Sun

We were driving to Austin late Friday and had the opportunity to watch as the sun went down....it was beautiful, gradual, too bright to stare at, yet too remarkable not to notice ...what a sight! Seldom do I take time and stay in one place long enough to watch the sundown process....or sunup either... But when I am on the road driving...or even riding I am always looking around for something of interest to capture my attention. This day ...this did.

The sun even in its down time was bold and glorious....and continued moving on to its next destination. The movement was subtle yet decidedly pronounced. And I watched, this time, with great intensity....and awe...God was in charge. He is always in charge. And when the time had come the sun had disappeared...and left a reflective glow of corals dancing across the blue skies. I am not sure why this particular sundown was so impressive...on my heart....maybe it was because I was not only watching but this time considering all that God has done and made and how he orchestrates his plans according to His will.

There are many analogies about the sun and His son, I am sure. But this is one that came to me. As the sun shined, he brought light to the entire day....as His son shines, he brings light to all of us who receive Him and believe in Him.We have our ups and downs...not so routinely as God's sun in the skies...but if we consider that His Heavenly son who abides within us....never misses a beat on His timing. Jesus is there as scheduled by His Father for our up and down times as well...we are able to stand securely knowing that everything , though it may seem "out of order" at the moment...will be directed and orchestrated as God has planned according to His will.

We can stay sheltered from the bright light of the sun by staying in darkness, drapes pulled...or we can embrace it as a healthy means of provision. Just as we have a choice to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and and His way as a healthy way of living... or drape over what we have learned and refuse its truth.

Just as the son rises and sets....so does Jesus....he rises with us each day....and sets with us each night. He doesn't ever leave...he just changes his physical placement....and routinely without interruption....he rises again the next day sometimes hidden by clouds, or distracted by rain...but he remains present. We sometimes can not see Him but we know in truth that he abides....within us. We have to have that faith and stand on it. Just like we are faithful that the sun will come out each day...so must we have faith that Jesus is present with us each day....to help us carry rain or shine.

We see Jesus in people he sends our way, in situations that always seem to work out, in deeds done and in the incredible works that only his hands could have created. We hear about Him through stories or music or in nature. We are touched by Him through thoughts and people and blessings that are before us. He shines His love and grace routinely without interruption through our hearts and our minds. But too many times we too preoccupied or distracted to take notice...and too busy to be still and soak in his rays of goodness.

The next day we had to head back home...about the same time ...and the sun had begun its descent...right on schedule. But this time it was behind us instead of before us. It doesn't matter what direction we are going...we can count on God to be steady...to be our compass, ( morally physically, spiritually, mentally) and to be a shining light of security. The sun is not only a reflection of a light that God created to separate light from dark...but it is also a most remarkable visual tool that God uses as a reminder that he is orderly....and that he methodically manages His universe day by day...on His scheduled time. So why, then, am I so hesitant to let Him manage me? I mean really....like I can be better at this that he would be!

Psalm 50:1
[ A psalm of Asaph. ] The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.

This sun set was just a simple reminder to me...as he so often gives....that when I am still...and reflective....and stand in awe and recognize the many blessings that are before me...it is then that I am able to reconnect with the light of the goodness and wisdom and loving grace that he had provided to me through His son, Jesus.

The sun is a daily reminder...a big bright one...that God has got everything under his control....and His authority and if only I would submit to His authority and quit taking things in my own hands...I too would be able to rise and set my attitude accordingly.

I just looked....the sun is back...shining again today....and so is His son in your life and in mine.....Do you see Him? Can you feel him? Has he touched your face TODAY with the rays of his love? Just take a moment and be still...he will make himself known!

Isaiah 45:6
so that from the rising of the sunto the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Dear Lord, Oh how your have given me reminders each day of your sovereignty.... and oh How I overlook them. Thank you for this reminder as I watched another of your beautiful sunsets...that you are always present, always in control, always providing, and always loving me in spite of my many faults and sins.

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

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email address: cjodeit@gmail.com
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