Turn Your Lamp On

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

My freshman year of college is finally over!!! Yesterday I filled every inch of my car up with all of my stuff and headed home! When I flipped the light switch in my room the light came on, made a cracking noise, and then went out. I was pretty bummed. Strangely enough, when I turned the pantry light on it did the same thing. Now what's REALLY weird is that as I was writing the past two sentences out power went out. Yay for rain though!!! Anyways, there's just something about not having any light...

How do we become "light"? Reflect what the Lord has done in your life. We have been given forgiveness, so we should shine His forgiveness. We are no longer chained by sin. We have been rescued. We are given grace, mercy, strength, courage, and eternity. Our faith is not something that we should be in fear of talking about. "The Lord is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear?" Psalm 27:1. Our faith is not private, and it's not a secret to be kept. Remember that song "This Little Light of Mine"?

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

Sometimes it seems like the only time to shine is in closeness with the Lord. It is not easy to shine when the weight of the world is raining down on our shoulders, or when we are shattered and broken inside. God is always with us, and He gives us the strength to keep on-keeping on. He allows us to shine through our brokenness, and receives the glory for it. Sometimes fear keeps us from shining the light to those around us. Whatever kind of fear it may be, do not let it keep you from being a light to the world. Satan fill us with that fear, but we "Won't let Satan blow it out!" Haha.  In John 8:12 Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life." Jesus calls himself the "light of the world," and that light lives inside of us! Let's let this inspire us to shine, to be a city on a hill! We have the privilege carrying this light into the darkness; carrying it to the hopeless, and introducing people to the Light himself. "No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lamp stand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:15-16. It is time to pick up our dusty lamps, set them on a stand, and turn them on!

This past year has been quite a ride, and I have definitely learned a lot. Yes, I learned more about english, and government, but I'm talking about the strange things. #college.

1. You can have the same conversation with a ton of people in the same day. It's almost

     frustrating, and it just makes passing them less awkward.

Ex: 

"Hey how are you?"
"Good, and you?"

"Good." 

2. I can cook so much more than coffee with my Keurig coffee maker. Spaghetti, oatmeal, ramen, frozen vegetables, hot chocolate, tea...etc. 

3. We ran out of forks and spoons and were left with 50 knives, so we put them to use.  Cereal (talent), noodles, lasagna, apple sauce, yogurt, oatmeal..it's the universal utensil.

4. You can toast a bagel with an iron-learned from Tiphani Taylor

5. When I feel lazy, I leave my laundry in the washroom because I know that if someone wants my washer they will move them to the dryer, and if someone wants my dryer they will fold my clothes for me. Haha don't judge.

Those are just a few. I have a list of thirty but I don't really feel like writing them all down! Time to make mom's late mother's day gift! yummm :) Have a wonderful rainy day friends!!