Here Comes The Sun

Growing up, I had an alarm clock that sweetly woke me up to the Beatles song, Here Comes the Sun:


Here Comes the Sun..doo doo doo doo, 
Here comes the sun...doooo doodoo doo dooodoo doo doo doo 


This morning feels kind of like that, the darkness has lifted and the sun has come.  Even waking up at 5 a.m. to have our morning prayer time  didn't push me into a funk.   It was a sweet awakening, a reminder that no matter what...I should always rejoice in the Lord!


We've been going through some major stuff, trials and tribulations stuff....if we were sitting around my table drinking coffee I'd probably use a word other than stuff ;)   Big deal, life course changing shtufff.   


Hard stuff....not the fluffy frilly life that we Christians expect to live out if we "do everything" right.   We went to church, we prayed, we trusted, we filled the offering envelopes...and...the chips still fell.   


Am I mad? No.   Did God let us down?  No.   Could he at any moment have swooped in and saved the day? Yes.    Did I let this cloud my thinking on what I believe?  Well....yes..and..no...in a good way...God is still God, but I've been touched..forever changed for the better.


Life isn't always sunshine and rainbows, lollipops and unicorns, all wrapped up with a pretty ribbon.  The rain falls on both the righteous and unrighteous...so where do we get this entitlement  deal that once we sign up for God's club it'll all be all right?


So, here's the my scoop...even in the midst of a huge everything hits the fan fest...
    I have never felt so close to my God.  I'm living with hands up--Abba, Father!
    If everything were stripped away today, I still would be blessed beyond measure.
    My marriage is good...like good, good.
    My kids are good (well, ok...they are good for 3 little Rascals)
    Humbled, Broken, and Pressed Out....nothing left but to be filled with God.


I'll take the storm if this is the path that leads me to Him!


Back to this morning's prayer time....Jim turned to Habakkuk 3 
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines, 
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.  (Habakkuk 3: 17-18)


Habakkuk didn't wait until God brought them through before he praised his Savior.   Even in the midst of this hopeless situation, no food and no real prospect of any coming soon, he still found his strength in God.


I've had to take a good look at myself through this all...is my attitude controlled by my current situation?  Do I shift with the tide?  Or..do I find an anchor in the unshakable Rock..my stronghold and my salvation?  


We have been given this new life of freedom for all who put their trust in Jesus, yet I still find myself wanting to stand in the ocean of life and battle the waves by myself!!!!  Ugh, my stubborn heart!


Ok, enough soap boxing on my own spiritual face plants ;)


I saw this quote on facebook today and felt that it was perfect for my sunshiney day:


A single sunbeam is enough to drive out any shadow.  -St. Francis of Assisi


We have that sunbeam...we have the power to drive out the shadows, God's light shines through us and into any situation.   


No matter what...Rejoice in the Lord!