Tammy On Tuesday ~ The Glory of the Rising Son

“I hope the kids wake to their alarms this AM. I know they are tired.  Thursday is our next softball game.  I need to figure out the line up.  I wonder what that meeting is going to be about Wednesday night?  I wish I had a night at home.  I wonder if Abby finished her homework?  I hope she didn’t wait until the last minute to finish her project.  I can’t forget to send that e-mail.  I need to order that banner.  Can’t forget to order the books.  I thought the T-shirts would be here by now.”

This is the long line of thoughts that began when my eyes opened this AM.  Like boxcars, each filled to the brim with it’s own particular contents, they all joined together to make the train of thoughts which kept circling in my mind.

I came downstairs to my usual place on the couch.  I lit my favorite candle, grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down to spend some time with God.  In recent days, I have taken time before I open my Bible or devotional books to sit quietly and focus on who God is in all His glory.

…  He is love.  He is power.  He is personal.  He is ever-present.  He is purposeful. He is faithful.  He is truth.  He is intimate.  He is for me.  He is life.  …

Doing this pushes all other thoughts down.  It brings them into perspective and reveals to me their impotence in relation to His mighty power.  As I wait on God and reflect on who He is, He rises up and the other thoughts concede. As He rises up, my everyday details of life find their proper place – under the umbrella of His power and Glory.  While the moments pass I can feel the burden lift.  I know that no matter what I face today, His power and Glory will be its veil.  Everything is subject to the glory of the rising Son.

Here’s a perfect example of how my time with God changes my perspective on my day:

Yesterday morning I decided to set out on my run earlier than usual.  I had a lot going on, starting with a trip to the doctor for one of my kids at 8:00AM.  I normally don’t step out of the house until the sun has risen but yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to watch it break the horizon and bid me “good morning”.

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The first half of my run, I was running toward the sun as it rose over the horizon.  I’m sure you can agree there is a beauty in the sunrise that is really hard to put into words.  Watching the clouds move and change while the sun rose – taking in the beauty of a new morning – made my run seem easy.    I talked to God, praising Him for being so creative, thanking Him for all the things He’s done in my life.  Before I knew it, it was time to turn around.  A disappointing thought rushed into my mind, “Wow, now I won’t be able to watch the sun.”

As I crossed the street and headed back toward home, I saw the glow of the sun hitting the leaves on the tree ahead of me.  They were ablaze.  Then, up ahead, I could see a street sign.  The sun was reflecting off of it, shining like a huge street lamp.  I noticed the sun was beginning to shine on some of the houses and I could now see my silhouette on the ground in front of me.  Obviously the sun was shining on me too.

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My thoughts turned to how this is just like God and how He works in my life and heart – how the glory of the rising Son is not just special because of our time together, but because His glory shines into my everyday moments.

I felt God whisper to me…”Take in the beauty of Who I AM.  Those precious moments prepare you for hints of Jesus all throughout your day.  When you spend time with me, you are able to see my impact on the world around you and in your everyday circumstances.  I am with you.  Look for me!”

Such a simple thought.  Don’t miss the opportunity for the Son to rise in your heart each day.  It will transform the way you approach the details you encounter.

Bask in the glory of the Rising Son!