Welcome to Arise

Arise to Shine will hopefully spur on the Christ believer in you and me. I began writing Arise to Shine 7 years ago. Then after only two years, I stopped. Just stopped.

I am humbled that much time has passed between my first post in 2011 and today (Autumn 2018). Because God hasn’t stopped with the pursuit. Wisdom and counsel led me to not use the inevitable excuses–Write in the midst of it all.

I can view those years from three lenses:

• Such wasted, lost time…how foolish of me.
• The Enemy of my life wants me to fail so he set up roadblocks.
• God required maturing, transforming time.

My pride only sees #1. Reality accepts #2. My spirit, my heart accepts and sees #3.

The lessons I have learned from set-backs, heartbreaking losses, and accepted consequences are the Gardener’s Pruning Tools. These lessons included being with friends and a community of fellow light-bearers.

This pruning resulted in what I’ve wanted all along: to be a grownup. In the world’s scheme of things I’ve been a grownup for over 50 years. But walking as a daughter of the King has only been in the last two decades. Therefore, I am just beginning my grownup walk.

Originally the intention for writing Arise to Shine was given to me at the onset.

“Arise to Shine will cause you to think about God’s purpose for you.

Go seek your God-given work while you are still here.

If you are in that state of wondering and if you are asking God,  ‘OK Lord, what’s next? I want to serve You, but I haven’t got a clue’ — join me in the wondering.” (May, 2011)

My 7 year detour has added another goal, and it is the very reason why Arise is Arise to Shine:

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16

Shining is major risk-taking. It’s sharing your story. It’s holding up those who are lost or lonely or hungry or weary. It’s speaking for Truth. It’s loving when you don’t want to. It’s giving up your safe, comfortable idols. It’s listening. It’s actually doing the work He’s given you to do.

How Arise to Shine is Organized:   Posts on Arise are organized around a theme (Lukewarm, Perfection, Wisdom). I promise to investigate the theme, to seek out what God’s Word teaches about it, and share what others say about it.  And then I will share what I find with you. Most of the themes have 3-6 posts. Hopefully you will add it to your arsenal of ARMOR to keep your LIGHT shining.