is Illuminate, based on John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Who doesn’t like light? There is something soothing about waking up to a new morning filled with sunlight. The effect the sun has on its surroundings is impressive! Light makes all the difference! Did you know light therapy is used for Seasonal Affective Disorder, appropriately referred to as SAD? Specifically, in the winter months, when daylight hours are shorter, and the sun’s angle to the earth is shallow, it’s easy to get down in the dumps. We need light! And everyone said, AMEN!
Light illuminates. When we bought our home, the number of windows was a selling point, at least for me. In the morning in our kitchen and the evenings in our living room, we enjoy having light drape the room!
Light will expose whatever is in its path.
One day, as I walked into my kitchen, I saw what appeared to be a vapor coming from the oven, or so I thought. Instantly, I assumed we had a gas leak and called Steve to come and look at it, feeling the house was going to blow up or something. Calmly, without getting up from his recliner to come to my rescue, Steve said, “Liz is the essential oil diffuser on?” Looking next to our kitchen sink, I saw where the “smoke” was coming from, our diffuser! Thankfully, disaster averted, nothing was going to explode!
The early morning sun illuminated the vapor in the diffuser, which was wafting near the oven, appearing like smoke to me. But, of course, it wasn’t smoke; it was water vaporizing. At that moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “This is how I want your life to be. I want you to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that when my light shines on you, others can see what is in you, and your life gives off a vapor that is a sweet-smelling aroma.”
Did you know the Bible speaks about our life being an aroma to those who are yet to come to Christ?
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life…” 2 Corinthians 2:14 – 16
So, let’s begin a new year with these thoughts in mind.
First, commit to the process of living a life filled with the Holy Spirit. For example, we know a diffuser needs water to diffuse. Without water, it is useless no matter how pretty the diffuser is. In the same way, we need the fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit each day to be life-giving to those we encounter.
Second, commit to giving out what is inside of you. Too often, we waste our life when God wants to use them for His purpose. Fear or a feeling of unworthiness keeps us from all the God-sized assignments waiting for us!
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 3: 19-20 (NIV)
I can fill my diffuser and then not turn it on, rendering it useless. For it to be effective, it must diffuse. Our life is the same. Fill up and then give out. It’s a constant process, not once and done. It’s not about you; it’s about HIM.
Third, position yourself near the light. The closer we get to the light, the more of what is inside becomes apparent. Light keeps us accountable.
“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:13 (NIV)
Join with me and ILLUMINATE our world with God’s help! I love our theme for 2022!
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
I love serving the women of PennDel!
Liz
