This Little Light of Mine

Friday, February 12, 2010

"'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, The Message

Erich and I have been praying about our family's calling for several weeks now. When we first discussed the idea, a passage from the Bible came to mind almost immediately. I read it in several versions over the next couple days, encouraged Erich to read it and it just resonated with us. This is our calling -- to be a light on a hill, sharing God's hope through an open home, a spirit of generosity. We are still trying to figure what that will "look like" for our family as we live out this calling. How do we commit our time? How do we open our home? What does is mean to be generous with our lives?

This calling will mean different things at different points in our lives. But it is a vision that creates excitement in my heart and can spread hope to our world. We want to be obedient to God and allow this calling to be a filter through which we run our options and allow it to help us make decisions, to deepen relationships and to spend time together as a family.

I'm sure I'll write more as we continue to discern how God is leading us and as we narrow down. It is striking to me how many more verses about hospitality have been brought to my attention over the last week. It just affirms for me that God is speaking to us and leading us in this direction. It is exciting to hear the voice of God and to walk in faithful obedience in the way we believe God is asking our family to live.