Catching Fireflies – Teaching Your Heart to See God’s Light Everywhere
by
Patsy Clairmont [Best-Selling Author and Women of Faith Speaker]
In
the book, Patsy writes, “I hope this book will offer you new understanding and
thoughts that kindle your desire to seek God in fresh ways. Together we will
explore different kinds of illumination that help us find that path…. I believe
just as surely as God had a place assigned for the sun, moon, and stars, He has
a place for us as His light holders. A place where we get to shine.”
Okaaayyy --- I wanted to re-visit this little class
some of us did back in 2009. Wow.
I'll add the new info in pink...
The
book is not required for this class, but it’s an EXCELLENT read
[doesn't it
just look yummy?!]
and can be purchased at the link above, as well as at most
bookstores
[I picked mine up at Barnes & Noble.]
I love the different kinds
of light that Patsy uses to illustrate God’s goodness. It was so hard to pick
only 5 for us to focus on together, but I plan to share some of my favorites
[and the ones that touched my heart] with you during the time we spend together.
Anyone can participate for one or more weeks.
Dig in and be inspired by Patsy's writings!
Candlelight
Patsy Clairmont: “A Chinese saying suggests, ‘It is
better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.’ That truth is worth
pausing over and caught my attention because I’m given to highlighting the
negative before I discover the positive. I’m not sure why that is…At the Relay
For Life for cancer survivors, they place luminaries along the high school
track in memory of those who have died fighting cancer. .. Instead of being
depressed over their losses, they are celebrating their loved ones’ lives.
Instead of forgetting the problem, those left behind are helping to find a cure
for others… [I love the word instead;
it reminds us that we have a choice.] … For many years when I heard of other
people’s bad news, I moaned, ‘I could never bear that.’ Since those years I’ve
gone through some crushing blows, much more than I thought I could bear, only
to find that in my weakness I discovered new levels of Christ’s strength. The
candelabra-truth that our God rises up mighty in our weakness blazes throughout
scripture, as God’s people repeatedly fell on their faces in fear and rose up
in courage…
There is not enough darkness
in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle. – Robert Alden
Make a list
of times when you have knelt down weak and risen up strong. Rehearse them until
you have them securely fixed in your heart to reference the next time you find
it hard to be courageous or the next time you get to share your flame to light
someone else’s candle.”
My take:
I’ve
struggled with anxiety for many, many years of my life. Sometimes it’s like a
knife stabbing me in my gut and other times I have the freedom of knowing my
Lord is in control. I guess we all
struggle with a sense of control over our lives and surroundings… it’s during
those times of anxiety that I know I underestimate my Lord. Because I know [I
have seen it time and time again] that He will always provide the peace I need
whatever the situation. He is faithful.
Flash Light
Patsy Clairmont: “If you live in my house, you will
receive a flashlight for Christmas. It’s a rule – unwritten – but you can count
on it. Every year whether you need one or not, a flashlight will be either in
your stocking. In a gift box, or a part of the decoration on top of a package. If
it isn’t presented to you by one of
those methods, when you return to your bedroom, it will be blinking on your
pillow bedecked with ribbons...for me it has taken flashes of light from God’s
Word to replace the old, dark messages and behavior…I still struggle with bouts
of shame when I don’t live up to the impossible standards I’ve placed on
myself. But I’m grateful that I continue to make progress, as I give myself
permission to make mistakes and even at times to disappoint others when I know
I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.”
Deuteronomy 32:4, 10 -14
“God’s Works
are perfect and He is fair in all of his dealings. He finds us – even in our
wasting places. Scripture goes on to say that Father God encircles us, cares
for us, and guards us. What a protective picture. Allow that kind of care to
saturate your thoughts. Pause and meditate on it.”
Faithbooking Prompts [Questions from
the book]:
- What about God is hard for you to believe?
- What flashes of light from God’s Word address your struggles?
- Who is your circle of accountability?
My take:
When the boys
were younger my dad always, always bought them a flashlight for Christmas
[‘Every little boy needs a light to
guide his way.”] How wonderful it is
that our God is always willing to guide us – to go before us and prepare our
way. I do love that His Word is lamp unto our feet and gives us
fresh wisdom that is needed in whatever circumstance we might be in at the
time.
Morning Light
Patsy Clairmont: “Have you ever noticed how
invigorating dawn light skipping across wooden floors is?...Morning births
opportunities. I like that. Because some days become sullied, and I find it
encouraging to know that within hours, a new day will unfold with a potential
fresh start…God’s mercies [compassion] are new every morning. I think we don’t
begin to ‘catch’ His mercies because it’s so easy, at least for me, to be
focused on what’s not working. This is a broken planet; we don’t have to look
far for troubles…may God remind us of His mercy toward us, which is bestowed
anew every day, just as sure as the sun rises and shines its light on us.
‘The path of the righteous
is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of
day.’ Proverbs 4:18
Tomorrow is a
new day, fresh with God’s mercies. May we purpose to catch a basketful of
compassion and extend it to others.”
Faithbooking Prompts [Questions from
the book]::
- When was the last time your morning went askew?
- Who are the intercessors in your life?
- Who holds the keys to your freedom? List some new mercies in your life.
This is the prompt or Bible Journaling - I hope it inspires you.
[Feel free to print it full size and trace.]
My take:
I suggest
taking a photo of ourselves enjoying the morning light our God has created… I
love the scene in “Angels…” where all the angels gather to face the sun [and
worship The Son] every morning. I’m so thankful that my God holds the keys to
my freedom – to my life – and promises to never leave me or forsake me no
matter how many times I ask the same things over and over again. He shows me
new mercies each and every day – but I see it most often in His patience with
me as I, a mere mortal, struggle to understand his ways…
Catching Fireflies
Patsy Clairmont: “I can still feel the same
tummy-giggle at the sight of lightening bugs that dotted the landscape with
magic. Those pinpoint flashes sent us kids dashing down the hill to capture
them in our glass jars. Then we would line up the jars on the picnic table,
creating a row of luminous lanterns. Oh, how they glowed!” Patsy goes on to
talk about going to sleep with the fireflies next to her bed and having
‘firefly’ dreams…then she talks about how God uses dreams to speak to us - like the one given to a lady who had never
even heard of Patsy Clairmont – to tell her that “God has Not forgotten Her.” Patsy goes on,
“My friend, God has not forgotten
you. He knows your sorrow, your troubles, your finances, your fears, and your
dreams – and He has not forgotten you. He promises to redeem our hardships for
good. Sometimes we think that if God doesn’t fix or change our struggles, then
He must have forgotten us. Nothing could be further from the truth. … A life of
faith involves seeing past what’s happening today and believing in God’s
redemptive care in our tomorrows.
This is the prompt or Bible Journaling - I hope it inspires you.
[Feel free to print it full size and trace.]
– Job 42:2
Five
Luminous Lanterns to help us during our night to know that God hasn’t forgotten
us:
1.
Be Still 2. Listen 3. Believe 4. Discern 5. Accept
Be
attentive when it’s the darkest, for that’s when lightening bugs do their best
work…and nothing fans faith’s imagination like the dance of a firefly!
Faithbooking Prompts
[Questions from the book]:
- Did your childhood sparkle with fireflies?
- What important dreams have you had?
- What do you tend to do when you don’t know what to do?
- When have the heavens seemed silent to you?
I
LOVE fireflies! Love them. Really, every March I wait expectantly for the first
little blink of light in the trees around our house – and by midsummer our yard
is practically aglow with them! Love them. They’re just a little joy in life. A
little bit of light in the darkness that reminds me of simpler times when any
dream I had might come true. I was saved when I was 7 yeas old and as my
relationship with the Lord grew I turned to Him to guide my dreams – to learn
the choices He wanted me to make as I travel through this world. And I’ve found
that in those times when I might be a little confused [or obstinate -?] about what He wants me to do if I’ll just be
still and listen…believe that He has great plans for me, discern where He’s
leading and accept this – even when I don’t understand – then things will
always work out best.
This was the faithbooking prompt for a scrapbook page / layout....
And here is what I did...
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