Light in the Dark Valley

       The sermon at my church this morning was amazing. They talked about how God sent His Son into a Dark world. They showed us with the lights by turning them off and on and everything. We don't think much about the lights we put up on our houses or trees but we should and this sermon got me thinking about it a new way. Lights around Christmas is to light up everything whether house or tree. God made a plan for us to be saved and to be the light for Him when Jesus went to Heaven.
         They metioned Matthew 5 where it says we are meant to be the light now for God because Jesus died on the cross. Jesus passed that job onto us. They also meationed a lot about the dark valley of death and that God came to light that path up too. I loved it when they said the people of faith had to cross that valley into the Light. God had a plan for us so we could do that. His Plan was talked about in the Old Testament but happened in the New testament. God already had it planned out for us to cross that dark valley. He knew that we were going to come across it in our lives.
           That got me thinking about where I am in my life right now. I've been talking about boundaries and planning and how I need to do those things are keep with it so my dream can happen whatever that may be. It is funny how it shows us in the Bible how to do that. How God did it for the perfect thing to happen for us. He planned it out and it happened. It took hard work and determination or it would for us at least but we can do it. God plans a lot of things out from forming the Earth to Jesus dieing on the cross for us so where do we get that we can just takes things and go with it without boundaries.
           I don't know Jesus at all but this is just a guess. Wouldn't it be neat to be like Him and have no boundaries at all? Well, I guess that would be wrong He had boundaries but they were God's boundaries not the world's. Not being held down by the law to do anything. Some boundaries are good and we need them to get us on the right path and keep us safe but they need to be God's boundaries for us. Just think if Jesus let the other kings control Him then he wouldn't be able to do half of the work He did. He knew His boundaries what He was able to show and not show and He followed them. He followed them to the dark valley of death but it was all worth it in the end. He had faith in His Father.  We might need to go through a dark valley of death to see what is on the other side for us. We might need to learn more and give up more but they should only draw us closer to God and then we can let our Light shine for Him on the other side.  That is how the people/man of faith came to be man of faith. They had some hard times but they put their hope and trust in God and went onwards.
             I might be going out on a limb here but dieing on the cross was His Purpose for His Life. He did everything to lead to that. I'm sure Jesus made some scarifices too like no home, only few close friends, no family, and much more I'm sure. We can't just go about our lives aimlessly and not do anything about it whether big or small there is always a purpose for us and it needs boundaries.
            I have a friend doing great at their job and I remember hanging out with or wanting to hang out with that friend during college and they would want to take everything as is or whenever they had time for it but I think now going through and making their dream come true they realize it is all in the planning and scarfices and boundaries made. Nothing happens when you just go with it.  That friend has learned a lot this past year and it shows in their job.  Their light for Christ does shine through everything they do and it is amazing to see. It just encourages me more and more to do what God wants me to do the way He wants me to do it. If that means setting boundaries so do it. It will all be worth it in the end someday! Right now, I want to be the Light for God! I want to shine for Him not for anyone or anything else!