Let the Sunshine In!

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some color outside and warm sunshine!  The gray and brown mixed with a few splashes of blue sky and white clouds help break up the dreary monotony, but I need more!  Every now and then, I get a glimpse of green leaves or the purple and yellow pansies along the curbside of the fast food chain.  Thank God for fast food…as least they budget for beauty!

First of all, if you live in the north, please accept my apologies for being grumpy about the weather because I know yours isn’t that great either!  And if you live south of the boarder, please know that I am envious of your beautiful palms and forever blooming plants and flowers!  I promise to adjust my attitude and will work hard on being content in season and out of season!  Living in Louisiana has its pleasures and rewards, but one doesn’t really know how to dress…depending upon the weather.  It’s a real roller coaster ride here with highs and lows.

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I just had the fortunate opportunity to travel this past week with my husband, Brian, to Sun Valley!  You may know it as Phoenix, Arizona.  Although the sun was shining, it was still chilly outside.  My time there however was not spent in the sun!  Attending a National Conference left little time for exploration...so I was basically cooped up inside the whole time.  All in all, I enjoyed meeting new people and learning more about running a business.

I’m home now and getting cabin fever.  The sun is shining and it is chilly and windy.  I don’t really mind the cold but what I’ve been missing is the chance to be in the sun!  I need light!  Some people actually suffer from winter depression – known as “seasonal affective disorder” (SAD) from a lack of light.  Research has shown that replacing bright light will affect your mood.  Alfred Lewy, MD, a seasonal affective disorder researcher at the Oregon Health & Science University, says it's not only a matter of getting light, but also getting it at the right time. "The most important time to get light is in the morning," he says.

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Now, I have to be honest with you and tell you that I am writing this blog on Friday and there is not much time over the weekend for me to write.  Actually, I emailed Kathy this morning asking her to pray that I would hear a direction from the Lord about what to write.  In our email conversation I encouraged her to get outside and walk around in the sunshine because I’m sure we are missing our vitamin D!  I didn’t think anything about it until later that morning.  I was feeling extremely antsy inside the house and convinced myself that I needed to go for a drive… in the sun!  During my drive around town and stopping at a few “eye candy” shops for color to look at, the sun shone on my skin and my brain was exposed to colorful beauty that seemed to help my antsy state.  When I realized what I was doing by trying to feel better by the suns rays, I began to hear from the Lord about “the sun.”   The Holy Spirit also softly scolded me for looking elsewhere for satisfaction….

Here is a list of what He gave me:

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• Do you know that during winter, the sun is not farther away?  The reason it is colder than normal is because of the earth’s tilt.  Our position to the sun…not the position of the sun to us!  Oooo!  Thanks God!  That’s a great analogy!  As we turn our face away from the Son, things grow cold and dim and we are unable to see the things of God clearly.  We develop cold attitudes and our heart is hardened.  We have turned our face toward sinful ways and are no longer tenderhearted, forgiving, compassionate, or show love toward one another.  When I am physically cold, I am consumed with how to take care of me!  I become selfish (self focused).  Likewise, when I am spiritually cold, my focus is not on others.  Like the earth’s position to the sun, my position to the Son has moved.  His position is always the same.  When my face is turned away, though I am in the palm of His hand, I cannot receive His best for me.  It is body language for rejecting and a silent barrier begins to be built.  If not corrected quickly, the wall becomes more difficult to break through.  

• When I am in the sunlight, I tend to be happier.  When my walk with the Lord is in step with His, I am happier and tend to be lighthearted.  I have cast all my cares on Him.  He walks and talks with me and I’m happy because He reveals himself to me. Dr. Lewy says that the best time to seek the light is in the morning.  Jesus says the same thing about seeking Him, the Light of the world, early. 
  

            Proverbs 8:17  “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

• Spending a lot of time in the sun causes a change in your appearance!  It will brand your skin!  I recently put on a skirt and shoes to wear to an event.  I quickly changed clothes because my legs were super white!  They have not absorbed any sunrays in a while and are in great need of a tan!  When you spend time with the Son, your appearance changes... you are branded!    Others begin to question why you smile so much.  Your face is radiant and your actions and reactions reflect a power that is greater than you.  You tend to have glowing appearance and love abounds! 
  

                John 13:35  “By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
                                                                                             if you have love for one another.”

• The sunlight is better than artificial light.  I can try to be satisfied with things other than Jesus, but it’s all artificial.  Only Jesus the true Son can satisfy your soul.
  

        Psalms 107: 9  “For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

• Of course, all of this thinking led me to Moses and how his face glowed so much after seeing the Lord, he had to wear a veil.  The reason his face glowed was the result of his fellowship with God.  I came across this sermon by Charles Spurgeon (5/18/1890) on the “Shining of the Face of Moses.”  The link provided will give you greater insight and I found it most interesting! http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols34-36/chs2143.pdf
  

        There is also another bible character whose face was like the face of an angel.  Stephen! Acts 6: 8-15.  John   
        Macarthur, Jr. wrote a book on Stephen: A Profile of Courage.  Part IV is titled “His Countenance.”  In the midst of
        Stephen’s troubles and persecution, there was a holy glow on his face.  This is another good read.  It is available 
        in PDF for you to read online.  http://www.gty.org/resources/study-guides/40-5101/stephen-a-profile-in-courage 

Have you noticed that the sun seems brighter in the dark of winter?  You and I know that the sun doesn’t really get brighter or dimmer! Once again, it has to do with the position or tilt of the earth.  In the dark difficult times of life, as though walking through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps.23), look up!  The sun seems brighter…closer…warmer!  The Son promises to never leave you or forsake you.  He doesn’t give up on you! 

                           Duet. 31:8  “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you;
                             he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

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So, if you are like me and find yourself in need of a little sunshine, turn to the real Sonshine!  I’m not suggesting that there may not be a little lack of melatonin in the brain…take your vitamin D, but most often I believe, our walk with the Savior has taken a slight tilt away from the Son.  We have a heart condition rather than a vitamin deficiency.  So, Dr. Barron here has a solution!  Take your Bible and sit in the sun; and in so doing, you will heal your heart and boost your vitamin D!  

Malachi 4: 2  “But for you who revere my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.

So today, I plan to feed on His word and go out and frolic like a well-fed calf!  How about you?!

Delighting in the Son,
Sherry

Resource for SAD: http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/seasonal-affective-disorder

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