Peace in the Storm

Thinking and praying for all those in harm's way from Hurricane Sandy.

"It is I, be not afraid."

It Happens Every Fall

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

 

It happens every Fall. I’m walking the dog or driving the car and come upon a stand of trees blazing with color -- reds, yellows, oranges. The leaves, like Japanese lanterns, are aglow with golden sunlight. Spontaneously, my heart leaps within me: surely a Divine Artist has created this scene.

From time immemorial great minds have wrestled with the idea of God. Elaborate arguments have been crafted to prove God’s existence. Others have sought to refute them. But after all is said and done, does anything speak more eloquently to the reality of God than the beauty of autumn foliage? Such testimony is all but irresistible. Without so much as a thought or a single word, the heart rises in joyful acknowledgement of the Divine Presence.

Surely a Divine Artist has created this scene.

The Serious Business of Joy

“Joy is the serious business of Heaven,” wrote C.S. Lewis. Too often we forget that joy is the serious business of Christians on earth. In his letter to the Galatians, for example, the Apostle Paul lists joy as one of the seven great fruits of the Spirit-filled life.

A gloomy Christian, then, is a contradiction in terms. Spoiled fruit.

When Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God the image he used most often was that of a wedding feast, one of the most joyful occasions in life. Shouldn't we be celebrating? A somber Christian is not a good advertisement for the Kingdom of God! Joy truly is the Christian’s serious business.



Photo courtesy of Faith Clipart

A gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms.