A Lesson in Snow!

Well, it finally snowed today! Not much, but it did snow. Here in NC we rarely see any snow, so even a little bit shuts down the town all day and night! Today's snow was the prettiest I have ever seen. God has spoken to me all day through His beautiful creation..........SNOW!

First thing, I stood and just looked at it and thanked Him for the snow. He is the wonderful Creator God! 

Second, He reminded me, as I looked at the snow and how bright and white it was that "though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool." Isaiah 1:18. 

I never really noticed how very white snow is. Sure I have seen it many times but today I saw it with different eyes; eyes that try to see God in everything. The snow just gleamed......

Third, He reminded me, as I looked at the snow and how it was melting, and melting fast, that my sins are gone! "As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12.

East to West is a long way and the fact that my sins have been removed, even farther than that!! 

Fourth, He reminded me, as I looked at the snow, that the Perfect Lamb was pure, undefiled, sinless; white as snow. The Perfect Lamb shed all His scarlet blood for me. How humbling the thought. How grateful I am. How perfect He is. How alive He is. How sweet He is. Sweet, sweet, Jesus...what a beautiful name.....what a wonderful Saviour!

What a Savior, what a Comforter, what a Defender, what a Daddy, what an amazing GOD! He teaches me so much and has done so much for me, I can never say thank you enough.

What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow,

No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refined Like Silver

I have been reflecting on family and friends today. I was blessed to have a great conversation with a very good friend who said "God always has a reason, even though it may hurt". How very true!!! I think about growing up and having growing pains. They hurt. When we go through dark valleys. They hurt. When God refines us. It hurts. But............................. through growing pains came growth, through valleys come mountain tops, and through refining comes perfection. Have you ever thought about when a refiner boils down silver. It goes through the fire and then all the "dross" or impurities come to the top and the refiner removes them. Its just like that with the Father. He refines us and purifies us, removes all the impurities, and then He looks down and sees the image of His Son. Thats what a loving God does. Can you think of anyone you would rather be like than Jesus? I cant. 

Will it always be easy........no. 

Will it cost...........yes. 

Is His will always easy to understand............no. 

Is it still perfect................YES!!  

In Malachi 3:3, the Word says, bring offering "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offering in righteousness to the Lord". Isnt that beautiful.The holy God of all creation, the one who spoke and it existed, the one who breathed into dust and created man, sits and refines us to make us perfect! I always want to remember that even though I may go through fire, I will be refined and then my offering will be in righteousness before my loving, deserving, Righteous Father. I dont want to focus on the fire, I want to focus on who is refining me.

 

Righteous Father even though it hurts and is not always easy to understand, purify me. Help me to remember it is for Your glory. I want my offering to you to be in righteousness. You are Holy, You are Holy, You are Holy! I love you Father. I desire only Your will for my life. More of You Father and less of me.

"New" Smell

Have you ever thought about what "new" smells like? There are some things that come to mind for me. I like the new car smell, the new purse smell. Those are things that just smell nice. Then I think about the new baby smell. This is my favorite. I dont know if you have ever experienced seeing a baby come into the world. I have. Aside from my own, I had the privilege of seeing on of my prayer children, Cameron, come into the world and my second cousin, Maddox, make his debut. I am so very thankful to Toni and Allison for allowing me to be a part of this beautiful process. When you watch a baby being born, you think, wow how can they smell so "new" after birth? But you know what........they do! They smell so sweet....even at only a few minutes old.

I have been reflecting with the new year, what new smells like. When we become a new creation in Christ we change. There are times in my own Christian walk that I know the aroma that I send up to my Father is not pleasing to His nostrils. I want to serve and worship my Father in a way that is a pleasing aroma in His nostrils. In order to do this there are things that MUST happen.

1. Ask Him to search and show any wicked way

2. Confess sin

3. Repent of sin

4. Pure motivation in service and worship

The Word says in Revelation 21:5  And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words ar faithful and true." 

Yes this passage is talking about our new home in paradise with the Father. The message is still the same, He makes all things new. New life through His blood, new mind, new purpose. And one day new earth and new home. 

So I ask myself, with all the new that God gave me, is my service and worship pleasing in His nostrils? Do I give off a pleasing smell or a foul stinch? May I always stand aware, listen to Him and give off a pleasing aroma. May I smell "NEW"!

Father, Most High God, for all the new you have given me I can never thank you enough. Help me to serve and worship You in a way that brings You honor and is pleasing in Your nostrils. Any offering I give You is so small compared to what You did for me on Golgatha. You are amazing and awesome God and nothing or no one compares to You!