Hidden Darkness or Light?

Luke 11:34 & 35 "³⁴Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness."

 Growing up my father was a meat and potatoes man. This meant every meal had to have gravy, a hunk of well cooked meat, potatoes and always dessert. Veggies were optional or, if available, generally overcooked. Today we are more educated on the importance of a balanced healthy lifestyle, complete with steamed vegetables and low carb meals. Many people ensure they are taking the right vitamins and get regular exercise. We are not always so vigilant about ensuring our spiritual life is as healthy.

An Ophthalmologist friend of mine says that she can tell by looking at her patients eyes if they have various diseases or if they are healthy. Yet it doesn't take a medical degree to know when you talk to your friend that they are happy. Their eyes sparkle.

What we put into our lives is just as important. Our attitudes, what we spend our time doing and where our focus is, all has an impact on who we are. With our attitudes for instance, the Bible says how important it is to forgive.

Did you know that this command is as much for your benefit as it is for the other person? Maybe even more! When you don't forgive the anger builds up inside you and keeps adding up every time something new makes you angry. Over the years it turns into a seething mass waiting to spring on some unsuspecting victim.

If you find yourself drowning in negative emotion, you will be happy to know that most of God's commandments in the Bible have a positive effect on our lives if we are willing to give them a try! They help you live a more happy life because you get rid of all the garbage you are carrying. Kind of like Spring Cleaning, following His commands keeps the sparkle in your eye, gives you a fresh outlook on each day, keeps your step light and puts a smile on your face. Yes it is work and it is not always easy, but the results are more rewarding then keeping the garbage around!


As we were walking along a trail in Tanzania, I quickly snapped a photo of the flowers above. It was not until I enlarged the photo to make sure it was focused that I noticed that, like the anger that we sometimes hide in our lives, a hornet was cleverly hidden among the pedals. What do people see when they take a closer look at you? Are you ready to sting or waiting to share your light?