The sun sets again over mountains, turning the Blue Ridge pink. I watch and wonder if the sun remembers the command from One to stand still. The exhale of the day comes quickly as the cold creeps steadily across this ball of green and blue and darkness falls.
Darkness.
The darkness comes. And with it, thoughts of wishing the sun could, perhaps, go in reverse instead of standing still. But, that can't happen. It's not the Creator's will.
Our choices have weight. Each day, they ebb and flow, influenced by emotions, thoughts, feelings, belief, truth, lies, and everything in-between. While the Creator did cause the sun to stand still, He will not throw it in reverse.
The darkness stays for now.
Its hands hold the earth in a grasp lasting approximately 12 hours. Then, the warmth of the sun brilliantly flows through windows, coffee drip-drops into a pot, and sleepy eyes open to the dawn of a new day.
The morning always comes. The sunrise always sure.
But, not yet. For now, darkness has the land in sway.
I blink and blink to adjust my eyes. Working through things long past in this darkness. It always has a way of bringing things up that you never really wanted to see again. Never wanted to speak of or feel. The darkness washes up lack of trust, fear of vulnerability, uncertainty. And I am left here. In the darkness. With it all.
But not alone.
There is One who stays, even in the midst of darkness. One who does not fear it or falter because of it. He is the One who issued the command for the sun to stand still...and the One from Whose mouth, the sun came into existence.
He is present in this darkness. And He does not move or budge.
Together, we chase the sunrise.
He whispers to my weary heart: ---> It won't be this way forever, Beloved. The Light is coming. Be held by Me. <---
His gentleness melts my heart as my eyes turn toward the horizon...
the Sunrise is coming.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Spring is Coming.
I am just winding down after a beautiful Sunday - it was almost 70 degrees here today...in the middle of February. I took a nap with my bedroom window open after having an impromptu lunch with a friend from church. It was lovely.
I'm home now. The window is still open. There is a candle burning. And I just started a load of laundry - gearing up for the new week.
Days like today remind me that Spring is coming. I mean, really, how often do we get a 70 degree day...in the MIDDLE OF WINTER (Thank you, Virginia!). I get excited for Spring and warmer weather. Also, everything starts to turn green, flowers bloom, and the earth becomes alive again. It will not be winter forever.
Today, as I have thought about this, I saw it as applicable to my life now, and I wonder how it may apply to you as well. Right now, my life is beautiful. I am super busy, finishing out my last semester of my undergraduate career. Jesus keeps giving me "random" ministry opportunities and just refreshing my heart in the Truth of the Gospel. I am falling more in love with Him every day. My relationship with Ben (my boyfriend) is growing and I am so excited to be adventuring with him.
But, there are struggles too. My heart tends to fear. I struggle to trust Jesus sometimes - especially when it comes to those areas of my life that require trust in other relationships. In the moments that my heart is overwhelmed with these lies, it feels like winter in my soul. And, if I'm honest, sometimes I want to run away and hide. I wonder if I will ever be able to wrap my heart around Truth and actually walk it out. I wonder if it will always be this way.
Do you have struggles like this to? Are there moments when you think that you will never be free?
Listen and be encouraged, dear reader, Spring is coming.
Resurrection is on the way.
Jesus breathes life into those cold, dark places where Winter tries to hold fast. And, when Jesus does this, Winter can't hold on. Jesus promised freedom to His children - let's learn to trust Him. Let's be brave together. For the same power that rose Jesus from the dead is at work - right now - in our lives. What a glorious time for Winter to end and Spring to begin...
"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." Song of Solomon 2:11-12
I'm home now. The window is still open. There is a candle burning. And I just started a load of laundry - gearing up for the new week.
Days like today remind me that Spring is coming. I mean, really, how often do we get a 70 degree day...in the MIDDLE OF WINTER (Thank you, Virginia!). I get excited for Spring and warmer weather. Also, everything starts to turn green, flowers bloom, and the earth becomes alive again. It will not be winter forever.
Today, as I have thought about this, I saw it as applicable to my life now, and I wonder how it may apply to you as well. Right now, my life is beautiful. I am super busy, finishing out my last semester of my undergraduate career. Jesus keeps giving me "random" ministry opportunities and just refreshing my heart in the Truth of the Gospel. I am falling more in love with Him every day. My relationship with Ben (my boyfriend) is growing and I am so excited to be adventuring with him.
But, there are struggles too. My heart tends to fear. I struggle to trust Jesus sometimes - especially when it comes to those areas of my life that require trust in other relationships. In the moments that my heart is overwhelmed with these lies, it feels like winter in my soul. And, if I'm honest, sometimes I want to run away and hide. I wonder if I will ever be able to wrap my heart around Truth and actually walk it out. I wonder if it will always be this way.
Do you have struggles like this to? Are there moments when you think that you will never be free?
Listen and be encouraged, dear reader, Spring is coming.
Resurrection is on the way.
Jesus breathes life into those cold, dark places where Winter tries to hold fast. And, when Jesus does this, Winter can't hold on. Jesus promised freedom to His children - let's learn to trust Him. Let's be brave together. For the same power that rose Jesus from the dead is at work - right now - in our lives. What a glorious time for Winter to end and Spring to begin...
"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." Song of Solomon 2:11-12
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