I hope you love the sunny days that we have experienced here in Northern Indiana as much as I have. And it even seems that the daylight spans over more hours of the day than last December which is probably true seeing that cloud cover isn’t hiding the warm, cheerful sphere in the sky. Something naturally positive happens when we can soak up the warm brightness that beams down on us [at least for me it does]. Though, it is still dark when I am driving back home in the early winter mornings.

This morning, a rather large pickup truck followed me most of my route, who had LED headlights. I tried to move my mirrors to keep those bright beams from shining offensively in my eyes. I even slowed down and drove close to the right side to encourage him/her to go around me. But it didn’t work; they kept close behind me with their lights blinding me as I drove. Trying to keep my attitude ‘in check’ as I drove, I jokingly said to myself; ‘well I guess they’re letting their light shine.’

Instantly this word was dropped in my heart: ‘ Some people think they are shining my light – but it can be offensive, and even blinding. When I [Jesus] am truly in a person’s heart they will naturally shine, they won’t even have to think about it. The warmth will be felt when others are around my beam carriers. My brightness will illuminate from their whole being as they share stories of how good I [The Lord God] have been to them. They will testify about the Light that I had brought into each of their specific situations.’

Wow, I thought to myself, am I shining offensively? Oh Lord, I pray that I am not. Though, I know I used to be like a LED light. Thinking that I was shedding light on the lives of my loved ones I would tell them what they needed to do. As I grew out of my arrogance, I humbly realized that my own heart had areas of darkness.

Keeping things real with myself and those around me, I would hope that the light that shines from my life would be a natural, warm, inviting positive experience. And like the offensive light of a LED light.

Matthew 5:16 [MSG]
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”