Soaring Above the Current

“and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Luke 1:47-49 (ESV)

Out for a walk on a breezy afternoon, my eyes are drawn upward to a flock of birds catching a wind current and enjoying effortless gliding. On a backdrop of blue, I can almost sense the freedom they are experiencing in this moment.

As Christians, we often forget the liberating sensation that comes from living a life with Jesus Christ as our Savior. Instead of allowing God to gently lift us up and propel us forward, we feel like we struggle daily, flying head-on into high velocity winds.

In Luke chapter one, Mary rejoices and praises God even though her current circumstances were anything but easy. In fact, this unexpected assignment would cause her and her husband Joseph great difficulty and turmoil. Mary chooses to look beyond the situation and focus on the blessing – not only the blessing she would soon hold in her arms while resting on a bed of hay in a small stable, but also the blessing that would one day provide the way of salvation for generations to come.

Mary’s song in the book of Luke inspires us to rejoice in God’s goodness, even when daunted by the path ahead. When faced with a seemingly insurmountable task, we can change perspective and position ourselves above the current. Then, by spreading our wings wide, we allow the mighty hand of God to guide us forward.

Linking up today with #LiveFreeThursday!

Entering a New Season

Joining the #DanceWithJesusLinkUp today. This post reminds me of how freeing it is when we dare to dance with Him!

“He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.” Psalm 104:19 NIV

The changing of the season inspires me. Right now, in the midst of the busiest month of the year, I made a decision. This year I would relish the changing of the season. As I sit here now in a mountain-top cabin looking out over a landscape I’ve never seen before, I am so glad I made the choice to pause and breathe in this moment. I’m a couple of weeks early for catching the foliage at its peak of changing hues, but in the sea of green before me, my eyes are drawn to a splash of red here, and a patch of yellow there. This season is right at the beginning of its ever-important change. And thankfully, I sit here in awe, witnessing the majesty.

Reminds me of the seasons of life.

Seasons can last days, weeks, months, or years, but changing seasons never comes easy. When the time arrives, whether unexpectedly or knowingly, our faith in the Season Creator is tested. We question Him. We analyze the situation. We stubbornly resist His ways. Then, after patiently listening to our whining, He gently whispers, “peace,” and we finally understand.

Psalm 104:19 tells us that “the sun knows when to go down.” The sun is a signal for us in many ways. By it we can tell time, find our way when we are lost, and decide when it’s time to tuck our sweet babies into bed. The psalmist writes about all the wonderful things created by our awesome God, but he also reminds us that each element of God’s creation has a purpose. God purposed the sun and the moon to let us know when it is time to change – when a new season is on the horizon.

The setting of the sun on a season in your life is inevitable. You are graciously given the choice to resist it or embrace it. Consider the season you may be entering right now. As you embark on this new time, the sun will soon be setting on another. Maybe it’s a job situation, a move to a new place, or the loss of a loved one. Whatever your unique season may be, remember the God who created the seasons knows the perfect time for the sun to retire, and then rise again to renew your spirit.

As I watch the sun turn pale pink and fade away behind the distant mountains, I have faith that it will appear again tomorrow in all its overwhelming beauty. Welcome, new season.