I can't help but stop and take a moment to  pray for Jacob when I see him wearing this shirt. I want him to shine brightly in this dark world.  It also is somewhat ironic seeing him in this shirt as I remember the dark days after he was born. Everything was perfect, his labour was great (well as great as labour can be), I had so much love, support and family around me and yet I felt so sad. I remember laying in bed not wanting to get up; crying, feeling so alone and yet knowing I wasn't. 

I remember my husband, my sisters and my mom all rallying around me, praying for me and eventually I chose to not believe the lies I was thinking. For me, it’s so encouraging, almost prophetic, seeing Jake wear this shirt now because I am reminded that Jesus always cuts through our darkness. It is Him and Him alone that helps us shine bright,  helps us to be light in this world. The power that comes with just the mention of the name of Jesus is something that I have been learning the last few months. "Just the whisper of His name", as Jenn Johnson so beautifully writes in her worship song, will break chains, will silence the darkness and will calm the wind and the waves!

I don't know if today you need encouragment or need to encourage someone else in your life, but I do know that we are called to shine. That doesn't mean there won't be darkness in our life, but we, through the power of His name, can be the light and shine like stars in this world! He loves the broken. I know this because I am broken too, and yet He chose me and wants to use me in ways I didn't think were possible, to shine for Him.

Phillippians 2:12-15: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. 

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. 

P.S. Jake's shirt is from one of our favourite local companies, Darling and Bandit!