A Pastor’s Perspective

“Sunshine in My Heart” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen (mjhill@ida.net)

My emotions must be linked to the sun.  Bright, sunny days.  Blue skies.  Light breeze.  Ahhh.  I just feel better on days like we’ve had recently here in Aberdeen.  I’m all smiles when I spend time in weather like this.  I enjoy seeing more outdoor activity as well.  Bicycles and motorcycles.  Children playing and farmers plowing.  Birds singing and squirrels scurrying.  All these things are like sunshine in my heart.  Do you sometimes feel the same?

This great weather got me thinking about the great God.  How ought we to respond to weather like this?  Consider how psalmist reacted when he contemplated God’s creation:  “Bless the LORD, O my soul!  O LORD my God, You are very great…You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep about.  The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God. When the sun rises, they gather together and lie down in their dens.  Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.  O Lord, how manifold are Your works!  In wisdom You have made them all.  The earth is full of Your possessions” (Psalm 104:1a, 20-24).   The psalmist’s heart was moved to worship and praise God for His creation. 

Do you think it’s possible to have the darkness of bitterness and ingratitude in the heart co-exist with such an attitude of praise?  I’ve discovered when I begin to praise and thank God for what He has done, the clouds of a “woe is me” attitude is replaced with the sunshine of His love and presence in my life.

The Bible reveals the way to have sunshine in our hearts even when it is cloudy and cold outside.  Thank Him for what He has made.  Get to know Him through His word, the Bible.  Embrace His promises.   Thank Him for all the spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus He has supplied for you.  Result?  You’ll experience the ray of His love stir within your heart and shine brightly through your life.

“…He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good” (Matthew 5:45b).