Rays of Sunshine

Devotions
Mar 082010

Submitted by Kimchi Blow

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

We experience so many moments throughout the day that can so easily pass us by. Here lately, the Lord has been having me slow down a bit to enjoy just a few.  Thankfully, today at the park, I was able to watch my two toddlers playing joyfully.   While there, I experienced a moment that took my breath away, and I wanted to capture it in my mind forever.  After running around chasing her brother for what seemed like hours, my two year old daughter suddenly stopped with her face towards the sunshine. It was like a scene from a movie where time stopped and all I could see was her. With her face towards the sunlight, I could see each of her amazing features. Her skin appeared perfect like a porcelain doll, while strands of her golden blond hair blew gently across her face. The rays of light hit her striking blue eyes in just the right places and they danced with delight. Then slowly, she closed her eyes and gently tilted her head toward the sky, as if God had taken His hand under her chin and gently lifted it towards Him. Peace exuded from within her. She stood there with a smile enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face and wind through her hair. All I could do was hold my breath. I walked over to her and just held her, kissing her sweet face.  Immediately, I thanked God for the moment.  It was a moment to cherish, a moment to love, a moment to thank, and a moment worth living for!

I walked away from the park overwhelmingly changed somehow. Why did this moment touch me so intensely? Why did I feel a stirring deep within? Why did I want to just stop time right there and not move another second forward? Why? As I pondered these things, I even began to pray and seek God for the answer.  And then it hit me and I was moved even more profoundly than when I was watching my daughter. It became so apparent to me that God was giving me a picture of how He stops and cherishes me like that throughout each day! Stop to recognize the moments God pours His love on you today.

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THE ANSWER!

Devotions
Feb 152010

One beautiful Tennessee morning in fall 2001 my parents and I encountered something unusual on the highway heading toward Clarksville. Through the peripheral vision in my right eye I saw something speeding past us. It maneuvered forward, then into our lane, then back into the right lane and disappeared. This 18-wheeler with a flatbed hauling a long stainless steel cylindrical tank was on a mission.

Despite the speed at which it traveled, we couldn’t have missed the bold message written on the back and sides: JESUS IS THE ANSWER! I hollered, “Look! Look at that!” Tears filled my eyes. Stunned silence filled the car. I already knew that Jesus had all the answers, but the Father wanted me to know that Jesus was, is, and always would be THE answer . . . to everything. It was as if He was saying, “Pay attention! You’re gonna need this!” He certainly was right about that. I desperately need Him.

• John 14:6 — ‘Jesus answered,’ I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

• John 14:13 — And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father (emphasis added).

“Where did that thing come from and where was it going?” we mused. Was it part of some big tent revival somewhere? Or was it someone’s clever way of proclaiming the ultimate truth to U.S. drivers? No other writing or identification appeared on that semi. It sped past so quickly we couldn’t read the license plate, but I wondered if it might have read, “Angel at the Wheel.” I still imagine it racing by like it was on its way to heaven, or on a mission to get another soul saved. Whatever the case, and whoever the driver — angel or not — I’ll never forget that sight.

JESUS IS THE ANSWER! Those words were burned indelibly on my mind. Their truth holds everything together when life tosses treachery my way. To whom do you turn when storms rage around you? There’s only one answer. On that day, it was larger than life.

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Over the years, in addition to regular soul-cleansing journaling, Laura Firtko has written for the Azusa Pacific University campus newspaper The Clause; World Vision Public/Media Relations department; Focus on the Family Brio, Breakaway, Clubhouse, and Youthwalk magazines; and she currently writes a weekly blog column for PWOC.ORG titled Life Happens – Jesus Answers which posts on Thursdays.

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