Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Shiny

In my recent journey to self discovery I have come across a revelation. I am not shiny.

Now I am not depressed or anything. But I have been praying alot for God to reveal to me the places in me that needed to change.

What I have found is that my joy isn't exactly gone...it's just not exactly present. I am talking about the kind of Joy you find while you are living for Christ. Resting in His Glory... in His light.

I am not sure why or when it went away, but I can see how it's been the thing in me that's different.

I had an experience about 10 yrs ago that was life changing. I was laying in bed praying. I felt like I had this God sized hole in my chest and I was earnestly asking him to fill it.... just to over flow in me. While I was praying I felt this warmth, peace and amazing grace...it surrounded and filled me. I felt like I was glowing. I just laid there basking in the feeling. Honestly I wondered if perhaps I had prayed myself into death...lol ( I had been sleeping in an old camp bunk bed, the kind with a 2 inch thick mattress. I was so comfortable in that moment I thought I couldn't possibly still be in the bunk)

I then felt like Christ was saying to me "Shine for me. Shine for ME."

I didn't know much about scripture at the time so after drifting to a deep and peaceful sleep I woke up the next morning and reached for my bible before my feet hit the ground. I began to search through it.

This is what I found:

Matthew 5:14-16
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

It became my scripture. I would refer to it whenever I was feeling down or not so shiny.

I have not looked at this scripture for some time.

I am not shining. Not in the way I feel like Christ asked me to that night.

Life has gotten in the way. I have been focusing on so many outwardly issues, that I have placed myself under the spiritual "bowl".

Now the task before me is to honestly ask Christ to remove that bowl...I want to be the light on the stand again. I want to be the light in my house... to my husband and my children. I want people to see the good deeds that I do and Glorify my father in heaven... not me.

Just as the scripture in my title says: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18

I pray to be transformed into His image from glory to glory. What an image...

I want to Shine Shine Shine! I need to plug my lamp in.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I understand what you mean, but need to tell you. You have been shining for me. Through you, I feel you are putting me back on "track". Thank you! I do hope you feel like you are shining soon.

Tiffany said...

There you go again...talking about my life too. Thanks for putting words to what I've been wanting again as well.

Maybe Nicole was a good point - perhaps we shine for others even if we aren't feeling it ourselves!?

Andrea said...

Tiffany, maybe you are right? It's funny, the other day I was unhappy with my hubby because I felt like he cared more for people outside of our home than inside it. The issue is that I LOVE that he does the things that he does for those outside of the home. I LOVE his huge heart and his willingness to step out in situations that so many others don't. What God has been showing me is that I have those very same issues... It's the whole plank in the eye thing. I want to be shiny at home.
Thank you for your kind words Nicole. :o) You certainly shine for me too!
Blessings
Andrea

LisaShaw said...

Thanks for sharing your heart so openly sweetie. You shine JESUS and His joy to me sweetie! We all have those moments where we need to plug the lamp in.

Love you. Praying for you.

"Are These Kids All Yours?" said...

AMEN!!! I will be praying as God transforms you into what HE needs you to be for HIM! Life can suck it all out of you....but God can heal you and bring us back to that shining light- He has for me - so many times!!!!

Thankfulmom said...

I love this post; I've come back to read it twice. I often pray for joy because sometimes it just doesn't come naturally.

I hope to link your post on my blog - it is worth spreading around. Thanks for writing it!

Lisa

Cindy said...

Oh my dear friend, God has been teaching you and I the same things, again! I'm walkin' this faith lesson with you dear one. Just read this great quote today from the book, "Created to Be His Help Meet" - "Thankfulness is HOW you think; joy is the ABUNDANCE it produces. Joy is the result of a thankful heart. A thankful heard is the result of a person who decides to give thanks. So thank you, God for..."