Sparkling

We said no this week. It was a hard no. No to a shimmering gem: time with people we love and have history with, who shine for Him in dark places; and going to a place we love because of the sweet memories He gave us there. No to what looked like a jewel. But saying yes would have caused our own hearts to be dulled. He has called us to a sabbath life so that we have space to walk in intimacy and connection with Him. Ignoring this dulls His glory in us. Faith and obedience exhibit His beauty. Our loved friends deserve a 'shining one' to come and share with them. Our schedule revealed no room for sabbath living if we chose to say yes. We want to live in such a way as to be sparklers as we hold out the word of life.

Phil 2:15-16: "...so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-..."

For His glory

John 9:3-4 records, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

I was moved by the man born blind from birth. He experienced all of those years of darkness so that he could be a backdrop of God's glory! Is that unfair? No! That is what we are made for-- designed to bring glory to our Father. How do we get off track from our image-bearing to think this life is all about comfort or happiness? The greatest privilege we have is to be bearers of glory, to live life in such a way and relate to God in such a way that He may speak out, "This is [my daughter] in whom I am well-pleased."