Today was a beautiful day, winter blue sky sketched by Father Sky, dotted with wispy white clouds and warm golden sunshine. Mother Nature invited Mr. North Wind to spend the day and he blew ferociously most of the day. Proverbs 25:23 reads, “The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.” I think he was just showing out today, not angry. He blew his rain through last night. The wind chimes enjoyed being loud and boisterous, beating out their symphony’s melodies. The brown oak leaf ballerinas were pirouetting from the high oak branches, the oak ballerinas on the ground being blown around joined in the dancing. Penelope likes a cold first morning walk. She was frisky, delighted to be in the 45 degree morning weather without a sweater. She pranced around and drug me down the broken sidewalk obstacle course next door. My yard was full of birds and squirrels. Another glorious day the Lord has created. And I’m grateful for it.

“God provides the wind, Man must raise the sail.” — St. Augustine

Was listening to the radio tonight, Debbie Boone singing, You light Up My Life, and wondering about the symbolism. Always thought that song was about falling in love but hearing it tonight I feel it’s about God and the realization that we are never alone when we have Jesus in our hearts. The lyrics read, “Alone in the dark but now you’ve come along and you light up my life, you give me hope to carry on, you light up my days and fill my nights with song.” I think one of the most wonderful things about living a Christian life is the knowledge of God’s “hope to carry on.” We turn our troubles over to God, put our burdens on his shoulders, and he promises that tomorrow will be a better day. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours,” Mark 11:24. We clutch that thought to our hearts and tomorrow will be better.

God can always give us hope to carry on another day. Darkness should not be feared when we can call on God. “Romans 15:13 reads, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” We are surrounded by the light of the Holy Spirit in the world’s gloominess, lighting candles through our prayers and Thanksgiving. We can be a light of hope in the darkness of others with kindness. Simple gestures of compassion can be a lifesaver of light in someone’s day.

John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The light of Jesus can be a lighthouse beacon bringing us home to God. Boone sings, “Rollin’ at sea, adrift on the water. Could it be finally I’m turnin’ for home?” We can help those drifting through life by being a witness to God’s Holy Spirit. We can steer their ship home to God.

“Faith points us beyond our problems to the hope we have in Christ.” — Billy Graham