No Matter the Weather, the SON Always Shines!

It has been a dreary few weeks here in West Virginia. I don't think it has stopped snowing and the temperatures are about 25 degrees below normal. We haven't seen the sun in weeks - until today! I woke up this morning and looked out my window expecting to see what I have seen the last few weeks - snow on the ground and still falling. But to my surprise and delight I looked out to no snow falling and the sun shining. Granted it is still cold outside but we are supposed to have a high of 23 degrees today! But the sun is shining!

I immediately thought of how dreary the weather had been and how dreary it had made me start to feel. While I cannot always get out of the house due to physical limitations, it is still depressing to not be able to do anything even if I feel like it because of the weather. And for such a long period of time. I haven't even been able to celebrate the holidays with my daughter yet because of the weather.

But then I thought of no matter how dreary the weather is and no matter how long it is that we don't see the sun, God's SON always shines and is always there for us! What a comforting thought to know that God's son Jesus Christ is always there to help us through the cloudy times! He is our encourager when times are gray. He is our shelter from the storms of life. He can turn sadness into gladness, gloom and despair into hope and reassurance.

Lord, thank you for your SON who always shines. Thank you that no matter how dreary our lives may seem and no matter how many storms we may face, He is always there for us to brighten our day, to protect us, to love us, to shelter us. Thank you, Lord!

When Jesus spoke to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

INTEREST EQUALS INVESTMENT

I was talking to a friend the other day and she said that she was going to referee at her child's game the next day. I thought about how much I missed those days! My daughter is now grown, a senior in college, and doesn't need me to do things like referee her games anymore. I used to love being team mom, chaperone, substitute teacher, driver, whatever was needed! I felt like I was making an investment in my daughter's life. Now I never go to any softball games, cheerleading competitions, or field trips. Why? Because as much as I miss doing these things with my daughter, I don't have an interest in these activities anymore since she no longer participates.

The principle of investment is pretty clear. We have an interest in those things which we have an investment. And the greater the investment, the greater the interest! While this principle holds true for worldly matters, it certainly holds true for spiritual matters as well.

The more we invest of our time, our talents, our prayers, our money into the works of the church, our interest in bound to grow. If your interest in the church is waning, maybe you should invest more of your time and energy to it. God was so interested in us that He invested His only son, Jesus Christ in us!

Thank you, Lord, for being so interested and invested in our lives. Help us to become more interested in You and your word!

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

THE MANY GIFTS OF LOVE

Being a Christian comes with many responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is to love one another. Our Christian conduct is proof as to whether we love each other. By loving our fellow human beings and showing our love, we show that we belong to Jesus Christ.

It is not always easy to love our fellow human beings, however! We can become jealous, resentful, irritable, selfish, mean spirited. We can hold grudges against others. None of these traits show love for each other.

But there are many gifts that come from love. Some of these gifts are forgiveness, patience, kindess, justice, loyalty, truth, honesty, and belief in a person no matter what.

Sometimes it is much easier to "not" love others, but in order to follow God's word, we must love one another!

Lord, help us to love one another, no matter the circumstances. Help us to not be jealous, spiteful, mean spirited, resentful. Help us to be patient, loving, forgiving towards one another. Thank you, Lord, that You love us no matter our faults!

So I am now giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34

The Perfect "Christian"

I have a friend I want to tell you about. We were friends for 17 years. He was a true friend, always there to share the good times and the bad. He never left my side. In all the years I knew him, he never said a bad word, never drank or used drugs, never gossiped, never lied. Sounds like I am describing the perfect person, a good "Christian", doesn't it? In fact, I am talking about my dog, Barkley.

We need to realize that being a "Christian" involves more than refraining from evil. It involves an active pursuit of doing good. And furthermore, no matter how "good" we are, we are not Christians until we come to a relationship with Christ and obey the gospel.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

DOGS KNOW EVERYTHING

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?" stated the man.

The doctor was holding the handle of the door. On the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining. He hopened the door. A dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough. And, when the door opens, I will pass through it with gladness, but with no fear - if I know HIM!"

- Taken from Thoughts of Others by J. Key Powell

Lord, I thank You that because I do know you that there is no fear on what is on the other side of the door. I do know that there will be no pain, no tears, no sorrow - only joy, health, riches. Thank you, Lord! Help me to share You with others so that they too will know no fear!!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this.?" John 11:25-26