SHINE LIKE STARS!

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." Philippians 2:14-16

Movie stars have often been referred to as "royalty" by the press, and are often treated by them as if they were demi-gods, by erecting statues in their honor, by preserving their footprints in cement, by museums enshrining their artifacts, and Halls of Fame to salute their deeds. Every month the Hollywood Walk of Fame unveils new stars in their illustrious sidewalk. While movie stars shine by capturing our imagination on screen, godly people transform our lives. As children of God, the people we hold in high esteem are those who shine by their pure and blameless lives, who work hard for Christ to hold out the word of life to us.

While we may not be striving to get a star on a sidewalk or our face on a billboard, we do have the opportunity to shine as godly people, by becoming a celebrity to one person . . . in God’s kingdom. We can have an enormous effect on others as we hold out the word of life through discipleship, one person at a time. With each person we disciple, we become stars who shine brighter and brighter for God’s glorious kingdom.

The word shine in this verse is translated from the Greek word “phenos” which is derived from “phos” and means “light” or “fire” as in the kind of heavenly light that surrounded angels when they appeared on earth. What a beautiful metaphor for how we appear as we share truth with others together with the spiritual purity of our lives.

As Paul stated in this verse, an important part of becoming blameless and pure excludes two things. Our lives will not shine if they are marked with complaining and arguing, or as my two year old would say, “No whining!” While both of these come naturally, a pure and blameless lifestyle doesn’t; as I have rediscovered in my own life this past week. It is a decision we must make to allow no inner debates or secret contentions within us, otherwise we will not be effective in the crooked and depraved generation around us. Paul felt so strongly about this exhortation that he based the value of his labor upon it. He was counting on the Philippians so that he could boast on the day of Christ that his work was not for nothing.

Partners is one ministry at Compass Bible Church that provides a powerful way for us to shine like stars and to also be able to boast on the day of Christ. Partners opens the door for every one of us to hold out the word of life in a more intimate setting if we are willing to labor in the way that Paul did. It is a wonderful setting designed for each partner to know the Lord more deeply through one-on-one learning and accountability.

Our culture measures the accomplishments of celebrities by household name recognition and their performance in the media. As Christians, our goal is not to achieve this kind of cultural “royalty” or even household name recognition but to store up accolades in heaven. This begins by sharing our lives with others one person at a time and continuously holding out the word of life. The best legacy we can leave is our investment in those we disciple, one by one.

"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." Daniel 12:3

Just as real stars in the universe cause us to look up in awe of their beauty, we are to shine as stars by our pure and blameless lives enough to cause those around us to lift their faces in awe of Jesus. Our joy is in knowing that in God’s kingdom only one name is recognized, Jesus Christ.

http://www.partnersprogram.org

This was an article I wrote a couple of years ago for the Partners newsletter.

FLASH BACK FRIDAY

I have been feeling nostalgic not just for my beautiful hometown of Sydney, but for my family there. This was taken in 2005 on a ferry in Sydney harbor with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House in the background. Watch for pictures in the slide soon!

MAKING PLAY DOUGH!

. . . and they made it from scratch!

Braydon says he is making a peanut butter sandwich and Sofia-Maree is making a Christmas tree with decorations (in sunny July?). What the pictures won't tell you is that as they play, my two oldest children are singing these words:

Jesus loves me, he who died

Heaven's gate to open wide

He will wash away my sin

Let the little child come in

Jesus take this heart of mine

Make it pure and wholly thine

On the cross you died for me

I will try to live for thee

I am so encouraged by their little hearts!

MY HONOR OR HIS?

"And you said, "The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty"

Deut. 5:24a

This verse was the laser beam of sunlight I needed this morning, thanks to Spurgeon's devotion. How true it is that we naturally have a tendency to want our own honor. If our road is only smooth, we may only see a little of God's glory. I am finding that through these deep waters, I am being made aware of my weaknesses and my great need for sanctification. In this trial, my emotions may kick and scream but ultimately by a decision of my will, I yield to the King of kings and Lord of lords! " . . . they who do business in great waters,' these see his 'wonders in the deep.'” I am learning to say to him with more passion than ever, "Anything, anyplace, anywhere, anytime, I will follow you Lord." While I never would have naturally signed up for self-emptying of this kind, God is revealing his great lovingkindness to me and I am being shaped for the "outshinings of his glory".

Here are more words from the "prince of preachers" that spoke to my heart this morning:

"Man’s eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,” these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you."

Spurgeon, C. H. (1995). Morning and evening : Daily readings (July 19 AM).

JACK TURNED ONE!

Here's the baby of our family on July 11, one year since he was born. What a delight he is to each of us!

Baby Penguin!

This is a true story written for my children by Jacqueline Johnson.

Here is this little story: Our friends have a five year old Downs Syndrome boy who was having a fabulous time at Sea World. In an instant his parents realized he had wandered off and in a panic they began to run in every direction, calling his name. After a few minutes others joined in. Finally, he was spotted….head to toe wet and muddy….running to his dad who scooped him up in relief and hugged him reassuringly! Upon arriving home they tucked him into his warm bed and opened up his back-pack … out popped the cutest little live penguin they had ever seen!!

We are sometimes like that little boy. We see or hear something that captures our total attention. We get caught up in the exciting moment and throw “caution to the wind”. The something may not bad, but it keeps us from following the best. God has given us a safety in times like these by giving us a daddy and mommy to protect us IF we choose to stay close where they can see and hear us. Listening and obeying …especially when we are in new places…keeps us alert to danger! When we disobey by slipping away where we cannot be heard or seen, we not only hurt ourselves…we hurt others. That little boys daddy and mommy were afraid because they love him. That little boy had been in water somewhere and could have been hurt. That little boy took something that was not his (baby penguin!). That little boy made a bad decision on his own…without asking permission of his parents. That little boy made it dangerous for the baby penguin. We need to stay under the umbrella of “protection”. The umbrella keeps the rain and pain of life from hitting us and gives peace and protection IF we stay under the umbrella. When we choose NOT to listen and go off on our own we walk out from under the umbrella and the protection is gone. This is, of course, true for us as adults, but our little ones can certainly identify with this little happy and excited boy!

by Jacqueline Johnson

When mommy was blogging . . .

someone was into the markers!

HOW TO CATCH A PENGUIN

A little over a week ago an incident involving a little boy with down syndrome, occurred at SeaWorld that left such a smile on my face when I learned about it. It was evening and a family had just returned home from SeaWorld when they called to share this with our friends. The family told how their little boy had gone missing in the park. When they finally did find him, he was covered from head to toe in mud. No one knew where he had been. After arriving home, they opened up their son's backpack and discovered a penguin inside!

This little boy decided he would catch himself a penguin, even if it meant abandoning mommy and daddy, and getting down and dirty in the process. This was a calculated move and he went for it.

I can hardly resist praising the ambition in this child! In this case it was directed at fulfilling his own desires, however, there is another kind of ambition that is right to strive for mentioned in the New Testament.

"Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him." 2 Co 5:9 NASB

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

What about you? What - or for whom- are you living?

Just in case you were wondering, the family did arrange to return the penguin to SeaWorld immediately. :>)

- Yvonne