It should come as no surprise that there are a lot of things I love about being here in France, but one of them is remarkably simple: sunrise.

This morning for example, as the sun came up on the other side of the two water towers, two jet trails crossed the sky, a light mist still hung in the air and water droplets on the garden fence reflected the light like dozens of miniature crystals.

Cold!

my Joan Carter wool socks

Still barefoot, opening the shutters on the kitchen & diningroom doors was a true wake-up call! *Note to self: dig out wool socks*

Warm!

The yellowish-stone house across the street is impressive on a normal day, but bathed in morning sunlight it speaks of older days.

Natural & Spiritual

I’m reminded that the spiritual realm is not unlike the natural, the same circumstance can bring both beauty and pain. These two are usually not equally evident however… they are balanced off-balance as it were: one more evident today with the other more apparent tomorrow.

Cold!

You still don’t see what you hope to see; what you’ve worked toward or have prayed for. So you go look for something warm to ward off the cold.

Warm!

God’s presence… we can wrap ourselves in it.
God’s word… we find strength and encouragement that perhaps we passed over the last time we read it.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15.58 (KJV)

“My dear brothers and sisters, remain strong in the faith. Don’t let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the Lord. Because you belong to the Lord, you know that your work is not worthless.”
1 Corinthians 15.58 (NIRV)

I’m thankful to know the Lord this morning… and that He knows me, for it makes event the coolest morning a whole lot warmer!

Facing the Giants

This afternoon, Bro. Kabasele is hosting a youth group meeting at the church where they’ll be watching the movie “Facing the Giants.”

That may sound a bit banal but remember that there really are very few youth in our church at this point and the other family lives about 40min away so outside of services / Sunday School they don’t get to spend much time together.

This should be a great time!

Please keep it in prayer as you’re reading this. This bonding time will undoubtedly help as we prepare for the national youth convention, coming up in just a couple of weeks with guest speaker Michael Ensey, Youth President of the UPCI.

Stay Warm!

Thank you for stopping by today. Despite the coolness you may be facing, stay warm; remain strong in the faith knowing that your labour for the Lord is not in vain.

See you next week!

ps…  if you need help staying warm in the natural and you’re in the Atlantic District… get yourself some Joan Carter wool socks (Miramichi). They help put roofs on churches in Ghana!