Category Archives: Shine as lights in the world

Stepping In The Light, Maybe? A Word from THE WORD!!! #398

20 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Let You Light So Shine, Light In The Dark, Like Jesus NOT Each Other, Shine as lights in the world, Signs of the times?, Sin IS the issue, Someone is following you!, The Heart is deceitful and dreadfully wicked..., The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Light of The World, The LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT Reigneth!, The Only Way, Today is the day of Salvation, Touch them while you can?, Transformed life, Treasure here or in heaven?, Victory IN Jesus!, Walk in the Spirit, Walking With Jesus

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Stepping In The Light, Maybe?  A Word from THE WORD!!! #398

Where are you walking today?  We are called to walk in the light, but just as the moon has no light of its own but only the reflection of the “sun”, so we can only have light as we know Jesus and keep our eyes fixed on Him, then His reflection can be seen in and through us!  The issue isn’t the light, for Jesus IS the light.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,

I am the light of the world:

he that followeth me

shall not walk in darkness,

but shall have

the light of life.”  John 8:12

When we are born again, saved by the blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from sin, we receive Him into our hearts, lives and it’s up to us to follow Him—we can stay in line to receive the light or we can allow the world to eclipse our light from Jesus, just as natural eclipses eliminate that light of the “sun”, so we allow the world to eclipse the light of “The Son”!  Are you walking in the dark or the light?  Jesus makes it clear what we are to be and do!

“Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light unto all

that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”              Matthew 5:14-16

Is your candle shining with the light of Jesus?  Or are you walking in the darkness of the world?  Jesus not only calls us to Himself to be saved, but when we do come to Him in repentance of our sin and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for that sin, He does a transforming work in us—a work that only His blood and payment for our sin can do.  Then as His children, genuine believers, we can reflect a work that is not of our selves; Paul’s message to the Corinthians believers makes this even clearer.

“For the love of Christ constraineth us;

because we thus judge,

that if one died for all,

then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all,

that they which live

should not henceforth live unto themselves,

but unto him which died for them,

and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man

after the flesh: yea,

though we have known Christ after the flesh,

yet now henceforth know we him no more.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:14-21

This tells us how we can do what Jesus talked about in being more “righteous” than the Pharisees; for it’s not our righteousness, or anything that we have done (other than having faith/belief in what Jesus paid and provided for all who will believe and come to Him!)

“For I say unto you,

That except your righteousness shall exceed

the righteousness of the scribes

and Pharisees,

ye shall in no case enter into

the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:20

While Jesus changes our heart at salvation, there is another more perfect change coming, not just in our actions, but in our very being—we shall be like Him.

“Now this I say, brethren,

that flesh and blood cannot inherit

the kingdom of God;

neither doth corruption inherit

incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery;

We shall not all sleep,

but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment,

in the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trump:

for the trumpet shall sound,

and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,

and we shall be changed.”  1 Corinthians 15:50-52

Oh the glory that is to come; but we have a life to live in this present world, and it is to be a reflection of The One to whom we belong at salvation—The One who bought us with a price; the price of His own life’s blood in payment for my sin—for He had none of His own (see Hebrews 4:15)!  He made it possible for us to walk in HIS light, and the Apostle John calls us to this walk—being in His light and walking in it, that others may be drawn to The Light, Jesus!  Where is your walk leading?   Are you leading those closest to you to the light or the dark!  Remember there is a consequence to every choice.  You are free to choose, but remember there is a test, and you are not free to set your own consequences.

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:5-10

“He that saith he is in the light,

and hateth his brother,

is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother

abideth in the light,

and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother

is in darkness, and walketh in darkness,

and knoweth not whither he goeth,

because that darkness hath blinded

his eyes.”  1 John 2:9-11

So, the question is, are you stepping in the light, or treading the path of darkness?  Are you leading others to the light or dooming them to hell in the darkness?  James said it better than I can.

“But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man beholding his natural face

in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.”  James 1:22-26

Amen and Amen!!!

What Choice Have You Made??? A Word from THE WORD #386

12 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Footprints, For Such A Time As This, Sheep amongst Wolves!!!, Shine as lights in the world, Signs of the times?

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What Choice Have You Made??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #386

I am trying a new app to write in, so I hope this comes out well—we’ll see!  I want to share some thoughts from God’s Word, as usual, and I pray that it will encourage us to look up, rather than around!

“Jesus answered them, 

I told you, 

and ye believed not: 

the works that I do in my Father’s name, 

they bear witness of me. 

26 But ye believe not, 

because ye are not of my sheep, 

as I said unto you. 

27 My sheep hear my voice, 

and I know them, 

and they follow me: 

28 And I give unto them eternal life; 

and they shall never perish, 

neither shall any man pluck them 

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, 

is greater than all; 

and no man is able to pluck them 

out of my Father’s hand. 

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:25-30

Jesus tells us that His sheep hear His voice—that He knows His own—and they follow HIM!  Whose sheep are you?  We see and hear so many today, who claim the name of Jesus, yet their lives don’t match what scripture describes as the life that is following Jesus!  Many use cutesy little sayings about being like Jesus, but without being born again, and having received the indwelling Holy Spirit, saying so doesn’t make it so; but doing God’s will and His work HIS way does.  Jesus makes that clear in scripture.

“Even so every good tree 

bringeth forth good fruit; 

but a corrupt tree 

bringeth forth evil fruit. 

18 A good tree 

cannot bring forth evil fruit, 

neither can a corrupt tree 

bring forth good fruit. 

19 Every tree 

that bringeth not forth good fruit 

is hewn down, 

and cast into the fire. 

20 Wherefore by their fruits 

ye shall know them. 

21 Not every one that saith unto me, 

Lord, Lord, 

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; 

but he that doeth 

the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, 

Lord, Lord, 

have we not prophesied in thy name? 

and in thy name have cast out devils? 

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, 

I never knew you: 

depart from me, 

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:17-23

My question is, are you bringing forth good fruit?  Is your tree grounded in Jesus, or are you a tree that is bringing forth bad fruit, because you don’t belong to the Savior?  As Jesus clearly states above, saying, “Lord, Lord”, doesn’t make you a real sheep.  Being born again by the Holy Spirit, is the only way to become Jesus’ sheep!

“He was in the world, 

and the world was made by him, 

and the world knew him not. 

11 He came unto his own, 

and his own received him not. 

12 But as many as received him, 

to them gave he power 

to become the sons of God, 

even to them that believe 

on his name:

13 Which were born, 

not of blood, 

nor of the will of the flesh, 

nor of the will of man, 

but of God.”  John 1:10-13

Have you been born again by the blood of Jesus that “cleanseth us from all sin…” (see 1 John1:7)?  If you aren’t sure, then take it before the Lord of all, even as the Psalmist cried.

“Search me, O God, 

and know my heart: 

try me, 

and know my thoughts: 

24 And see if there be 

any wicked way in me, 

and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

And in closing I want to close with a message from Paul to his son in the ministry, he reminds us that God knows.  As my mother used to say, “You can fool some of the people all of the time; and you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool God!”  Whom are you trying to fool?  Others or yourself?

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,

having this seal, 

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”   2 Timothy 2:19.

Amen and Amen !!!

A Day Late & I’m Short Too??? A Word from THE WORD #378

21 Thursday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Like Jesus NOT Each Other, Listening To God, Living by Faith or Entertainment?, Living For Jesus, Living Right, Obedient or NOT?, One Day Too Late?, Only One Way, Out of the heart, Parenting matters, Self-sufficient or Dependent on Jesus?, Servanthood, Serving God or Using God?, Sharing What God Has Given, Shine as lights in the world, Signs of the times?

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A Day Late & I’m Short Too???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #378

Most of us have heard of the old saying, “A day late, and a dollar short!”; well I’m a day late for the Wednesday post, I have a dollar but being short in stature I’ll just leave it at that!  I have had a busy week, and while that’s not a bad thing, I do get behind sometimes, so we’ll try to make it up today for the week.  I pray that you’re having a good day, if not, I pray that you will look up and make it a better day than it started out to be.  Our God is able to turn dark to light, and dilemmas to victory when we “fix our eyes on Jesus”!  (See Hebrews 12:1-3)

“O my God,

my soul is cast down within me:

therefore will I remember thee

from the land of Jordan,

and of the Hermonites,

from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep

at the noise of thy waterspouts:

all thy waves and thy billows

are gone over me.

8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness

in the daytime,

and in the night

his song shall be with me,

and my prayer

unto the God of my life.”  Psalm 42:6-8

We all have moments (sometimes long periods) when we feel cast down; yet our God is always there; while we may not always feel like it, but when we know our God and the truth of His Word, we can find reassurance and get our eyes, our mind and our heart renewed knowing Jesus hasn’t gone anywhere.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”                   Hebrews 12:5-6

God has promised to never leave His own, and while the enemy and his servants are always throwing a different message into our mind, resist Him and He must flee (See James 4:7)!  Get into God’s Word and find the confidence and assurance that will renew your strength, hope and joy!  It’s even part of the beauty in the beginning of Psalm 42 that we looked at above!  Where are your eyes fixed?  What is your heart set on?  God or the world?  The blessings from heaven or the fading ‘bling’ of the world?  It’s so easy to be inundated with the glitz of ‘Hellywood’ and Madison Avenue, who only want your money and your allegiance!  Don’t let them in!  Join the Psalmist!

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks,

so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth

for God,

for the living God:” Psalm 42:1-2a

Don’t settle for lip-service to The One who died for you.  If you are born again, live like it—dig into The Word, walk with the Savior, talk with The One who has given us abundant life, and may we stand with Paul in confidence in our faithful Lord Jesus!

“But is now made manifest

by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who hath abolished death,

and hath brought life

and immortality to light

through the gospel:

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher,

and an apostle,

and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things:

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that he is able

to keep that which I have committed

unto him against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words,

which thou hast heard of me,

in faith

and love

which is in Christ Jesus.”  2 Timothy 1:10-13

Won’t you join me and the Apostle Paul (along with all the other saints who have trusted in God’s salvation, now revealed in Jesus) and “Hold fast the form of sound words”?  May we stand fast in this evil day (See Ephesians 6:10-19) and keep our eyes on the prize, as Paul also talked about; so that we won’t be caught a day late!  As the Lanny Wolfe song says, “One Day Too Late”! (And if you don’t know it look it up on YouTube {and I’m not concerned about your eschatology but with the urgency of not missing your opportunity to be saved!}) I also encourage you to look up all Paul’s uses of the word “persuaded”—good stuff—more than I have room for here today!

So, as you can tell my focus isn’t on me being short, or even that I missed yesterday’s posting, but on people, you, not missing the chance to be saved before Jesus’ return, or before you leave this world in death.  There are no second chances after you leave this life!  Won’t you trust The One who came to die so that you might live and have real life.  Jesus said it better than I can, so I’ll close with The Master’s words, and don’t miss the “I AM”s!

“Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd,

whose own the sheep are not,

seeth the wolf coming,

and leaveth the sheep,

and fleeth:

and the wolf catcheth them,

and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth,

because he is an hireling,

and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd,

and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me,

even so know I the Father:

and I lay down my life

for the sheep.”  John 10:7-15

Don’t miss the Good Shepherd!  Don’t be late! Jesus Saves today!

Amen and Amen!!!

Serve The Lord With Gladness? A Word from THE WORD!!! #376

15 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, Almost But Lost, Be not conformed to this world, Be ye HOLY, Believe IN Jesus, Praise Encourages our Heart, Praise God Today!, Prayer or Panic?, Rejoice IN The Lord, Renewing or Reviewing, Self-sufficient or Dependent on Jesus?, Serve The Lord with gladness., Service, Serving God or Using God?, Sheep amongst Wolves!!!, Shine as lights in the world, Speaking The Truth In Love, Still Will I Trust HIM, Strong Tower, Worship Him!, Worship?

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Serve The Lord With Gladness? A Word from THE WORD!!! #376

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD,

all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD

with gladness:

come before his presence

with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD

he is God:

 it is he that hath made us,

 and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth

endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100:1-5

God not only made us, but He also will give the new birth into Jesus Christ The Lord to all who will come to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin; we can be “born…of God” (See John 1:11-13) and have eternal life—transforming life.  We can have a change of heart, mind and soul; a change of direction from our own way to God’s way!  Even as Isaiah heard from God.

“And though the Lord

give you the bread of adversity,

and the water of affliction,

yet shall not thy teachers be removed

into a corner any more,

but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,

This is the way,

walk ye in it,

when ye turn to the right hand,

and when ye turn to the left.”  Isaiah 20:20-21

And even more importantly, Jesus clearly says that HE IS the way; may we walk in His grace, wisdom and truth.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.

7 If ye had known me,

ye should have known my Father also:

and from henceforth

ye know him,

and have seen him.”  John 14:6-7

How could they (and us) see The Father?  By knowing Jesus, and Jesus (contrary to what some believe) said clearly that He was, is and ever shall be one with God the Father.  Are you following The One who died for you, The One who Is one with the Father, The One who died for your salvation and mine?

“Jesus answered them,

I told you,

and ye believed not:

the works that I do in my Father’s name,

they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:15-30

So, do you belong to the Shepherd?  Are you following Him?  Are you in His hands?  Are you listening to that still small voice and going God’s way or your own?  Are you serving the “Lord with gladness” or sucking on the proverbial lemon?  Are you being a reflection of the glory of Jesus Christ The Lord and Father God by the power of the Holy Spirit, or have you let the world lead you down that “broad way, that leadeth to destruction”? Even those who seemed to be His followers couldn’t always be found ready to stand with Him. (See Matthew 7:14-28)

“What and if ye shall see the Son of man

ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you,

they are spirit,

and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not.

For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were

that believed not, and who should betray him.

65 And he said,

Therefore said I unto you,

that no man can come unto me,

except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back,

and walked no more with him.

 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve,

Will ye also go away?

 68 Then Simon Peter answered him,

Lord, to whom shall we go?

 thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure

that thou art that Christ,

the Son of the living God.

70 Jesus answered them,

Have not I chosen you twelve,

and one of you is a devil?”  John 6:62-70

By God’s grace I will praise Him, for HE has saved and delivered me from the penalty of my sin!  How about you?  Will you play church or will you truly “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”!!

I pray that you will truly, “Know ye that the LORD he is God”, and that you will serve Him and bow before King Jesus!  You can bow before Him now as your Lord and Savior, or bow before Him later as your judge.  (See Revelation 20:11-15)

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:8-11

Amen and Amen!!!

Let Your Light Shine??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #366

19 Saturday Jul 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Light In The Dark, Like Jesus NOT Each Other, Living by Faith or Entertainment?, Living For Jesus, Shine as lights in the world

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Let Your Light Shine???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #366

Just a brief word on this Saturday night as we think about and prepare for a blessed and worshipful Sunday.  May others see Jesus in those of us who claim His name.  Just saying.  Whom do people see when they look at me?  At you?

“Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden

under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light

unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:13-16

We are called to shine Jesus before a lost and dying world living in the darkness. John the Apostle calls us to walk in the light with Jesus, and we will reflect HIS light, not stumble and fall.

“If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:6-10

Where are you walking?  In the light or in the dark?  Won’t you pursue the light with Jesus—HE is the sun/SON—and we are to reflect HIS light just as the moon reflects the light of the sun!  Don’t let the world come between you and the ‘sun’—we aren’t to be eclipsed by the world, but rather to shine forth “the way, the truth, and the life”!  Someone is watching you and me—may we ever shine truth everywhere we go.  Are you shining the light as you go?  Let’s brighten “the corner where you are” (A hymn written by Ina Duley Ogden.)!  May you have a blessed and enlightening Sunday—and take it out to the world!!!

Amen and Amen!!!