Sunrise over the Andes

While I love the beauty of a sunset – the way God ends another day He created by changing the color of the clouds, the way He slowly allows it to sink so His children know they have made it through another part of creation, the way the light touches its surroundings and turns everything hues of pinks, purples, blues, oranges, reds, yellows, the way you feel after watching the whole setting take place knowing that you watched God at work – while I love watching it, I love sunrises even more.

You see, there’s just something about the anticipation of waiting for the sun to appear. With sunsets, you anticipate when it will set, but the beauty of the sun is already in view. But with sunrises, you have no idea when it will come out of the oblivion and appear.

There’s something about the effects of the sunrise way before the sun actually rises – the way the clouds turn pink, but the sun still isn’t in view, the way the rest of the city is lit but doesn’t have a sun to call it daytime, and the way the sun lines the mountains with its light but still isn’t out. The effects of the sun are seen but isn’t actually in view yet. You know the sun is there behind the mountains, but if you turn away before it comes out, you miss the full beauty of its splendor.

In life, it’s the same thing. Even when we can’t see what He's doing, God is at work. He is preparing something behind the mountain you face. Until He is ready for you to take into full view His work, He allows you to see sneak peeks of His work. You get to experience His majesty while He is still preparing the final picture.

Before He is done, He will show you the lining. He will speak to you one last time before He fully presents His glory. This is the moment He reveals your heart to yourself. It’s difficult knowing the sun is behind the mountain and only seeing the lining on the mountain. Some get tired of waiting and find something else to do. But some know that God is still there, that He is still preparing something. We have to make the choice to patiently wait for God to reveal His glory.

And when we do, out pops the sun! The rays stretch for miles and miles, touching every crevice of the city, lighting up the entire city. The sun slowly appears over the mountain turning the sky into hues of blues, yellows, and oranges. The only thing you can do is just smile knowing that what you waited in anticipation for He has finally appeared. As tears stream down your face, you can find joy knowing that God has brought into full circle what He said He would. You can find rest knowing that even when we can’t see the full thing, God is at work and is doing marvelous, magnificent things. We must be patient to see the end and then give Him the glory that He deserves for preparing His plan for us. 

"1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

4 One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7 Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.

9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.

10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.

12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 WAIT FOR THE LORD; BE STRONG AND TAKE HEART AND WAIT FOR THE LORD."

--Psalm 27

Imitation at Its Finest

"Mimi, what are you doing?"...

When my three-year-old nephew comes over, I hear that question ALL the time, ALL day long. It makes me laugh, because he asks it when it's absolutely clear what I'm doing. When I'm washing my hands: "Mimi, what are you doing?" When I'm brushing my hair: "Mimi, what are you doing?" When I'm reading a book: "Mimi, what are you doing?" When I'm watching tv: "Mimi, what are you doing?" I mean it: ALL. Day. Long. To be honest, it can sometimes get a little annoying... But because he's just so darn cute, I shrug it off and answer him.

But here's the catch, after I'll answer him, he'll follow up with this question, "Can I watch you, Mimi?" He asks it as if whatever I'm doing is just the most wonderful thing and he just has to watch. 

Sometimes, he'll even mimic what I'm doing. He'll pick up imaginary soap and rub his hands together; he'll pick up an imaginary brush and "brush" it along his head; he'll put his hands together and "open" them as if they just became a book; or he'll sit down next to me and watch tv, too. 

Today, as I was driving home, I read this verse on a church sign: "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children" (Eph. 5:1 NLT). Because we are God's children and we belong to Him, we must do the things that He would do; we must become like Him. My nephew, because he loves me, wants to do the things I do. 

So maybe we should start asking God, "God, what are you doing?", and see what He responds back to us. But don't forget the follow-up question. Without that question, without the awe of watching Him do His work, then we won't have that motivation to imitate Him as His children. 

Be imitators of God, because we are His children. :]