365.132

*

I was sent one of my all time favourite verses this a.m. from a friend.  I discovered it a very long time ago hidden in one of lesser known books (minor prophets), Zephaniah.  The book of Zephaniah was written as a warning to the Israelite's - imploring them to be who they were created to be - lights to the nations.  It is an "if; then" book, similar to parts of Deuteronomy.  

The verse is part of the "then" promise:  Zeph 3:17  The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.  

Who knows if you or I will ever be lights to the nations, but (and as much as I am reminding you - even more so, I am reminding me) today we can be lights in our homes, in our workplaces, and in our communities.  As depressing and awful the news seems to be on many fronts these days, the truth is that God is still God and he loves his kids with an everlasting love.  Regardless of circumstances, who is in charge, or what comes our way, it is my, our responsibility to show that unconditional love to others.  Period.  

Every time I have the thought to reach out, others quickly rise to combat it.  

"You will be rejected."  

(I did what I felt I needed to do and at the very least, I caused no harm.)

"If you do something kind, others sitting on the sidelines - or worse, the recipient - would wonder at your motive." 

(What if that person desperately needs the exact word of encouragement or act of kindness only you have to give today?)

"Who do you think you are anyway?" 

(One of God's ambassador's - no more, no less.)

Get your house in order.  Obey. Do the right thing.  When you make a mistake, don't stop on the road reading the road signs trying to figure out where you are and asking every person that drives by how to get to where it is you are supposed to be, simply look up, get your bearings, do the next right thing...and keep going.

Why? Well, for one, God will take delight in you and rejoice over you and you will have made a difference, however small, wherever you are - that very well could have a ripple effect far greater than anything you can see in the moment.

*If you listen to CBC, as I do, I have found myself wondering countless times, "wonder where Maple Plains is" and why the announcer always says "in Maple Plains it is x amount of degrees,"  well, I did find it - but I still don't know why they use Maple Plains as a PEI landmark....