Listen to the Snow

 

It is late Friday morning, and I am sitting in my living room with a mug of hot chocolate next to me, a blanket over my lap, and the blinds pulled all the way up to reveal the beauty of snow as it falls through the sky to the ground where it is piling up. The kids have played outside and are now warming themselves up with their own cups of creamy hot chocolate. What a pleasant and peaceful day.

            Our God is the Creator of all things including the snow that is descending silently to the earth. I am currently reading a book entitled God of All Things in which the author shows how thirty ordinary objects or elements of nature mentioned in Scripture, such as mountains, honey, livestock, and trees, teach profound truths about God. While this book does not cover snow in its list of material things, snow shows up twenty-four times in the Bible. Might snow have been created not just to be beautiful but also to teach us truths that we can be reminded of every time we see it? As Andrew Wilson says in his book:

“Things take the form they do because they are created to reveal God. We describe God as ‘the Rock’ not just because rocks exist and they provide a good picture of safety and stability. Rocks exist because God is a Rock: the Rock of our salvation, the Rock who provides water in the desert, the Rock whose work is perfect and all his ways are just. When we flip things around like this, we get a very different picture of the purpose of creation, of physical stuff, of things. Ever since the beginning, the surface of this planet has been covered with rocks, and every one of them has been preaching a message of the faithfulness, security, and steadfastness of God.”

With this in mind, what is the falling snow telling us about God? Here are three truths though I’m sure there are more.

1. Snow speaks of the sovereignty of God over all His creation.

“He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes the wind blow and the waters flow

(Psalm 147:15-17).

Snow reminds us that God is in control of all things, and that as he controls the elements of nature, so His Word will stand in every aspect of life. None can upend it. He will accomplish His plans. (See also Psalm 148: 7-8 and Job 37:5-7.)

In Isaiah 55:9-11, God makes this point in a slightly different way: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Next time you see the snow fall, remember that God is sending it, and His purposes, His very words, will prevail.

2. Snow is a picture of the purity of God.

Daniel had a vision that he described in Daniel chapter 7. He saw the Ancient of Days, God Himself, sitting on a throne. Daniel’s description of God includes this statement: “His clothing was white as snow” (verse 9). This is the exact same metaphor given for Jesus’s clothing in Matthew 28:3 after His resurrection, “His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.” What is the significance of the clothing of both God and Jesus being described in this way? Part of the beauty of snow is its absolute whiteness, its purity in color, as it falls from the sky and blankets the earth. In Mark 9:3, Jesus’s clothing at the Transfiguration is reported to be “radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.” The point is that the pure white, such as we see in snow, displays the radiance, beauty, purity, and absolute holiness of God the Father and of Christ as seen in His glorified body. As I look now out my window and see the white brilliance, may it move me to worship God.

3. Snow tells the gospel story.

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7)

“’Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.’” (Isaiah 1:18)

What an amazing thought... that the purity of the clothing of Jesus Himself can be mine as I trade my dirty rags for the robe of His righteousness. We, too, through Christ’s death on our behalf, can have our sins removed and be made clean. In God’s grace and unmerited favor toward us, the snow need not only remind us of the purity of His clothing, but also of the garments we will wear in our purity as we one day stand around the throne.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev.7:9-10)

Snow is telling the story of the glory of God (Ps. 19:1). Are you listening?

 

--Amy O'Rear

 

 

Love Life and See Good Days

 

Recently, as I was reading my Bible, I saw a date in the margin of I Peter 3: January 31, 1999. That was a little over twenty-five years ago, folks. Twenty-five years. I remember where I was standing in my kitchen when the import of those words in I Peter hit me, and I decided they would be a good goal for the coming year/decade/century/millennium. I think I must have been washing dishes or possibly preparing to cook because I was standing near the pots hanging on the blue pegboard beside the sink. (I no longer have the same kitchen but do still own some of the same pots. I think there’s a useful metaphor here, but I’ll have to save it for later.)

That I could think about the passage while standing in my kitchen is partly due to the fact that someone back in my college days urged me to memorize scripture—not just random scattered verses, but long sections with context and multiple sentences and paragraphs. I really can’t recall who or what spurred me to this endeavor; maybe I was simply prompted by God’s Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the practice.

And here are the verses from I Peter 3:10-11—“For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it” (KJV). Let’s see those verses in a different version-- For

“Whoever desires to love life

and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from speaking deceit;

  let him turn away from evil and do good;

let him seek peace and pursue it (ESV).

 

In his letter to the churches, Peter is quoting a psalm of David. I’m thinking it’s possible Peter had himself memorized the psalm, and it came to his mind as he was giving instructions to believers in the proper way to conduct a Christian life.

 

I recently retyped and reorganized my memory list, trusting in God to lead me in the work. And this month I’m working on learning Psalm 34, the original source of these verses. It seems appropriate to be looking at these verses here at the beginning of yet another new year, for who among us doesn’t want to “love life and see good days”?

 

When I thought about these verses back in 1999, I determined that this admonition would be my goal for the year. I can’t confirm that I’ve adhered to every word over the years. Certainly the choice to turn away from evil and to speak only truth is one that must be made over and over, so these verses still stand out in my mind as something to aspire to, with God’s help. If you’re still casting about for your word for the year or a goal you might put in front of yourself, here are some possibilities:

 

1.    Memorize scripture.

2.    Keep my tongue from evil.

3.    Seek peace.

4.    All of the above.

 

--Sherry Poff

The New Year is Coming: Time to Change Everything

 As we approach the end of 2024 and look forward to 2025, many people are thinking about ways they could be better/have a better life by making significant lifestyle changes. While exercising more and spending less are admirable desires, New Year’s resolutions don’t usually end up lasting all that long. Why? Because changing oneself doesn’t happen with the flip of a calendar.

Change takes work and intentionality over long periods of time. Often, more success is found by making small changes that you build on over time. Starting out with a goal of going to the gym for an hour every day is a big commitment. Life happens, and when a missed day inevitably occurs, there can be a great sense of failure and lack of motivation to continue. If working out every day is an eventual goal, starting out with a once-a-week goal is much more attainable. You get a sense of achievement, which then builds motivation to keep going and increase frequency.

I’m also not the biggest fan of setting goals in winter when the days are cold and short. While a new year is a logical place for many to start, seasonal depression can be a barrier for many. I usually get a sense of newness and a desire to make changes in the Spring rather than at the beginning of a new year. The days are getting warmer and longer, trees and flowers are beginning to bloom, and the world around me feels ready for growth. In truth, beginning change can happen at any time.

This past April, I had the desire to learn how to crochet. Grandma used to make the best dishcloths, and I wanted to be able to make them like her. I added some inexpensive hooks and yarn to my Walmart pickup order and began practicing while watching YouTube videos. I focused on a simple goal: make a dishcloth. It didn’t need to be a perfect square; it just needed to vaguely resemble something I could wash dishes with. I made many mistakes and had to undo many rows of work, but I have since made many more dishcloths, some baby blankets, a (questionable looking) bucket hat, and a me-sized blanket among other projects. I have many more projects lined up that I am excited to work on.

When I look back at 2024, learning to crochet was one of the best changes I decided to make. It brought a great amount of creativity to my life and gave me something to do with my hands while watching TV. I had no clue that crochet would become a significant part of my life at the beginning of the year, and January me would not have been motivated enough to see it through. I’m so glad I didn’t wait for the “perfect” time to start. I just started.

If you want to make changes in your life in the new year, don’t limit yourself with shoulds. Find what works best for you, and don’t be afraid to just start when you can. Start with a bite-sized goal and build from there. You don’t have to wait for the beginning of the year or a new month to set a new goal or rethink what matters to you. Most importantly, be intentional with what changes you make and how you make them so they truly reflect your priorities.

--Concetta Swann

A Pitiful Tale of a Young Woman

I have been trying to understand the young adults with whom I work at the Baptist children’s homes. They seem to struggle so. It has been a long time since I was a young adult, so I began to think back, back, back…

It was tough! I had so many things going on at the same time. There were so many adult responsibilities/ skills that I had not yet mastered, so everything was a struggle. Many young people would leave home if they could, but most have no money and no skills to earn a livable wage. That was me. I wanted to move out on my own, but who could pay adult bills making $3.50 an hour? That was pitiful money even back then. I concluded that I would need to attend college so I could get a better job. I was burned out on school and really did not want to go to college. I felt I had no choice. I was trapped. Trapped at home, trapped in school, and trapped in low paying jobs with only long-term rewards ahead. Poor me.

In addition to all of this, my father died of cancer, so there were the emotions of all that went with his illness and death. That left my mother and me feeling extremely vulnerable.

I also was trying to figure out social skills and romance. I had an ugly romantic rejection/break up that left me reeling for over a year.

To keep things interesting, I drove a car that was always breaking down and had no heat. That was especially fun since I had a 30-minute drive to school on the interstate, and I would have to pull over periodically and scrape the inside of my windows. That was so cold – and dangerous – in the winter. I was always having to rely on the kindness of strangers, because we did not have cell phones back then.

I did not yet have the adult skills so many of us depend upon to cope with the struggles of life. I did not have self-control related to diet, sleep, and time management. I did not know how to manage what little money I had. I was over committed and struggling to keep up. Most importantly, I had not yet developed the habit of gratitude. I could not see the good in my life. But I was good at whining, complaining, muttering, griping, quibbling – choose your word! I did not realize I should be embracing my college years. There is so much I never learned, because I was trying to just get through it!

I tried to reach out to God, but He was so silent. I had not yet developed spiritual disciplines either, so I was groping in the dark on this one too.

Do you feel depressed just reading all of this? Well, things got better! God heard my desperate pleas for help even though I felt like he was absent. He provided me with a decent job, which led to a reliable vehicle. He even eventually provided me with a wonderful husband – when the time was right. Over time, the other life skills would be mastered, and life felt easier in many ways.

What is the point of telling you this sad, pathetic tale? You likely know a struggling young person. If you do, be a good listener. They likely will figure things out, but right now, they need an encouraging friend or mentor. They do not need a fixer who gives unsolicited advice, but someone to listen and empathize with their situation. They need someone who cares enough to ask questions and draw them out and then follow up on how they are doing. (This is what God is teaching me in my work.) They might be feeling very lonely.

If you are the young person who is struggling, know that God is still present, and He sees your struggle. Know that, with good choices, life will get better. Seek Him to guide you. Go to Him with your needs. Consider working on the skills mentioned above that I was lacking as a young person. Embrace where you are in life right now with a good attitude. Seek a trusted mature adult with whom to talk and listen to their advice.

And for all of us, never stop learning. I am on my way to 60, and I learn new things all the time! When you stop learning, you die!

Merry Christmas to you all!

joyce hague

From the Archives: No Longer a Slave

 

I wrote this back in 2019. Back then, we often listened to a children’s Christmas CD that had various passages put to song. One of them was the very song that the kids ended their program with this morning. With that song in mind, I decided to pull this Cup of Grace “out of the files.”

 

No Longer a Slave

When we think of Christmas passages, Luke 2 and Matthew 1 come to mind, among others. Hidden among the epistles though is a great passage that should not be overlooked as we ponder the Christmas story. It starts with the incarnation and then beautifully explains the reason behind the coming of the baby that we celebrate.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth a Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5

As I meditate on this passage, each phrase speaks important truths:

The fullness of time: God has perfect timing in all He does. Thousands of years had passed since God’s promise that One from a woman’s seed would crush Satan’s head. But up until now, it hadn’t been the right time.  God knew what He was doing; the wait was intentional. And at this point in history, with the Roman Empire spread wide and the Greek language widely spoken, God was ready. The right people were all in place. The time was here. The Savior could come.

God sent forth a Son: This was a Son who existed from eternity past, who dwelt with the Father in Oneness. This was the plan all along. This promised One, the Messiah, would be the rescuer the fallen world so desperately needed.

Born of a Woman: How much more vulnerable can the Son of God become than to be a newborn infant, reliant on a young woman for His very sustenance? And because He was born of a woman and thus was fully human, He understands our frailties. He understands heartache, trials, loneliness, and pain. And we are also reminded of the promise in the Garden: One from the woman’s seed would crush the serpent.

Born under the Law: Ever since Adam and Eve’s fall, all humanity is born under the law. This law must be upheld to have a relationship with the Father. And yet, because of our sinful desires and actions, we cannot follow the law perfectly. We are slaves to a Law we cannot keep and hopelessly lost. Christ, born fully human, was now subject to the same Law.

To Redeem all those who were under the Law: Sisters, that’s us! Redemption has been made possible because this One whom God sent at the right time, who was born of a woman and under the Law, was able to keep the Law perfectly. Not only that, but He also took our penalty, death, on Himself, so that His righteous life could be imputed to us, and God’s righteous judgement against sin could be upheld as His wrath was poured out on Christ. We have been redeemed at a high cost.

So that we might receive adoption as sons [daughters]: We have not only been redeemed, but we have also been adopted. We are daughters of the Most High God! If we follow the train of thought in these two verses, it can be boiled down to this: Jesus was born to save us so that we could become God’s children. Christ’s birth had an end in mind… our salvation and adoption into God’s family. Jesus was born to die. His manger lay in the shadow of a cross that would purchase our freedom.

I love the next two verses in this passage as well:

“And because you are sons, God has sent the spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God.”

Because of Christmas and what would follow, we are no longer slaves to a law we cannot keep. We are heirs to a kingdom that is yet to come when the Savior we celebrate at Christmas comes back a second time, yet this time not as a baby, but as a conquering king. May we not just look to the past as we reflect on Christ’s birth this season, but may we celebrate our salvation and adoption in the present, and wait with anticipation for the day in the future when God’s final plan will be fulfilled at the return of His Son.

--Amy O'Rear

 

Can You See Yourself?

 Every year when I was growing up, there was a nativity set under our Christmas tree. One of my favorite things to do each Christmas season was to lie down on the floor and get eye level with the nativity figures. Doing so made it easy to imagine being there when the events of the first Christmas unfolded. 

Sometime during my late teens, my mom got a cassette tape of Evie Karlsson singing Christmas songs. We had one of her earlier Christmas records, and many of you may be familiar with her music. This tape had a song that both my mom and I really liked: "Move Me Closer" (listen to it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nLwhsaApIk ). The words capture the Spirit's pull on our hearts to stay near the manger and its Child. 

I wanted to mention those two Christmas memories, because they are connected to the reason I wrote a new Christmas poem a few weeks ago. I still listen to "Move Me Closer" every December, and try to make time to get eye level with the nativity scene (though I'll admit that I don't pop up from the floor quite as fast as I did when I was an elementary student). It is ever a wonder that the Christ child came...for you, for me, for the world. May none of us ever get too busy to adore Him.

-MaryBeth Hall

Can You See Yourself?

Luke 2:15 "...Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,

and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."

Can you see yourself at eventide

In the stable long ago?

The hay-filled manger stand beside,

As all your soul gazes to know 

More of the tiny One who sleeps,

Yet secrets of the ages keeps.

Can you see yourself in Joseph's stead -

Honorable, obedient carpenter,

The little family's earthly head?

Can you see yourself in Mary's place - 

The wonderment of motherhood 

Traced in the soft love on her face?

Oh, stay awhile, and then some more;

The stable has a place for all

Who love the great Incarnate Lord.

Your name the still, small Voice does call.

The swaddled baby come and touch;

He came because He loves you much.

Imagine, as though you were there,

Every detail of that night.

All you are, pour out in prayer

As you kneel to look by firelight.

The wonder of God's precious Gift,

Ever let it your soul lift.

Can you see yourself at eventide

In the stable long ago?

Meet Him then each morningtide

Right in your house; the God-Man know.

Though grown, His love is still the same;

To know Him more, your soul's best aim.

--MaryBeth Hall

From the Bookshelf: Abiding

 

My friends, I have far too many books. You may be tempted to ask—as I have sometimes done—is it really possible to have too many books? A part of me says No; it is not possible. But here’s my problem: I do not have shelf space for them. I have stacks of books in the floor and piles of books on the fronts of shelves and more books in boxes.

I’m always reading something, so maybe I’ll get through all of them some time, but several are from school days--as in, when I was in school, and I really don’t know if I’ll want to read them again. Still, if I do get rid of one, next week I’ll probably go looking for it. I can’t tell you how many books I’ve gone looking for, sure I had them, only to remember that they were in my classroom at school, and  . . .well . . . we know how that ends.

But I have determined to cull the herd, so to speak, and so several days ago I took from the shelf a volume called Soul Revolution by John Burke. This is a book that I believe the GBA faculty was encouraged to read several years ago—probably many years ago. I had a marker in it, so I know I got about halfway before I abandoned it, and I may abandon it again. (If you want to talk about that, ask me.) The book is largely urging readers to try an “experiment” that involves setting a timer or maybe posting strategically placed reminders to stay in contact with God, to purposely be aware of His presence and communicate with Him throughout the day.

While I feel wary of gimmicks, staying in touch with God is certainly a good goal, and this week I read a section of Burke’s book that references a classic work by 17^th-century Christian worker, Brother Lawrence. That book is a compilation of conversations, letters, and journal entries called The Practice of the Presence of God. I happened to have read the Brother Lawrence book this summer, and I was happy to be reminded of the value of just being aware of God’s presence. I can speak to him of my joys and sorrows just as I would do if a human friend were by my side. In fact, as we are reminded by Jesus Himself, the Holy Spirit is closer than any friend, “for he dwells with you” and lives “in you.”

I have been able to sit in on some of Steve Lyons’ sessions about the Holy Spirit, and these studies have also brought to my attention the wonderful gift of God’s presence in my life. In moments of doubt or loneliness, it is a blessing to speak to Him and know he is near. I enjoy thanking God aloud when I see a beautiful sunset or when He protects me from accidents on the road. It is comforting to speak to the Holy Spirit concerning those I love. I know His love for them is greater than my own, and He actually has the ability to work in ways I cannot always see or even imagine. 

Andrew Murray’s Christian classic, Abide in Christ, is another source that urges believers to purposely focus on God’s presence in their lives. In this book, Murray delves into John chapter 15 and the metaphor of the vine. Jesus explicitly says to His disciples here, “Abide in me.” To abide is to stay, to linger on purpose, and Jesus makes doing so a command.

So this principle is what God is teaching me now. Sometimes discipline is required to form healthy habits. So if you need to set your watch or affix post-it notes to your mirror, go ahead and do it. And if you want to borrow a book, let me know. (Seriously)

--Sherry Poff