When you are filled with light within–

with no dark corners–

then the outside will be radiant, too,

as though a floodlight were beamed upon it.

Luke 11:36 TLB

I know I’ve told you about my rock garden before. It is circular, probably eight feet in diameter with around one hundred rocks scattered around (thanks to Bill’s help!) and flowers nestled in between the rocks. There are Dalberg daisies, Periwinkles, Verbena, Nandenas, Asparagus Fern, etc. Pretty! Pres and Di gave us some “solar” lamps, four of them, that make the garden just as lovely in the night as it is in the day.

You know, of course, that these lamps draw their radiance from the sun as it shines on them through the day. Yesterday was pretty bleak, very little sunshine, and some sprinkles of rain thrown here and there. Sitting at the breakfast table this morning I saw one of the lamps trying awfully hard to do its thing and put forth some light. I smiled and thought, “You can’t make it, little lamp. You weren’t with the sun enough yesterday.”

I stopped and thought about what I’d just said to myself and saw the lesson. Such a simple lesson, but oh, so true. We do our very best to “shine” where we are, but if we don’t spend enough time with the Son, our light is feeble and flickering. All relationships are that way. A dear friend of mine is back home after being away for weeks and we’re just not as close as we were. We’re going to have to spend time together to renew our special relationship.

Jesus uses the word “abide” when He talks about His special relationship with us. Webster defines abide: to remain; to rest in. So what Jesus is saying is this: I will abide in you as you abide in Me and we will abide in the Father together. If you rest in Me, I will rest in you, and we will rest in the Father. Basically that means, if you spend time with Me, I will spend time with you and we will spend time with Father (John 15: 4-10).That means we would spend a lot of time with the “Son” and could shine brilliantly! Agree?

As you read the scripture above: When you are filled with light within (and there IS Light within because of His presence) with no dark corners (His light would permeate every inch of space) then the outside will be radiant too, as though a floodlight were beamed upon it. Our light wouldn’t be flickering or feeble because the Son would have been our constant Companion all day long–and into the night. Nice thought, isn’t it?

Let your light shine before men in such a way

that they may see your good works, and glorify

your Father who is in Heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Lord Jesus, I know that I sometimes don’t shine very brightly. But I think You probably say tenderly to me–as I said to our struggling little solar lamp–You can’t make it by yourself, Anabel. Spend more time with Me tomorrow and you’ll shine so brightly you’ll create quite a show. Believe Me?