Light!

Monday night I went down to the beach with a friend and saw this...these beautiful electric blue waves! I had recently read a story about the red tide  here in San Diego, and being the biology nerd that I am, couldn't wait to go check it out! It was absolutely magical...I couldn't help but pull up my skirt and run out into the waves just to try and get a closer look. Unfortunately, the bioluminescence was pretty far out where the waves were breaking farther from the shore. It was a spontaneous trip so I didn't have my own camera to capture the moment...sad. I've got to get better at bringing my camera with me everywhere. Isn't God's creation simply phenomenal!

On a related note, I was reminded yesterday in my devo, of the light imagery used in the Bible.

Jesus said that He is the Light of the world (John 9:5). We are told to “put on the armor of light” by clothing ourselves with the Lord (Rom. 13:12-14). And Matthew 5:16 instructs that we should “let [our] light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works and glorify [our] Father in heaven.” 

Jesus said that no one hides a light under a basket but puts it on a lampstand to illuminate everything around it (Matt. 5:15). Our light (our actions) should point people to the One who is the Light. We don’t have any light in ourselves, but we shine with the reflection of Christ (Eph. 5:8). (odb.org)

The true source of light, Jesus, lives in us and we shine the reflection of this light in order to love others and point them to Christ. Isn't that what it's all about? 

Again in Matthew 5:14-16 from the Message, "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."

I just love that last part...by opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God...that is my prayer, Lord help me to be a light, speaking truth and prompting others to come closer to you.

Isaiah's poetry

On my morning run today I ventured out to Sunset Cliffs and admired the vastness of the ocean, the beauty of the cliffs and shoreline. I love how being present in God's creation bonds me to my maker. I can't help but draw near to him when I see his presence in the world around me. Today that was in the view, in the landscape. Other times it's in the love, generosity, or forgiveness of friends or strangers. Regardless, I pray that my eyes would be open to seeing his work and will being done here on earth.

The Message Bible describes Isaiah as "a poet in the most fundamental sense-a maker, making God present and that presence urgent." It also says that for Isaiah, "words are watercolors and melodies and chisels to make truth and beauty and goodness." LOVE that.

So here's what I read this morning...
"I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

So you'll go out in joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession exuberant with applause. No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines - Monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God."

Love the imagery used to describe God's majesty!