God’s creations are so fascinating…when we slow down enough to see & enjoy it. I remember as kids we spent most of our time outside. When family & friends gathered our parents always would say, “Ok all the kids, outside! Find something to do.” One of the things we often did was catch “lightning bugs.” We would get several “canning jars,” punch holes in the lid, put a few blades of grass in the jar and off we all went to catch lightening bugs. At the time I never thought too much about these unique creatures. Searching on Google I learned…

• “Fireflies remind us that it’s the small, simple things in life that matter the most. They inspire us to take a moment to slow down, ground ourselves in the moment, and appreciate all that surrounds us.

• “Fireflies are not flies but actually beetles in the family Lampyridae.”
• “Fireflies vary widely in their general appearance, with differences in color, shape, size, and features such as antennae.”
• “Light production in fireflies is due to the chemical process of bioluminescence. This occurs in specialized light-emitting organs, usually on a female firefly’s lower abdomen. The enzyme luciferase acts on luciferin, in the presence of magnesium ions, ATP, and oxygen to produce light.
• “Firefly luciferase is used in forensics, and the enzyme has medical uses – in particular, for detecting the presence of ATP or magnesium.”
• “Fireflies produce a “cold light”, with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies. The light may be yellow, green, or pale red, with wavelengths from 510 to 670 nanometers.”
• “Fireflies need tall grasses to signal their potential mates, trees to deposit their eggs, moisture and rotting wood to attract prey, and darkness to put on a great show.”
• “It’s roughly 300 million years old, can fly at an average speed of 30 – 45 mph, moves in 6 different directions, can see 360% around itself. They’re carnivorous, feeding on aquatic insects, worms, mosquito larva, small fish, and little tadpoles during the nymph phase.”
• “Fireflies flash in patterns that are unique to each species. Each blinking pattern is used to help them find potential mates. Male fireflies typically fly through the air in search of a female by emitting a species-specific flashing pattern. Some fireflies only flash once, while others do so up to nine times.”

Think about just these two facts. “Fireflies remind us that it’s the small, simple things in life that matter the most. They inspire us to take a moment to slow down, ground ourselves in the moment, and appreciate all that surrounds us.” And “Each blinking pattern is used to help them find potential mates.” In other words, fireflies or lightening bugs shift our focus from the fast & flashy to the slow & precious… the purpose of the flashing is to have a relationship.

God speaks to us through His creation that points to His Word. Psalm 46:10 is crystal clear. “Be still, and know that I am God.” God desires to spent time…quality…personal time with each of us. You might ask yourself, “Why would God want to spend time with me?” we find the answer in His Word, “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,” Isaiah 43:4. Ponder this. “You are Precious & honored” in His sight. The God of Creation, Almighty Holy God. Jesus who loved you enough…who chose to die a brutal death on the cross wants to spend time with you. It’s all about a personal relationship with Him. Knowing about Him is not enough.

When we have this personal relationship with Him, our lives change. People should be able to distinguish you from the world by your “Fruits” (Galatians 5:22-23). People will be attracted to the “Light of Jesus” that shines through how we live.

Yes, it is a dark world. But we as Believers have Jesus, who told us, “I am the light of the world.” John 8:12. God instructed us through Paul in Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” And John explains our purpose even more in 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Will you let your light shine for Him?