The days are getting longer now. The Winter Solstice 2020 happened on December 21, marking the shortest day / longest night of the year. Since then we have added a few more minutes of daylight to each day. Up until last weekend, we have had a mild winter. Temperatures in January hit the 50s and even a few days of 60s. Unusual for this part of Idaho. But then “unusual” is often the word we use to describe the weather in Idaho.
The way our house is situated, our big living room window and glass front door get the winter sunshine. From mid-day the sun (when the clouds are not blocking it) shines through the window and door and heats our house. I have a big lounge chair sitting by that window and I can get all toasty and warm spending the afternoon sitting in it reading.
I enjoy the shorter days and winter months; I am not a summer person at all. I do not mind if sunset is early in the day. I do, however, like the earlier sunrises. Being a morning person, it is nice to have the light when I am at my best.
I was up early last Monday morning, sitting in my bonus room where I pray and study, read and write. It was still dark outside. I was waiting for sunrise when I checked my inbox and found one of my daily Bible verses for that day. It was out of Psalm 113:3.
“From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord’s name is to be praised.” [HCSB]
That verse made me smile. Praising the LORD is one of my favorite things to do. I love to think of all the wonderful things about God and praise Him for them. I love to think about the ways He blesses me and bless Him for them. It doesn’t really matter if it is during the time from sunup to sundown, or if it is early in the morning when it is still dark and I am waiting for sunrise.
It is good to simply praise Him whenever I am awake, even if that be the midnight of the day. Amen & Amen.
