I live in the Pacific Northwest, and one thing we know about here is rain!

For the most part, I love the rain. It makes me feel cozy. I find myself lighting candles, baking something, or putting together a collection of fragrant yummies that then simmer on the stove.

So as I sit and listen to the droplets falling from the sky this morning; I thought it would be fun to check out some scriptures on the subject…

Isaiah 55:10 ESV “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the shower and bread to the eater.”

Jeremiah 14:22 ESV “Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O’ Lord God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.”

Job 5:10 ESV “He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields.”

Deuteronomy 28:12 ESV “The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give rain to your land in it’s season and to bless the works of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.”

Hosea 10:12 ESV “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.”

Deuteronomy 32:2 ESV “May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.”

And I love, love, love this one…

2 Samuel 23:4 ESV “He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.”

Thank you, Lord, for the rains that have been falling, as we know our earth seriously needs this healthy drink of water and the cleansing that always follows.

Help us, Lord, to recognize that when the rain falls on our personal lives, that growth and cleansing too, will follow. Help us to trust! Help us to follow!

May joy, laughter, and blessing rain upon you today, and thank you for spending some time in Sunshine. ☀️❤️☺️

“Faith is something we have.

Trust is something we do.

Trust is faith in action. It is faith that has been released.”

Joyce Meyers ~ “Quiet Time with God.”

Faith:

Hebrews 11:1 NIV “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:6 ESV “And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

1 Corinthians 2:5 ESV “That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

Trust:

Proverbs 3:5 ESV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

Psalm 56:3-4 ESV “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you, God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”

Psalm 37:5 ESV “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

Psalm 40:4 ESV “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie.”

Psalm 118:8 ESV “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”

Isaiah 26:3 ESV “You who keep him in perfect peace who’s mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

As you can see…Faith and Trust go together like peanut butter and jelly. Some things are just meant to be together…

And as a result of our faith kicking into gear creating trust…we get;

Mark 9:23 NLT “What do you mean, ‘if I can?Jesus asked.” “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Do you believe?

Be blessed today, and thank you for spending a little time in Sunshine. ☀️❤️☺️

1 Corinthians 14:33a KJV “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.”

Do your days feel like you’re on a treadmill? Walking fast, seemingly uphill all the way, huffing and puffing yet getting nowhere?

Does your world feel like a toilet that someone keeps flushing, the whirlpools constantly trying to suck you under?

Are the winds of your mind swirling gust’s of uncontrollable thoughts, fears, and worries all causing massive storms of anxiety?

Do you dread going to bed because it’s a wrestling match of emotions all fought in the terrors of darkness?

If the answer or answers were yes to any of the above then let me introduce you to God!

Philippians 4:6 ESV “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be know. To God.”

Philippians 4:7 NLT “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 55:22 NLT “Cast your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

Colossians 3:2 NLT “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”

Dear Lord,

Your word tells me you are my peace! You are my strength, my hope, my provider, my protector, my healer, my champion!

Lord, the world gets so big sometimes and I feel so small in comparison but you created the world and everything in it, including me.

Thank you for being in the midst of everything that concerns me. Thank you for your knowledge and word telling me that the waters of life may rise but they will never over take me.

That there will be trials, issues, sadness, disappointments but to be of good cheer because you have overcome the things of this world.

So, when the heavy rains fall thank you for being my umbrella. When the toilet flushes thank you for being my life saver. When the night terrors start thank you for being my light and safe haven.

With you Lord I can do all things and I can overcome all things. You are my best friend, you are my defender, you are My God.

In your name Lord Jesus I pray. Amen 🙏

I hope you discovered a safe place within today’s reading…Prayer is always a safe and comforting place to go when you need a place to go! Thank you for spending a few moments in Sunshine and have a blessed day. ☀️❤️☺️

Psalm 100:1-5 NLT “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good.

His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”

I read a Bible each year designed daily to offer some Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs! This was my reading in The Book of Psalm this morning and instantly knew I wanted to share.

There are some wonderful keys within these verses!

Shout to the Lord, Worship with gladness, Singing with joy!

I have found that when I shout out my love, my thankfulness for all the blessings in my life that joy actually bubbles up within!

But what about those days when the clouds have rolled in, the fog weighs heavily and it’s so dense you can’t see!

That’s when we acknowledge the next part of this scripture…

The Lord is God! He made us! We are his! The sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with Thanksgiving!!!

The Lord is God…whatever is holding you down, give it to him to carry. He made us and we are his! Most of us take care of things that are ours or that we’ve been entrusted with. How much more will the Lord our God? The Bible is full of parables of the shepherds love and care over the sheep of his pasture? How much more will the Lord our God watch over us?

Enter his gates with Thanksgiving! The first thing to be thankful for is the fact that we can boldly enter his courts, sit right down and have a visit…secondly, and I have found this to be a sure cure; being thankful!

In and amongst the garbage life throws our way, we can always find something to be thankful for…always…even if it’s the fresh air we breathe! When we start focusing on the good it overpowers the bad!

And finally His unfailing love continues forever and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

His love continues forever, passed down from the beginning of our family tree to the shade we stand under today.

I have found that I am a much happier, patient, joyful and pleasant person when I remember to: be thankful in all situations, even if I have to dig for some! Give praise and glory to the Lord our God for his never ending protection and provision and by sharing his love with others, thus reminding me of his love for me!

So, whether the sun is shining and skies are blue; or it’s wet, foggy and cold try shouting some praise, enter his courts with thankfulness and smile because you’re a child of God.

Be blessed today and thank you for spending a few moments in Sunshine. ☀️❤️☺️

What or whom gets the credit when things happen in your Christian walk of faith or the lives of the people you pray for?

When you found that surprise $20 in the pocket of last year’s winter coat just when the gas tank was empty, and so was your wallet? Was that luck, a coincidence, or the Lord supplying an urgent need? Although you put the money there, it was forgotten until the perfect moment!

You are running through the house frantically looking for your car keys, late for work, and still have to drop the kids off…only to come upon a major accident you could have been involved in? Was that luck, a coincidence, or God’s protection?

You were in a major vehicular accident, and the vehicle was totaled, yet you walked out without a scratch! Luck, a coincidence, or God’s mighty hand upon you?

Romans 8:28 NLT “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Everything! That means if we get off track, make a mistake, or make wrong life choices, we don’t have to hope for the planets to align, win the lottery or get lucky. God’s word tells me he will work all things together for our good. He will always put us back on track for the good of those who love him.

Proverbs 19:21 ESV “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

The purpose of the Lord that will stand!

This brings me much peace, knowing I can never mess up bad enough that the Lord can’t undo what I did…that my life isn’t a crap shoot or a roll of the dice.

I have lived by theses mottos and raised my children by this standard!

We are not lucky; We are blessed!

If we didn’t win, we learned!

So, the next time a funny little coincidence happens, a calamity misses you, or lady luck smiles upon you…rethink its origin and give God a thank you.

Be blessed today and thank you for spending some time in Sunshine. ☀️❤️☺️

I am not sure exactly when the roles were reversed, God became the bad guy, and Satan got cool. I know it began in the garden of Eden when the evil one twisted God’s words, and Eve fell, dragging Adam with her.

I hear God get the blame all the time for tragedies, illnesses, catastrophes, destruction, chaos, and mayhem. Hmmm, it doesn’t sound like the Lord’s nature!

1 Corinthians 14:33a NIV “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”

Psalm 145:8 NIV “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Now view a couple of verses regarding the Enemy…

1 Peter 5:8 NIV “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

John 8:44 ESV “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

John 10:10 NLT “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

God is the author of Love. He isn’t sitting on a cloud with a giant lightning bolt in his hand, just searching for the next human to zap a calamity on!

Family genetics, our personal health choices, drugs, alcohol, daily life choices, careers, our beliefs, and our habits all play a significant role in what lies ahead and in our paths.

Romans 6:23 NIV “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The wages of sin are death! This could be the death of a marriage, a friendship, a partnership, a job, or your health in general. Pushed too far, and it could mean your actual life.

Reread the second section of this verse… “but the gift of God.” even in scripture, warning us of the costs of sin is the message once again of his love and desire for our salvation.

So, maybe just maybe, the next time a crisis hits, your world spins on its axis, or you find yourself at the bottom of the dung heap instead of blaming and getting mad at God. You might look in the mirror and see what part you played or if it’s simply mayhem again; you can be assured it’s the evil one at work.

I am on a mission to change the world’s view of God, one person at a time…I need help; care to join me?

Thank you for spending a little time in Sunshine and be blessed today. ☀️❤️☺️

I am 62 and have begun to notice from time to time; my thoughts travel to aging! I am not talking about the number attached to me today, nor the tiny wrinkles and slightly sagging skin. I’m talking about the challenges that seem to arrive in our late eighties and nineties.

What does the future hold? I observe the trials and tribulations of our seniors. The body becomes frail, the mind is slightly scattered, and the income is minimal. What seemed like enough at retirement doesn’t match today’s staggering inflation.

The future looms with fear and trepidation…So, how does one handle the invisible fog waiting just down the road?

I have to be honest; if it weren’t for the assurance of my hope and walk with my Lord Jesus Christ, I would be a mess. I spend time with the elderly; I have elderly parents, my friends have elderly parents, and the struggle is real! The struggle is my future!

Isaiah 41:10 NLT “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Exodus 33:14 ESV “And he said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Psalm 4:8 ESV “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O’ Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

John 14:27 ESV “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

And with that, I will close.

I don’t know what my tomorrow holds, but I do know who holds it!

I choose faith over fear!

Be blessed today, and thank you for sharing some time in Sunshine. ☀️❤️☺️

Proverbs 22:6 NLT “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”

‘And when they are older…this small line speaks loudly in volume. There are countless mothers, myself included, who raised their children as much as they could or knew how in the ways and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, only to have our child or children reach the rebellious age.

In Judges 13:2, we are introduced to a woman only known as Manoah’s wife and Sampson’s mother. We are informed she is a simple woman living a simple life in an age of spiritual darkness.

Judges 13:2-5 NIV “A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, ‘You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Isreal from the hands of the Philistines.”

Judges 17:6 NIV “In those days Isreal had no King; everyone did as they saw fit.”

No pressure here, Mom! As the story continues and Sampson becomes a young man, he goes off the charts in rebellion! Sampson was out of control!

Along Sampsons destructive path he broke many of God’s laws and fell profoundly and ignorantly into the trap of lust and sexual pleasures. We’ve all heard the tales of Delilah, right?

Can you imagine his mother’s heart and grief? God blessed her to receive a son, and not only that, a son set apart for God, and now he’s as wild as a donkey’s colt.

She did her best with what she had in a time such as hers but ultimately, the choices were Sampsons and his choices resulted in a death at an early age! But what about Gods plan for him!

Well, God did accomplish his task despite Sampson’s choices! Sampson ruled Isreal as a judge for twenty years and in the end Sampson did connect with God.

Judges 16:28-30 NIV “Then Sampson prayed to the Lord, ‘O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’ Then Sampson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Sampson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus killing many more when he died than while he lived.”

Remember that Sampsons calling from birth was to deliver Isreal from the hands of the Philistines! Check Mate, God!

Sampson’s story could have been quite different had he made wiser choices. Had he possibly listened to the lessons of his youth and the voice of knowledge from his parents, his path could have been quite different. Many of ours could have been, I imagine.

However, as for God’s quest for Sampson, it came about anyway, so if you are a parent of a rebellious teen, keep the prayers of faith surrounding said child or children. Ask for the Lord to cover them constantly and continually put them in God’s hands. We, as parents, can only do so much, and that’s when we leave the rest to God.

I hope for blessings upon you today, and thank you for spending some time in Sunshine. ☀️❤️☺️

I had to learn this lesson the hard way, but my children grew up hearing, “lions have manes, tigers have stripes, and leopards have spots.” It’s always been and will always be; why does this keep surprising you?

So imagine my surprise when this scripture popped up in my morning Bible reading a couple of days ago.

Jeremiah 13:23 NLT “Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away his spots?”

This analogy is often used to the dismay of people’s actions in our lives! We each have characters, personalities, and events or people that have created behavior patterns within each of us.

For example, I grew up with a hostile parent. This parent always seemed to be angry about something, mad at someone, discontent with life, and on the right day, abusive.

Years later, I found some characteristics I hated in the said parent within me. I could be found in the cesspool of gossip. I walked around with a chip on my shoulder. I was quick to become angry and could be malicious.

Upon looking in my Christian mirror, I didn’t like the person in the reflection! But I have a lion’s mane. Does that mean I am stuck this way forever? Yes and No!

I still have all the above characteristics, and on a bad day, they can still appear, but the great news is through the help and strength of our Lord Jesus Christ. The quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit, along with my desire to rid myself of the bedhead, I know it can be done!

Like 18:27 NIV “Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

It truly takes our desire to make changes within ourselves that we don’t care for, but it’s the daily seeking of our Lord’s help, strength, and his word giving us direction and encouragement that helps us make the true and lasting changes we desire.

Sooo, if you are thinking of walking back into a lion’s den, you might want to ask yourself a couple of things. Is the awaiting lion still wearing the same mane, or is the lion seeking the Lord in hopes of taming the mane and gaining control over its beautiful locks?

Or, if you are tired of your stripes and spots, all it takes is your desire, asking the Lord for his help every day and managing your shortcomings as they pop up! Remember, we are all a work in progress until the day of his return.

Philippians 1:6 NLT “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Be blessed today and thank you for sharing some time in Sunshine. ☀️❤️☺️

Have you ever looked closely at a woven plaid blanket, beautifully stitched embroidery, or crocheted or knitted sweaters? Then you have marveled at how the threads, colors, and patterns all meld together to create a masterpiece.

The Scottish and Irish individually woven plaids represented each clan. The men wore kilts of and carried their banners bearing the family’s plaids into battles. You were known for your woven design, as you were by name.

God does the same with every one of us. We are each a woven masterpiece of his hands.

Psalm 139:13 ESV “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”

I color with pencils, and when shading to create depth, shape, and dimension, I find myself using colors I don’t particularly care for by themselves but blended with other colors; I can achieve the desired results.

My daughter and I discussed this topic a couple of days ago. She had read in a devotion about how God uses both the good and the bad to mature and grow us! This author likened it to making a cake batter; separately, some of the ingredients are not desirable to eat, but when mixed, they make a yummy batter and, in the end, after the oven heat, a delicious cake.

Proverbs 25:4 NIV “Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel.”

Dross is the impurities found in silver. The silversmith has to heat the silver 878 degrees to remove dross and metal oxides!. The result is pure refined sterling silver.

Often God will allow more rain to fall when we are already in a hurricane, whether of our making or not, causing us to look up and exclaim, “More, God, that’s just what I don’t need!!!” But I do know from personal experience I have learned and grown more from the trials and tribulations than I have in times of peace and pleasure.

So, the next time you find yourself on the potter’s wheel, in the scorching oven, or stretched out on a floor loom…Remember

God blesses us with Good…

He teaches us through the Bad…

Weaving, always weaving…

Creating your personal plaid…

Thank you for sharing some time in Sunshine and I pray you are blessed today! ☀️❤️😌