The brilliancy of a Sunday morning’s sun.
It beamed through the slits in the mini-blinds reminding me of a new day’s embrace. I needed its witness this morning… needed to know I’ve been given another day to live it right, especially since yesterday seemed to live so completely wrong. From beginning to end, my Saturday was filled with confusion, chaos in my externals which contributed to an internal chaos that remained throughout the day. When I put my body to bed last night, I did so with a simple prayer in my heart:
Lord, visit me in my rest and sort this mess out. Make tomorrow my brand new beginning.
It’s a prayer we can pray in faith, because our Father makes it his business to sort out our messes and to bring new beginnings to his children. We can never out-do his willingness to make sense of our confusion or out-sin his grace therein. God makes himself available to our pleas for the “new” and will always be faithful to follow-through with a “new” that is tailor made to individual needs.
I don’t know what transpired in my night’s pause, but the brilliant arrival of sunshine seemed to punctuate the fact that my Father took my prayer to holy heart and granted me the grace of a new beginning this morning. I couldn’t help but notice him. Morning light has a way of announcing his presence—of saying “I’m here…” and “won’t you join me on the road today?”
Life lives new and fresh and better than yesterday when we join our Jesus on the journey of grace. Certainly, some days flesh themselves out as healthier than others. Some days we operate out of God’s fullness rather than personal depletion. Some days our wills line up with our Father’s and, no matter the schemes of the enemy aimed in our direction, we don’t take his bait; instead, we keep faithful to the truth and to the right and good witness of the Holy Spirit living within us. Some days we live life like God intends for us to live it. Some days we live like Easter people.
And some days we don’t live much at all. Some days we step over boundary lines that we were never meant to cross. Some days we say things, do things, pretend things that aren’t in keeping with kingdom living. Some days we live for self rather than for God. Some days we don’t live up to our potential because we’re too busy living beneath our level. Yesterday was a “don’t” day for me, but thankfully, today is walking better.
Today is living like Easter. Like resurrection. Like light. Like freedom, and I have the brilliancy of a Sunday morning’s sun—a Son—to thank for that.
A resurrected life with a resurrected Jesus… how I want to live each day. How thankful I am for a Father’s grace that covers me when I don’t live with resurrected truth and for his willingness to intervene in my night’s pause to re-work my chaos so that my morning shines new and fresh and with the promise of a better day ahead.
May each day of this new week we’ve been given live with the brilliancy of a Sunday morning’s Son as our witness. He intends for us to live in the truth of Easter and with the grace of the cross as our inheritance. Be kind to yourself when you don’t get it right, and be deliberate about asking for a new beginning accordingly. He loves you far more than you realize; you are his bride, and for better or worse, in sickness and in health, he’s keeping you forever. As always…
peace for the journey,
~elaine
PS: I don’t know how much I’ll be around this week. I have some pondering and praying to do apart from blogging, but I’ll be visiting you and loving you from my own little spot on the globe. If you have anything more specific you’d like me to pray about this week, please feel free to e-mail me. Shalom.
Thanks for your continued prayers…you know the details.
Now…what I can I pray for with you, friend? If there's anything you need, remember that I'm here for you.
Hugs,
Beth
A good one for me to hear today!
Beautiful…
Yesterday, I felt like Job, cursing the circumstances while lifting my hands to the Father.
Today, the sun did shine a little brighter as I worshipped.
Thanks for sharing your heart…ALWAYS.
Happy Sunday!
Sometimes I forget Who I belong to when I see the darkness invading my son's life. But then I hear the whisper of my sweet Savior's voice and I remember.
Your post was a beautiful reminder….Thank you!
love and hugs~Tammy
I appreciate your honesty Elaine…it blesses! It's always helpful when I see that 'sisters' I genuinely respect, also have those strife days!!
Praying for some good time on your own this week.
Hugs!
Sonja
So thankful for new beginnings. And thanks for the reminder, Elaine, to be kind to ourselves when we get it wrong — and also the reminder that we are Christ's bride, that He loves us for better or for worse… What a beautiful and encouraging thought!
Amazing post.
I had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago… a long, hard day followed by one where God's shown His grace and His peace all over me. He reminded that each day is a new day and a fresh start. I have kept is close ever since… He showed me many things over the course of these two days. And, continues to as I listen more and more along these lines.
Thanks so for your words here today and they showed me again several things that I know the Lord is teaching me on this right now.
Have a great week, Elaine!
Hey! It's a new day, yes. Easter moments happen every day if I open my eyes. I'm praying for you, sweet friend. I'm so…well, you know, excited about new things for ya. Blah. I'm not making sense. But you know what I mean.
love you.
Oh Elaine:
Wow the picture and the post really spoke to me because this on my way to church the sun was chasing me all the way there or at least it was like God watching me through my sunroof all the way there and it was dipping in and out of the clouds to do it!
THEN…… as we began our Worship time together I always sit on the side of the church where the sun comes in and I felt the sun touch me and grab me during that worship time. I found myself moving closer to the window as I was on the aisle seat and I dipped my head several times just to catch the sun even more through the church window. I felt the Lord just speaking over me saying, "I see you, I love you and I'm glad we're in this place together!"
Thanks for the visual reminder of that!
{{HUGS}} Stephanie
PS: I'm now on HIGH SPEED Internet and I feel like I'm flying! About time I walked into the 21st Century! So this is how it really works!!
Oh, Elaine, I was in agreement as I read through this, so thankful for the truths you were speaking. But then I got up to your last line, and – oh! Did God ever bless my heart with that…
"He loves you far more than you realize; you are his bride, and for better or worse, in sickness and in health, he's keeping you forever."
I KNOW that's true, but to read it in this way you've written – ahhhhh, just what I needed this morning. (Which has already been chaotic…)
Thank you!
The Sun…that is Heaven and SUNDAY MORNING is right and appropriate for one who needs a NEW DAY. I love what the word says that THEY WILL BE NO DARKNESS in heaven and no need for the sun…because His glory will shine in brightness.
Have a blessed and glory filled week as you seek His face.
Gladwell
Amen! Praise the Lord for new beginnings. Elaine, please remember us in your prayers. God has the details. No repeating necessary. Thanks!
I just had some God time today that resonates with this. After a time of chasing my own whims, I simply sat quietly in His Presence, and had a heart-to-heart talk with my Dad.
just read your last comment on my blog…just know iam not laughing at you, but with you. 🙂
Who knows what is around the corner?!!!
Last night I had a pity party of my own…it was a "don't" evening for sure. Today didn't start out very well but I had an opportunity. I posted this on facebook today….Amy Guerino was feeling blue but stopped to pick up 82 year old lady struggling with her three grocery bags to take her home. She gave me cuttings of her flowering daphne. This reminds me of 2 Cor. 2:15 which says, "we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." Look for opportunities to be Jesus hands and feet and your mood will improve!
Your post rings true to my heart today and God turned the day around.
From dreary days. Dark. Dreaded.
Into sunlight.
The Son is shining brighter in my world. My life. My heart.
You always help.
Sweet dreams.
what a sweet prayer. or "visit me in my dreams",
which He loves to do!
i got clobbered today on a comment. here i
thought i was being so safe, and someone was
still offended by my faith.
it felt good…:)
I feel like I've had some of those days lately where I've been living badly!
Loved your prayer…"Lord, visit me in my rest and sort this mess out. Make tomorrow my brand new beginning."
I'm headed to bed soon and may make it my own tonight!
Love ya,
Marilyn…in Mississippi
Praying for you while you're pondering and praying…