Shine Brightly for Christ

I've been hanging around in Philippians 2 this week.  Do you ever do that?  Hang out in the same portion of scripture for a while?  Meditating, pondering? There is so much in this whole chapter. Deep things.  Awesome things.  I especially like this portion:

Shine Brightly for Christ

12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God,[e] just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

Don't you just love the sub-heading that is in this version?  Shine brightly for Christ!   That seems so appropriate for this time of year.  But really it is good all year round.  The world can be a dark and dreary place at times.  We have the creator of light inside us as believers.   He has been telling me to shine for quite a while now.  I was a little confused by it.  It didn't sound "Bibical" to me.  But I was praying and listening to the Lord.  I should have just trusted Him.  But hearing the Lord can be iffy at times.  I'm still learning to listen.  But when I found this in the NLT version it made my heart sing!  Yes!  I had heard Him correctly.  I was to shine.  Now to obey.  That seems hard but look at verse 13. God is working in you to give you the desire and power to do what pleases Him. WOW!!!  Does that amaze you like it does me?  He tells us to do something, like shining in my case, and than He gives us the desire and power to do it!  

Why have I struggled in my own power to obey?  Why did I not know this was in the word?  I don't know but I'm super excited that I've found it.  Now I can make headway in that shining directive.  

Look at verse 15.  Shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.  Think of driving through a city on a dark and foreboding night. Now think of driving on that same night but there are beautiful shining Christmas lights everywhere.   What a difference!   That is what we are to be doing shining, making a difference.  

Well these were just some random thoughts I've been pondering this week. This blog is "In Donna's head".  So now you know for this week what's been in my head.  I hope you feel inspired to obey that quiet nudging of God knowing he is giving you the desire and power to do it.  Blessings on you my sweet readers!