"SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS MAKE ME HAPPY"

I love to get lost in sunshine, sunrises and sunsets.  I love the feel of the sun shining down on me whether it's winter, spring, summer or fall, sunshine warms my heart.  What is it about the sun that makes us all smile?  What is it about the sun that makes us all feel better?  The temperature doesn't even seem to matter when the sun is shining.  Why?  I'm not sure but I do know the sun makes me smile.  It literally and figuratively warms my heart and makes me feel more alive.  How about you?  How does the sunshine affect you and your life, or does it?  

Life is hard!   There are seasons in our life, like the seasons of this earth, where we feel dormant, cold and lonely.  There are times we feel alive and sparkling with new ideas, fresh goals and intriguing plans.  There are times we feel overheated and overwhelmed, yet also relaxed and resting (is that even possible?).  Then again there are times when we feel like we're losing everything.  Everything seems to be falling apart and we feel like we're losing our minds.  Just as the seasons change on this planet, the seasons of our lives come and go.  Whether we keep looking at the sunshine and seeing the good we still have or we can bury ourselves in the darkness and hide, clinging to every wrong in our lives.

The choice is ours to make but for me I cling to the "Son"shine. I didn't misspell there it was intentional.  It means for me when I see the actual sunshine, when I feel the warmth of the sun kissing my cheeks, I am instantly overwhelmed by the presence of Jesus Christ.  He is the Son I seek every day, every season, every second of every day.  His loves overwhelms me and He chases me down with blessings and favor because I totally surrender to Him everyday and I  allow His grace to invade my heart and change my life forever.  Through my faith in Jesus Christ, not only has my life been changed but my eternity also.  It has changed the way I feel about everything and everyone.  

Growing up in a catholic church, there were "holy days of obligation".  The sheer thought that I "have to" mass on these days made me question God.  Would He really make me go to church or else I'd go to hell?  The answer for a child was scary but now as an adult I know that this was not true.  God doesn't want robots coming to church because they "have to'.  Unfortunately our churches are filled with those who feel they "have to" attend on these days.  Church should never be about obligation, it's about wanting a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  I go to church because I love it!  I want to go to church and be in His presence.  

Sunshine and "Son"shine lead me closer to God not out of obligation but in the quest for a deeper relationship with Him. 

THE GOOD OLD SUMMER TIME

"Oh, the good old summer time, yes the good old summer time" There is an old song that sings of summer time, I love this old song.  It reminds me of sun kissed cheeks, lazy days in a lounge chair by the beach and watching my grandchildren playing in the sand.  It reminds me of boat rides and tubing, sunshine and warmth.  There are many positive things we can say about summer especially after this arctic blast that has held us captive for weeks.  This picture is of my granddaughter, she loves playing in the sand.  By the time she was done sand was everywhere.  In every crevice, every crease there was sand.  Sand, when it is shaded, is soft and comfy on a hot summer day.  I love the feel of sand between my toes, don't you?

But oh my sand can become very uncomfortable when it gets in places it shouldn't be in, like in a diaper, or inside a wet bathing suit.  It can cause chaffing, skin rashes and discomfort.  It can be harsh to delicate skin and can be rather uncomfortable to deal with, especially if it's not dealt with.  Have you ever tried to sleep with sand in between your bed sheets?  Not very fun!  When that happens, the sheets have to be changed.  I must deal with the truth that is lying in between my sheets.  Even though it's not easy to do when you're exhausted and frustrated, the sand must be dealt with or else.

Sin is a lot like sand.  It can seem very pleasant and even soothing and soft. Sin can seem like something positive, the enemy likes it when sin becomes okay.  Like sitting in the cool shade on a sandy beach, sin can and will be deceptive.  It will lie to us and lure us into believing it's okay.  God's okay with our sin.  He's already forgiven us so why not just keep on sinning.  Let's continue to sleep with our boyfriend while attending church, let's continue to complain about our spouses while sitting with them in church, let's continue to gossip and pointing fingers while we praise God.  Seriously?????

James 4:8 Come near to God and He will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Oh the first part of this verse is all sunshine and roses, but I truly don't feel we can read just the first part without dealing with the truth of the second part.  It's comforting to read, "Come near to God and He will come near to you."  But the next part hurts.  "Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."  Listen I have to be totally honest here....I am a sinner!  I must wash my hands everyday!  I must purify my heart all the time because I can be double-minded.  In my mind and my heart I know that I cannot draw near to God until I admit that I am a sinner and a double-minded fool.  Admitting my sins is the first step in drawing near to God, at least for me.