Have you ever noticed how when we get lots of rainy, cloudy days, we feel desperate to see the sun? But then when it hasn't rained for a long time, we grow tired of seeing the sun? I guess the truth is that we need both, and the earth does too.
Right now it's hard to remember how it felt when we were missing the sun because - where I live at least - we are in the middle of quite the dry spell. It's almost easy to take the sun for granted. It just comes out, day after day, and we fill up our watering cans and turn on our sprinklers to try to keep our thirsty plants alive.
But let's imagine for a moment that we are in neither a hot, dry spell nor a rainy, cloudy spell. Let's perhaps consider the simple feeling of walking outside and basking in the sunlight, appreciating it for the gift that it is.
Ellie Holcomb sings a song in which she compares God to the sun, His love being like the light from the sun. She sings, "I'm gonna turn my face toward the sun... Gonna rest in the light of Your love." One day as I was listening to this song, I realized something: if I think of God like the sun and the light of the sun like the light of His love, I can see how I have a choice as to whether or not I'm going to turn toward the sun or hide from it. But it doesn't change the essence of what the sun is or the light and warmth it brings. Then to take the analogy further, there are times when clouds may hide the sun but it's still there, and it will come out again even if we can't see or feel it sometimes.
What a beautiful picture to think of God and His love being as constant as the sun! The sun is perhaps even more constant than the rain, because it is always there, even when clouds are covering it.
I love how God made creation in such a way that when we open our eyes to see how things work in the physical world, it can help us understand deeper spiritual truths. Psalm 19 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
What lessons have you learned about God from His creation? Have you ever understood something more deeply after noticing a certain aspect of how the created world works?
As we move into summer, many of us will likely spend more time outside (well that is, assuming hopefully the air quality in our area improves before too long!). Whether we are relaxing at the beach, walking around our neighborhood, working in our gardens, or spending time at a park, may our eyes be opened to see the truths God may be speaking to us through His creation.
Pray with me...
... Father, let all in the ACSD community turn toward You and feel the light and warmth of Your love
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:3-5
.... Lord, open our eyes to see what You might want to show us through Your creation
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens. Psalm 8:1
... God, let this season of summer be full of new revelations of You for all the students, staff and families of ACSD
And this is my prayer: that Your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog and pray for Alliance Christian School District! Lord willing, I plan to publish a new blog post weekly throughout the school year. Feel free to subscribe (at the bottom of this page) if you'd like to be notified each time a new blog post has been published. We also have a prayer team that is always open for new pray-ers to join. If you'd like to learn more, email me at cwarner@alliancechristian.org.
~ Carrie Warner, ACSD Prayer Team Coordinator
Soli Deo Gloria
To God alone be the glory
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