Hanging out in the Son

The sunnier the day, the dirtier the windows look. 

Of course they are dirty on the dark days, too, but the dirt isn’t so noticeable. 

The more I hang out with Jesus, the more obvious the dirt in me is. But equally, the more I hang out with him, the more I allow him to wash it away and fill me with his Holy Spirit. I’m getting cleaned up, one spot at a time.

There is nothing quite like a day in the Son.

Dirty Windows

Great having such a sunny day, but it sure does show how dirty the windows are! It’s embarrassing, but my back is still not right so they will just have to remain dirty.

Light reveals dirt. That’s the way it is, isn’t it? That’s why when Jesus is around, it isn’t comfortable to be wallowing in sin. Of course, he’s always around. So how is it that so many people manage to wallow in real serious sin without any second thoughts. A look at the paper reveals just how many people choose the dark rather than the light. 

It is a choice, and we all have it. The Bible says that God would rather we turn from our sins and live with him forever, than choose to live apart from him. But he has given us free choice, and he allows us the dignity to make our choice freely.

If you’ve not made a choice for Jesus yet, give it some real thought. You may find that as his light shines on your life, it reveals some dirt that you’d like to have washed away. And that is what he does. He washes our sins away so that we are as white as the snow, and can approach the light without fear.

It is great having such a sunny day, and such a loving God of light.

The Forecast

The clock radio snapped on at 6 am and I heard the weather man in London proclaiming another sizzling day (relatively speaking). He then went through the usual geographical sweep of the British Isles, starting with the Southeast and London, ending with the north of Scotland. 

I always expect things to begin to go downhill as he comes north but no, this morning he declared everywhere except the far northern isles of Shetland and Orkney would be baking in nearly 70 degree temperatures. 

What a disappointment to open the curtain and see the heavy cloud layer. As I walked Dusty down the familiar paths, I wondered why, in this day and age, the weather man in London doesn’t just skype someone in Aberdeen and get a quick look at the skies, and give a report that more accurately reflects what is going on.

The forecast was marvellous; reality was a disappointment.

Life can be like that. All the signs point to success, perhaps, but then things don’t pan out as expected. We have a choice. We can revise our expectations and walk in real-time reality, which many may argue is the sane thing to do, or we can continue to keep our eye on the forecast, on the higher expectations, and walk in hope.

Life with God gives us the security to know that the forecast, as we read in the Bible, is wonderful, and that he is faithful to do what he has promised to do. 

Maybe today it feels like the clouds have gathered over you and it’s just about to pour, but never mind. The forecast for eternity is breath-taking. It’s not pie-in-the-sky-when-you-die, either. Because we can rely on Jesus to do what he has promised, it’s pie on your plate today. 

No matter what today holds, with God I can walk through it with a spring in my step and a song in my heart. Notice I said ‘with God’, because without him, I’d be dragging my feet sometimes.

Grey Duvet

OK, it’s sunny now, just after lunch.

But this morning when Dusty and I walked, the grey clouds enfolded the earth and were tucked in securely on all horizons. No rain. But no frost, either.

It’s not nearly as pretty, I have to say. But I saw the beauty in it, too, this morning. A warmth. A security.

There is beauty in everything. It’s the perception that is sometimes awry, rather than the perceived.

God loves you and me. That is the truth, even if you don’t believe it. Even if you don’t perceive it. 

Which makes it all the more breath-takingly beautiful.