Does Your Light Shine?

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16

Happiness is derived from helping others, making a difference, and serving the world in your own unique way.  For me, I try to do it by helping those who are struggling.

No matter what your purpose is, let your underlying mission be to “live your life in a way people say  “There’s something different about them and I want to feel the same peace, joy, and love in my own life.”

Matthew 5:14-16 says, “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.”

Here are five ways you can share this idea:

1. Look for ways to be a blessing.

Letting your light shine means letting all the good within you come out. In a world full of negativity, you will be amazed at the light which enters your world when you do something good.  It is like a burst of fresh air. Be sensitive to the needs of others. Find ways to be a blessing to others with simple random acts of kindness.  It can be as easy as a “thank you” or holding the door for someone, or paying for someone’s coffee.  It can be for someone you know or someone you don’t know – either way, your light with shine.

2. Refuse to be judgmental.

One of the fastest ways to turn people away from God is to judge them. And sometimes we do it without even realizing it.  Have you heard the saying “hate the act not the person”?  Basically, we can acknowledge a person has done wrong without condemning them for it.  We are all sinners and fall short every day.   We have all done things we need to be forgiven for, and by grace the grace of God,  we have received forgiveness.  Choose to pray for those you feel tempted to judge – not always an easy thing to do. Embrace and support others when they are trying to do better. .

3. Speak up for what is just.

Speak up for what is just—not right. Do you confuse being right with doing right? I know I have.  We should really be focusing more on doing right. No matter what, especially during conflict, it’s essential you treat people justly. Ensure those who cross your path are better off because they encountered you.  When in a situation where others are being cheated, disrespected, or done a disservice, let your light shine and speak up. Don’t ATTACK but do it in a direct, calm, straightforward, and nonjudgmental manner.  It may not always be easy but it is important to do.

4. Let go of the desire to fit in.

This is probably the toughest thing for this “people pleaser”.  Letting our light shine when we feel the need to fit in everywhere you go, is probably the hardest thing for me.  I am learning a simple smile, talking kindly to people can make all of the difference in the world.  When we are more concerned about being an instrument of truth and love rather than fitting in, our light will shine.

5. Don’t hide your spiritual life.

Do you have a relationship with God but pretend publicly he is not central in your life?  If God is an important part of who you are, why would you keep it to yourself?  Does it have something to do with fitting in?  I don’t mean you need to have a Bible on your desk or quote scripture all of the time. When an opportunity comes up  to share where your strength comes from or how blessed you are, be honest.  Your faith is a part of who you are. When you free yourself to be who you are, you also free others to be who they truly are.  You will also stop trying to please the world.

Has your light dimmed in today’s crazy world?  I challenge you this week to find one way to share your light with the world.  Share how you did it with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

A Christmas Gift

Today’s blog is a reprint from Valorie Burton.

This week, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. If you’re not careful, it can be easy to miss that fact in the midst of all the shopping, parties and gift giving. But we can’t miss it. And we can’t miss the many gifts He gave to us during the 33 years He purposefully walked the earth. His mission statement can be found in John 10:10: “I have come that they might have life, and life more abundantly.” So, in celebration of CHRISTmas, rather than sharing my own words of inspiration. I’d like to share some words of wisdom from the greatest life coach ever – words that came directly from the mouth of Jesus himself – words that can help you get unstuck and be unstoppable, if you follow them. Enjoy .. and Merry Christmas!

1. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16

The tragic shootings recently are a somber reminder of the darkness that exists in our world. We must not forget that each of us can be a light. Now, more than ever, the world needs your light to shine – through the love you show and the gifts you share. Don’t hide your light . Don’t miss the opportunity to be a blessing. This Christmas, be less concerned about what you get and more concerned about what you give. Let your light shine. When you love others, they get a glimpse of God.

2. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Few things make it harder to get unstuck and be unstoppable than exhaustion. If you are worn out or becoming burned out, maybe you need some rest. You can become burned out chasing goals. In fact, research shows that we deplete our energy while reaching a goal. It is important to replenish that energy before moving on to the next goal. But when you shift into overdrive, racing from one achievement to the next, it is often fear that drives you. Stop. Rest. Worship. Let God refill your tank.

3. “If you have faith and do not doubt … you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive what you ask for in prayer.” – Matthew 21:21-22

Fear is the obstacle that gets us stuck. Faith is the antidote. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). You have to believe it before you see it – that’s the key to getting unstuck. Have a vision for where you are going – and believe so strong in it that you move towards it even though you can only see the vision in your imagination. That’s how you bring your vision to fruition. You must believe and not doubt. As we move into a new year, what hope do you need to rekindle? Ask for it in prayer. Believe and don’t doubt. If you do, you will take action in synch with divine orchestration and see your vision come to life.

At the end of each blog, Valerie issues a challenge with a journaling assignment.  I LOVE this assignment

What will you do this Christmas to let your light shine? What burden do you need to surrender to God? What have you asked for in prayer, but doubted you will receive? What will you do to strengthen your belief that you can receive it?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Will You Ask for Help

Today is the first “official” day of the Beacon of Hope Leadership Retreat and I am sure it will be a roller coaster of emotion for me.  How do I know?  Because we are going to be working on our vision and tying it to our emotional why.  YIKES!

For those who know me, they will probably agree that asking for help is not one of my strong points.  I will readily admit my weaknesses but I always feel like I am “bothering someone” when I ask for help.  I remember watching my dad build and fix everything when I was growing.  Mom never asked for help either – even when my parents divorced and things were tough.

I leaped into my first business “Special Tots”, handmade premature baby clothes with both feet.  I struggled because I had no real business sense.  I was a crafter who loved making the clothes and helping parents of prematures – long before there was a market like this.  I ended up closing that business because I was not ready for the next growth spurt AND I didn’t ask for help.

When Belinda arrived on the scene, I was a single mom working full-time and in the midst of my addiction.  Did I ask for help?  NO!  Family offered and in only extreme cases I did ask or should I say “drop subtle hints” for help.  I often felt alone and very unprepared for this season of my life.

Then came recovery from my addiction.  WOW!  If that wasn’t a wake-up call.  I needed to ask for AND accept help.  Although people were willing to help, on the outside I was gracious but on the inside, I was a mess.  I felt like I was a burden, inconveniencing people, whining and so unworthy of any praise for accomplishments along the way.

There’s a world of wisdom, open hearts, caring arms, and gentle smiles just waiting for an opportunity to give in some way. (Matthew 5:16)

How I wish I could have realized this truth sooner. How many tears I could have saved and how much stress I could have relieved myself from! Satan wants us to believe the lie that no matter what our “need” is, we are a bother to someone or an inconvenience. 

Whenever I hear that lie being whispered in my ear, I think of the people that I know who would drop anything and come running to help or encourage me.  I freely give the gift of me to others but when it comes to receiving, I definitely struggle.

So, as I seek my emotional why today and visual my goal; I will ask for help.  I will not believe Satan’s lie that I am a bother, a complainer or unworthy.  I will receive the gift of someone’s help so that they can feel the same blessings that I feel when I give to someone else.

All of this was on my heart as I prepare for today and I hope that it has touched someone who is struggling.  Struggling with asking for help whether it is in your personal life or your business.

We all fall short and sometimes it is not easy to admit that we need help. That we need someone to pull us out of a deep abyss.   If you are one in need, ask for help, trust me – someone is just waiting to be asked.