After a night of rain
when dawn pushes aside the clouds
everything drips fresh and clean.
Could there be a more perfect moment?
All creation rejoices in its beauty.
I wish to stay here in this sliver of rightness.
But I can’t.
Time moves on, and I must go with it.
What lingers is a promise of more.
But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13
Beautiful sunrise that words cannot satisfy.
God’s goodness and beauty suffused across the sky.
It goes beyond imagination, limitless is His love.
The heavens declare this message,
sent in Jesus from above.
Of this grace God wants our hearts to hear—
That no matter what sin we have done,
His unfailing love will conquer fear.
God’s sunrise bids you come.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 NLT
How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. Psalm 31:9 NLT
Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Psalm 36:5 NLT
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Exodus 14:15 NLT
Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there! Psalm 77:19 NLT
God pointed to a pathway none could see.
Steps to disaster looks to me.”
They began to wail an anguished groan,
“O Lord, let’s turn back to Egypt our home?”
“Why are you crying?
Won’t you trust Me.
Get up! Get moving!
Step into the sea.”
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. Psalm 138:2 NLT
Queen’s Cup such a beautiful flower.
The Lord’s creation, what delicate power.
God stoops down a gift from above.
Declaring His unfailing love.
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. (Psalm 16:11 NLT)
Show me the way
to a life that pleases You
Show me the way
to joy forever true.
In each season of life Your voice I want to hear
Songs of love that drown out my anxious fear.
Yes, show me the way You meant life to be.
not just this moment but for all eternity.
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 NIV
“What a fellowship what a joy divine leaning on the everlasting arms.” Lyrics from “Leaning On Jesus” by A.E. Hoffman
… Even angels long to look into these things. 1 Peter 1:12 NIV
Does God enrich our lives in ways we fail to comprehend?
Something of great value that tears cannot upend.
Joy in God’s forgiveness when we should receive the sword.
A closeness achieved when we lean upon our Lord.
Believing in God’s grace when feelings tell us flee.
Trusting Christ is with us when defeat is all we see,
Oh, but how God uses darkness to help our faith to grow.
This bond with our Savior, even angels long to know.
A little kindness here and gone,
leaves its mark against the wrong.
Do not begrudge when life seems sour
for kindness needs time,
to bud and flower.
“And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)
Mark 4:35-41 NLT
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Jesus, Jesus, don’t you care?
Asleep in back so unaware.
In fear and darkness were going down!
Wake up, wake up we’re ‘bout to drown.
“Silence be still,” You did respond.
The churning sea became a pond.
My faith did grow in that hour,
To humbly attest Your almighty power.
So don’t be fooled by life’s roiling sea
He who conquered death has authority
Over fears that crash across your bow.
Faith in Him, He will endow…
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3 NIV
Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?…
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. Psalm 77:8,10-11 NIV
When trials come and all seems lost,
“I will remember the darkness of the cross.
Where You hung enduring my shame.
Cut off from God, and taking my blame.
The third morning
You were raised in power
transcending my death.
unfailing grace that will not sour,
In You life becomes fragrant—
a blossoming flower.
O God, listen to my cry!
Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
for you are my safe refuge,
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary,
safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Psalm 61:1-4 NLT
Reflection—
O LORD, I am overwhelmed by the trials that lay ahead.
I am not sure I’ll make it
I tire of the struggle;
my faith is weak.
I feel the arrows of my foes.
Please hear my cry for help,
and lift me to the rock that is higher than all my woes.
Stephen L Hufman 