today's the day!

As I gaze at the rising sun, I can feel impending doom... Well, impending life I guess, but if you add the fear, it just feels like a lot of doom. I know what I need to do, and it all seems so simple, yet so impossible.

I felt God urge me last night to wake up for the sunrise... I've seen many a sunrise, but I guess there was something special about this one, today, right now, that He wanted me to see. There is a cloud stretching across the sky, oddly illuminated unlike any other cloud. Brought to light only in this moment... for a short moment. It's majesty reflected from the sun. The cloud cannot bring glory to itself. It is merely a vessel, a mirror, a beacon to magnify a glory that already exists.

This is precisely who we are in Christ. Our inner glory is brought to sight only through the light of Him. More often than not, we are shown dull and lifeless, pressing on day to day in the normal drone and flow of the world. But there are times when we truly allow Christ to shine through us and illuminate life and peace and joy. It's as gorgeous and powerful as a sunrise. Yes, a sunrise by the sun itself is beautiful, but some of the best sunrises I've seen to date are the best, because of the surrounding clouds. Clouds brought to life and light. A generation brought to life and light.

God is about to move in me BIG time... my life is about to change; HECK, my life is about to begin. The first step out is always the hardest, and so many times we don't even get past the first step. I envy Peter and his faith enough to leap out of the boat and begin his walk on water to Jesus. What do you think was running through his head when he first looked out at the Lord and the crashing waves separating them?? Fear. Doubt. All was wiped away as he kept his eyes fixed on Jesus, and he swung his leg over the side of the boat. His first step. He only began to sink when he removed his eyes; when he lost sight; when he feared and doubted.

God, I pray that you illuminate my life -- allow me to bring and shine your glory and majesty! And more than anything, give me strength enough to take that first step out of the boat... the first step in this wild adventure... the first step into the unknown.

And as I said about a week ago -- this is ONLY the beginning...