The Son’s Warmth

The Sun’s Warmth

I love to feel the sun shining on my face. Its rays soak into my skin, leaving me warm, mellow, and comfortable. In the sunshine my spirits lift, energizing me for the day’s tasks. On a cloudy, windy day, the chill penetrates my body, leaving me cold and shivering.

The sunless, gray sky reflects my own gloomy mood. I long for the sun to warm and cheer me. At night the lack of sunlight causes the world around me to darken, and I have difficulty finding my way. I cannot see my path, and I yearn for the sun to illuminate my world. At times it seems the sun will never return.

I know, of course, that the sun is still present on a cloudy day, but I hunger for its warmth. The sun still shines; the cloud cover merely obscures the light and the warmth.

Likewise, I know the sun still shines at night. The earth has merely turned its back on the sun, so I am in its shadow, unable to see the light, unable to feel its warmth.

Clear nights are illuminated by the moon, which merely reflects the sun’s light Even though it seems that the sun is gone, I know that it shines in the heavens, no matter what I see or feel on an overcast day or pitch-black night.

So it is with the Son’s presence. I love to feel the warmth of His love enveloping me. His warmth soaks into my soul, leaving me filled with joy, peace, and love. In days when His presence shines brightly, my spirits lift, energizing me for the day’s tasks.

At times His presence is obscured from me by my sin, my busyness, or my unwillingness to seek Him. Then my soul feels cold, my mood gloomy. I long for His presence to warm and cheer me.

At times I am in spiritual darkness; my soul wanders lost, unable to see without His light. Trials and troubles overwhelm me, and I have difficulty finding my spiritual way. I can no longer see the path to Him, and it seems that His presence will never light my path again.

I know, of course, that He is present, even when I cannot see His hand in my affairs, but I still long to feel His warmth. Behind my clouds of doubt or despair, He is always there.

I know He is present, even when I am in the depths of spiritual darkness. I have merely turned my back on Him; I am in His shadow, unable to feel His light, unable to feel His warmth. Yet in the deepest spiritual night, even when I have turned my back on Him, I see His light reflected by my Christian brothers and sisters who lead me out of the darkness back into His light.

Even though it seems, at times, that He is nowhere near, deep in my soul I know that He is always with me, surrounding and filling me with His love, if only I open my eyes to see His light.

Father, forgive my blindness Open my eyes; make me aware of Your abiding presence.

Isaiah 60:19, 20 “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.”

The Way to Happiness

Today’s food for thought comes from Norman Vincent Peale. Don’t you just love his positive attitude?

“The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.”

― Norman Vincent Peale

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Be Nice to Your Brother

I wrote this several years ago for “The Secret Place.” It seems we need this reminder even more today than we did then.

When my grandsons were younger, they loved to torment one another: A poke here, a kick there, and a headlock for good measure. I had a mantra for them, “Be nice to your brother.” That helped them remember to be kind…sometimes.  Now they’ve outgrown that stage, but they still occasionally give one another an “affectionate” poke or kick.

Most adults don’t torment one another with kicks, pokes, or headlocks. We use something more harmful: words. An unkind word here, a sarcastic tone there, and some backbiting gossip for good measure. Sometimes we just aren’t nice to one another.

I’m sure every one of us is occasionally guilty of those verbal pokes and kicks to our neighbors and to our spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ. Fortunately for us, Jesus will forgive us. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  With His assistance we can follow the second greatest commandment and love our neighbors.

 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37 & 38

Lord, forgive my unkind pokes, both words and thoughts, and teach me how to be nice to my brothers.

A Child of the King

Tuesday’s food for thought:

“When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions.”

Henri Nouwen

I don’t know about you, but I am a child of the King of kings, created in His image. Therefore, no matter what others might say, I have worth and am loved, no matter what circumstances I may be in.

Through the Psalms, 32

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Have a beautiful Friday, everyone!

Psalm 32: 5

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’

And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Lord, thank you for sending your son to earth to live among us. Thank you, Jesus, for being a willing sacrifice to cleanse us from our sins. Your grace is sufficient for me.

Glorify God

Good Thursday morning, y’all!

Isn’t it funny how one little verse can totally change your perspective?

Have a wonderful day glorifying God through all you do. Nothing is too mundane.

Flowing Over Obstacles

The stream meanders, making its way through fallen leaves, gray, broken branches, and rich, fertile earth.  My feet crunch the dried leaves as I approach the stream. Bending and twisting, it flows around rocks and under the narrow walking bridge. Algae flourishes just beneath its green water.

I find a large, flat rock and sit to enjoy the stream’s beauty. From my vantage point, I can observe its meandering path. As it flows from one bend to another, the lazy waters move silently.

As I scan the length of the stream, I notice how the water changes when it hits an obstacle: a rock, a fallen tree limb, or a constricted pathway. The smooth flow changes. The water roils, bubbling up out of its bed, falling back again, foamy and white.

 The stream flows quietly until it hits those obstacles. Then the stream finds its voice: a musical, joyful gurgling sound. Where the path is free and easy, the water flows silently. It’s only when obstacles lie in its path that the water sings.

How often I find myself complaining instead of singing when difficulties snag my way.

Lord, when the way proves tough, give me a song to sing.

Isaiah 49:13 “Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth, burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”

The Spirit’s Power

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Happy Tuesday! Your Tuesday food for thought is from Charles Spurgeon

Have a great day!

“It was the mighty power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in Him by which Jesus overcame the world–and that same quiet power, if it dwells in us, will make us win the same victory by faith.”

― Charles H. Spurgeon