WHITER THAN SNOW

For as the rain comes down, and

the snow from heaven, and do

not return there, but water the

earth, and make it bring forth

and bud, that it may give seed

to the sower and bread to

the eater,

So shall My word be that goes 

forth from My mouth; it shall not

return to me void, but it shall

accomplish what I please, and

it shall prosper in the thing

for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10,11

My co-church staff member came into my office with some excitement, Bible in hand.  She had come across the above verses and it was such a blessing to her.  We had often sung the hymn that said, "now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow" and that brightness was hard to comprehend.  However, she had found something else that blessed her.

At that time, there was a reason for any thought of snow.  We were in northern Indiana where it seemed we had snow beginning in November and off and on often through the month of March.  By April, parking lots had huge piles of dirty-looking snow.  It seemed we could never get away from it.  Snow was a reality for us and a constant in our lives.

With our snow falls, even if snow had fallen overnight sometimes to knee level, folks still went to work, schools didn't close nor businesses.  Life just went on despite the inconvenience.  When we moved to Texas, we often found humor in how where we lived, everything closed down with only an inch or two of snow on a street.  I must admit that it was a relief compared to what we had tolerated further north.

Scripture often mentions snow.  It is used as a comparison of the whiteness and glory of a situation with Jesus mentioned at times.  But in our everyday lives, we might wonder at times why we have to have the snow inconveniences in our lives.  We see God in the beauty of spring, with everything beginning to grow and bloom.  We give God credit for the beauty of the fall season when it He has taken a huge paint brush, covering nature with color as only He can do.  Summer with it's warmth, activities and vacations are such that we don't even give a thought of winter

God gets little credit for the winter when nature seems to have changed from green to gray.  In this season, we see little natural beauty but it has a beauty all it's own and snow is an indicator of it.  God never wastes a single thing in His creation, not even if it is only a mere tiny snow flake.  We are told there aren't any two snow flakes alike.  How like God.  Interestingly enough is that walking our earth, there are also no two people alike.  That snow we see now will melt and sink into the pores of our land.  It will aid in the nurturing of new life, come spring.  Each little snowflake makes that kind of contribution.  Such is true for us and how God wants to use each of us to spread His spiritual nurturing through us right where we are.

Father God, thank You for this time.  Snow may slow us down or keep us indoors but even then, You still have a divine plan.  Help us to not waste this time of being hindered in our activity.  May we take some seemingly idle time to spend with You that we might serve and grow in You.  In Jesus' precious name...Amen

FEAR NOT

For God hath not given us

the spirit of fear, but of power,

and of love, and of a sound

mind.

II Timothy 1:7

Our culture today is soaked in fear.  In my years of life and in looking back over most of 87 years I can remember, these days are riddled with fear.  It is fed to us on an almost daily basis.  In my younger days, we didn't have all of the media influences we have now.  

We've always known war of some sort.  We can recall any number of military events our country has been involved in.  Right now, the war we're coming to know is not military as it was then.  The wars we face now are and will always be an issue because we don't stop to think that Satan is the author and encourager of fear.   The fear he doles out isn't necessarily military.

Lately, we are seeing war in the streets of some kind in our major cities.  Rioters are being paid to do just that...riot and cause mass disorder.  It's hard to watch on newscasts all of the turmoil that seemingly can't be controlled.  That's a big example of the fearmongering that is going on.

It's also interesting, coming down to some very simple examples, the fear we are faced with just in advertisements on our computers or TV screens.  Advertisements used to be informative even though they were still irritating.  However, many ads now have to have an added message to them...a message of fear.  The message is if you purchase a particular thing be it food, medicines or even cars, you are in the depths of danger.  We are cautioned of eating or drinking various products that have been found dangerous but all will be well if we purchase the advertisers product.  Medical products are advertised using fear tactics be it aspirin or support socks.  We are bombarded with fear.

Again, Satan is on the job, full time.  He wants us to live in fear because he knows how from just a little seed of fear, it will grow, crippling us in so many ways.  If we become fearful because of things we see or read, fear can become very entrenched in our lives.  God wants to be our peace.  He can outdo Satan on any level if we let Him do that.  Satan gives fear while God gives power, love and sanity.  I'll take what God has to offer any old day.

Dear Father God, help me to stay focused on You knowing what an encourager in truth You are.  You'll never lie to us or lead us into the depths of fear.  May we cling to the promises of Your Word that assures us of Your presence and love.  In Jesus' precious name...Amen

 

IT'S MY CHOICE

With days having to do with a new year, I have been thinking back to choices, some made by me and some by others that perhaps affected me.  Most choices of any import will not only affect the chooser but also have effects on those around the chooser.

Looking back, I've like others have made good choices and some not so good.  Our choices begin when very young, when such don't have much effect on others.  I remember the day I decided to out in our backyard to our coal shed.  I love the smell of coal and it was black and shiney.  Why not...so I took a bite.  It wasn't bad at all but when my mother caught me doing it, I found my choice had not been a good one.

I've been thinking lately of some choices made by folks in the Bible that had varied results.  Eve hose to eat fruit that was forbidden, Moses to chose to follow God's bidding and lead his people.  I think of Daniel and his three friends who chose to not eat or drink for a time of the king's provision.  Also in my mind were four fishermen who chose to become fishers of men.  Saul, who wanted to eradicate Christians off the earth's surface, had a confrontation with Jesus one day and he chose a different way.  Jesus in His humanity asked if the oncoming cup could pass from Him.  Jesus knew what was ahead and it was a far more dreadful thing to contemplate than you and I can imagine.   Then Jesus chose in a huge way:  "Nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done."  No choice was ever so great as in that moment.  Jesus chose the cross.

In our spiritual walk, it seems so little to choose Jesus compared to the choice He made on our behalf.  My choices are simple compared to His:  reading my Bible today, supporting my church financially, being a person of prayer, speaking for Jesus at every opportunity and being available to love and serve as my Father would want of me. 

For all of us, the greatest choice we ever made was to choose Jesus as our Savior.  We've made more choices than we can count or remember but this particular one is by far the most important.  With that choice Jesus made on our behalf, our choice seems so little but Jesus knew what He was doing.  In that process, He chose me.

There's no way to thank You Father for loving me so much You would send Your Son do died for me and all mankind.  Help me to make the choices in my life that will honor and glorify You.  In Your Son Jesus' precious name...Amen

 

NEVER  ALONE    

  It was my first spiritual retreat at the Christian college I attended that I had so much anticipated.  There were probably 100 students attending this special weekend time away from the campus with special music and inspirational speakers.  However, one afternoon, I found myself sitting alone in the dining area, no one around me and my feeling very alone.  One of our leaders spotted me and approached me as to if I was feeling okay.  I told him that for some reason, I was feeling very alone.  He gave me every Scriptural reason for the fact that such can really never be.

All of us at times can get the loneliness feelings and may even wonder where they came from.  We can be in a large crowd whether it's with people we know well or don't know at all and still feel very much by ourselves.  For we who are God's kids, those are times to take hold of our Bibles and review some promises, like:

**

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

**

I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

**

Such precious promises are scattered through all of Scripture and we can claim them any time Satan or circumstances seem to be nagging at our spirits.  We should never feel lonely as believers and that's a fact spiritually speaking.  There are times when our human feelings rise to the surface and in those times, heading for our Bibles isn't a bad idea.  We used to sing the old hymn that says we're never alone for God has promised to never leave us, never alone.  Add our Father and His Word to our humanity, and we'll be okay.  Amen and amen.

Father God, I thank You for how You step into my life when I go through times of feeling very much alone.  I pray right now for some friends who are going through such a time that they will know and sense Your presence in a real and wonderful way....in Jesus' precious name...Amen