“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
In the Christian church we are accustomed to hearing, “Let your light shine,” from the time we are young, through adolescence, and even into adulthood. We hear this phrase time and again in sermons and songs. What does it mean to wholeheartedly let your light shine as scripture commands us? Light is the opposite of darkness. Light illuminates things around us and makes objects more clear to the unaided eye. In that same way, if we are Christ followers, our lives should allow others to see Jesus reflected in us. Our goal should always be to lift Him up so that He can draw all men unto Himself (John 12:32). Our relationship with the Lord is a key component to allowing us to “shine” before men. As we plug into our power source, a desire to demonstrate our devotion to Him through our actions is put into motion. When we do, others will know that we belong to Him. In the end, we do not do good deeds in order to receive flattery for ourselves, but rather to draw attention to the One we serve. In this way, He can receive all the glory, and honor, and praise!
We are excited that the first quarter of classes is over! All four moms have been studying to meet their school’s educational requirements. Three of our mommas seem to be adapting well to life here at Project Bethany and are adjusting well academically speaking. One of the mothers has been struggling overall. Our program is geared to help the mothers prepare in all areas of life: spiritually, academically, and practically (cooking, cleaning, parenting, and more). Al-though, she has received one-on-one help in many areas, sadly she has not demonstrated interest in making serious changes in her lifestyle. Our team explained our expectations for significant change in a set period of time. We pray she will make the changes necessary to stay in the program, so that she and her children can enjoy a hopeful future.
The Thomas’ niece, Susanne was here visiting for six weeks. She came to volunteer in the daycare assisting the teachers and teaching English to the children. Susanne also offered individualized English tutoring to three of the mothers in our program. We appreciate her love for the people, her creativity in lesson planning, and her servant’s heart! We trust she impacted those she served.
We want to admonish each of you to stay connected to Him, so that you can be a light in the darkness. Ask the Lord to show you how to love and serve others well. Pray so that they might be attracted to Christ in you, and always give the glory to Him alone!