I love anything glittery or sparkly, as most of you know. I was heading to work last week and a pond on the side of the highway caught my eye. I drive past it every day; but that morning, it was sparkling like diamonds, unlike most days.

I love to be in nature and enjoy a pond here and there. However, if you ever took the time to really look at pond water, most of the time it’s not real attractive. It’s brown or green and often has a layer of scum on top. However, that particular day with the sun shining on it, it was stunning!

As I continued to look at it as I drove past, the sparkle eventually disappeared. Apparently, as my angle changed, the sun’s reflection on the water also changed, causing it to become just like any other pond.

God hasn’t let me get that picture out of my mind ever since I drove past. It reminded me of the days when I allow God to guide and direct my thoughts versus the days I don’t. You know how it is. We all get busy from time to time and forget to pray or read our Bibles. Not focused on Him, we then get in the way of God speaking to us because we’re too caught up in our drama…you know…the scum in our life… that we don’t listen. Life is so much more beautiful when we allow God’s direction to shine on us each and every day.

I met someone a while back that I instantly connected with before even knowing anything about her. It was as though I could see Jesus in her presence. We immediately hit it off and were talking a mile a minute…as if she were a long lost sister. I walked away from the encounter asking myself, “Do people see Jesus in you like that, Lori?”  This whole scenario made me stop and evaluate myself. Am I allowing God to affect all areas of my life? Are there things I withhold from Him or refuse to listen to Him about that cause me to lose my sparkle from some angles?

This life is temporary.

As I pass through,

I want my existence to have made a difference.

I pray that no matter where someone is standing,

Jesus in my life shines brightly,

like diamonds on a scummy pond.

I pray that God will speak to you, as He has me, to help you to see those areas in your life that still need some attention. As Christians, we need to stand out from the crowd…we don’t want to be ordinary…we want others to recognize there is something different…something beautiful that perhaps they’re missing.  Salt sparkles, you know?

May God’s light shine on you brightly this week and bring beauty to your life, as He is reflected in you!

Luke 11:33-36 (NKJV) “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.  The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.  Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.  If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

Matthew 5:13-16  “You are the salt of the earth; …You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.