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The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn't darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.' Luke 11:34-36 WEB.

After viewing the marble statue of David, someone asked Michelangelo: "How did you know what to cut away?" The sculptor answered: "It's simple, I just remove everything that doesn't look like David." He knew what the statue should look like before he began his work, but it then took him three years to carve away the pieces that did not belong.

They say that anything can be accomplished when it is broken down into small enough steps. I do find that when I take on a large project, it works best for me to break it into stages. I complete phase one, then focus on two, and so on until the project is complete. The way you eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

It is essential to not become overwhelmed in our life. If you brought a bride to her new home and showed her all the housework that she would do. All the dishes there would be to wash. All the dirty diapers she would have to change. If you showed her everything, all at once, then the wedding would probably be off.

God is similarly working on us. He does not want us to remain in darkness, but He does not want to overwhelm us either, so He takes it one step at a time. That is why some teachings are so timely in our lives. It is the Holy Spirit at work uncovering things, reassuring us, comforting us, giving us new direction.

We all have areas of our lives that could stand improving. But if it were all done at once, we could not bear it. The cost would appear too great, and we would probably give up. When we first come to Jesus, there are usually more areas. After we have walked with Him a while, hopefully, there will be less.

Some of these areas are anger, greed, idolatry, jealousy, envy, strife, the love of money, gluttony, and drunkenness. Combined with various lusts like pornography. These are really just a few areas that the Holy Spirit will shine His light on. You know that thing that causes the hair on the back of your neck to stand up when mentioned? The one that we tend to keep quiet about? That is the one that I am talking about right there. He will bring those things up one at a time until they are all gone.

Yes, He loves us, and He will wash our sins away. But after growing up on a farm, I can tell you that it is tough to wash a hog while it is actively rolling in the mud. You have to wait for it to stop.

Work with God day by day. Let Him help improve your life and try not to get too far ahead of Him. Take it one day at a time, and He will let you know what is on today's to-do list. Walking with Jesus is not a sprint. It is a marathon. He works with us individually and at our own pace. Don't compare yourself to others that seem more polished. In time, you will be as well.

God is working on a masterpiece that will take decades to perfect: You. He gently chips away parts that don't belong there. So don't get too excited on the mountain top, and don't get too depressed in the valley. This is a lifelong event.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for having patience with me. Please help me to be stable and learn to time my steps with You. Make what is important to You important to me and help me focus on that. Please give me the grace to get through today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: For those participating in the Creation Photography weekly themes, here is this week's challenge from group leader, Dianna Wyles: Isaiah 55:10-11 "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11] so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." ~ 'Winter Wonderland' will be our next fun theme and, as always, is open for creative interpretation What does winter look like where you live? My photos this week show a bit of snow and a bit of sunny day fun. Have a fantastic week y'all, and let's make sure our words accomplish our desires just like Jesus ~ God bless! Here is the link: Creation Photographers

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