A Cup of SonShine for Your Day

Jesus is the Light in this Dark world. He is the Son of God, and He is shining for all to see. Won't you bring your cup today to be filled up by Him? This blog is about redirecting our focus to Jesus ~ the Author and Perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2). As you read, you will find prayers and encouragement, poems and thoughts inspired by the Word of God and a daily walk with Jesus. So bring your favorite mug and fill it up with a Cup of SonShine for Your Day!

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Day 15: Laughter and Tears Together

Talking and Listening,

Laughter and Tears.

Sorrows and Joys,

That come through the years.

All of these are meant

To be lived through with others.

We are connected to our family in Christ with God as our Father—

May God unify us as sisters and brothers…

In Him.

“Lord, sometimes it is so easy to just go it alone.

But that is not how you meant for us to live our lives as followers of You.

You want us to listen to one another, to pray with one another and for one another, to cry with one another and rejoice with one another.

You want us to comfort each other.

We are meant to live this life together, unified as one body in Christ in Your love.

Father, please don’t let us let pride or selfishness get in the way of loving one another and living in community with one another.

Also, may we not rely on each other first.

May we always go to You first and then seek prayer or help from a brother or sister.

May we love You with our whole hearts, and because of our love for You, may we love Your children, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Oh, Father, there is none like You.

Take us and fashion us to be more like Your Son, Jesus.

And may we reach out and love one another.

May we be willing to be vessels bringing Your love to one another every day.

May this start in our own homes, then go to our churches, then to our communities, then to our states, our country, and the world.

Your children are all over the world, and we are called to love and pray for all of our brothers and sisters (Ephesians 6:18).

Lord, You want us to bring Your love to the lost—that is so important!

But Father, help us to never forget to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Your Word says that is a mark that we are Yours—when we love Your children (1 John 5:1).

Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters around the world.

For those facing persecution of any kind, be their strength, their hope, and their resolve to never deny You. May they know that You are with them now, You will never leave them, and You are truly all they need! You are enough. You are Everything!

For all of us, may we truly know and live the truth that You are all we need! May we rely on nothing or no one else for our love and satisfaction!

We need You so much every day! May we be aware of this!

I love You, dear Lord!

Use me today and every day to be a blessing to those around me—my brothers and sisters in Christ and the lost.

Father, You are so good!

Use me today! Here I am. Send me out for Your glory and Yours alone!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

What is my cup of SonShine for today?

To love my brothers and sisters in Christ by listening to them, praying for them, and being what God calls me to be in their lives.

God is so good!

Let us follow Him today!

And let us love one another in unity!

In Jesus’ Name, May it be so!

Amen!

Monday, July 4, 2016

Day 14: Sailing Away

Sailing, sailing…

Sailing away.

Bad memories

Are going—going away.

They are healed and forgiven

Covered by the Father’s Love.

Thank You, Lord for Your promises

And thank for the grace to forgive from above.

Now I have let go,

And new doors are opening to explore.

A brand new field of promises.

I am learning and growing more and more!

I am sealed with Your Spirit—

A promise of my eternal life with You.

No more a reason to fear.

In Your Word I trust, for You are holy, righteous, and true.

There is no one else—

No one else like You.

I love You, my Dear Lord.

There is no one else like You.

What is my cup of SonShine for today?

To let go of bad memories, forgive, and look ahead to the new life God has for me.

So much growing is going on, and God has so much peace and love and joy He wants His children to experience no matter what is happening on the outside.

God is so good!

“Thank You, Father for turning bad memories (ashes) into the promise of new life (beauty).

You are Amazing.

I love You.

Thank You so much for loving me!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Happy July 4th Weekend!

Happy July 4th weekend to you all--

And Happy Sunday!

: )

God is so good to us every day, isn't He?

Today, my cup of SonShine will be to be thankful for freedom--

Freedom in Christ.

Freedom from the power of sin and death

And freedom from eternal separation from God our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Oh, God is so good!

Nothing can take these treasures from us!

No force--no power, and definitely no man.

So let us give thanks always

and remember to lift one another up in prayer as we follow

Jesus today.

May we pray for those in our country,

And our brothers and sisters around the world--

That God would be exalted in our hearts

That the whole world would see His light shining brightly through us.

"Thank You, Lord, for my home in the USA, and thank You for my freedoms here.

Thank You most of all for my home with You.

Thank You for my freedoms in You that no one can steal.

You are so good, O Lord!

I love You!

Thank You so much for loving the world, that You sent Jesus for us to live, die, and rise from the dead, so we may have life forever in You. (John 3:16)

You are awesome, Dear Lord.

And so Beautiful!

I love You.

Bless my brothers and sisters around the world this day,

And please give them hope in You.

For hope in You does not ever disappoint! (Romans 5:5)

I praise You in Jesus' glorious Name,

Amen!"

Have a blessed and safe 4th of July!

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Day 13a: Hearts in a Jar

Hearts bubbling over

Out of a jar.

Birds flying somewhere—

Who knows how far.

Living our lives

As we go day by day.

Lord, help me always

To stay in Your Way.

“I love You, dear Lord.

May my cup of SonShine today be to walk closely with You and to stick near to Your side.

Oh, Lord, I love You.

Help me to be still in the busy moments, so I may always know that You ARE God, You are in control, and You are the One I have been given life so that I may follow.

Lord, I love You.

I love You.

What makes everything so beautiful is that You love and accept me—

And You want me to love and accept others, so they may come to know You through Your love and truth that I share with them.

Oh, Lord, I love You.

Help me follow You—

Today,

And Always.

I love You, dear Lord!

I love You.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Day 13: Good Morning Sunshine!

Good morning, Sunshine!

Good morning, Lord!

I give You this day,

And I thank You that You are more—

Than this world can ever offer.

You are all I need.

Oh, I praise You, Heavenly Father!

I praise You in word, in thought, in deed!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

“Father, I give You this day, and I trust You with it.

Thank You that You are all I need.

You are so Beautiful!

Thank You for displaying Your glory in the world You created all around me.

”Thank You for the early morning Sunshine.

Thank You for the day’s first dew.

Thank You that Your Creation gives You glory—

Thank You that it points straight back to You!

You are Holy, Lord.

There is no one like You.

Father, make me holy as You are holy today, for that is what you call me to be

(1 Peter 1:15-16).

Lead me in Your path.

Shine Your light on me and expose any hidden faults.

I give everything to You.

Keep me back from willfully sinning against You and cleanse me of all that is wrong that I cannot see (Psalm 19:12-13).

Use the words of my mouth to give You praise and to make much of You, for You are worthy, Lord.

Incline my heart to Your Word, that I may follow You (Psalm 119:35-36).

You are so Beautiful and Faithful, Father.

Thank You!

There is none like You!

I give You this day!

I rejoice!

Thank You, Lord for Your mercies (Lamentations 3:22-24)!

And thank You for choosing me as your own.

I love You, dear Lord.

Thank You so much for loving me first when I was still dead in my sin.

I had no power to love or come to You, and You came and loved me, and pulled me out of death and darkness.

You are Mighty, O God!

And I love You!

May Your Name be lifted high in my life today!

In Jesus’ Holy and Precious Name, Amen!”

What is my cup of SonShine today?

To remember that this world is not my permanent home.

My home is with Jesus in heaven.

God offers so much more than this world can, and today, I will hold on to the hope that one day, He will make everything right.

And I will rejoice that today, I have hope in Jesus, for He has washed me of my sin and made me clean!

Praise God! He is so good!

“Thank You for Your Amazing Love, Dear Lord.

Help me to live for You today in praise and rejoicing no matter what happens,

Because the truth is that no matter what happens, You have given me life with You that cannot be taken away.

Thank You so much for Your love and grace!

I love You, Lord!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Friday, July 1, 2016

Day 12: A Rain Drop Mirror

The day is gloomy—

But what do I do?

I look at each drop of rain

As a mirror to look through.

Is my heart full of joy—

Or will it reflect the gloom?

Today, I choose to fix my eyes on Jesus—

Who has saved me from doom.

So let’s all rejoice—

Be it rain or be it shine.

For we as His children can always have joy—

Yes, Jesus my Savior is mine.

“Lord, some days are just so hard.

I don’t really know why we have to cry and feel such pain sometimes, but I know that is the way it is.

There is sin in this world, and sin produces death and pain and sorrow.

But I will hold on to Your promise that You will work EVERYTHING together for my good, because I love You and am called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28-29).

I know Your Word is always true.

It can be very painful to go through hurts and hard emotional turmoil and still hold on to You and obey and love and not grow bitter.

But when I come to You with my hurts, and I choose to worship and praise You, You take my pain and wash me anew.

The pain may still be there, but there is something else too.

JOY.

And

PEACE.

Oh, thank You, Lord, for taking my anxious thoughts and my cares upon You so that I may have a peace that passes all understanding!

Oh, Lord, there is none like You!

I give You everything that has happened this day and everything that will happen tomorrow, and I choose to trust in You.

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who is my Helper.

And thank You for Your comforting arms around me, for You are the God of all Comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

Use times of trial and pain when I experience Your Comfort to enable me to comfort others who are suffering around me.

Lord, You are so good!

Thank You for making me Your own!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen!”

What is my cup of SonShine for today?

When I have pain, I will run to my Lord who loves me more than anyone else and who can take care of me.

I will trust Him to use the situation I have experienced for my good,

and I will look ahead to when I can be of comfort to others just as God has been Comfort to me.

“Oh, Lord, You are so good!

I breathe in Your goodness,

I breathe out the worry.

I trust You today.

Thank You, Lord—I give You all fury.

I leave it completely in Your hands—

Every last bit.

You are my God.

I trust You with all of it!

Day 11: Sunshine and Thunder

Sorrows and Laughter,

Sunshine and thunder—

God has given us both.

Joy for our steps,

In all things He has kept—

Us near to His heart as His own.

(Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 8:38-39)

“Father, thank You that nothing can separate me from Your love.

Thank You that You send rain and sunshine on all people, and You call us to love all people, whether they are good or bad.

You are good, dear Lord!

Thank You so much for Your Word which guides me on my path, refreshes my soul, and renews my mind.

You are so very good, dear Lord, and I love You!

Thank You so much for loving me!

Thank You for wanting me.

May You use me today to bring Your good news to someone else and let them know that You love and want them, too.

You are Awesome, Dear Lord!

There is no one like You!

I love You, Lord Jesus!

I love You, Heavenly Father!

Thank You so much for sending Your Holy Spirit to live inside of me.

I would be lost without You and Your presence in my life.

Thank You for saving me, Dear Lord!

Thank You for loving me every day!

I love You.

Help me today to love You and know You more—to draw near to You with a pure heart, seeking to just be in Your presence and give You praise.

May I worship You with my life, my thoughts, my words, and my deeds.

I love You, Dear Lord.

Thank You so much for sending Jesus for me.

You are so beautiful!

Bless others through me today I pray.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What is my cup of SonShine today?

To live in God’s Love—to accept it for myself and to give it to others, whether they are friend or foe.

God bless you today, my friend, wherever you go!

And Happy July 1^st! : )