PHOTO CAPTION: Let your light shine!
Do you ever wonder how you can let your light shine? What can I do to make the world a better place and share God’s love with others? Yes, there are opportunities all around us, but which one is right for you? Do you need a little push to get you started? I know I do sometimes.
Let’s get started by asking God to plant seeds of awareness in our hearts. Ask Him to give you eyes to see those around you who need a hug, a prayer, a kind word, a smile or maybe a simple invitation to come to church with you. Okay, now that you are becoming more aware of those around you, how do you find the courage to share God’s love? I often feel less than courageous in sharing my faith and love for God with others. I wonder what to say and how to get the conversation started. When I feel this way, I’m finding that prayer helps. In fact, prayer helps a lot! One day as a I was praying for a new friend that I was hoping to invite to church and simply share my faith with, I tried and failed miserably. Instead of inviting her to church, I made excuses for why I do some of the things I do. After feeling horrible that I hadn’t done a better job, I continued praying and told God how miserably I failed. Guess what? The next day, He opened up another opportunity for me and I didn’t even have to start the conversation.
When we are praying and growing in our own relationship with God ourselves; sharing our faith is a whole lot easier and God does give second chances when we ask Him to. Let’s ask God to shine His love into our hearts so we can share that love with others. God plants seeds in our hearts, waters them with His love and care so that we grow in our relationship with Him. He chooses us, cleans us up and places His light inside of us. Then that light shines out from our lives and others do notice. When we become so filled with the light of Jesus, it will shine in the dark and we will have opportunities to share.
Opportunities to share God’s love often come when we begin to thank Him for what He has done in our lives and trust Him to continue to work in us. Let’s ask God to so fill us with the light of His love that we can’t help, but share that light with others. Our world needs more light in the darkness so let your light shine!
PRAYER:
Dear God,
I do truly want to let my light shine and yet I find myself lacking courage to share. In this world where we are expected to be so careful less we offend someone, I find that I have carried that carefulness into matters of faith too. If I say something, I begin to think maybe it’s not the right time or place. Show me how I can let the light of your love shine in me so that others will take notice. Give me eyes to see those around me who are hurting, lost and lonely – those who need the hope that only you can give and give me boldness to share my hope in you. Teach our children to shine your love brightly to their world too – at school, daycare, wherever they go. Let us so fall in love with you that we can’t help but share the love and hope that you give. Amen.
What Can You Do With Your Child?
* Let your light shine by inviting a friend over to play or to your church’s fall festivities – Harvest parties, Trunk or Treats, etc.
* One way to let your light shine is to partner with Samaritan’s Purse in their Operation Christmas Child efforts by filling a shoebox with small items. These shoeboxes are shipped around the world to provide a gift a Christmas time for kids who have very little.
* Share a story – I recommend “The Pumpkin Patch Parable” by Liz Curtis Higgins
This book has been out for awhile, but it’s still one of my favorite books to share with preschoolers around this time of year.
In this story a farmer plants pumpkins and watches as they grow. Then He harvests the pumpkins, carves a happy face in one of them and sets it on his porch so all can see and enjoy the happy light in it. God picks us and lets His love shine through us just like the farmer in the story did with the pumpkin. It is a story about God’s love for us.
Because God loves us and is with us all the time, we can let the light He places in our hearts shine forth so that others too will know how much they are loved by God.
MEMORIZE: 1 Chron. 16:34 NIV – (Hold hands like a book.)
Give thanks – (Touch hand with mouth and bring it down to other
hand.)
To the Lord, – (Point upwards.)
For He is good – (Rub tummy.)
His love – (Put hands on heart.)
Endures forever – (Throw hands out wide to the sides.)
PRAYER:
Dear God,
Thank you for loving me and making me. I want to share your love with others and let my light shine just like the pumpkin in the story. You are amazing God. I love you. Amen.
MAIN IDEAS TO SHARE WITH YOUR KIDS:
* TO KNOW: God made me and I can let my light shine for Him.
* TO TALK ABOUT: Letting others know that I love Jesus.
* TO ASK: Who made you? God made me.
* AND TO DO: What can you do? I can tell a friend, “Jesus loves you!”
Faith Steps and More 