The Glory of Sunshine

Published in 2006 on www.blogger.com/christianfictionnovel. I couldn't resist sharing it because it says it all.


Donna


What a glorious day to share! Our skies are open with the cerulean clarity that comes after a frosty night. This corner of the earth has begun to nestle itself closer to the sun, awakening to the warmth of that generous satellite. I turn my face to its sympathetic brightness and drink in the elements that our dark and cold winter has denied me.


Ah spring! It is a temperamental lover. One moment it turns its back on us with a raging tempest, throwing its tears and blasts in dark, thunderous bursts. And then it distances itself with an icy aloofness, chilling our little nook with its cold and bitter indifference. But then it turns to us, wraps us in its alluring and heady hold and offers its bright and fragrant splendor as a placating gesture. And all we can do is bask in its beauty, awestruck that it is merely a shadow--a feeble image--of our Master's magnificence. A mere product of the Creator's hand.


And so I embrace Spring's fragrances--the lilac scented air swirling about me intermingled with lily of the valley and allium, their sweet and spicey pollens clinging to my sleeves as I caress the garden's bountiful blossoms. Honey bees share their chorus today, pleased that Spring has forgiven us and chosen to bestow her favours on all and sundry. The humming birds have made their entrance, darting to and fro in an eratic ballet, their wings adding a base note to the fervant music around me. I can feel the energy of the day and am grateful to be alive and part of this incredible moment.

The Deep Wide Valley - Walk With Me

How do you know the extent of my deep trials? I was suddenly thrust into the slidden condition of despair. The valley grew wider; my feet grew weary. It was a long and treacherous path. I couldn't see an end in sight, so I wandered on aimlessly, hoping to find answers, a way out, a light in view, anything.......

Who was there to talk with? Who was willing to listen to my meaningless woes? Where are all the others who say they know what it's like to encounter despair? We each go through the valley alone, I guess. Yeah, they're out there, but in a different valley. They wouldn't be found walking in my valley. There must be so many valley's. How vast is our land!

Wait a minute, I've been here before. It wasn't the same trudge, but I remember this terrain. Time seems so long down here. There must be a fresher clearer air beyound the cloud of doubt and despair. Of course it is, I remember the climb back up the last valley that I had broken through. I broke through those clouds. It was as if I broke through a thick film of darkness and when I did, the darkness was over. All was bright and glorious. It was almost as if it never happened at all.
In fact, I hardly remember why I walked there before.

Still, here I am..........in a new time frame, a new valley. I will climb my way back out. I will burst forth and discover a new meaning and joy of life again!

Copyright Janice Keats

A Grand Spectacle - Marcia

At a certain time of day, early in the evening, I make sure the curtains on the windows in our living room are open. I don’t want to miss the spectacle. Yes, right here in Ponoka, there’s a grand spectacle every evening. It’s a spectacle of promise.

We are fortunate enough to live on a street that is one-sided. There are houses on the east side, but not on the west. That side is still an undeveloped bush, full of birds, squirrels and deer. It’s there that the spectacle of promise happens. As the sun begins to drop, the light slants, hitting thousands of small catkins hanging from the trees. When the sun hits them, they glow, making the entire bush light up. It’s the promise of spring; the promise of new growth; the promise of the colour green.

As I have watched the glow become more and more intense day by day, I have been reminded of all the promises God has given us. They, too, are promises of new growth, rebirth and second chances. They are filled with words of love and protection, encouragement and comfort. They confirm the power of all believers to accomplish God’s purposes. They speak about God’s faithfulness, mercy and forgiveness and His desire for a continuing relationship with us. They outline the path to peace and everlasting life.

None of God’s promises are hidden. He has made a spectacle of them, displaying them for all to see. They glow like the catkins on the trees across from my house. They are promises that will never be broken.

The Apostle Paul knew this when he addressed the people of Corinth – “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” 2Corinthians 1:20

There is no duplicity in God. Just as we know those catkins will develop and bloom into bright green leaves, we can know that God is saying “yes,” to us. “Yes, I am here. Yes, I love you more than you can comprehend. Yes, I want you to get to know me. And yes, soon, very soon, we will be together.”

One promise that sums up all the others can be found in Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” All the promises, all the trials, all the events of our lives, are meant to culminate in what is good. For the believer, there is no doubt it will happen.

As spring creeps to its fulfillment, as we watch the earth bursting into new life around us. we can be confident that the same kind of life is growing in us. The same kind of renewal is possible. God is saying “Yes!”

May we all shout “Amen!”

Note from a relentless editor. . .

Just a reminder -- this blog is for posting your writing. While news, victories, prayer requests, and so on are deeply important, we have our Yahoo listserv, your personal blogs, and the InScribe website to post other information about our writing world.

So dig out a manuscript, or write something new, and share it here for us to read!

your picky blog-master, lc.