Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, it’s a glorious bright sunny morning that dawned a few hours ago. We just heard about a test so let’s see how the Sunshine Test works? It probably works best after a bit of rain for then the whole scene from the window looks scrubbed and clean. It’s lovely out there as the evergreens trees almost sparkle; why, even the few clouds that are sailing above look fluffy and white and freshly washed.

The sun shines brightly through the windows, but — oops! Those windows just barely pass the test and here we had just washed them and thought they were dirt-free! From inside they look like they are sparkling clean, except for right around the edges.  How did that happen?  Oh, and the floor and cupboards — tsk tsk — they almost pass the test, but not quite. Just about everything looks better in the sunshine as we glance around, but not all things pass the test in that shaft of light, that glorious sunbeam of revealing light.

Then there is the Son-shine — but not everyone passes that test either. Your word, dear Lord, says not to judge one least we be judged by the same measure that we use to judge; it also says: “You will know them (others) by their fruits … .” (Matt 7:16). We are encouraged to be fruit inspectors for we will know “‘them’ by their fruits …”; and we are also to be aware of false prophets. Chapter seven is most interesting!

So, please help us dear Lord, so that we hear you and listen, so that we may labor hard to do Your work so that we can be sparkling clean, even around the edges. Lord, we also want to pass the Son-shine test. We thank You again for another amazing and perfect example that You have shown to us through nature.

Love Mara