Listen:
“You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.” (Matthew 5:16, The Voice translation)
Reflect:
Each new year, members of the Lifesprings community gather to review, adjust or learn how to create a personal plan to help them more intentionally live a life of light and loving impact. We call this plan a “Rule of Life,” and it continues a practice started by the early church monastic communities. This has been such a meaningful practice for me that I wrote a book about it.
Here’s an excerpt:
“I’m searching for my Brighter Way and finding new ways to shine my light. In my quest to shine my light, I’m learning more and more about how that works for me. I’ve been discovering that if I begin with God in the morning and return to love in the evening, if I indulge in my passions and grow my gifts, if I help to heal something, if I tell and listen to stories, if I ease burdens along the way, and if I take care to nurture the nature that sustains our lives, my light shines the brightest.” *
Prayer of Response:
Lord, show me more about how bright my light can shine for you in 2025.
Questions to Ponder:
What helps you to shine your light the brightest?
I put my “Rule of Life” in the acronym: “B.R.I.G.H.T.E.N. U.P.” so I can more easily remember it, live it out, and pass it on. My acronym stands for:
- Begin with God
- Return to Love
- Indulge a Passion
- Grow my Gifts
- Heal something
- Tell and Listen to our true stories
- Ease the burdens of others
- Nurture Nature
- Use what I have (or give it away)
- Pilgrimage.
Breath Prayers:
As a new weekly rhythm, join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale (Breathe in): In darkness I am
Exhale (Breathe out): your illuminating light
Here is the Rule of Life document to lead you in this practice which may be shared with fellowship groups.
—Submitted by: Janice Gutierrez
Janice is the former Executive Director of Lifesprings International, now an avid retiree and currently finishing up her next book, California Pilgrim, which further explores the concept of “pilgrimage” as part of her rule of life.
*Excerpt is from Searching for My Brighter Way: Lessons on Learning to Let my Light Shine by Janice Gutierrez, available on Amazon.
Lifesprings International PODCAST LAUNCH:
One new rhythm and ministry we have been praying for and now launching is a Lifesprings International Podcast. We are very excited to be introducing the people and stories of Lifesprings and you can find us here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/23rJjyFhHL1jKrkpykXxH2?si=9Pl3z1teRkqk0JxSYzWHng or here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/episide-1-who-what-and-why/id1788111290?i=1000682266719
or you can simply search for the Lifesprings Podcast on the Podcast App on your phone. You can listen to us, share the stories and subscribe, so you don’t miss the new ones coming up.