© Donna L. Watkins - Photo: Sunrise on Caribbean
It's the first morning on the cruise and I awoke as the sky was lighting up anticipating the dawn. There were still stars in the sky and the ocean was a sea of black. I knew it was there from the sound of it and the glimmer of ripples seen with the first hues of sunrise approaching. The thick dark clouds looked like you could reach out and touch them. They looked ominous against the beauty of the changing colors and light.I watched the light patterns as God's faithfulness and design created another day. Sometimes it seemed as though it was getting darker, but my mind told me it was not. I thought about how God gives me hope in the darkness with the light of His Word and promises. There were clouds that rolled around sometimes darkening the light that had already appeared and I realized that for me in my own time between darkness and sunrise, I allow the devil's messages to cover up the Light that I've been given.
God's faithfulness came to mind as I saw the struggle between clouds and sunshine on the horizon. I had to review in my mind the song I've sung in congregations, Great Is They Faithfulness.
Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever will be
Pardon for sin
And a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence
To cheer and to guide
Strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine
With ten thousand beside
(chorus)
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed They hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me
As I looked at the fathomless expanse of the seas I realized that there is no way that I can see my future. Why do I spend a moment in time worrying over it? The God who created the heaven and the earth can surely take care of these beings He created it for.
A sunrise is a visual example of the promise of a new day. The Bible tells us sunrise and sunset will continue forever. I kept my eyes on the horizon as each minute provided a change of scenery. I glanced behind and there was no evidence of the beauty going on before me. Sometimes I forget the glory and wonder of all that God does for me each day because it has faded into the past and the devil wants me to believe the past was so painful.
That's an important reason to write down your blessings each day so you can have a record of God's faithfulness and you can focus on all the good that is in your life because the devil will only want you to remember the bad.
The song from the Broadway musical, Annie, came to mind. It's called Tomorrow:
The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There'll be sun!
Just thinkin' about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
'Til there's none!
When I'm stuck a day
That's gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh!
The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
'Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
I love ya Tomorrow!
You're always
A day
A way!
Focus on those glimmers of hope. That promise of a sunrise that will put Light in your soul and spirit. Hold on to those glimmers and the darkness will leave even before the sun comes up.
"Faith is the bird that sees the light while the dawn is still dark." Unknown
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