I’m a big fan of thinking, pondering, musing, if you will. I highly encourage it, but just like Ecclesiastes reminds us, there is a time for, a season for, everything. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to break down and a time to build up, a time to seek and a time to lose.
There is a time to get lost in our thoughts, but also a time bask in the beautiful sunset. To be fully present to the gift that is ours without moving past it to get to the other “pressing things” of life.
The above picture is a sunrise at Split Rock Lighthouse at about 5:00 AM some August morning. After an hour drive, I arrived early to set up for a photo. To be honest, the morning looked like a wasted drive, but I found a good spot, set up my tripod and waited. As the morning continued on there were signs of hope, followed by this and many other pictures. At the end of it all, I was torn between two truths; 1. I got some great photos and 2. I was so preoccupied with framing this picture I wasn’t really here myself to take it all in. Now all I have for a memory is rushing to take a shot and an 8X10 which pales in comparison to a sunrise that fully envelopes you. It reminded me of the saying; wherever you are, be there. I was there, but I wasn’t really there.
In the middle of all my thinking, sometimes I create a world where I forget to remember His great and precious promises. I take it in only to try and find some motivation for growth or how can I preach this to others. It’s difficult to just breath it in as deep as possible. So be blessed by these promises today…
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Philippians 4:6–7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Isaiah 41:10 “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The exercise of searching our hearts is important. At his trial, Socrates is attributed to have said “the unexamined life is not worth living.” There is a season for examination in our lives.
Today I’m inviting you to be fully present to the sunrise that is the many promises of God. To just take it in, be there, be thankful and rest in the gift that is ours.
Truth, Grace, and Time 