Let Your Light Shine - 2012

My friend GeorgiaGirl has prompted us to pray about assigning a life verse (of God's Word) to this year; for ourselves, for our families or both. I guess I've always been intimidated by mission statements because you have to first quantify what it is that you want to accomplish and then you have to set about doing it. It's not like a to-do list of practical, needs-based action. It's about what you want your life to mean. What you want your life to stand for. That's pretty deep territory my friends.
I'm feeling compelled to this idea. Perhaps because I am getting older and the meaning I see in things, places, people, actions is changing. Perhaps because in my growing older, I have more to look back on and more of a view of what my legacy is. When you're 19, you look back to see how many things you've gotten to do YOUR way since you became an adult. When you're 39 you look back to see what the things you have done YOUR way have gotten you and how they have impacted others. That reflection is for another post, but it does cause you to question, "Where do we go from here?"

We go to Matthew as he recorded Jesus.

Matthew 5:16 (NASB) "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."

This is a little ironic considering that this was part of the theme verse for PWOC last year. What can I say? This is my verse "for such a time as this".

And, because I am who God made me to be, I must have a theme song as well!




We Are by Kari Jobe...

Every secret, every shame
Every fear, every pain
Live inside the dark
But that's not who we are
We are children of the day

So wake up sleeper, lift your head
We were meant for more than this
Fight the shadows conquer death
Make the most of the time we have left

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine
Let the light shine, let the light shine

We are called to the spread the news
Tell the world the simple truth
Jesus came to save, there's freedom in His Name
So let his love break through

We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine
We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine

(she wrote this song based on 1 Thessalonians 5)

I'm going to live in the light, make the most of the time I have left, remember that I am meant for more than this so that my light will shine in such a way as to glorify my Father in heaven.

I plan to live this out by:


*Getting more acquainted with the Bible. The format this will take in 2012 is reading it through in a year. Since my beautiful day planner has it all laid out for me, I'm hoping that will help me stick to it.

*Taking time to pray. I mean, I pray. Every day. However, I often miss the opportunity to stop and pray over decisions. Big and Little. I tend to use logic first. Jesus gave us a model of prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 and that helps me incorporate the current PWOC theme. :)

*Getting healthy. Mainly through losing *cough* 50lbs. But also, by eating well and being active. (Let's face it, unless you actually ARE expecting, it sucks to be asked when you are expecting.)

Blessings on your 2012 my friends,