Thursday; February 20

I mention this most years about this time – it’s Baseball Time in America!  Spring Training is up and running in Florida and Arizona.  From the gloominess of my cold, cloudy world I can sense the laughter, hear the balls hitting the bats and smell the freshly mown grass!  (OK, that’s an allegory – but, you get it.)  I love the game of baseball and I really enjoy this time of year because everyone has a shot to win the pennant.  This could be our year (whoever “we” are).   Folks, by the time we get to the end middle of February, I can use a pick-me-up and, for me, it is Spring Training.

As I thought about this bright spot in my life, I got to thinking about another “shot in the arm” found in the book of Revelation.  There is a lot of difficult stuff in the book, but as we get to the end of the book we find John describing a new environment.  He goes on to observe, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’” (Revelation 21:3-4).  My understanding of the timing of the Revelation is that it accompanied some tough times for the Christians.  They needed something to inspire them and keep them going and this vision could do that for them.

What provides us with encouragement when we are down?  What brightens our day when the clouds seem to roll in (and stay)?  Maybe it is a gospel song, a religious verse or a powerful poem.  No matter what it is, take the time restore your spirit.  By doing so, not only will there be brightness today, there will also be hope that the sun will come out tomorrow.

Think About It! 

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