God's all around...

While watching yet another spectacular sunrise on day #13 of my time in Scottsdale, the chorus of "Light up the Sky" (The Afters) popped into my mind: "You light up the sky to show me you are with me, and I can't deny that you are right here with me.  You've opened my eyes and I can see you all around me.  You light up the sky to show you are with me."  I put the music in my headphones and had my own little worship service sitting alone in the dark with nothing but the pink and purple clouds on the horizon as my light.

But then it occurred to me:  While in Arizona, God has proved he's with me using way more than just beautiful sunrises. No, as the song says "he's opened my eyes so I [could] see him all around me."  

For example, one morning, while outside with my Bible, I felt a raindrop...in Arizona...in August (it was 90 degrees at 5 in the morning for goodness sake)! Within moments I had to take cover in a small sheltered area while an Arizona Monsoon unleashed it's fury.  I literally had never seen anything like it.  

Another day, I went to my lawn chair with trepidation because I heard thunder and assumed I was going to get rained on again.  But this was different than the monsoon.  The thunder was in the distance and, because it was still dark, as I sat there God gave me my own personal lightening show; a show that didn't span the horizon but instead took over the entire sky as far as my eyes could see.  I didn't miss a single bolt either because my only job was to sit there and watch the show.  I was awestruck.

And still another day I got to experience an Arizona Ha·boob (həˈbo͞ob/) defined in the dictionary as "a violent and oppressive wind, blowing in the summer, bringing sand from the desert."  Are you kidding me?  It looked like dust bowl pictures I'd seen on documentaries from the "dirty 1930's."

And finally, I've enjoyed many sunsets in my life but the purple sunsets of Arizona took my breath away.

By now, I assume you get my point but let me say it one more time (because I can't contain my joy).  During this sabbatical of life as I deal with pro-longed health issues, God lit up the sky for me in the last two weeks to remind me that he is right here with me.  And as the song says, I can't deny [God] that you are right here with me  (even as I suffer). You've opened my eyes (physically AND spiritually) so that I can see you all around me.  Yes God, you light up the sky (and my heart, and my eyes, and my brain  and my senses) to show me that you are with me.

Trust him today friend...he's all around you.