2009 "Shining Truth"

But also I am writing a new command to you, and you can see its truth in Jesus and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

John 1 2:8

Truth that shines is illuminated truth.

Truth that is illuminated has been touched by the light and revealed.

 

And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises,
      A morning without clouds, 
      Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, 
      By clear shining after rain.’

2nd Samuel 23

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend^[a] it.

John 1:4-5

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6

But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
      That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. 

Proverbs 4:18

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:16

"Arise, shine for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD, is

risen upon you." Isaiah 60:1

He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 

Revelation 1:16

Father God, 

May this new year be one of "shining truth." May we commit to seek Your "shining truth" in all things - this year and always.  May those of us that see...be blinded...and those that have been blind, gain sight. May Your Truth, that has become flesh and walked among us... lead us in a way we haven't gone before...a path where we lean not on our own understanding but completely and fully on the Light of the World to illuminate the way. May the Jesus that shines forth through us, blind others to "us"...to our person...obscurring "us"...but radiating and illuminating Him. May we not hesitate to follow and to put our trust in You LORD, for Your glory is risen upon us and the true light is already shining.  Thank you for these present tense promises and Your "shining truth", LORD. Thank you for Your Son, Jesus. It is in His Name, we pray.  Amen.

 

Praise for the Small Things

    

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

Hebrews 13:15 AMP

The world's greatest gift was delivered in a little package - a baby. God loves to use small things and improbably small situations to speak BIG.  He used David against Goliath and He often uses the situations we've almost taken for granted to make a huge point. 

This week my son had basketball try-outs and I offered and he asked for prayer - at least 6 times.  It was when he asked if I could pray for him and his friend and then I turned to find them both down on bended knee...that I noticed His great power at work in the "small" moment.  When I got in the car this morning, wincing from stiffness in my body, this same "small" person put his hand on my shoulder and said, "LORD, please make mom's shoulder feel better. In Jesus' name, Amen" it was all I could do to see and drive at the same time, as tears of thankfulness and the realization of God's speaking BIG flooded in.

Please join me in making a different kind of Christmas list...a "Praise List" of God speaking in the small things. May the words of our testimony speak BIG and glorify His name! (Send your praise to gdhiggins@gvtc.com and I will gladly post it.) Merry Christmas!

Praise List for the Small Things That Speak BIG!

* Thank you LORD for showing me that my youngest child is already a BIG prayer warrior in Your kingdom. Gina Higgins

*Thank you LORD, that when I was discouraged this week, you sent the perfect antidote at the perfect time. Your love is humbling...and HUGE! Sonia Roper

*Thank you Lord for the small changes my husband made this week, that spoke HUGELY to my heart, without me even saying a word to him and instead bringing the issues to You. That's exciting! AB

*Thank you so much LORD for people, and friends that listen to Your Holy Spirit when you tell them to call and spend time with someone, like someone did for my daughter today.  It may seem like a small thing, but to those who are lonely and hurting it is HUGE!!! Andrea Baine

Our Gift This Year: Open and Broken

Photo courtesy of sharemycraft.hgtv.com 

Let's face it - we all fall short, all the time.  But are we waiting, as if we were in airport security, for the "sin" wand to beep incrementally louder and louder until everyone is looking... before we actually admit it and open up our hearts?  Are we confessing that it was us?  Or are we lumping our sins in with the collective offering and sliding through airport security undetected; our unconfessed sin in someone else's "personal items" bowl?

Only the sin that is confessed and laid at the foot of the cross can be touched by the atoning blood of Christ.  Our confession, releases His power and His power releases us from the wage of sin that is, "death."

We know God wants our sin revealed so that we may be healed.  He wants it out in the open and our natural man broken in order that we might be desperate enough to repent, and humbled enough, to receive. For He longs to forgive us. He longs to redeem us from the pit, so that we might know He is God.

Can we ever gaze upon the cross without "confoundedness and shame?"  Think about Christ...the one without sin, out in the open and broken. A Savior altruistically loving us into an eternity...our freedom bought by what only the wage of our sin could pay.

 Just as Christ was open and broken before the world, we must be "open and broken" over our sin.  Without it, we cannot repent of our wrongdoings...and if we cannot repent (because we are not sorrowful enough for all of our dealings not leading to righteousness) then we cannot receive "the Greatest Gift the world has ever known." 

Praying we will all receive Him anew this season as we celebrate how

"He so loved the world..."

"O Come Let Us Adore Him"...Thank You Father that You love us unconditionally so that we never need suffer shame but can come to Your throne of grace unhindered and with repentant hearts that are soft and ready to receive Your forgiveness.  Please accept our gift this year of our open hearts and broken, surrendered selves  in order that Your love and Kingdom power be further released into our lives and the world. In Your Son's Precious Name We Pray, Amen.