May we keep our heads to the sky, yet bow down to pray when we don’t see a way

In the Sunshine

The following phrase is attributed to Helen Keller: “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.”Kundtz writes this morning about the various interpretations of the statement. He says, “Keep looking on the bright side of life, emphasizing the positive, and then you will not even notice the negative and painful parts in the shadow.” Then he also states, “Watch out, because if you only see the bright side of things, you will miss the dark side, which can then do you harm.” He goes on to remind us that with this and others, our perspective can be one way, the opposite way, or even both ways in a situation. We get to choose how we see and/or need to interpret things in our lives. He asks us, what do we need today, the sunshine or the shadow?

I just spoke to my linesister about still being under the weather and how I feel unfocused on our 40 Day Fast. Right now, I only sense the shadow, gloom, disappointment, sickness, some defeat. However, I need the sunshine as a reminder that it’s a new day with bright beginnings, and an opportunity to refocus and begin again. Psalm 30 is stated as a thanksgiving for recovery from grave illness. We are reminded in verse 5, “…Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” We need to feel what we need to feel sometimes to be able to appreciate healing, glory, victory, and simply a new moment. Let’s always remember the sun will shine again, and even then shadows will appear, but we get to decide which one we’ll focus on.

FMBC Weekly Reading: Ezekiel 3:16-21

The watchman watches

“At the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, I have made you a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, “You shall surely die,” and you give them no warning, or speak to warn the wicked from their wicked way, in order to save their life, those wicked persons shall die for their iniquity; but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and they do not turn from their wickedness, or from their wicked way, they shall die for their iniquity; but you will have saved your life. Again, if the righteous turn from their righteousness and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before them, they shall die; because you have not warned them, they shall die for their sin, and their righteous deeds that they have done shall not be remembered; but their blood I will require at your hand. If, however, you warn the righteous not to sin, and they do not sin, they shall surely live, because they took warning; and you will have saved your life.”

May we work to listen to what God moves us to share with others; not impressing that they do as we say, but take information and choose what God is leading them to do with it. Let us always be obedient, striving to help ourselves and others live lives pleasing to God.

Youversion Verse of the Day:John 5:24

Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.

As sure as we believe we will live eternally, even after death on this earth.

May we keep our heads to the sky, yet bow down to pray when we don’t see a way, my friend.🙏🏽💚🦋🌈