Points of Light

By Melissa Marco

Shimmering with light, forty concise but profound essays encourage reflection, faith and love. An uplifting soulful book about deepening your foundational relationship with God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Marco
• Release date: Dec 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310048548

Book preview

Points of Light

Melissa Marco

Copyright © 2015 by Melissa Marco

Published at Smashwords

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the author.

Except where indicated, scripture passages are from the New King James Version.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Direct Translation (DT) translated by Rev. Ama Zenya, M.A., M.Div., directly from the Greek and informed by other translations.

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Published in USA.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. God wants us to love him and live a life of love for him.

2. God wants us to seek him, and in seeking him we find him.

3. We find God in moments, and these are blessed moments.

4. In trying to live for God, our relationship takes place.

5. Grace is God’s gift to us.

6. Jesus teaches foundational Christian values in the Sermon on the Mount.

7. The fruit of the Spirit are the characteristics of those who walk with the Holy Spirit. These are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

8. Christ lives in us to the extent we allow.

9. God made our soul, but he gave us freedom.

10. Defining the soul is elusive, perhaps even impossible, but growing the soul is an action that can be done and repeated.

11. God is looking for those who will worship him in spirit and in truth.

12. In our interaction with others, we may allow God’s light to flow through us.

13. When two or more who believe in Christ are together, then Christ is also present.

14. Our relationship with God takes place in prayer.

15. Obedience to God is given freely and joyfully.

16. Surrender is the foundation of our relationship with God.

17. Living our lives in a way that pleases God shows our love for God.

18. Maturity is accepting God’s plan.

19. Repentance is a regular step in our growth.

20. Sanctification is the process through which we are refined and made holy for God.

21. Our Christian family is vital, for we share Christ with them.

22. The body of Christ is a place where the heart and soul may dwell.

23. The Golden Rule is about love.

24. To love our neighbor as we love ourselves requires love, kindness, and wisdom.

25. We are aligned with God when we love.

26. Humility is a foundational aspect of being a Christian.

27. How do we hear God? Hopefully we will hear what God communicates to us.

28. It’s OK to ask why.

29. Pain, frustration, and disappointment are part of life.

30. Peaceful reflection is essential for personal development.

31. Ask, What would Jesus do?

32. The words of Jesus are beautiful, and hearing them is light for the soul.

33. Forgiving is one of our most loving acts.

34. Why is God waiting?

35. The way we think about our relationship with God is important.

36. The strength of our relationship with Jesus is in our participation, and our participation must be authentic.

37. We live in hope of God’s presence.

38. Our soul understands things we cannot articulate.

39. Focus on God.

40. Our deepest life is to live with love for God in Jesus.

Afterword

About the Author

Points of Light

Introduction

This little book is meant to uplift and inspire you in deepening your relationship with God. You will get the most out of this book by reading one point per day at a thoughtful pace. Since any journey of seeking to know God at a deeper level is a very personal journey, you are encouraged to read this book slowly, reflecting on the ideas expressed in that point throughout the day. This book is meant to be a learning tool.

As you read each point, take the time to think about your own thoughts on the subject, and how to apply these in your life.

This book has been written with heartfelt depth and beauty. This is the kind of writing where you can read a sentence or two, and then stop and think about them. Powerful ideas can often be expressed in a few sentences, and then it is up to us to think about these thoughts and apply them. We find beauty in a verse such as Jesus’s statement, I am the true vine; my Father is the gardener (John 15:1 NCV), or If the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace (Romans 8:6 DT). These elegant verses are concise and meaningful. They move the heart and ear alike. Simple truths found in pure statements are meant to encourage introspection, which is at the heart of thinking deeply about our lives.

I have been asked many times what prompted me to write this book. All of my life, I have found deep enjoyment in writing. I feel that writing is an honest expression of the soul, a creative outlet for the heart and mind, and a place for discovery. Writing is a wonderful means of sharing what we feel with others. My hope is that it encourages you to explore your own heart and