how the light gets in

by Andrea Smithberger
how the light gets in
  • November 1: Honoring
  • Day 2: Signaling
  • Day 3: Revealing
  • DAY 4: Reminding
  • Day 5: Reflecting
  • Day 6: Changing
  • Day 7: Surrounding
  • Day 8: Healing
  • Day 9: Filtering
  • Day 10: Spreading
  • Day 11: Unveiling
  • Day 12: Distinguishing
  • Day 13: Challenging
  • Day 14: Nourishing
  • Day 15: Unassuming
  • Day 16: Leading
  • Day 17: Delighting
  • Day 18: Reaching
  • Day 19: Shining
  • Day 20: Reviving
  • Day 21: Growing
  • Day 22: Comforting
  • Day 23: Holding Space
  • Day 24: Beckoning
  • Day 25: Stunning
  • Day 26: Igniting
  • Day 28: Introducing
  • November 2020
  • Tag: Colossians 1:9-10

    • CHRISTMAS – Day 25

      Posted at 2:09 pm by How the Light Gets In, on December 25, 2019

      Merry Christmas

      You did it. WE did it! Hooray for us! 24 days of reading God’s word. 24 days of devoting a little time to learning God’s voice. I’m so proud of you and me!

      Take a moment to scroll all the way back to Day One. Grab a piece of paper and a pencil and jot down the websites, books, Instagram accounts, Music, Photography, Email subscriptions, Apps, Artists, Podcasts, Places, People, Recipes.

      Then, take note of what struck you most – was it the beauty, the pain, the encouragement, the community?

      Finally, we should list all the scripture from the posts. The Bible still blows my mind with all those words written so long ago and somehow still very alive and so powerful.

      You know what ALLLLL this tells me?

      GOD

      WILL

      STOP

      AT

      NOTHING.

      God will stop at nothing to get YOUR attention.

      These 24 days have just been a glimpse of how relentless God is trying to grab your attention.

      Christmas gives us the sweetest example of this. Immanuel is God with us.

      Jesus IS God with us.

      But wait, the story doesn’t end here. There’s Good News! Jesus wasn’t just born, end of story. Jesus lived a life full of friendship and story telling and healing and teaching and loving. There’s more to learn. Jesus didn’t just live for you and me. He also died for you and me.

      Today we celebrate His birth but there’s so much more.

      And hey, if you’re reading this you’re alive too which means God’s not done with you. Your story with Him might just be beginning. Or maybe you go way back. Either way, keep walking with Jesus. Read His Word. Learn His voice. Look for Him.

      Remember how we started this journey with Gods word as a “lamp for our feet”? Today let’s celebrate because the light is here. Jesus – God with us – is here “to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:79)

      Thank you for being with me this Advent. You have made it so special for me.

      One last song Reckless Love

      Posted in DECEMBER 2019 | 0 Comments | Tagged 1 John 1:5, 1 John 1:5-7, 1 John 5:14, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Peter 5:6, 100 Days to Brave, 2 Corinthians 1:6-7, 2 Kings 20, Acts 2:28, Advent, Ann Voskamp, Annie F Downs, Christmas, Church of the Nativity, Colossians 1:9-10, Cory Asbury, Elevation Worship, Ephesians 5:13, Exodus 33:14, Genesis 28:15, Hooray, How the Light Gets In, Isaiah 40:3-5, Isaiah 43:18-19, Jenna Mace Photography, Jesus, Jesus Calling, Job 42:5, John 11:38, Joshua 1:9, Journal, Luke 1:3-4, Luke 1:79, Matthew 14:13-21, Matthew 28:66, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 27:14, Romans 15:13, Romans 15:4-5, Wonder, Zephaniah 3:17
    • New Year, New Word

      Posted at 4:53 pm by How the Light Gets In, on January 14, 2018

      New Year, New Word… Years ago, I gave up the traditional long list of New Years Resolutions and swapped it for the “One Word” project.  This is not my invention but an actual thing.  The “One Word” idea is to give thought to one special word to shape, focus, guide your year.  We do it every January as a family.  We search for a scripture to back it up.  Then, we pull out sharpies of all colors, a pile of 5×7 canvases and command strips.  Our “One Word” time around our table is one of my favorites.

      This year, my word is DISCERNMENT.  Sounds solid, doesn’t it?  I really like it.  I feel like it’s a bold, strong, smart word.  I like the idea of being bold, strong and smart.  My scripture is from Colossians 1:9-10.  I swapped out a few pronouns to make it my prayer for this year.  “I keep asking to be filled with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding the Spirit gives, so that I may live a life worthy of the Lord, and please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all the power according to His glorious might so I have great endurance and patience.”

      2018, let’s do this:  Knowledge, wisdom, understanding, fruit bearing, growing, endurance and patience.  Yes Yes YES!

      IMG_5026

      “The ability to judge well.”  I need that.  I like that.  I love the idea of taking a breath in before I answer or exhaling before I react.

      And right away, January is testing my word.   But, not how you may think.  I mean, yes, I do have 5 kids.  That alone needs a load of discernment: Is the 15 year old burning the candle at both ends again?  How can I help?  What’s going to trigger Joseph?  There’s the husband.  So, sweet husband, how are we going to handle this week’s athletics, work, commitments and oh yeah, us?  I’m a Wyld Life leader.  How are my middle school friends doing?  Where and how can I be meeting them in their lives?  I’m also a sister, a daughter, a friend.

      But, I didn’t pick the word as a mom.  I felt drawn to the word for me, Andrea, the person.  I want the ability to judge well for me.  Do you know about the Enneagram?  I recently took the test and was rated as a 2, a “Giver.”  Who knew a test could sum me up after 25 minutes of this or that questioning?  But it’s true.  I am a giver, a helper.  I will love you by helping you, driving for you, picking something up for you, etc.  And while that is a nice type of person, certainly one of the sweetest types.  Heehee.  I’m not the best giver to ME.  And that needs some discernment.   Also, this blog, do I keep writing it?  I love writing; truly love it.  And yet, I feel this pull on my heart to be doing something different.  And, I don’t know what it is.  Call in some discernment.

      So, God and I have this good thing going where I keep close to Him through prayer and journaling, etc.  And, He sticks with me.  The other morning I journaled (more like scribbled furiously) how annoyed I was with myself, with this yuck-dissatisfied feeling in my heart.  And I asked God to “bring on Discernment.”  My phone dings to announce an email.  Ready?  Two new emails:  One from “She Reads Truth” offering encouragement in my search for clarity this year.  Wow, ok.  And the other is from Word Press asking, “What is your blog resolution for 2018?”  Can’t make it up.  Ummm, thank you God for sending random mass emails tailored directly to my tangled up heart.   Then I get texts from two friends checking in on me because they “felt me on their hearts.”  Cue the heart eyes emoji.  THEN, I open up my “Jesus Calling” and the reading for the day…

      “When you bring me prayer requests, lay out your concerns before me.  Speak to me candidly, pour out your heart.  Thank me for the answers I have set in motion long before you can DISCERN results.  When your requests come to mind, Thank me for answers already on their way…”  The scriptures for the day come from Exodus 33:14 “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.”  And John 15:4, “Remain in me as I remain in you.”

      There is something unbelievably mind-blowing about our big, invisible God reaching out from heaven to pat me on the shoulder and encourage me right where I’m at, on the couch, grumpy because I don’t know how to or even want to love myself well.  See how He does it?  Scripture is the obvious way to hear God’s voice.  So, read it, every day; read it.  The more you read, the more familiar God’s voice becomes.  Also, random texts that prove there are no coincidences.  And. my favorite is when God reaches out through my peeps.

      Pray for me, please, to stick to my word.  I know how awesome “steadfast” was for me in 2017.  I look forward to all the ways and people God will use to teach me discernment.  Also, Lily’s word is AAIOIPATPIOIPEAO. May it serve her well.

       

      Posted in JANUARY 2018 | 4 Comments | Tagged 2018, Colossians 1:9-10, Discernment, enneagram, Exodus 33:14, How the Light Gets In, John 15:4, One Word

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