Making Room for the Light

Gloria Ashby is a wonderful storyteller and my guest blogger today. Thank you, Gloria for offering your gift to us and letting your light shine.

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

 

The child's wavy blond hair fell around her face as she peered into the hole carved into the top of the pumpkin. "Gross. Isn't this clean enough? It's icky. Isn't there enough room for the light?" she whined to her brother, who kneeled close by and bent over his own pumpkin with both hands thrust inside.

Remembering my past pumpkin carving rituals, I paused in the middle of sorting pansies to see if someone would rescue the child and finish the task for her.

"Not clean enough," the brother declared after examining his sister's pumpkin. The girl rolled her eyes, sat back on her heels and sighed, tossing her scoop to the ground. Her brother shrugged his shoulders and returned to his own pumpkin preparation. She'd get no help from him.

The girl's mom paused from leaf raking and glanced toward her children.

Ahh, mom to the rescue, I assumed. Wrong.

Mom leaned on her rake where she stopped her yard work. She encouraged her daughter to continue. "Scrape it clean — all the way to the walls. Get all the seeds and stringy stuff out."

"Why?" the child still resisted the disgusting task.

"So you can put the candle inside and let the light shine through."

The young girl cocked her head, as if considering whether she wanted a light in her pumpkin. After 60 seconds of weighing options, her wrinkled forehead relaxed. She picked up her scoop and kneeled to finish cleaning the pumpkin's icky insides.

Microsoft clip art

"Now I'm done," the child's voice drifted with the breeze into my yard. I watched the father round the corner from back of the house and walk over to the newspaper full of pumpkin goo. He inspected his daughter's work, nodded and smiled as if to say, "Well done." Then, without a word, he lowered himself to the ground and began to carve the pumpkin's face through which the light would shine.

In that moment, I understood the Father's call on my life. Only when I choose to be emptied of the goo of self-will, self-control, and self-love, can God transform me to make a difference. The more I empty myself of the goo, the more room I make for Him to fill me with His Holy Spirit. I am called to do as my young neighbor did ... to hand my life to the Father and let Him shape me into the person He created me to be.

But first, I must choose to empty myself. To make room for His Light.

"You are the light of the world...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14, 16, NIV).

For more of Gloria's story devotionals, link to her web page at http://www.gloriaashby.com/

 

 

 Gloria Ashby's passion for teaching began at the age of five with stuffed animals as her audience. Drawing from over 20 years experience, Gloria speaks with wit and wisdom to faith-based as well as professional business groups. She is a Christian Communicators graduate and contributing author to Love is a Verb, The Heavenly Company, and The Plight Before Christmas. Her stories appear in The Secret Place, The White's Chapel Herald, and several Chicken Soup for the Soul publications. Gloria lives in Texas with her husband, Jim. They have one daughter who lives close by with her husband and four dogs.
Find more of Gloria's speaking topics and reflections at her website,  www.gloriaashby.com.
Email Gloria at gloria.ashby7@gmail.com  

 

 

 

Today's Featured Resource will help you to reflect God's light in your world:

Back cover: "Christians can and ought to be the movers and shakers of social change -- 'roaring lambs' who infiltrate and make an impact on their workplace and world with their faith."

 

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

I love the simplicity of a single candle in my windows; it reminds me of the Light who came to illuminate a dark world. Before Jesus was born, the voice of God had been silent for over 400 years. Not a prophet spoke. Silence reigned over the earth. Until it was time.

Suddenly angels appeared to Zachariah and then Mary. And Joseph heard in a dream that what Mary said was true. Those who waited for the Promised Messiah had hints of His coming. It was no longer silent and the events began to unfold to those who would believe.

Mary's encounter with the angel filled her with questions yet her final word to him was...”Behold, the servant of the Lord; be it done according to your word.”

Her questions didn't evaporate but His peace descended as she pondered his words,

God is with you;

Do not be afraid;

Nothing will be impossible with God.

As she grappled with the unknown, she journeyed to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. She needed some fresh perspective. She needed some space from the terrifying glares of the village families who didn't understand the truth and only saw a young girl pregnant out of wedlock, an offense punishable by stoning.

Elizabeth and Mary share the amazing events that had befallen both of them. They saw the hand of God accomplish the impossible—in one who was a virgin and in another who was past her child bearing age. Two miracles connected by the power and majesty of God. Two events that would forever change the world.

Mary must have been afraid. Afraid of the consequences. Afraid of what would come about. Afraid of what others would think. Afraid of what Joseph would say. Yet, she says to the angel, “I am God's servant, may it be as you have said.”

She believed God. She trusted Him. Still, it must have taken a lot to surrender herself to His purpose.

Is your world dark right now? What are you afraid of? What unknowns are you facing?

Just like the words of the angel to Mary, God is telling us not to be afraid. He will provide what we need when the time comes. He is asking us to believe and trust Him.

To a young girl who faces chemo treatments, He is saying, Do not be afraid.

To a young man with tumors throughout his body, Do not be afraid.

To a woman overwhelmed by her husband's betrayal, Do not be afraid.

To one with a heavy heart, Do not be afraid.

He is with you through whatever trouble you're facing. He will care for your needs and show you what to do each step of the journey. Trust Him. And, believe. Elizabeth's words to her cousin, Mary in Luke 1:45 are for us too.... “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

Believing brings about change, in our hearts and in the world as God's power is released to accomplish His purposes in and through us. Power to make a kingdom difference for eternity. So, whatever you face today, don't be afraid. The Lord is with you. 

He is Emmanuel,

Jeanne