Donna Smith is a dear friend and elder’s wife from my church. She has been fighting cancer for several years. Last year they thought she was cancer free only to have it come back a few months later. She is handling her battle with strength and grace that she attributes to God’s power working in her. I know you will be encouraged by the God Story she shares here. Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 26, she will visit with a specialist in Louisiana. Please pray for her and to doctor during this visit, for wisdom, insight, and more options. 

 

 

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children  of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” ~ Philippians 2:14-16a

Have you ever been in the mountains and seen the stars on a clear night. It is breathtaking. The beauty of the twinkling lights covering the dark sky is truly a wonder to behold.

When living in this world full of darkness, isn’t it equally beautiful to be with shining stars. The legacy of faithful lives who find joy and share Christ’s love in a world of hate and pain. God gives us opportunities to shine even through our messes.

During the time when my hair was gone, I wore hats when I went out. One day I was at the grocery store I ran into parents of a former student. We had not seen each other in years. I do not believe it was a coincidence that we met that day.

As I passed them on the aisle, I felt compelled to stop and say “Hi.” I really didn’t know them that well, but I did recognized them and struck up a conversation. Because of the hat it was obvious I had been ill and we discussed my health.

Cancer and conversations can become awkward for people. I didn’t want to elaborate but the conversation just went that way. As we talked, her eyes and her husband’s look spoke volumes. This conversation was not going to be about me. She shared that she had just found out that she had breast cancer and had not been able to talk about it with anyone. They both were scared and rightly so. They wanted to know about my journey and what it was like for me to go down the road of cancer.

I shared how God had carried me and that He had given me peace. I was able to talk about the pain and fears and the victories. They wanted to know more. We shared numbers and talked more as she drew closer to treatment. I introduced her to a friend that was a breast cancer survivor. She was able to shine as she shared her story.

That day was not a coincidence. God placed me on that aisle that day for a reason. We never know when we will have the chance to shine for Him, to let His glory shine through our stories.

God has used mankind to be His shining stars to others throughout time. Enoch was a man described as one that walked with God. His great-great-great-great grandfather was Adam who was still alive when Enoch was young. Do you think possibly Adam shared with him what it was like to walk with God? The stories he must have had to share with his family. The legacy he left telling them what a relationship with God was like.

Both during and after the good times and the bad we have the chance to shine. We can share our stories and the pain. We can share what it is like to be in the storm, being held. When we don’t have the Lord in our lives, it is like Lieutenant Dan in the movie Forrest Gump. He yelled at God and fought Him  through the storm. We have a God that loves us and lets us choose. I like Peace. When we have Peace in the storm, we can share and shine. He will calm us in the storm, but not necessarily take away the storm.

We have the opportunity to walk with God. We have opportunities daily to share how God works in our lives with our children and grand children our friends and neighbors. We can shine like stars.

 

 

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The winner of our giveaway last week for the journal is Cindy from our OverACup Facebook Bible study group. Congratulations, Cindy! I will be contacting you soon. 

Stay tuned for more giveaways throughout the summer as we get ready for our study of Search for Significance beginning this Fall!