Hello! How is everyone doing?  Are you getting ready for the (alleged) Nor’easter this weekend?  Crazy, right? Seriously, on Monday, I had the a/c on and now we are bracing for a Nor’easter for this weekend! Even if it’s all rain, I’m not even sure where my boots are! Uncontrollable things (like a Nor’easter) can throw a lot of people into a tizzy! It can throw some into anger, depression or even a dark place. You have to prepare and what do people shop for? Eggs, Milk, Bread, favorite snacks, beverages, etc… the point is people get anxious in anticipation of a crisis. The anxiety dims their light in the world-it robs them of their peace and joy.                                                           

   So, what does God say to His own when we are weighed down with emotion? ARISE! Yes, Arise, wake up from your physical sleep or darkness, but also Arise spiritually. Arise into an alert and active life. We Arise to encourage other believers to wake up with gratitude and to reflect upon God’s goodness.  

  SHINE! God wants us to SHINE! As Believers we reflect the presence of God. When God has helped you (and you know He has), one reflects God’s brightness (SHINE) in their life with His love, peace and truth that we show others. It is His light, His presence that people see-not ours. It is His Holy Spirit that indwells within us that brings out the goodness of God, the active, moral backbone and integrity that puts righteousness into practice.

   FOR YOUR LIGHT HAS COME!  This means the light (God) has already arrived.  The Promise of God has come and that is through Jesus Christ (Messiah).  We no longer are waiting for Him to come. Jesus is here. He bridges the gap between God and Mankind. This light is through God’s and Jesus Christ’s presence.  It is their light that chases away the dark times as we move through them. “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12). Believers actively need to engage in their faith, show love and live out God’s love publicly 

  AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAS RISEN UPON YOU!  As Believers, we are to honor God in our words, actions and our character. God gets all the glory for giving us talents and abilities. God gives these ‘gifts’ to us. We cannot harness these abilities-although we can enhance them. He is the source of all goodness.  Knowing God’s glory is Risen upon us, brings us more into relationship with Him as we live out His attributes lovingly versus being or acting religious-which is just an outward expression of rules. Religion is man’s way of reaching up to God (which is hard to attain by ourselves)-where Relationship is God’s way of making Himself available continually to us by the Holy Spirit, Prayer, and His Son, Jesus. God comes to meet us where we are at. We do not have to “clean up” first. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”     (Matthew 11:28)   Jesus loves us; and He longs to have a relationship with us. The invitation has already been extended-all we have to do is accept.

  Please continue to join me as we grow together with a Renewed Heart.     

                                                                                                                                          Melody Elias