Change Your Perspective and Look to the Son

As I was driving to work yesterday morning I noticed the beautiful clouds, dark and light, that covered the horizon. The sun was obscured but I could see the white light of it behind one of the clouds. As I drove along I saw bits of blue sky here and there among the clouds. And as I got closer to work I saw a line of blue as though it was a window in the wall of clouds, having both dark and light clouds beneath and above it. It was beautiful. To think that we can see the shining sun and the breathtaking blue of the sky just beyond the clouds makes for a masterpiece of wonder.

God spoke to my heart: Life has many opportunities that look like storm clouds. They threaten, they obscure, they try to define you. The swirling of the winds within the clouds and the ominous potential will hold you captive if you allow them. Yes, storms come into everyone’s life. Cloudy days are part of living;  but as your focus changes your perspective changes as well.  Instead of looking intently at the storm you are in, look beyond the cloudiness and see Me. The blue sky and sun rays are a herald of My Spirit giving you hope for today and purpose for the future. No matter who put the clouds in your sky, precious one, I AM preparing for you sunny days and plenty of blue skies. If you will hold onto My truth, in spite of the weather, you will see it all work out.  I AM the Lord who heals you, gives you new purpose, fresh insight and new dreams and hopes. Today may be cloudy but My forecast for you is abundance of the Son.  You cannot see it now, but your day is clearing and your life is gaining strength to live in the Light of My Word.  I AM speaking My Word over your life and heart and mind right now. Run to My Word and see what I AM saying about you, about the situation and about your future. That is your truth – not the storms, not the clouds, not the obscurity  – but the sun and the blue sky of your outcome for My glory.

Oh beloved, I know things can be oh so hard. The feelings you have about the situation you are presently in are understandable. I’ve been there. I can say that there were times I knew the sun would never shine again and yet it has! I know because I experienced it and God’s Word says it. God wants you to know that not only will your days ahead clear up, you will be absolutely amazed at how good and precious those new days will be. He loves you. Not buddy love or goose bumps love, but real love – the kind that sent Christ to the Cross. Abiding, genuine, enduring and faithful love. God is also for you – this means that no matter what you are going through, no matter whose fault it is, no matter the tangled turmoil of clouds swirling above your head – He will see you through it all. He will carry you beyond it as well. Better days full of joy and love and peace are coming, beloved, they are just beyond the clouds. Don’t give up now. Don’t give in to despair. Don’t languish in the depths of sorrow. Let God’s Word lift you up, build you up and carry you over to the other side.

Rest in His faithfulness. Focus on His promises. Pray for His Truth to become your reality. Watch as He does what only He can do. Your stormy days are about to end and your cloudy view is being overcome by the Son.  Break forth into joy and write and record for yourself how you feel today, how it looks tomorrow and how He honors His Word in your life for the days to come. Yes, your life has changed. It is changing for the better because you are learning to abide in Truth and rest in God and live for Jesus and that’s all that really matters.

II Peter 1:5a In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises…

Psalm 36:5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

Psalm 143:11 For the glory of Your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of Your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

Psalm 34:5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. NAS

Look Beyond the View of Now to the New

With the time change and with my habit of getting up early, I found myself wide awake and full of energy quite early yesterday morning. My husband was sleeping in, so I decided to get in the car and go for a sunrise drive. I didn’t go far but I meandered around the nearby country roads to see what I could see. The deer were out here and there. The fog that settled across meadows and ponds was lifting and the sun began to creep over the horizon. As the sun got higher the leaves became more brilliant in their fall colors. It was a gorgeous morning. I drove past a couple of places I’ve always thought would be beautiful for a home site.

As I looked at one of my favorite places to build a home, I noticed that the view went on forever. Since it was on a small hill the trees acres away framed the blue sky perfectly. One of those places where someone always says “I could sit on the porch and just take in the view forever”.

But I also thought that unless you own the view as well, with all those beautiful trees, you can’t be sure that it will stay the same. Whoever owns the adjoining pastures and woodlands is in charge of that so it’s subject to change.

Change comes. You put down roots, you work heartily as unto the Lord, you live life well and you enjoy the view. Things are good and you are satisfied. In fact you are quite content. Why would anyone ever change their venue, go somewhere else or sell out?

God speaks to my heart: My precious child. Unless you own all you can see, what you are doing, where you are going, you can’t be assured that it will remain the same. I own it all – the earth is mine and everything in it – including you. I spoke and the beauty of the world came into existence. I spoke and you came into existence. I knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb. I knew the views you would enjoy, the places you would feel comfortable and the joys you would feel while looking at My creation. You cannot own it all, and you cannot make it stay the same forever, no matter how much you enjoy it. So you will have to trust Me to make each step of the life of your faith beautiful in its own way. Don’t be so attached to people, places, views and things. For I am going to take you beyond your comfort zone, out of your favorite view and into My realm of service. You will have to learn to enjoy the now, and be prepared for the new. But I promise, each and every step will be wonderful as you learn to trust Me more and more. You once lived in the valley and now I am taking you to greater heights. Don’t fear the road upward, for new heights are just what you need to thrive in the Holy Spirit. Don’t wish for the old view in the valley, don’t desire to go back. I am not a God who was, I AM that I AM. Each day with me holds a new view of beauty and life and purpose. Together, as you hold onto Me and let Me choose the path, you will grow in the grace and knowledge of Me. The splendor of letting Me choose your new view is something you could never experience in your own flesh.  Even if you must go through hard places to get to the summit, I am with you and I will teach you and show you and take you beyond yourself.

Oh beloved, hang on! You thought change was coming, in fact you’ve experienced quite a few changes. Everything in your life is transient as you turn your focus from the view to the View Maker. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth letting Him choose the changes as you follow Him with all of your heart.

Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Psalm 31:15 …my times are in Your hands…

Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”