Glitter in the Rug

I love to make sparkly things for my granddaughters. As they get older they don’t go for that much, but my four-year-old one, Lilly, loves them. I just finished up a sparkly tutu for her and I’ve vacuumed glitter for days.

There’s this ugly rug in my sewing/workout room. Mainly gray and black fibers, designed to hide dirt. But it can’t hide the glitter! As I glance across it, those sparkly particles reflect light and remind me of what we are to be in this world as followers of Jesus. In the world but not of it. Reflecting Light, being Light in places that would be dark, dismal, hiding dirt. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

A small child is such a gift. They are the perfect example of the child-likeness that Christ says we should never lose. And four-year old ones are my favorites. They are old enough to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Old enough to kind-of reason with. And young enough that their imaginations have not yet been tainted by the world. If you have one in your life, you are blessed indeed. If they are loved and nurtured correctly, they have no limits to what they can contribute to our world. No wonder Jesus gave such a stern admonition to anyone who would harm them. (Matthew 18:6)

That glitter in the rug reminds me of how I am a child of God. I’m in a temporary place right now and I am to sparkle for Him. Stand out, be set apart for Him. (Psalm 4:3) I can’t tell you how much I’ve failed at that lately.  I know He loves me the same, but I hope to do better and am thankful that He has given me another chance to reflect His glory. (Matthew 5:16)

The following list is how I hope to get my sparkle on for Jesus:

1.       Start each and every day with a song. Hum it, sing it, pull it up on my ipad for background music:  get a melody going in my mind about His goodness. (Psalm 96)

2.       Go back to list making. Just a few items of “have-to-dos,” so there are no regrets about missed appointments or overdue bills. More items of “get-to-dos,” things to do that keep me healthy and happy and child-like. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8:6)

3.       Memorize more scripture. The power of the Word of God has been the greatest transformer in my life. I could never get enough.  (Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:162)

It is a fault of mine that I want the list to be longer. That it will become my boss and I would eventually rebel against it, so I am determined to keep it short and see how just 3 commitments can get my sparkle back.

This is kind of a confession post. I have done and said things lately that have made me see that my testimony has not been what I would hope it would be for Jesus. He deserves better than that from me and I am sorry. My patience has been short, my words rather sharp. I repent. His Spirit is my Keeper. He stands at the gate of my life and reveals what should be going in and coming out. I am very thankful for this.

Dear reader, maybe you are right where you should be with Him, maybe you need to make a list of 3 new commitments of your own. I would love it if you would share them in the comments. I will be praying for you.