It is a new day, and I came to watch the sunrise at Galveston Beach. It wasn’t spectacular as I had hoped. Instead, it was subtle, overcast with clouds. Behind the clouds the sun is shining bright, and it gives enough light for what I know as day-to be.
Steady and predictable are the rhythms of the sun. Throughout history as I know it, that is the one thing that is certain. The sun will rise today.
One thing is certain in my life. That I will have today, a new day, every day until my life is no more. God is my sun, my light and my salvation. I can always count on His light to be there. On cloudy overcast days, he gives enough light to face the day. The rhythms of Life and the rhythms of God in my life are fundamentally the same: Unchangeable. Steady. Every day. He is as devoted to me as the sun to is Him, it’s Creator.
From the darkness of where I slept last night, I awoke to the the call of its early light. I am met by flocks of birds spreading their wings over the ocean waves, fishermen casting their lines for an early catch, disciplined souls taking their early morning walks.
Though the struggles of this life be many, and cast their clouds over the true and living Sun in my life, He is here. Giver of life. I need only to step into the light of this day. And to make this day count for eternity. To exist today for that which I was created- relationship with my creator. And from the overflow of that love relationship-to be the expression of who he is. HE IS LOVE. And love does.
May love take action through my heart and life today. As I wrap up this Devo, drops of rain are falling, and he is here, with me, on this cloudy, rainy day. Shining through me, though at times cloudy, for me to be His light to a soul who needs enough light to face their day.
Jana Lackey
I am grateful for you.
We established a mission base that, for a while, looked like it was going to be our permanent home for Love Botswana Outreach Mission Trust. We built a camp where outreach teams came to learn and serve in the north of Botswana. When we had teams in, I did the cooking over the Big, black, cast iron pots over the open fire while Grandma Pat helped take care of the 2 very active Remick and Jordan Lackey. There was a period of time when we had a terrible drought in the country. (1996/97) The thick dust from no rain, the intense heat, and the stench of death were all around. The last pool of water from the Okavango Delta was right in front of our house. There were animals of all kinds that came from afar to get a drink of the life giving water. Sometimes they would get stuck in the mud and be left to die. There were hippos in the pool as well. Thirty- Two to be exact. At night, these huge creatures who were starving to death, would crash down our barbed wire fences that separated us from the river, and make their way onto the property to eat what was left of our fruit trees outside our bedroom window.
Grandma Pat was especially helpful when it came time to wean the nursing grandbabies. She and Jerry would take turns consoling the blood curdling screams of the uncooperative little ones while mommy (me) was in there other room crying in agony and pain from my side of the weaning! They would take the “sippy cup” with a spout and handles, filled with milk or juice, put the toddler in the stroller, fasten the seat belt and take off on a walk around the property. The further they walked, the fainter the screams became, at least to me, in the house. On their side, the kid would take a few sips from the sippy cup (imported from America, I might add), and throw it with all his might onto the sandy ground! A statement was made, and all of my (3 breastfed boys) made it very clear that they wanted no part of that plastic gadget!
Jana Lackey 
