SPARKLE!

                        

Sparkle is one of my son, Tyler's, spelling words this week.  As I gave out each word this afternoon (all ending with "le" this week), and we got to the word, "sparkle", I just kept thinking,
"I LIKE THAT WORD!" 

Sparkle! Sparkle! Sparkle!

As Christians who are striving to "Shine Like Stars", how can we SPARKLE?

1.  S - SMILE
A simple and easy way a Christian can sparkle is by wearing a smile.  A smile shows love.  A smile shows that you care.  A smile is understood by all languages.

2.  P - PRAY
Prayer releases any worries, troubles, and concerns we may have, by giving those worries, troubles, and concerns to God.  He lifts our burdens and keeps the sparkle in our lives!

3. A - ATTITUDE
Having an attitude that sparkles is very important for a Christian.  This attitude will submit to others instead of being selfish.  This attitude will be kind and not rude.  This attitude will build up instead of tear down. A sparkling attitude reflects Christ.

4. R - RELATIONSHIP
Our commitment to God and Jesus should be one that results in a close relationship, not just something superficial.  When others see that we rely on God, that we live for Jesus, and that we strive to pattern our lives after His example, only then will they see that our sparkle comes from Jesus being in our hearts.  Our spiritual lives must be built on a relationship with Him and not on a man-made religion.

5. K - KNOWLEDGE
Russian playwright, Anton Chekhov, said, "Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice."  Reading and studying the Bible will give us knowledge, but unless we live it and share it, it is of no use....it's of no value.  When we sparkle and share our knowledge of God and His Word with others, they will sparkle, too! Then our lights will be shining brighter and brighter for Jesus.

6. L - LOVE
Just as knowledge should result in action, love must also result in action.  For Christians to truly walk in the steps of Jesus, we must love one another as Christ did.  It's not enough to just say we love others.  We must show that love to others.  That's how we share Jesus! In showing Christ's love to others, our lives will sparkle!

7. E - EXAMINE
To sparkle as Christians, we must take the time to examine our lives.  Maybe our sparkle has dimmed.  Maybe our sparkle is hidden to the world.  Maybe it's time we take a look at ourselves and evaluate the image we are sharing with others.  Is my sparkle reflecting Jesus?  If not, maybe I need to make some changes. 

As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:4-5

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10