A Source of Heat and Light

Imagine our world before the invention of electricity. The best source of heat and light would have come with the rising of the sun. Is it any wonder that people would go to bed with the chickens and get up with the roosters?

I lived in the Southwest desert for over fifteen years, and though I lived in an air-conditioned house and drove an air-conditioned car, they were only temporary escapes. Nothing could eliminate the outdoor heat, but I learned to be thankful for anything that could give me a shadow or some shade.

The Creator of the Universe made two great lights. *Genesis 1:14-18 (NLT) says the larger light was to govern the day and the smaller was to govern the night. The word “govern” denotes a certain power. While mankind has learned to harness the sun’s power, no one has yet eliminated its light or its heat.

As hot and dry as the desert gets, or even as humid as summer gets in other places, I don’t think anyone would vote to eliminate the sun or the moon.

According to *Genesis 1:14, they are signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. They do their assigned jobs so well that Robert B. Thomas, a schoolteacher and bookseller in 1792, created a yearly bestseller called **The Farmer’s Almanac.  

It’s fun to read David’s description of the sun: Psalm 19:4b-6:

 God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.

It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.

The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end.

Nothing can hide from its heat.

We can temporarily evade the sun’s heat with our A/C, shade trees, covered porches, and beach umbrellas, but we can never permanently hide from it. That’s good since the sun causes seeds to grow, develops healthy Vitamin D, and helps people avoid SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) from lack of sunlight.

Whatever time of day you wake up and see the sun, be personally thankful. Remember *Psalm 113:3: Everywhere---from east to west---praise the name of the LORD.

*All scripture quotations are NLT, taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

**The History of the Almanac: Editors; Old Farmer’s Almanac, https://www.almanac.com.history

Pixabay Photo: Sunrise, Desert Landscape, Public Domain 

The Silent Marvel

How often do you take time to look up at the night sky? When we lived in the desert, I used to enjoy night rides in our little 914 Porsche. It didn’t take long to get away from city lights, and the sky was so beautiful. We moved and the Porsche is long gone, but I still enjoy nighttime beauty.

Think of the night skies as David would have seen them thousands of years ago. As a shepherd boy, he did not have to contend with city lights. He beautifully describes the worldwide enjoyment of the heavens in Psalm 19:1-4 (NLT):

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The skies display his craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

Night after night they make him known.

They speak without a sound or word;

Their voice is never heard.

Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

And their words to all the world.

Have you ever given God praise for His craftsmanship? I find it easy to be in awe of Michelangelo’s artistry on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and his well-known sculpture of David. Though I’m not familiar with all of Michelangelo’s works, it’s easy to give praise for those that I have seen.

Let’s not forget that the living God, Creator of the Universe, is open to praise for His works, too.

If you go back to the order of Creation, night and day were brought into being on Day One. The lights in the sky, such as the sun, moon, and stars were put in place on Day Four (Genesis 1:1-3; 1:14-19, NLT). To see the complete order of Creation, read Genesis 1:1-2:4 and make a list.

People of every generation have witnessed the silent marvel. In Romans 1:20 (NLT), Paul wrote that people have seen God’s eternal power and divine nature in creation. On that basis, no one has an excuse for not knowing God. It’s just a matter of choosing to acknowledge Him.

Psalm 113:3 (NLT) says, “Everywhere - - - from east to west - - - praise the name of the Lord.” This week we have focused on the night sky. Next week we’ll consider the sun.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Night Scene photo from Pixabay by Pezibear.  

Warnings and Rewards Redo

Oh, boy. I hit the wrong button and published an unfinished draft by mistake. I corrected my layout, but when I hit publish it said I could not update the time on an already-published article, so let's see if this will allow you to read the corrected version.

With the new year, I’ve started a new study. I’m focused on The Book of Psalms. I’ve read it many times, memorized verses, and even turned a couple of chapters into songs for easier memorization. Years ago, I enjoyed playing my autoharp and singing from a Psalter during private devotions.

The Bible is an amazing book. It has been revered, read, and applied to life by people from generation to generation. Can you imagine how many people besides you and me have noticed both warnings and rewards from Genesis to Revelation?

These two things are basic to life. Caring parents try to warn children to keep away from certain things or to avoid acting in certain ways. Children who choose to ignore those warnings usually learn some hard lessons. On the other hand, children who choose to listen up may find life more rewarding.

Psalm 19:7-11 shares this same principle along with some interesting descriptions of God’s Word:

                       Scripture is declared to be:

                        Perfect . . . reviving the soul

                        Trustworthy . . . making wise the simple

                        Right . . . bringing joy to the heart

                        Clear . . . giving insight for living

                        True . . . God's laws are fair

                        Do you see any personally desirable things there? 

                        I sure do.

How about two more warnings and rewards scriptures?

 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.

But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Proverbs 29:18 (NLT)

I have followed your commands,

which keep me from following cruel and evil people.

Psalm 17:4 (NLT)

By now the value of choices is clear, but here’s a clincher: Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood but they are not heeded. Proverbs 29:19 (NLT).

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.  

Photo from Pixabay a few years back.

Give Worry the Boot

Would you like to have happier days? Give worry the boot. I was reminded of this when my town performed its annual New Year’s Eve ritual. A famous saloon in our historic downtown drops a large neon cowboy boot from its second story.

It’s not as exciting as the New York Ball Drop, but it’s not meant to be. New York is bringing in the New Year while our town is giving the old year “the boot.” If you haven’t heard the term, it’s for real- - -give something “the boot,” a kick or a shove to get it out of the way.

Paul advised us to give worry or anxiety the boot. His advice in Philippians 4:6-7 has three parts.

Part One: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Life gives us plenty to be distressed, miserable, or fearful about. If it’s not the world news, it’s probably something on a more personal level. But we all know our worry or stress changes nothing in the world or us.

Even Jesus said that in this world we will have troubles. But we are to take heart and be encouraged because He overcame these things, and He has solutions for us (John 16:33).

Part Two: Give Thanks. Once we’ve given our anxieties over to Jesus, we can choose a new focus. Being thankful is not an automatic spiritual response. You may need to remind yourself of what God has done in your life. If you need a jumpstart, review Psalm 103:1-5. And nature may have some reminders, too.

Don’t forget to look out and up. Modern technology has us looking down most of the time. It’s amazing how I find beauty as I’m driving if I only look for it. And at home, I sometimes take time to enjoy the evening sky.

Part Three: Receive Peace. This is a result of giving your worries to God and having a thankful heart. Paul says this happens as you continue to live your life with faith. Remember God’s timetable is not ours, so give Him time.

Opportunities will abound to give worry the boot. The new year marks a fresh start, but we must keep the faith to the finish line!