Light in the Darkness

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.   Matthew 5:14-16

 

As the child looked up into his face, he saw the love of a stranger.  The smile through the bearded man, and the gentleness of his voice calmed any insecurities that the boy and his friends may have had.  Many people came to their country to help, but this man took extra time to kneel down and hug each child that came through the village that day, and even picked up a ball and played catch with a few of them in a dirt street nearby.

It wasn’t his first trip to their country, and hopefully it won’t be his last.  Each year his intention is to bring a little joy and support to children of impoverished nations and demonstrate God’s love by using the gifts he has been given.  In his last trip he’s gone to the Dominican Republic to help make a difference in the savage industry of Sex Trafficking in that country.  For the last 8 years he has used his popularity and visibility from a very large stage, to drive giving campaigns to provide food, shelter, education, clothing and the basic essentials of life to children in Zambia as well as right here in our backyard – the impoverished children in America. 



You may or may not have heard of him in the news over the last 5 to 10 years.  He’s a huge star in L.A. and in Dallas, where he was born.  He’s 30 years old, but mature well beyond his years in a loving, philanthropic manner.  In Zambia, he’s built two orphanages for children to have a place to call home, and to get the care and nurturing they need as they are growing up.  After they graduate High School, he and his wife help them get into University with scholarship grants.  His and his wife’s desire is to help children realize who Jesus is and that He came to save them.  It’s that simple, it’s that important.  Nothing else matters in life.  His career is just a means to help others get a step up in life, where the world is trying to press them down.

 I call out this specific individual as an example in today’s world, where he has chosen to make a difference and let the world see the power and glory of God almighty.  They aren’t looking for the glory to themselves, but I can’t leave it unsaid.  Clayton and Ellen Kershaw have chosen to take the light the Lord placed in them and shine it in very dark places around the world. 

Sure, he makes millions in his unbelievable MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  This causes most of us to then write it off as not relevant to our life, because we don’t make that kind of money, or have the ability to do all of those things.  The reality is that we do have the ability, but we choose to focus on our limitations rather than the unlimited power of God to use us.  You see, Clayton uses his Major League platform and visibility to drive awareness to his giving campaigns.  Most of the funding is from donations from others, and engaging with mission companies, churches and ministry campaigns as beneficiaries of the funds.  This expands the use beyond what he and his wife alone could do. 

You have a gift to share, it’s the time in your life to step up and do it.  Clayton Kershaw is one of the most decorated pitchers in the MLB for the last 10 years, but his real passion is seeing children come to Christ and breaking up the horrific industry of sex trafficking, that destroys young girls all over the world.  Forget about your career and income for a minute.  What is your real passion to help others in this life?

God has given you a light in the darkness.  You are expected to share that light with others in need.  You don’t have to go to Africa or the Dominican Republic to make a difference.  Go to inner city Detroit, Houston, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, etc. and find out how you can help a local mission group there.  Get engaged and make a difference in your own town, to impact just one life.  For if you did that it creates a ripple effect where that one person can engage with another and so on and so on.  Use the platforms you have (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) to start a movement.  Get a GoFundMe account to provide blankets for homeless or to setup a food line.  There is no limit to God’s resources to help you make a change in this world other than your own mind.  If you’re not thinking about helping others, than you should be. 

Sitting on the sidelines is one way to spend your life, but the return is very narrowly focused.  Getting into the game and impacting others with your time and resources has a very broad opportunity of influencing so many others to see the love of God.  Please carefully consider this and take that step.  If you want to discuss ideas, or hear of opportunities to get engaged, send me an email at Sondove1@Yahoo.com or message me on FB at https://www.facebook.com/rpalmer1.
     



www.kershawschallenge.com

www.ijm.com

 

 

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