LIGHT Up The Darkness!

"I can see if someone is a Christian by the light in their eyes," I was told recently by a woman I know. She went on to say, "And I can see it in YOUR eyes -- there is such a light there! I've noticed such a warmth about you, overflowing, written all over you. And it's not because you wear the veiling and the dress -- it's what you have inside -- the light that is in your eyes. You have what so many people want!" Wow. 

A few days ago I decided to start a small "prayer box." I have it sitting on my dresser, and throughout the day, I go through the typed-out prayers I've made -- involving every area  I desire to pray about -- and I'll pray . . . By doing this, I feel so much more connected to God at every moment of the day. I guess it's a little reminder for me -- to pray more -- at random times . . . God reminded me the other day that He cares for even the smallest of small things in my life -- and I need not carry those burdens alone, but lay them at His feet.

But before I headed out of the house that day, I had prayed specifically the prayer to be a "light and salt for God" . . . and I was amazed at the way He worked -- and the words that woman said to me. It made me again realize, you may not know the full impact you may have -- that people can just look at you -- and see the light of God flowing through you.

A few weeks ago my cousin and I got into a conversation about being all for God or all for the world. There can't be any of this middle ground . . . this "in-between business." God wants your all. Both of us were challenged to live our Christian lives even more sold out for the Kingdom of God, and to be all for Jesus!

And so, I am challenged with the word all. What does God really want when He asks for my all? Exactly that, He wants my all . . . He doesn't want me just in part . . . He doesn't want to share me with the world, and the things of the world. But He wants me -- Clarissa -- and my all! 

So I've been challenged with that. I desire to surrender all to my God -- to live a life fully sold out and giving my all to His Kingdom -- giving Him all my heart, all my trust, all my dreams, all my desires, all my fears, all my burdens -- and  just that, giving Him my all and all!

I love Brandon Heath's song, "Your Love." Really and truly, if we have the love of God in us, we can light up the darkness with, HIS LOVE!

Your Love

I felt it first when I was younger
A strange connection to the light
I tried to satisfy the hunger
I never got it right
I never got it right

So I climbed a mountain and l built an altar
Looked out as far as I could see
And everyday I’m getting older
I’m running outta dreams
I’m running outta dreams

But Your love
Your love
The only the thing that matters is Your love
Your love is all I have to give
Your love is enough to light up the darkness
It’s Your love
Your love
all I ever needed is Your love

You know the effort I have given
And you know exactly what it cost
And though my innocence was taken
Not everything is lost
Not everything is lost nooooo

But Your love
Your love
The only the thing that matters is Your love
Your love is all I have to give
Your love is enough to light up the darkness
It’s Your love
Your love
all I ever needed is Your love

You’re the hope in the morning
You’re the light when the night is falling
You’re the song when my heart is singing
it’s Your love
You’re the eyes to the blind man
You’re the feet to the lame man walking
You’re the sound of the people singing
It’s Your love

But Your love
Your love
The only the thing that matters is Your love
Your love is all I have to give
Your love is enough to light up the darkness
It’s Your love
Your love
all I ever needed is Your love

But Your love
(Your love is all that I needed)
The only the thing that matters is Your love
Your love is all I have to give
Your love is enough to light up the darkness
(Your love is all that I needed)
It’s Your love
Your love
It’s all I ever needed