God of the Wind

Read Psalm 135:5-7

I sat one September morning, window raised, with the wind blowing strongly in the early morning darkness, the remnants of a front caused by Hurricane Frances. Immediately I began to reflect on how God moves through my life like the wind. At times His movement is like a gentle breeze, refreshing and relaxing, a reminder that He is always at work in my life, though recognizing it often requires me to be still, watch, and wait for His presence. At other times, He seems more visible and His presence is felt strongly, as if He is trying to get my attention.

Like the wind, I cannot literally see His face, but I can often see the effects of His moving or see where He has been as I look back on my life. Hurricane wind, though the hurricane has passed, leaves its handprint in the destruction it has wrought. I love and respect my God and know that He will bring the hard winds necessary to strengthen my faith and draw me to Him, and I fear His winds of judgment. I am thankful for the death of Jesus and for the Holy Spirit sent to dwell in us allowing me to hear God in my heart and see Him in the winds.

Thank you, Lord, for gentle breezes and for winds of change.

Image from www.heartlight.org

Life Changing Heat

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:3-5 NLT)

Microwave popcorn is one of my favorite snacks. I like the movie butter flavor, the more buttery the better. Can you imagine for a second eating it straight from the bag? No, I don’t mean instead of from a bowl, I mean before heating it in the microwave. Nasty, isn’t it? It made a wonderful children’s sermon to illustrate the change in our lives that Jesus makes, but the illustration stuck with me for another reason- the reference to the change after it was heated.

Transformation in the Christian heart brought on by the heat of life’s trials is life changing. David knew that the children of God would always face trials. “The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and everyone one.” (Ps 34:19 NLT) And in Psalm 40:11-12, David was drowning in them: “Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. My only hope is in your unfailing love and faithfulness. For troubles surround me – too many to count! They pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They are more numerous than the hairs on my head. I have lost all my courage.” (NLT) Have you been there? Me, too; and I expect I will go there again and again.

New Christians sometimes mistakenly believe their lives will be without trouble. The blinded unbeliever is no challenge to Satan (2 Cor 4:3-4 NLT), but the effective witness and testimony of the child of God, in Satan’s opinion, must be diminished, if not stopped altogether. But he who began the good work in us will see it through to the end (Philippians 1:6), and the heat will be turned up at times in our lives. We’ll never look forward to the heat, but, thank God, we are assured we will not be consumed by it. (Isaiah 43:2-3)

Perhaps I’m crazy to see popcorn as a symbol of a Christian life surviving the fiery trials, but I see God in just about everything at some point or another – even dryer lint. But that’s a post for another day.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to see Your children through every trial. Help us endure them as a testimony to Your faithfulness. Amen.

Image Courtesy of www.heartlight.org

Painter of Light

Read Psalm 8:3-4


Because we are situated a quarter mile from the road and about as far from the view of neighbors, we built our home with a full, large, clear window above the bathtub instead of with frosted privacy glass. The view of the surrounding hills, nature, and wildlife commands our attention. After eleven years in this house, it’s still my favorite spot.

At times, this has been my place to retreat for solitude. From here, I’ve taken in many sunrises, and the light of the new or full moon also shines brightly through, a breathtaking witness to Jehovah-Elohim, the Eternal Creator.

A recent sunrise was out of this world. As I soaked in the beauty of the new sky, sipping coffee from my favorite Thomas Kinkade mug, I realized Thomas Kinkade is not the original painter of light.

No two sunrises ever alike, I am convinced that the sunrises and sunsets are a reflection of the pure and holy light of our living God. Revelation 21:23 confirms “the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” In Psalm 4:6, David cried, “There be many that say, who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.”

Those who walk in darkness likely miss the sky’s divine presence; they probably don’t get it. But of those He has called, it is written, “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) And in Ecclesiastes 11:7, “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.”

I look to the sky a lot. Perhaps it is because we are to be watchful for His coming (Matthew 24:42). Yes, I believe that’s part of it, but I believe I look also for a glimpse of His glory, and, more often than not, He doesn’t disappoint me.

Father of Lights, thank you for the beauty in the morning and evening sky. I will watch for Your coming and I will walk in Your light. Amen

All scripture quoted is KJV. Image courtesy of http://www.heartlight.org