Shine Like the Moon

Ever heard that Salvador song? 


Lord let me shine, shine like the moon
A reflection of You in all that I do
Lord let me be a light for Your truth
Light of the world, I wanna be used to shine for You 

I thought I had come up with this great idea a few months ago that we as Christians can be compared to the moon because as the moon reflects the sun, so we should reflect The Son.  Then I remembered this song already existed, so I did not come up with this idea--bummer!

But then I got to thinking about it more in the last few days.....

I think just like the moon, we also go through phases in our Christian walk.  Sometimes we are fully illuminated.  Other times we can't even be seen.  We wax and wane.  We go around and around.  Sometimes we are like the "Super Moon."  Other times we are like a solar eclipse, blocking the light of the sun.  

Am I suggesting that we go through all of these cycles monthly, or even several times a year?  No.  We can't be wishy-washy.  "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways"  James 1:8.  

Do I think it is normal for us to go through different seasons of our lives when we are strong, and other seasons when we are wondering what in the world has happened to us?  Yes.  

Ecclesiastes 3

1There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

2a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

We don't like to admit it, but it happens to all of us.  It happens slowly, but the realization that it has happened can come quickly.  It stings.  We don't know what brought us to this point, but we feel like we have let God down and everyone else around us.  Don't lose hope, my friends.  Remember, we are like the moon.  We go through phases.  It is during the darkest times that you are actually closer to the sun.  Just like the new moon phase (which has nothing to do with Twilight--sorry) the moon is between the earth and the sun.  The people on earth can't see the reflection, but the Son is still shining on you.  

The point is, I am trying to get you to see that you should not beat yourself up when you find yourself in a place of darkness.  You know what you used to be like, or you know what you desire to be.  You will be that kind of light---you will.  But just because you have found yourself in darkness does not mean you have done something wrong.  Even Paul said he found himself doing things he didn't want to do and not doing the things he wanted to.  There are mountains and valleys, high notes and low notes.  

Just keep going!  Don't stop!  We need to get real.  Everything isn't happy all the time.  There is a period for sadness, mourning, loss, loneliness--but we know it doesn't stay that way forever.  Stay on course.  Soon enough, you will come back around to the place where you are once again shining brightly, reflecting the light of Jesus to all who see you.


Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

Remember that you do not create your own light.  Always keep in mind that you were chosen by God because He loves you and He knows what you are capable of through Him.  He knows what He is doing.  Leave it up to Him.  Just SHINE.  

Rainbow of Redemption

As I was walking around the track at DCHS, several of us noticed a rain cloud hovering over Lookout Mtn.  As I walked back around the track to face the mountain again, I saw that the rain cloud had not moved at all--it was raining in the same spot--the exact same path from the April 27, 2011 EF3 tornado that tore through Jackson County, AL, came ripping through Dade County, over Lookout Mtn. and on to Flintstone, GA.  And right in the middle was the biggest, brightest rainbow I have ever seen.  This picture does not begin to compare to the real thing!  Shortly after, the rain went away and the rainbow continued for a long while.  There was another close by.  Rarely do you see a double rainbow, and never have I seen one in that particular spot.  I know several people in Trenton saw it--there were plenty of pics on FB that confirm it!  For the ones of us who saw it, and where it was.....I believe that we were the lucky ones who caught a glimpse of not just a rainbow, but a promise from God.  Sometimes you feel like God is nowhere to be found.  You are calling out to Him, and hear nothing in return.  You can't feel His hand on you, and don't remember the last time He showed you something.  Well, today my friends, I believe that God smiled on us.  

Mother's Day 2012

My thoughts on Mother's Day 2012

Mothers—they’re the ones who first held us.  First in their hearts before anyone else held us in their arms. 

Mothers—they are our first teachers.  Before we ever went to school, they had already taught us nursery rhymes, how to share, and to say thank you.

Mothers—they’re the ones who first mended our boo-boos, and our broken hearts. 

Mothers—they are our first best friends.  They whisper secrets, paint fingernails, and catch our tears from those hard lessons we must learn for the very first time.

Mothers—they are never out of hugs, kisses, a listening ear, wisdom, or their time.  They are always willing to give us any of the above, no matter what it costs them.

Mothers—they still hold us, they still teach us, they still mend our broken hearts. 

Look closely.  They are still our best friends.  They still lend us a listening ear and all their wisdom.

They still give us all the time they have.  All they want is a little time in return.

Honor your mother more than just one day a year.  Spend time with her.  

Listen to her wisdom.  Don’t let the moments pass without making memories.

***Dedicated especially to my mom, Sharon Phillips, and to all the other women who have mothered me along the way.***

My first blog post...I am so excited!  Mind Over Misty is a collection of my random thoughts about life.  Most of it will be good, and I hope encouraging.  Every now and then I will get on a soapbox!  Sometimes my thoughts get the best of me, thus "Mind Over Misty" is a very suitable description for my way of thinking!  Happy Reading!