"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
One of my favorite places on this earth is sitting, with Steve, at the Haceta Head Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast. We walk the beach below, sit in the sand and meditate, pick up rocks and shells, watch the gulls, the people, and the light. By the time we leave, I've been reminded once again of our summer study of CHRIST'S SERMON ON THE MOUNT through the teaching of His creation:
- humbled by the majesty of my God (poor in spirit)
- convicted of how unworthy I am of His love (mourning)
- calmed to see how in control He is (meek)
- filled with so many of His teachings in nature that connect to scripture (hunger/thirst)
- refreshed and rejuvenated to go be LIGHT in a world that does not know HIM! (merciful, pure in heart, peacemaker, persecuted, lied about)
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I hope that you can get a grasp of our experience at Haceta Head by these 5 pictures. I recently read these words online, "When God created the earth, He spent a little extra time on the Oregon Coast. And it's as if He placed Heceta Head Lighthouse there Himself....Heceta Head Lighthouse is located on a breathtaking bluff 150 feet above the sea. It is one of the most visited lighthouses in the United States drawing thousands of visitors each year to sense its history, feel its romantic aura, and enjoy its spectacular view..."
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Lighthouses are usually built in dangerous places. Places where there has been injury or loss of property and lives. The purpose of a lighthouse is to project light to save lives and property.
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THE LIGHTHOUSE! What a symbol! After JESUS spoke the Be-Attitudes in His Sermon on the Mount, He went right to: you are the Salt of the Earth and YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! The purpose of God's people is to project LIGHT to save lives...just like a lighthouse. The world is a dark and dangerous place...as we let the LIGHT OF THE WORLD permeate and transform us, then we become the LIGHT OF THE WORLD to our husband, our children, our spiritual family, and to a lost and dying world.
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I love my Tuesday morning Bible class and lunch afterwards. I love the way Linda facilitates the discussion! I love the way we can ask questions or comment - unafraid! I love the way we can confess our wrongdoing, our sins, and receive instant forgiveness, mercy, and compassion. I love the TRANSPARENCY of the hearts of these women, my sisters. Okay, girls, here is where the rubber meets the road...here is where it meets you and your sisterhood. What is transparency?
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TRANSPARENCY = the material property of allowing light to pass through
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When something is transparent, it allows light to permeate it in such a way that other things are seen. The transparent object is not the focus. Take air, for instance...air is something that has many uses, yet it is best used when it is transparent. I don't see air or focus on air because its transparency allows me to see creation. When air begins to turn to fog...it's not only harder to see through but it starts getting heavier and harder to breathe. For a ship in fog, the LIGHTHOUSE can still be seen and still does the saving.
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QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
- Am I transparent enough to allow the LIGHT OF JESUS to pass through me in such a way that others can see the true LIGHT OF THE WORLD?
- Am I transparent enough to allow the LIGHT OF JESUS to shine through me and expose my sin in such a way that people know that christians aren't perfect - just forgiven?
- Am I transparent enough to allow GOD to use me in all the ways light is used?
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One thing that makes our sisterhood at Pitman so unique is TRANSPARENT WOMEN who really really want to be used for LIGHT TO THE WORLD...Today at Wendy's one sister said to the group, "Okay girls, I really need to confess something to you all and I need to be held accountable..." Whoa! Where else would this take place other than in a group of people who deeply desire LIGHT instead of darkness!"
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How can GOD use you in this dark world? How can He use me in this dark world? Well, what are the uses for light? Read some of them below and MAKE THE CONNECTION (GET PLUGGED IN!):
- for illumination
- for piercing the darkness
- for direction
- for warning
- for pointing
- for detection
- for medicinal purposes
- to guide
- to protect
- to heat
- to cook
- to heal
- to melt
- to expose
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Yesterday in our PATRIARCHS class, two things ring clear that we talked about:
- WE LIVE IN THE WORLD BUT ARE NOT TO BE "OF THE WORLD"? In John 17, JESUS says to live in the world but not to be of the world. We discussed in detail how that fleshes out on the job, at school, on the school bus, at the ballpark.... I'm so encouraged when I think of 1 John 4:4-5 "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."
- JESUS OR GOD CAN BE DESCRIBED - IN A WORD: We talked about scriptures use of all the names of GOD and how encouraging they are. Yesterdays post also talked about the name YHWH and its meanings. Please know, that Jesus, our Savior and our GOD, is THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! and He asks us to be like Him, live in the world, and shine for Him. ....John 8:12-13 "Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the LIGHT OF THE WORLD; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."
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.How does one become the LIGHT OF THE WORLD? How does one let the LIGHT OF THE WORLD SHINE through?
- It starts with TRANSPARENCY!
- TRANSPARENCY to be poor in spirit.
- TRANSPARENCY to mourn over my sins and the sins of a lost world.
- TRANSPARENCY to be gentle and meek of spirit saying GOD, You take control.
- TRANSPARENCY to hunger and thirst so much for GOD's WORD the I let Him fill me up and permeate every part of my being.
- TRANSPARENCY to let others see the characteristics of CHRIST living in me...mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, and honest enough about who I am to allow for persecution, lies, and insults.
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Just BE the ATTITUDE of CHRIST JESUS!
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Just BE LIGHT!
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Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
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