Fireflies and Stars

"You are the light of the world. A city 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -Matthew 5:14-16

When night comes, the stars shine. When the sky is the darkest, the stars shine the brightest. Even if there are only a few in the sky, I notice them more than I notice the darkness, and I never cease to be amazed by this part of God's creation.

I think that fireflies are very pretty. There are more than 2,000 species of them. They come out at night and glow. Even when they are caught and trapped in a jar, they do not stop shining.

In the same way, remember that you are a light for God in a very dark world. I am a light for Him in South Africa, just as you are light for Him wherever you are. You do not have to cross the seas to be a missionary, you just have to see the cross. Wherever you are, you are a missionary. You have a ministry, and that ministry is your new life in Christ. Never stop letting God use you to be a light to those who are hurting and also remember to let others be a light for you as well. Just as stars shine the brightest in the darkest night, when life seems to be the most troublesome, people will notice God's love the most. If you feel trapped like a firefly, remember that God uses people in their weakest moments to testify to how powerful, merciful, and loving HE is, so do not for a second believe the lie that you are not able to minister to others, because through God's strength you can. He doesn't call the eqipped, He eqips the called. Just as there are many different types of fireflies, we are all different but all Christians have the same light of Christ within us and we are to be unified under the same God with the same task: the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's grace.

Love,
Amanda