Jesus In Me and Jesus On Me

 

Fall is my favorite time of year. In Pennsylvania, where I live, all the seasons have an element of beauty and wonder, but fall is so colorful and the crisp, cool air is so welcome after a hot, humid summer. I love to be outside as much as possible during this season because I know winter is just around the corner. Walking in the woods filled with red and orange maples, and yellow aspens is delightful. The clear blue skies, the crunch of leaves under my feet, and the cinnamon and clove scents are all so therapeutic, to me. I have noticed that the leaves are significantly more beautiful when the sun is shining on them. All the colors burst with beauty in the warm glow of the sun. I am getting energized just writing about this! Comparatively, when I bask in the warm glow of Jesus’ love, I know that I become more beautiful as well. Jesus in me and on me is what makes me attractive. Without that glow I would be just another pretty face, so to speak. I’m guessing we have all encountered naturally beautiful people who have personas that are unattractive. Outwardly, they may be colorful, but they lack the luster from the Son. It’s likely because they are not radiating Jesus or experiencing his love.

What are your thoughts on this? Do we need to consciously be aware of radiating Jesus or does it come naturally for those in Christ?

Has anyone ever said anything to you about your smile or how you emit a particular fruit of the spirit?

Do you need some time to sit with the Son so you can radiate his glory?

Ps 34:5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

Jesus, your warmth on my face is so glorious and I sit with you in sacred stillness. I soak up your love and I breathe in all the treasures you have gifted me with; joy, peace, patience, and goodness. I pray that you in me and you on me, will cause me to radiate your love.

Treasuring and Tending Relationships

I am currently working on a teaching for a retreat on the topic of relationships. As I am working on this teaching it has caused me to reflect on the many good friends I have been blessed with over the course of my life. In every season God has provided good friends for me that have gotten me through hard times or were put into my life to inspire and challenge me.

                                                                            

I have a few friends from high school who I still meet once or twice a year. I have a group of ladies that I have met with since our kids were babies. We shared life together while we struggled through the young mom stage. Additionally, I have a friend from 1st grade that I still see on occasion. I am also very open to making new friends.

Relationships, whether old or new, are very important to me and I work at making time for them. It can be so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and neglect spending time with people that I hold dear. 

I recently had the opportunity to spend a few days at the beach with some friends. The deep sharing, the outrageous laughter, the game playing (which I lost badly) the expressions of appreciation for each other; all are so rich, so priceless.

What would I do without my girlfriends? Even though I have a great relationship with my husband, he can only take so many words. Girlfriends can handle words, let me tell you. Lots of words!! Words late into the night. Words while playing games and while sitting on the beach with our toes in the sand. We get each other.

However, even though I have been blessed with many friends over the years, there have been times in my life when I felt lonely. At times I felt like friends didn't really "get me" or I felt pressure to conform to their way of life. I had to learn the hard way that friendships come and go and sometimes it is just for a season. I had to come to terms with the fact that a friend wasn't going to meet all my needs. Friends are human and will let me down. 

Being in close relationships with people has caused me to steer more towards God. It has helped me to learn that no person can be put on a pedestal above Him. I had to realize that friendships are a blessing but no one will know me and love me like Him. What a friend we have in Jesus!!

If you are reading this today and are longing for a good friend, I would encourage you to pray for one. God has led me into friendships that have caught me totally unaware. There have been times when I sensed the Lord asking me to reach out to some people to pour into them and it turned out to be an amazing two-way relationship.

If you need a friend - be a friend! Be a listening ear when someone is hurting. Be the initiator of a coffee date. Be the one that gives without expectation of reciprocation.

It takes time to cultivate any relationship. It takes dedication and consistency. It requires openness and vulnerability-sometimes even patience and endurance. You can't expect a friendship to grow if you don't water it and nurture it. Every friendship is a gift to cherish.