This Little Light of Mine Romans 13:11-14

I have been reminded in Romans 13 this week that "now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." How near is that? I like to think that it is VERY soon.

Because His coming for us is soon we are encouraged to "cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light." Rm 13:12 That's a cool visual! Armor of Light! Makes me think of 2 different passages.

Eph 6:10-17 "Put on the whole armor of God..." v.13 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (firm)"

John 8:12 "I am the light of the world..."

You might say that putting on Christ (Rm 13:14)is putting on the armor of light and He is the power to stand firm against the evil one.

It is a dark world we live in, and there is an evil power that blinds the hearts and minds of many. But, dear ones, we are not bound by it but rather set free and now it is our responsibility to shine!

So, "let us walk properly,(decently) as in the day," - did you get that? (As in the day?) You mean it's not day? No! It is night! You bring the light to the world around you!

Judges 5:31b "But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength."

Shine for our Savior and Lord today! Light exposes sin, brings warmth, causes growth and yes, cheers our hearts.

Daniel 12:3 "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever."

What a picture!

Remember the song "This Little Light of Mine"... Now it's up to you!

A Sure Recipe for Fruitfulness

My study has taken me into 2 Peter.

I noticed that the "knowledge of God" is mentioned 5 times in the first 8 verses. Throughout the entire chapter, Peter speaks of the things they know as he is reminding the saints of them. He ends the chapter with the certain truth that the scripture is Divinely inspired. Therefore, to know it (the Bible), is to gain understanding in the knowledge of God. I'm pretty certain that to have the knowledge of God is key to the Christian life! Wouldn't you agree?

2Peter 1:2-8 "May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.

For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Breaking verses 5-8 down -

Make every effort - be earnest, diligent

Add to your faith, virtue ( moral excellence) not just the everyday good morals. High standards of Godly living.

Add to virtue, knowledge - (1Tim. 2:15 Study!)

Add to knowledge, self-control - thoughts, words, deeds, actions and reactions

Add to self-control, steadfastness (perseverance, patience) - keep it up daily, day after day, week after week, month after...

Add to self-control, godliness - (Christ likeness, holiness)

Add to godliness, brotherly affection - kind ministering to the family of God

Add to brotherly affection, love - fervent stretched out love, giving totally of yourself to others

Doing these things will keep us from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For me personally, that's a very tall list. How about you? Let's make every effort though to do these things. By His grace and His divine power these things can be practiced in our lives.

One of the most wonderful things about our Lord is that when we do stumble and fall - or just plain mess up, He is merciful and forgives. His grace says, get up, keep going. Press on, don't give up. "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

tagged and playing

Thank you very much Brooke!
1.What is your occupation? – Domestic Engineer
2. What color are your socks right now? black, they go with my everyday black shoes!
3. What are you listening to right now? – the hum of my computer and the clanking of my thoughts
4. What was the last thing you ate? 1/2 chicken enchilada and 1/2 C ff refried beans and 1 pear( I just started weight watchers a week ago!)
5. Can you drive a stick shift? -yes ( took Joels new stealth out just last Sat.!)
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? NOT green, but everyone else seems to think this is a great color to be! Go figure I'm feeling rather purple!
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? – Grace Powell
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? tagged with? Yes, very much :o)
10. Favorite drink? water
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? Ken laughing
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes, once upon a time
13. Pets? 1 very large 22# cat!
14. What is your favorite food? mexican, italian, and chocolate
15. What was the last movie you watched? Eragone, I'm trying to watch less!
16. Favorite day of the year? vacation
17. What do you do to vent anger? huff, raise my voice and then pray! Still not to the Pro. 31 stage
18. What was your favorite toy as a child?sad but - that was so long ago, I don't remember :(
19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? both
20. Hugs or kisses? both
21. Cherries or Blueberries? - both
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? – no, but they can comment if they want
23. Who is most likely to comment? clueless -that's not a friend of mine, just me!
24. Who is least likely to comment? – my mom (she'll never see this!)
25. Living arrangements? Your place, when I'm old and needy!
26. When was the last time you cried? about the same time every month
27. What is on the floor of your closet? –shoes, things to be given away to the next group who calls for donations.
28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? not sending or tagging - she can't respond yet - Laura!!
29. What did you do last night? sewed for my mother
31. What inspires you? the lives of my young friends and their blogs
32. What are you afraid of at this point in your life? my son not trusting Christ
33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? plain, less calories
34. Favorite dog breed? outdoor
35. Number of keys on your key ring? 4
36. How many years at your current job? 28.5 years (I would really like 30 years to get me a cruise!!)
37. What would be the title of a book you wrote? Life with Ken
38. How many states have you lived in? 5
39. Favorite holidays? anytime the families together
40. Ever operated a motorcycle or heavy machinery? motorcycle, and really enjoyed it - till I ran into the bush!

Now, since I can't tag Laura I'll tag Dre and Grace!

Kaitlin at Christmas

This is our first grandchild Kaitlin. Her daddy and mommy came with her to visit for Christmas. They are watching a chalk talk by Grandpa Ken on Christmas morning about the wise men. She is a treasure!

Grandbaby time!

I have just learned the necessary "clicks" to make pictures and so I'm sharing my dear little Elisa with you. She is now about 2.5 months and 12#. She's a happy little girl that tugs at my heart strings each time I see her!

Sifted for a purpose!

I finished my study in I Peter recently and was so taken back with some things I learned. I've had to sit back and really think about how to share them.

I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

I think we all know and agree that we have an adversary. We're aware of his deceit, his subtleness and lies. But the apostle Peter had an encounter with the devil that causes him to urgently encourage us to be on the alert!

My study took me back to Luke 22:31,32 where the Lord says to Peter "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." This verse says that Satan asked (the word implies demanded) to have Peter for the purpose of sifting. Does this remind you of another passage? Yes, Job went through a refining process too.

What struck me was that the Lord allowed Satan to sift both Peter and Job. The Lord tells us of several processes He uses to shape or conform us. But this one I hadn't given much thought to. The potter uses pressure within and without while the clay is spinning on a wheel. I think I have felt this conforming process many times! Then, there is the intense heat that causes impurities to rise from metals so they can be removed, thus purifying and making the metal beautiful. This too I seem to have felt at times. But now to think that there are, or may be times when the Lord allows Satan to sift me or those I love is a little much!

My comfort comes in knowing that Satan has to ask for the right to sift and even then it's within the boundaries the Lord sets forth. The Lord Himself prays for us that our faith would not fail. Thereby insuring that this testing is only for a time and with a purpose of simply sifting. Not destroying, not rendering useless; but making us finer, more suitable for a - shall we say - lighter cake?

"And when you return, strengthen your brethren" This is important too! Not only should this sifting affect us, but it should affect others that we meet from then on! It should cause me to open up and share more, or to be more bold with each opportunity the Lord gives.

I look around and somehow think that there is more sifting going on than I ever imagined. Sifting of my fellow saints, family and friends. The Lord alone is wise enough to know just when and how much.

"Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator." 1 Peter 4:19

My Desire

I started this great study in I Peter this year. I wanted to study it because of what it says about suffering. I have learned so much. I am learning even more about relationships though. As I was going over my notes last night I realized that twice ( I Pet. 1:22 and 4:8) we are told to have fervent love for one another. The Greek word for fervent means "to stretch out". As I thought on this I realized that it is going beyond the norm of Sunday mornings, Wed. nights and ladies studies.

What is it to be stretched out? It is painful, uncomfortable, tiring, and even (heaven forbid) a nuisance. It means to go beyond the norm and go the extra mile!

I thought of how the Lord was quite literally stretched out for us. His hands and feet were pierced for us. He bore the penalty that was ours. This is the ultimate love! His is an example of how we ought to love. Giving our all -

My desire, to be like Jesus
My desire, to be like Him.
His Spirit fill me, His love o'er whelm me;
In deed and word, to be like Him.
Lillian Plankenhorn