KEEPING THE LIGHT IN YOUR EYES

Her life was rough before the pandemic, but now....

No home. No car. Almost no job.

"No" had become the only consistency in her life.

A single mother of 5 struggling to not only make ends meet but to make life make sense.

Finally, a family member allowed her and the kids to move in - sort of.

Her older children were allowed to sleep inside, but she and the 4 month old were forced to sleep in her car because the baby cried too much.

The mother was crying, too. Night after night after night, crying out in the dark holding her baby. Crying out when they cut back her hours.

Crying out to her God.

Her spirit was sinking into depression, but she cried out to God anyway.

Her heart, breaking into pieces. She cried out to God anyway.

Talking to her you could tell she was fighting to keep the light in her eyes.

"God's got me," she would always say, and yet, in the midnight hour, her soul would not hesitate to cry out to her God.

If God is all you have, maybe God is all you need.

When the sacrifices you make for others seem to have no value...

When those you've helped can't be found...

When your kindness is treated like weakness...

When this hard-knock life tries to hardens you and dim the light your light...

Know there is One. One who cares for you. One who protects you. One who hears your cry.

He is The Good Shepherd.

“...The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep." ~John 10:11-15

Before He himself was slaughtered like a lamb at the Cross, Jesus prayed a series of prayers for us. One of them was for the disciples - the one faithful ones who walked with Him and believed in Him. The ones who would be attacked and persecuted because of their loyalty to Him.

He knew trouble was coming not just for himself,

but for them,

and for us.

Child of God, this prayer is for you.

“I am coming to you (God) now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." ~John 17:13-15

No. We are not of the world.

We are the light of the world.

Your light, the Holy Spirit living within you, exposes your connection to the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for you.

So no matter what you face, never let your light go dim.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. ~Matthew 5:14-16

I recently reconnected with the young mother. Things had begun to turn.

No more sleeping in the car. The family was in their own apartment.

No more reduction in hours. She found a better job.

Her children had stability.

Her mind found peace.

Like a lost sheep, God heard her distressing cry.

He protected her in the midst of her circumstances and brought her family to a place of safety.

I could see the light in her eyes was bright once again.

If God is all you have, maybe God is all you need.

When life gave out on her,

she never gave up on God.

As we close out the "GOD for Grownups" series, that is my prayer for all of us...

God, let the challenges of this season mature us.

When life gives out on us, let the light in our eyes stay bright

because we never gave up on you.

In the name of Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Amen.

~

~ OUR HOLIDAY SERIES ~

How did Mary and Joseph know what to do, where to go, and when?

How did they escape persecution

from a corrupt king?

Join us in the book of Matthew this holiday season as we explore how destiny meets divine when we embrace the God of Our Dreams.

Were you helped by today's blog? I want to know what you think. And if you were, share it with your friends and family (even your enemies, if you want). We want the world to know that sometimes, it's just gotta be GOD n ME!

In the meantime, take care. Be safe. Look like LOVE.

WRITER | MENTOR | TEACHER

LOVER OF CHOCOLATE |

PURPOSED TO EMPOWER |

30+ YEARS IN MINISTRY LEADERSHIP |

PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL

Phillipa also the Founder of ilooklikeLOVE, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization providing diaper assistance to families in need and opportunities for mothers to empower themselves.

Look for her upcoming book,

GOD n You: Finding Your Place in Forever.