Brighten up your corner - Inspirational poem

In conversation with a friend last week, he mentioned an inspirational poem to me. As I read it, I realised it was the perfect ending for the sermon I was writing. Having shared the poem on Sunday, a few people have asked for the words. So, here they are - it is a poem entitled: "Brighten up your corner." Enjoy and please pass on to someone in need. 

We cannot all be famous
Or be listed in "Who's Who,"
But every person, great or small,
Has important work to do.

For seldom do we realize
The importance of small deeds,
Or to what degree of greatness
Unnoticed kindness leads.

For it's not the big celebrity
In a world of fame and praise,
But it's doing unpretentiously
In an undistinguished way.

The work that God assigned to us,
Unimportant as it seems,
That makes our task outstanding,
And brings reality to dreams.

So do not sit and idly wish
For wider, new dimensions
where you can put into practice,
Your many good intentions.

But at the spot God placed you
Begin at once to do,
Little things to brighten up
The lives surrounding you.

If everybody brightened up

The spot where they're standing,
By being more considerate,
And a little less demanding.

This dark old world would very soon
Eclipse the evening star,
If everybody brightened up
The corner where they are! - Helen Steiner Rice

So, the challenge lies before us!

How can we lighten the dark corners of our world? 

What can we do to bring Christ to those who need Him?

Isaiah 60 - Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Shining and guiding

If one had to ask an audience about the greatest gift Jesus offers humanity, it would probably be a unanimous answer of 'Salvation.' While I believe that this is the correct answer, we mustn't forget that this great gift comes with a whole lot of extras attached. For example, Luke tells us that the Messiah will 'shine' on those living in darkness and those living in the shadow of death, as well as guiding our feet into the pathway of peace. 

"...to shine on those living in darkness   and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” - Luke 1:79

If you find yourself living in the shadows today, then look out for the light of Christ.

If you are needing to know the right path (the path that will bring you peace), then listen for the guiding words of Jesus.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

20 - Shedding Light

Have you ever turned on the light in a room and suddenly seen the insects scatter? It is quite a thing for those people who are petrified of creepy-crawlies. These insects are comfortable in the dark, but they hate the light. When Solomon reflects in two verses in Chapter 20 (of Proverbs), he reminds us that the light will shine on us whether we like it or not.

"The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord
    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.

²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love his throne is made secure." - Proverbs 20:27-28

The phrase 'the human spirit' can also refer to "a person's words", which changes the mean to remind us that our very words shed light on what is going on inside our hearts - this is always a challenging thing to remember.

"God is in charge of human life,
    watching and examining us inside and out.

²⁸ Love and truth form a good leader;
    sound leadership is founded on loving integrity." (Message)

Living in Grace
D3LM3

A lamp that can talk?

Have you ever heard of a lamp that could talk? I have never ever heard of this at all, but I have seen many lamps that have been able to shine. Turn them on and they have light up the room. After all, isn't that what lamps are supposed to do ... shine!?

·       " I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk, but they do shine." - Source Unknown.

    Our greatest challenge as Christians is to follow up our words with our actions. Non-Christians are not drawn as much to our 'preaching', but they do notice when we "shine" the love of Christ wherever we go. 

    So here is the challenge for today - do we shine as much as we talk? 

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 ^- Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

² Do not be quick with your mouth,
    do not be hasty in your heart
    to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
    and you are on earth,
    so let your words be few.
³ A dream comes when there are many cares,
    and many words mark the speech of a fool.

Living in Grace
D3LM3