Daylight Savings or Saving Daylight?

Given that it is now spring in New Zealand, this weekend marks the start of Daylight Savings time. I couldn't be happier!  If you know me at all, you know that I am a child of the light, eager to squeeze every last drop of sunshine out of each day like a child slurping the final morsels of chocolatey goodness off the brownie batter bowl.

The birds seem to know that daylight savings is on its way.  Before the first break of dawn and long before my alarm is set to ring,  their song summons me from among the trees outside my window.  "Wake up!", they seem to say. "The night is over; the day is nearly here.  From our canopy high above the trees, we can see its golden glow rising over the mountaintops.  Quick!  It's coming!  Get up, get up!  The King is shining his light upon us; I wonder what he has planned for this day!"

What a wonderful thought.  The King of creation has once again spun into existence a new day.  And he did it. .. for us!

You know, darkness is the absence of light.  Cold is the absence of heat.  God separated light from darkness, not because he created darkness, but because darkness is merely the lack of light.  Then in his creative genius, he turned on the light and the entire created order was changed!
 "God called the light, 'day' and the darkness 'night'. And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day." (Genesis 1:5).
Likewise, the law of God acts a spotlight on the hidden sin of our lives, exposing it clearly so that it no longer need be an obstacle of stumbling for us anymore. We can feel much more at ease living the way in which God intended for us.

This has triggered my thinking about why I am here in Whangarei, New Zealand.  Of all places in this marvelous planet of his, why did God call me here to this little Kiwi town that seems riddled with suicide, domestic violence, and parent-less children?  The answer is as clear as day: To turn on the light, I say!

Without Jesus Christ, there is no light, no hope. There is darkness here in Whangarei . . .but thank God it doesn't need to stay. What is needed here is for more people to "turn the lights on" and dispel the darkness.  Just imagine.  If God's people shine brightly in the corners of the city where they find themselves, then the city will be filled with light and it won't be such a scary place anymore, just as a room filled with light is no more frightening to a little child than a bowl of ice cream.  :-)

Within each new person who places their faith and full dependence upon Jesus Christ is placed a light. This person then carries the light of Christ into their relationships, actions, attitudes, thoughts. And where once there was the darkness, light is now found.  Where a heart once was cold and hard, tenderness and mercy is now embraced.

Are you a child of the day?