The sunlight conquers darkness-gradually

Have you ever watch the sun come up? A sunrise is the most glorious if you are in the country or on the beach away for the light pollution of the city. Either way, it's an amazing thing to watch. It's interesting how the sunlight conquers the darkness little by little. It's doesn't suddenly become daylight like a switch being turned on. It's gradual. And, there is no doubt that the sun will shine. We don't have to stand at the window each morning wondering if the sun will come up; we have faith that it will. We expect it to arrive. You can go about your everyday life while the sun is coming up. You can fix breakfast, make your bed, watch the early news, take a shower - anything you need to do. It never occurs to us to "worry" about whether or not we will see sunlight.

That's the way it is with expecting change in our life. Most of the time, change doesn't happen instantly. You can't lose 20 pounds by snapping your fingers (though I wish I could). You can't improve your relationship with you husband or children in one day. After all, such problems usually don't develop in just one day. Most change takes time but that time is wasted if it is spent worrying about whether or not the change is coming. Also, that time is wasted if you just sit and do nothing while you're waiting for it. Go ahead with your responsibilities, recreation, work, worship, day-to-day life. Change will happen when you seek God and his will for your life. Your relationship with the Creator of the universe becomes deeper gradually. Be patient. God will answer your prayer. Happiness and joy will arrive - in God's time. After all, the sun comes up little by little every morning, doesn't it?

2 Corinthians 3:18 (The Message)
And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

I choose to wait-Biblically

Psalm 130:5-7 (Amplified Bible)

I wait for the Lord, I expectantly wait, and in His word do I hope. I am looking and waiting for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, I say, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is mercy and loving-kindness, and with Him is plenteous redemption.


When I hear the term watchman, I think about the guard that is on duty all night at a military base or at a big bank. His job is to keep his eyes open and be aware of everything going on - always looking and listening. Always expecting something. In the Bible days, the watchman stood guard over the city at night in case their enemies attacked. But the watchman was only on duty for one shift - the night. He had a family at home waiting for him. No doubt breakfast was waiting on the table and a bed was waiting support him while he slept. The watchman was waiting for the first sign of morning - the first hint of light. He was expecting it. He had no doubt it would show up. He had faith in the sunrise.

This is what the verse in Psalms means when the author is talking about waiting on the Lord. Waiting comes with expecting. It is a joyful thing. How many of us when we are waiting on the Lord to follow through on His promises or to answer our prayers wait without hope or expectation. How often do we sit twiddling our thumbs saying with a downcast face, "I'm just waiting on the Lord..."? That's not Biblical waiting! Biblical waiting involves hope and joyful expectation of what the Lord has in store for us. There is no pity party involved in waiting for the Lord. There is faith, happiness, anticipation, envisioning and thankfulness for what is coming. No more solemn, depressed waiting for me! I choose to wait Biblically!

Many scholars believe that the Israelites sang Psalm 121 (one of the Psalms of Ascent) as they were on their journey to Jerusalem after they had been held captive by the Babylonians. They sang this song as they were still in a place that was not their home and while they were yearning to be with God in his house. Walking day after day on their long trip, they could see the hills in the distance realizing that Jerusalem and the temple were near. Looking to the hills reminded them that their help, their strength, and their courage comes from the Lord. The hills would have been their constant encouragement and reminder that God was always with them. It is the same for us. As we travel on the journey God has unfolded before us, we can be easily discouraged by the trials and heartaches that come our way. But if we look to the hills we will stay focused on the One who gives us help to get through the day. Praise the Lord.

Not enough Time

"One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy."~ Elisabeth Elliott ~

So, here's how it breaks down. If I am carrying around the weight of yesterdays gone by, then I cannot focus on today's task and purpose to which God has called me. If I am preoccupied with worry about tomorrow and the future, then I don't have the energy or brain power or emotional stamina to deal with today. Father God, forgive me for my busyness because you called me to obey You and not to simply be busy. Here's my day, it's Yours!

Sunday Morning with Tyson

My sweet doggie Tyson is dying from cancer. He was diagnoed in January and at this point, I believe we will only have him a couple more weeks - maybe less. He's weak and has trouble moving around. We've discovered that he loves laying in the sun. In the mornings, he lays in the small sun patch that comes in the back window. Since the weather has gotten nice, we bring him out in the front yard in the mornings while we sit on the front step and slowly wake up. Tyson lays on his side in the sun soaking up its warmth. He loves it. He lays there so long he begins to pant, but he lays there anyway. I've realized that laying in the sun seems to be an instinct for him. I wonder if its because sunlight has vitamin D in it and Vitamin D is a cancer fighter. It's an interesting thought.
It makes me thinks about us as human creatures when we get weak and sickly. Don't we also have an instinct to lay in the sunlight - or more accurately the SON light. Isn't it nice to feel the warmth of Jesus shine on us when the weight of the world eats away at us like the cancer is eating away at poor Tyson's body. I look at Tyson laying so peacefully in the sun. The cancer hasn't taken away his peace provided by the warm sun. Lord, help me to always remember that no matter what trials and pain this world brings to me that there is always peace in the SON.