Sat on the porch today and enjoyed the quiet rain, contemplating several times about coming in the house for a blanket but then the sun would pop out quickly, warm things up, then hastily retreat behind the clouds. The birds were really feeding today. I filled their favorite feeders this morning and they were almost empty late afternoon. If someone says you eat like a bird, sorry, but that means you eat like a piggy. Birds eat from one-quarter to one-half their body weight each day. A two pound cardinal consumes between a half-pound to a pound of seed daily. Those cardinals in my yard eat from dawn to darkness each day. I can’t say anything, I just rode six miles on my stationary bike eating a York peppermint patty. Shame on me but it was so good!

I think the sun enjoyed her day off today. Even hidden behind a thick layer of pale vanilla clouds, the sun still beams her warmth over the earth. We never doubt her presence, always sure she will rise in the mornings. She’s our primary source of light from the heavens. God’s warmth and grace always circles us even when we can’t feel his presence. Our lives are enriched when God’s light shines in our hearts. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk rightly,” Psalm 4:1. God shines his love and grace on us like rays of the sun, making us confident in our journeys of faith, knowing he’s always traveling with us.

John Piper writes, “Jesus relates to God the way radiance relates to glory, or the way the rays of sunlight relate to the sun.” The sun sends her golden rays all over the earth, radiating light and heat, making life on earth possible. God gives a purpose to our life by his light of faith and love. We can be a beacon of light for God as we share our Christian witness with others. God wants us to lead others to him by sharing our faith, showing them his love.

Bible scripture tell us our ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God, showing the love he offers us to others. God wants us to find happiness and joy as we journey through life. He has created a plan for our lives and mapped out our path to eternal life. God has given us free will to choose which path we take. When the road forks on your Christian journey, pray for God to light the way. God has plans and purposes for each person. We fulfill our purpose of life by glorifying God and living our lives in faithful service to him. God is good all the time, as devoted and as dependable as the sun that rises each day.

“God created sunshine so our hearts could feel the warmth of His love.” — Kathie L. Gakle McArthur