Monday, April 6, 2009

Rise and Shine

I’ve been thinking lately about how ironic it is that I’d ever be part of organizing a women’s retreat called Rise and Shine. I’ve never been much of a morning person. In fact, I’m not a morning person at all!

When I was growing up I had a good friend named Suzanne. I frequently spent the night at her house. Whenever I did her mom would rush into her room bright and early in the morning, flip on the light and say ever so cheerfully, “Rise and shine!” If we didn’t get up right away her mom would rip the covers off of us and onto the floor. As soon as she left the room Suzanne would crawl down to the end of the bed, eyes still completely closed, to pull the covers back over us. However, her mom always came back. She would barge back in to say, “Wake up, sunshine!” Then, she’d proceed to sing, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy…” (You know the words, right?!) I remember thinking, “UGH! How annoying!” I just hated it when she did that!

Yet, she was right. We needed to get up before it was too late. She wanted us to get up and get busy doing what we were suppose to be doing that day. Still, it felt so good under those covers. We were so snug and comfortable. Besides, we were still tired and there was still time. We were full of excuses, but the thing is we knew what we needed to do, we just didn’t want to do it. I’m sure her mom didn’t enjoy having to push us so hard to get up.

We, as Christian women are called to rise and shine too. Isaiah 60:1 tells us to: “Arise, shine, let your light shine for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

His glory has risen upon US! Isn’t that amazing? Think about it. If you are a Christian, His glory has risen upon YOU. You have something to share with others.

I’ve heard Christians likened to the moon and God to the sun. As the moon reflects sun in the darkness of night, we reflect the son of God in the darkness of life. Our whole purpose of being here is to shine His light to others. That’s why God created us-to glorify Himself. For some we may be the only son-shine they know. Colossians 4:17 tells us, "...whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus…”

How many times has the Lord wanted to say to us, “Get up, you lazybones!”? (Proverbs 6:6) How often do we choose to stay right where we’re comfortable even though we know we should “get up“? How many times do we make excuses for not “getting up” and shining His light? How many times does He have to nudge (or downright push us) out of our cozy little place? How many times do we miss an opportunity to shine His light because we‘re preoccupied with excuses like we‘re too busy, we‘re too tired, etc?

I don’t know about you, but I want to do better. I don’t want to miss opportunities to shine His light because “my eyes are still closed“ and I‘m too busy staying comfortable. We only get one chance to live this life. Let’s rise up before it’s too late! We need to get busy shining His light to a dark and hurting world! We can do this in our everyday lives. We can start in our own homes!

I am praying, “Teach me your ways, O Lord my God, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, that I may honor you.” Psalm 86:11

P.S. If you're not a Christian, but would like to be, so that you too can have the glory of the Lord rising upon you, you can! If you'd like to know how, I'd love to tell you! Just e-mail me. My e-mail link is on my profile page.

5 comments:

  1. Hi Rachel,

    This was such an inspiring post! Thank you. I was up last night with my baby and dragging myself through my morning. I feel so much more ready to Rise and Shine now. : )

    I just put your Women's Retreat on my prayer list. I hope it is a wonderful experience for you. Thanks again for giving me so much food for thought today.

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  2. A good thought, Rachel!
    Melanie@Bella~Mella

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  3. Hi Rachel, I found you through your comment on Susie Larson's blog. What a great post! I thought it was so funny that you mentioned the song "you are my sunshine". Just this morning, I was debating what kind of special to offer my customers this weekend (I email them) and my husband suggested offering 20% off for anyone who would dance and sing "you are my sunshine"! We had a good laugh thinking about ladies coming into the shop & doing it!

    I am not a morning person either, but I like to shine! Today I was a bit dull though. Haven't been getting enough oil this week since my husband is laid off. I need to rise earlier to get that oil this week...

    Nice to meet another "midwesterner" gal in blogworld!

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  4. Hi Rachel,
    This was hilarious. You poor girls, enduring Suzanne's mom. I happen to be a morning person. I'm not worth much after 10pm. LOL

    Good post - thanks for the encouragement!

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  5. Hi Rachel

    I found your comment on Suzanne's Facebook and proceeded to read your "Life in Beranville" page ... what an excellent read. Keep up the good work and take care of that adorable little guy! -- Judy Hamke

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