Higher Than The Rising Sun

As I write this I'm listening to a song by All Sons and Daughters called "Rising Sun".  It is an impassioned song that cries out the greatness of Jesus as our great Redeemer; whose name is so wonderful; whose character and goodness and power rises far above and beyond even the sun that shines on us everyday.

You know we live in a culture that can throw words around pretty easily.  To talk of this 'great God', for a lot of people, is to be saying little more than 'nice weather we're having isn't it?'.  I know that not everyone will agree with me on this, but today I can't help but just be a little overwhelmed with joy because of Jesus!  These are more than just words to me, they are speaking truth, a truth that meshes with my experience.

That's when words have real impact--when they support one's experiences.  I know that believing shouldn't be all about seeing, but man, when you see God at work it blows you away!

A couple days ago I saw God answer prayers at my church.  God brought a hundred or so protesters from the LGBT community to our doorstep and He saw fit to show His hand of power and love again and again.

We had asked that He would 'shut the lion's mouths' and in answer to this prayer He brought a peace that was palpable on the grounds and in the church itself.  We asked for opportunity to speak and listen to this group and it happened again and again.  We asked that we would be given opportunity to share kindness and love to them and it happened so clearly when many people thought to set up a whole buffet on the lawn for the protesters to enjoy.  One of them even said "we came to protest, but this turned out to be an invitation to build community".  Incredible!  We asked that they would hear the message of the main speaker who lived as a gay woman, who met Jesus and was introduced to a different possibility for her life.  They came and listened and asked great questions all the while hearing about Jesus, maybe for the first time.  There were people who were told to drive from other cities to come to the event because God had called them to go.  One did, and when she got here she led a person to Jesus.  Beautiful.  Christians, who had been guilty of seeing gay people only through the lenses of their small and protected worlds, were exposed to something that opened their eyes and through that questions arose within them.  Exceptionally good!

That day, God reduced the distance and that is what He is all about.  I can't thank Him enough.

I was reading Psalm 100: 4-5 this morning which says:  "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise!  Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!  For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations."

Yeah, the name of Jesus elevates far above the rising sun, and my souls sings today.

Thank you Jesus--You are just too much!

BT