It’s a fact. I don’t watch the news very often. I only skim a newspaper and rarely do I get caught up in the “hot topics” that surface on the web. But I do stay in touch enough to know that there is turmoil, sickness, anger, death and tragedy around us everyday.

In this dark and dying world we need Light!

Light that permeates darkness.

Light that illuminates the dim places.

Light that breaks up the nightfall and shines bright in the morning.

shine bright

Many years ago, during a personal pitfall I began searching each day for “sunshine”. After writing out my heart to the Lord I would end by making a list of “sunshine” moments in my journal. I remember some days it was easy to find something and other days, most days during this time, I was struggling for one small thing to list. Looking back I see that there was a consistent theme…God’s love and God’s word!

This is why I now refer to these lists as SON-shine lists! Times and moments when I see Jesus shining in the darkness of the pits that we fall.

Often my list would say:

  • Your word speaking to my heart
  • Your love
  • Your promises
  • Your saving grace

These were tough times girls! So tough I even listed “hearing him snore” as a son-shine moment! But God was always right there. Never-failing to shine His light.

Today I thought of Noah. I wonder if he longed to see sunshine during all the time he spent on the ark. Even before he entered the ark, things were bleak. He was living surrounded by wicked people.

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen 6:5) The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” (Gen 6:11)

He was facing a giant task.

Make yourself an ark…I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh…everything that is on the earth shall die.

(Gen 6:14-17)

And then after the door was closed it rained and it flooded and all was destroyed.

It’s often the 40 days and nights from childhood stories that I think of, overlooking the hard work and criticism that must have been endured before the first drop of water fell. I often overlook that there were another 150 days that passed before the water receded. I remember the dove that brought back an olive leaf, but I forget the raven and the dove before the sign of dry land came. I wonder if Noah was longing for sunshine during this dark and desolate time the same way I did during my storm. I wonder if His list included God’s love, word and promise.

God’s love for Noah was strong, reliable and constant.

His love for you is the same.

In the darkest of times you can trust His Light to break through the deepest, blackest storms of life.

dark times

Seek the son-shine in each day. Guard your heart by searching for His love within His word.

When we take time to look for the Light of the world, the One who stepped down from heaven to shatter darkness, we will see the Son-shining!

Lord, You are good and your mercy endures forever. Bountiful are your blessings, even in the storms. Let us trust in your word, find comfort in your love and sing praise everyday for the Light of the world! Amen

Read Psalm 107 for further study:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.
Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
    Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
For he has gathered the exiles from many lands,
    from east and west,
    from north and south.[a]

Some wandered in the wilderness,
    lost and homeless.
Hungry and thirsty,
    they nearly died.
Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
    and he rescued them from their distress.
He led them straight to safety,
    to a city where they could live.
Let them praise the Lord for his great love
    and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
For he satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom,
    imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
11 They rebelled against the words of God,
    scorning the counsel of the Most High.
12 That is why he broke them with hard labor;
    they fell, and no one was there to help them.
13 Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
14 He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom;
    he snapped their chains.

~Seeking Son-shine with you, Jodie

We are having coffee for you heart with my friends Holly Gerth!

We are having coffee for you heart with my friends Holly Gerth! www.holleygerth.com

Sharing time with other women! Woman2Woman @ www.meredithbernard.com

Sharing time with other women! Woman2Woman @ www.meredithbernard.com

 

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