Sunshine

It’s a glorious morning in the Pacific NW!  I take my coffee outside to sit in the SUN and enjoy its welcoming warmth.  This is a special treat to those of us who live in a climate that is mostly cold and rainy in the late fall through the winter.  When the sun is out, we just want to absorb as much as we can. 

The air is still cool in March, but sitting here I am warmed by the powerful, penetrating rays- and I am basking in it!  It’s a wonderful feeling and I am thanking the Lord for this special treat today. 

I turn my face toward the sun and soak it up!

From time to time a cloud passes over and hides it briefly... and I begin to feel the chill of the air.  Then the cloud moves on...and like a heat lamp being turned on...I feel the warmth again.

In the same way, when I take time to sit in the presence of the Lord and turn my face toward the Son, I am warmed by His love and care for me…. and it penetrates deep into my soul. We live in a world that can be very cold and dreary.  We so very much need to feel the light of the Son shining upon us. 

Jesus said, “I AM the Light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. John 8:12”

Though we don’t see the sun when a cloud covers it...we know it is still there. We appreciate the sun so much more after the long, cold days of winter that have hidden its warmth and light from us.  

In our lives there will be times when clouds will hide His light, too.  But we know He is still there.  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5b) And it is in those times that His love is so much more precious to us.

Here, when the sun is out, we try to soak up as much of it as we can..to sort of store it up for the times when we won’t see it for awhile.  And when I take the time to sit and soak up the Son-- by spending that time with Him in His Word and in His presence-- I am storing it up for those days when the clouds seem to hide His face and I don’t feel the warmth of His love shining down on me.

 So, as you are soaking up the sun on one of these beautiful spring days, remember to also spend that time soaking up the Son.  And… when the cloudy days come, (they will).. His light and the knowledge of His love will continue to warm your soul and carry you through. 

                                          For I am convinced that neither death,

                                                                                          nor life,

                                                                              nor angels,

                                                                  nor principalities,

          nor things present,

                          nor things to come,

                                                     nor powers, 

        nor height,

                        nor depth,

                               nor any other created thing,

will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

                                  Romans 8:38-39

 " The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace."  Numbers 6:24-26

Living in the Depths

                                                                  
Out in the ocean the wind blows, the waves crash, the rain pelts down----but underneath----way down in the depths---all is calm and serene. The things living there aren't much affected by the storms above. Likewise, we also need to live in the depths--

             the depths of God's Word,

                          the depths of His grace,

                                           the depths of His love.

Eph 3:16 I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should,
                                   
       HOW WIDE,
                                                                            
                      HOW LONG,
                                                                
                                   HOW HIGH, and
                                                                                        
                                                            HOW DEEP His love is!

Let's all remember to continually live in the depths.

                                                                      

The Love of God

This is something I found in a greeting card a few years ago, written by Roy Lessin.  Since I can't send a card to everyone, I share it here.  May you be encouraged by the truth it encompasses.

The love of God for you is so great that nothing can:

*interrupt it
  *detain it
      *distract it
         *deplete it
            *cancel it
               *overthrow it
                  *or separate you from it!


He is so close to you in every way,
                  through every circumstance,
                                              at every moment.


Romans 8:38-39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.