Repeat the Sounding Joy

15. Don't Keep it to Yourself

It's me again God,

I praise You and thank You for this time where I can draw aside from all the hustle and bustle of life and look to Your Word and what You have to say to me. It's as refreshing to my whole being as taking in deep, slow breathes of air! You are such an essential part of my life that missing this time with You is similar to starving myself of oxygen by forgetting to breathe! Just as a candle needs oxygen to keep on bringing light to a room —I need You so I can shine Your light!

After an amazing encounter with You either at church or perhaps a special retreat weekend with fellow Christians, it's easy to come back to the everyday realities of life and instantly get caught up with the mundane things like work, shopping, cleaning and preparing meals. I am so thankful for the insight we have into the first Christmas which allows me to see what happened after the shepherds had visited Jesus:

"When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:17-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So was it business as usual? Was getting back to their flocks their first priority? No! They spread the Word concerning what they had been told about Jesus. They had new priorities because they had seen Him themselves —their personal encounter with Your Son was their motivating force! It wasn't secondhand information so this greatly impacted those they told. No wonder the people who began to hear the news from these chosen eyewitnesses, were 'amazed'!

This really makes me think about how blessed I am to have had my own personal encounter with Jesus! I had the privilege of finding out about Him as a child and then received Him into my life as my Lord and Saviour.  Thank You so much for making this possible as my parents had sent me to Sunday School from an early age. Thank You for the teachers who dedicated themselves to sharing their own personal experiences with You and faithfully teaching me each week.

Thank You that I keep on having encounters with You every day as I read Your Word and pray. Today I want to be like the shepherds and spread the Word about Jesus because there is a world out there just waiting to be amazed! There are so many who have no direction or they are heading in the wrong direction —there is is a world out there needing to know of Your love and saving grace!

I love these words about our calling, in the second letter to Timothy:

"He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord, in living this 'holy life', or set-apart life, send me with the message of Good News to the world, according to Your purpose and grace. Jesus You are my Saviour, the One who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel! That's such an amazing story to tell! Jesus You said that in turn, I am the light:

""You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:14-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

May my words about You, line up with my actions, so that many would glorify You, my Heavenly Father.

Until Jesus comes again,
Amen.