Shine Bright Like a Diamond... or Ruby :)

I recently had the privilege to travel to Washington D.C. with my family. We did the Smithsonian Museum's and visited The Museum of Natural History. One exhibit displayed various beautiful diamonds, rubies, and other rare and precious gems from all over the world. All of these were considered to be highly valuable and were the most shiny, bright, and sparkly gems I had ever seen in my life. They were so beautiful you could hardly look away from them. This exhibit was by far the most crowded with spectators pressing in to gaze upon the beautiful and bright gems.

I thought of this trip to the museum and recalled the sparkle of these gems when I read the following passage.

Proverbs 31:10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

The bible says that a wife with noble character is worth far more than these precious rubies at the museum, so it made me think then how much more brightly should she shine? I realize that as a wife striving to imitate the wife of noble character that I am to sparkle and shine brighter than those gems. I too, am called to shine like a precious gem reflecting God's light in my home to my husband and children. This is a high calling as it is not always the easiest thing to do. Especially when you are tired, frustrated, emotional, or just plain ole overwhelmed. Shining bright like God commands can be so challenging, but overcoming these feeling and pushing through to shine bright like a precious ruby is what makes us so valuable to God. This helps me not to give up, but to stay polished so I can reflect the light and shine bright for God everyday! This helps me Live Happily Ever After...I pray you live Happily Ever After too.

Lots-of-Love, Isca

Fun Family Devotional

Hi Everyone, A fun family devotional is a great way to connect with your family and set the tone and standard for Righteousness. We have a family devotional almost every week. This was one we did together that was pretty fun, sparked some great conversation, and taught a valuable lesson on walking in the light. I thought I would share.

Title: Light & Dark, Sin & Forgiveness

Text: 1 John 1: 5-10

Ice Breaker: 1. Take two people have them close their eyes and put them on opposite sides of the house. 2. Have them open their eyes and find each other. (In the light) 3. Then take the same two people and blind fold them 4. Place them on opposite sides of the house and find each other without removing the blind fold. (in the dark) • Do this till everyone has a chance to participate

Lesson:

Read 1 John 1:5-7 Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.

Discussion Questions:

Q. What does it mean when it says “God Is Light”?

He is pure, sinless, and visible to us all

Q. Why is there no darkness in him at all? What does this mean?

There is no sin, no shame, no guilt. God has nothing to hide.

Q. What is the darkness?

Evil, sin, shame, guilt

Q. What does the word fellowship mean?

Dictionary Definition is A group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest or aim.

Q. Can God have fellowship with the darkness?

No

Q. Why not?

Light and darkness are in opposition to one another. If God is light he can not pursue or share an interest or aim with the darkness or anything in the darkness

Q. How can we walk in the darkness?

When we conceal or hide our sin. By refusing to bring it to the light out of our fear of man, judgment, persecution, and consequence.

Q. Can we have fellowship with God if we are walking in darkness?

No,

Q. How can we walk in the light?

Confess our sins. Expose it. Own it. Be free from it.

Q. How does walking in the light let us have fellowship with one another?

When we are in the light as God is in the light we are visible and plainly seen by everyone. If we are in darkness we are hidden and unseen. People are not able to have fellowship with us because they can’t see who we truly are. Even if we fake it or pretend, no one is truly having fellowship with you because you are still in the dark.

Read 1 John 1:8-10 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Q. Does walking in the light mean we never sin?

NO

Q. Should anyone claim to be without sin?

NO

Q. What do we do about our sin?

Confess to one another

Q. What happens when we do this?

The blood of Jesus can work to purify us.

Q. What are people who claim to be perfect or without sin actually saying about GOD?

That God is a liar and that we have no need for a savior.

Conclusion:

God is perfect, He is in the light and everything in all creation is very clear to him. Our sin is not what puts us in the dark, it is our heart to hide our sin and pretend to be perfect when we are not. Everyone sins, in fact if we claim to be without sin we are actually calling God a liar and telling him that we have no need for the blood of Jesus to cleanse us and make us righteous. In order to walk in the light as he is in the light we need to just be open about who we really are and know that we have a savior that came to purify us of all our sins so we can have fellowship with God and each other.

I hope this helps you live Happily Ever After today...Lots-of-love, Isca

Press On

Where do you start when you haven't spoken to a good friend in a long time? Starting from the beginning seems so far back, you almost don't want to talk at all. So I say instead of picking up where you left off, why not just begin right where you are. The good and the bad times come and they go, but we all move forward. It always boggled my mind how the world and everyone in it just keeps going. Even if things in your life happen to stop you in your tracks everything else keeps moving forward. That's true with me also. Thankfully nothing has stopped me in my tracks, although I have had my fair share of missteps and stumbles, but I continue pressing on. This reminds of Paul's words in the book of Philippians:

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

This scripture reminds me that I am not just pressing on toward some meaningless goal or insignificant prize or award that will sit on some shelf in my house collecting dust. But I am pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God himself has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. That is pretty amazing! So then, I encourage you to keep pressing on and live happily ever after today. Love, Isca