Let Your Light Shine

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If we read the lives of the saints, we may be inspired by their great works and heroic bravery. We may also think there must have been something superhuman about them that let them live such holy lives or make such a dramatic difference in the world. In reality, most of the saints were ordinary people like us who did extraordinary things simply by letting God’s light shine in and through them. And while most of us won’t be asked to do something remarkable like caring for people who are sick and dying in the streets as St. Teresa of Calcutta did, all of us are called, with our own skills, to have a holy and positive impact on the world around us. How can we do this?

We can do this with God, Who lives in us. No matter what job or role we hold, all of us who’ve been baptized already have the power of God within us to do good works and change the world around us for the better, in small or big ways. 

God is always with us. When we become aware of His presence and let His light shine in us, we let Him affect all of our thoughts, words, and actions. As our faith strengthens and our awareness of His presence grows, we let the power of His love overtake our hearts. The more we do this, the more we act less from our own strength and inspiration and more from His power. With Him, we know that we can be and do more good than we could ever do on our own. Even as we work to overcome our human weaknesses and failings, we strive not to do what is our will but God’s will. For example, with God we can love those we find difficult; be patient and calm in times of stress; be peaceful, and peacemakers, in our chaotic world. Knowing that He’s present with us, loving us, and guiding us gives us His peace, which no one can take away from us. And His peace brings us deep joy.

When we let God use us to be beacons of light to the people around us, we really can have a holy and positive impact on our world. And when others see God working through us then they, too, will want the peace and joy that we have. They, too, will thank God for His loving power.         

So our kindness toward others, our loving actions, and our peaceful, joyful demeanor all happen when His light shines in us. For that and all that comes from Him, we give thanks and glory to God.

“You are the light of the world…. Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” – Matthew 5:14, 16  

Let all I do be with You, for You, and because of You.

Thank you for reading my reflection.  All thanks to God for giving me the ideas and guiding my words!    © 2025 Gina Bedell   

  

Through these reflections, I invite you, the reader, to reflect on a given topic and then seek deeper answers through prayer, additional spiritual reading, and/or consultation with clergy or other qualified persons in order to grow in your faith and understanding of God’s love and will for your life. 

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P.S.

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Let Joy Fill Your Heart This Christmas

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There’s a joke that makes the rounds this time of year: “Yay! It’s December! Oh, wait… I’m a musician.” The weeks leading up to Christmas are busy for us musicians, full of opportunities to share our talents with others at all kinds of events. Performing Christmas music for others and seeing their broad smiles and shining eyes brings us great joy!

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” – Luke 2:10-11

How do we experience this ‘great joy’ today? Listen to what Christ might be saying to you:

I came to earth to show you what Love looks like. I love you! You are precious to Me! Keep that thought new in your heart; don’t ever let it become ‘old news.’ 

I was born in a dirty, smelly stall. I made that place holy by being present in it. There are parts of your life that are messy and smelly; I know this and still I love you. Let that penetrate your mind and sink down into your heart. Spend time with Me and you’ll see that because I live in you, I want to make you holy – more like Me – even with those smelly areas, just like I made the stable holy by being there. 

Let Me soften your heart and fill it with joy. Let Me help you carry that burden. Let Me show you all your goodness – that flicker of light inside you that is your most loving potential. Allow Me to stoke those glowing embers in your heart and you’ll experience My joy and peace like never before.

Share what you have – your possessions, your talents, your time, your very self – and you will see that giving away what you have, what is most precious to you, makes room in your heart for more of My love. Every time you share your gifts with the people around you, you bless them and you become more like Me. Do this, and you will experience joy no matter what circumstances you’re facing.

Christ is with us, now, 2,000 years after the angels announced His birth. Let’s remember that every time we give of ourselves to others, even with music, we become more like Him. 

That, indeed, is something to be joyful about.

“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth… May the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. May the rivers clap their hands, may the mountains sing together for joy.” – Psalm 98:4, 7-8

“Lord, let me celebrate with joy that You are with me, this Christmas and always.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, in the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.