Is it still a sunrise?!

Happy New Year, 2023! Are you ready for a great year?!?! Me too!!!

So, after working all night, I went to the beach to watch the sunrise!

This is me at 7:02am CST on January 1 waiting for the sun to rise on Lake Michigan.

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And this is the sky at 7:19am, supposedly “sunrise.”

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Of course, the sun DID rise. It’s just hidden by lots of clouds.

Well, it’s still overcast and yesterday I even took a walk in the rain. It was a wonderful 40 degrees — spring weather at the beginning of January (and unusual for Chicago!).

On my walk, I realized two things:

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  1. One raindrop can distort an image — but it doesn’t mean the trees around fell down.
  2. Just because I can’t get a picture of the glorious golden sunrays on the first of the year, doesn’t mean the year hasn’t started!

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I hope the sun is shining on you today! I hope your family is healthy, your house is standing, and there is ample food in the fridge…

But if this is not the case, I hope that you’ll glean hope in the fact that even if what you “see” isn’t what you’d want, Jesus Christ is still the same. (Hebrews 13:8) His love for you is still unconditional and relentless. (Psalm 86:15) And His grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

​Whatever the first week of the year looks like, may God be with you today!

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“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us — so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.”

Psalm 67:1-2

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