You’ve never seen stars like this

by: carole l. haines

“…among whom you appear as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2: 15b NASB)

^{We were all meant to be stars, in our little spheres of influences, our own little universes, if you will. Brilliant Lights shining in a dark place.  My husband, youngest son, and I, just spent the most wonderful weekend away in the mountains.  Away from the glare of city lights, it’s amazing how many stars you can see.  The darker the sky, the brighter the stars shine, and more and more are seen. It reminded me of how important it is to be transformed by God, through Jesus, into His light, His glory in the world.  Each of has a unique place, or sphere of influence.  People all around us are looking for hope, seeking purpose, wondering why they are here. And whether they know it or not, they are looking for God. Because God is the Author of Hope, the One who gives life its purpose.  God is the only one who can tell us why we are here.  And just as each person is unique, so each purpose is unique.  I was recently encouraged by God through a very familiar verse:}
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Eph. 2:10 NASB)
I’ve had a lot of dashed dreams in my life, especially in the last 10-15 years.  I was starting to lose hope, and think that perhaps I had missed what God had called me to do. Somehow, I thought I must not be hearing Him right, or I just keep missing the “God’s Will” boat. But with this one verse, God reinvigorated me with the fact that I am His workmanship, and there are specific good works that God prepared beforehand, that I should walk in them.  So I prayed a simple prayer,
“Lord, show me the works that You’ve prepared for me to do. Help me to walk in them” Nothing more than God’s will, and nothing less. We are also encouraged by Jesus, in John 15, to abide in Him, remain in Him, and we will bear much fruit. I don’t know why things went so wrong in the recent past, but God knows; and He promises to work it all for good, as I love Him, and trust His purpose for my life.  I was born to be a star, a light in a dark place; and so were each of you.

⁴⁰ There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. (1 Cor. 15: 40-41 NASB)

We are each unique and strategically placed by God to shine as we are, where we are, being who we are.  We each have “good works” to do that God prepared for us, when He wove us together in our Mother’s womb.  No life is ever without purpose, when yielded to the God who made us. So Shine one, Beautiful stars, Shine on.