Heat Wave, 2

Earth was a blob—formless, empty, and dark. But the Spirit of God was hovering over it, and then God spoke a simple, singular command: “Let there be light!” (Genesis 1:3).

And there was light. Day One.

Three days later, God created the sun with another power-packed decree: “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night.”

“And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.” (See Genesis 1.)

The sun that bakes the sandy desert and melts mountain snow was created with a word. God did not tell it where to settle. He did not expand on how, when, or where to shine. He didn’t explain the earth’s rotations around it. He didn’t instruct it to remain an exact distance so it would benefit earth and sustain life without burning up the rest of His creation.

God simply spoke—and the miraculous, enduring, rhythmic, life-giving elements of the sun were created. The heat wave began and, ever since it burst into the sky, we enjoy the sun’s benefits. If you question me, just ask Google!

The sun is essential for life on Earth, providing warmth, light, and energy… 
It drives photosynthesis in plants…
and influences weather patterns, ocean currents, and the water cycle… 
Sunlight is crucial for human health, aiding in vitamin D production,
improving mood, and potentially lowering blood pressure. 

In other words, the sun is a heat wave we cannot live without. The remarkable, unfathomable thought I cannot grasp is that every part of this gaseous hot ball—its photosphere, chromosphere, and corona, its core, radioactive and connective zones—were not separate creations but breathed into existence at God’s single command.

The awe of this robs me of words, so I’ll leave you with only one:

Selah—pause and calmly think about that.

Heat Wave

Summer officially arrived Friday, June 20, at 10:42 p.m. and it didn’t waste time proving itself. Days later, it delivered an unprecedented heat wave—and it’s not yet July! However, in light of my recent posts about holding our eyes higher, we will not harp on the high temperatures, the 24/7 hum of air conditioning, or the ensuing electric bills. We will appreciate all that is good about summer.

If you’ve followed my posts for more than a year, you’re aware that summer is my least favorite season, BUT there are still wonderful blessings to be found in its three-month span. These are some things I love about summer:

  • Air conditioning. How we enjoy our first home with central air!
  • Watermelon, Bing cherries, cantaloupe, strawberries and berries.
  • Fresh salads with Jersey tomatoes, crisp cukes, colored peppers, and a variety of local veggies.
  • A more leisurely lifestyle, no schedules, relaxed breakfasts.
  • Nature’s newness, baby fawns in our yard and hummingbirds at our feeders.
  • Walking out the door in tee shirts and flip flops, with no thought of a jacket.
  • Barbecues—burgers & dogs, chicken & ribs, corn on the cob.
  • Longer days, shining sun and dappled shade, rocking in the hammock.
  • The joy of flitting lightning bugs and butterflies.
  • Ice cream—refreshment in a cone, on a stick, or in a bowl.
  • Sudden showers and rumbles of thunder.
  • Iced tea, homemade with the time-perfected amount of sugar and lemon.

What do you love about summer?  

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat, summer and winter,
day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22

Clouds and Sunshine*

Looking Up, 3

There are days when cloud cover hides the sun, causing me to feel chilly and a bit blue—but the sun still shines. Its presence and function do not depend on whether or not I see it. Clouds change nothing but my mood and perspective.

The answer to fading hope is not found in solved problems but in changed focus. God is on His throne, even when my understanding is clouded. In a powerful, active realm, higher than the world we see, One is ruling who knows every rock, root, and danger in our present path. He knows how long the trail is, how steep, how rocky, how narrow. He knows every turn in the road and where resting places and refreshing streams are found. God is attentive to our walk and holds our hand when we face obstacles. He is not too weak or tired to intervene. More than that, He has a purpose for that path and knows where it leads. He alone sees the end from the beginning. And He does all things well, always. …

When we move our focus from our problems to the God who loves us, hope revives. When we restrain our emotions and remove them from their lead position, we defeat despair. When we steadfastly maintain there is sun behind the clouds, our step lightens.

Hold your eyes higher than your earthbound problems and look at the One who is above it all—you will find hope.

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
Isaiah 40:28

*Taken from I Was Broken, Too, Four Paths to Restore Hope, by Barbara Higby, page 24-25.

Keep your Eye on the Bell

Nine-year-old Zoe surprised me when she said she wanted to attempt the rock-climbing wall. I watched her harness up, admiring my granddaughter’s adventurous spirit. Once secure, she started the climb but didn’t get far when she began to struggle. Flailing, she finally pushed off and eased the rope to let herself down. Her face wore defeat and her lower lip quivered as she listed all the reasons she didn’t make it to the top. The footings were uneven, the wall grazed her knee, she got confused where to step next and which rock to grasp. We stood back and watched others nimbly climb the wall and ring the bell at the top, proclaiming their success. I knew Zoe would try again.

This time she scaled the wall easily and grinned down at me when the bell rang out her victory. Once her feet were back on the ground, I asked her why she succeeded this time. “I didn’t look at the footings at all and I shook it off when I hit the wall,” Zoe said. Then she added the zinger, “I just kept looking up at the bell.” Zoe learned a lesson that day that extended beyond a rock-climbing wall.*

Obstacles, insecurities, and fear are glaringly visible and hard to ignore. But God offers us a way to move past them that requires simple action but determined willpower. Isaiah gives us the key in chapter 40, verse 26:

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens.

In essence he’s saying, take your eyes off your problem and look up at your Creator. Let your focus be on the Problem-Solver, not on the problem. This simple action will change your perspective, raise your spirit, and give you hope.

*Taken from I Was Broken, Too, Four Paths to Restore Hope by Barbara Higby, page 20.