Snow is a Treasure

It was 10 degrees outside yesterday morning and felt like -5 when I stepped outside to take this picture.  It. Is. Cold.  There is no way to deny it.  After 6 months of cold and snow, yesterday’s snow fall wasn’t exactly exciting.  However, I will say that the silent falling flakes were giant, sparkly, and beautiful.

We are trying ever so diligently to patiently await the warmer, sunnier days.  I’ve heard people say they are feeling blue, trapped, depressed, done with the cold, ready to get outside to plant gardens, exercise, or take their kids to the park.  Some say to remember these freezing days now so as not to utter one complaint that the temperature is too hot in the heat of summer.  I may or may not fall into some of these camps of people at times.

I must get antsy for summer in April because I stumbled on another blog I had written four years ago along the same lines.  It was a good reminder that  Whether the Weather…  we need to be thankful.

As way of encouragement, there is a promise of warmer days ahead!  The birds chirp a little more now.  The sun’s intensity is growing in these northern plains and its light is lasting a bit longer each passing day.  We don’t have buds on trees or green blades of grass sprinkled in the yards yet, but for as long as I’ve been around, we haven’t skipped a summer yet!

Psalms 74:17 – “Thou hast set all the borders of the earth:  thou hast made summer and winter.”  And winter.  God does do all things well.  He made this state and region, He made the winter, and so He can give me the strength to make it through these long, cold months.  

Interestingly enough, the book of Job, God calls the snow a TREASURE which He reserves for His use.  In November and December, I think I could call the snow a treasure. (It might depend on how much of it there is.)  Without the white snow, Christmas just isn’t the same.  It becomes increasingly more difficult to claim the snow is a treasure in January, and all the more so…still…in…April.  But, if God declares He has treasures of snow, then a treasure it is!

Cold, snowy days do have their benefits.  (Even you who are so over this winter could come up with a few good things.)  I think I will try to take the last weeks of cold, wintry weather and accomplish a few indoor projects, drink a little more coffee, play a few more board games, and prepare all our summer stuff.  Ha!  The longer we wait for something, the more we appreciate it, right?  After all,

this is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it  (Psalms 118:24)

Whether the Weather…

 

…is rain or shine, sleet or snow, we know the Lord is in control!

We here in North Dakota have hibernated for six months or so.  Now, it is almost May and time for warmer, greener days.  (We think!)  When we went to bed last night, there was a covering of snow blanketing the grass.  I was delighted to see it had melted when we opened our blinds this morning! 

I ran across some wonderful scriptures while reading my Bible last week, and since the weather is…well, cooler and gloomy again, I just have to share the inspiration! 

Job 37:6-14

6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.  

7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

10 Out of the breath of God is frost given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

12 And it is turned round by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

 

I know that God is the creator of all, but when I read these verses from the book of Job, they struck a chord with me and gave me a beautiful reminder.  The snow and rains are falling today because He told them to!  Who am I to complain or think that it should be any differently?  

Verse 7 says, “He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.”  I thought this was interesting because, on these cold and/or rainy days, we often end up staying indoors.  Sometimes, there is a rest and a pause needed from the running around or the outside work.  This verse tells us “that all men may know his work”.  Maybe, if we are in a rainy or snowy season of our personal lives, God is wanting us to rest and pause.  He wants us to find our rest in Him.

By the watering “he wearieth the thick cloud” and empties the clouds from their rain.  The rain and clouds do only as He commands them to do and upon the face of the whole earth!  He alone causes it to occur, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.  

Job was told to, “stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God”.  If Job was told to hearken these words, than we should too!

Isaiah 55:8-9

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

I am so thankful for the Word of God and His infinite wisdom!  We will never comprehend all His ways, but we can trust Him.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

After reading Isaiah 55:8-9 a day or two after the scriptures in Job, I realized it segued right into another scripture about rain and snow.  I love those neat moments!  I am so thankful that the Word of God is living and still for us all today.  It is not something of the past, nor is it just for scribes, priests, ministers or special, certain people.  It is for everyone!

Isaiah 55:10-13 

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.  

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

 

Again, the rain and snow falls.  It doesn’t return to the heavens, but waters the earth and makes the earth bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.  APRIL (and maybe May and/or June) SHOWERS WILL BRING FLOWERS! 

Verse 11 is telling us that the same is true for the word that goes forth out of His mouth.  It (His word) will not return unto Him void (empty, dead, fruitless, or ineffective) but His word will accomplish exactly what He pleases and it will prosper and do exactly what He sends His word to do!

I guess with this post, I have four main thoughts weaving through it.  These scriptures apply to every aspect of life because there are the weather and storms LIFE too.  

If I were list the thoughts by the order in which they came to me, then it would be as follows:

1. God has told the clouds to give us their moisture today because He desired it to be so.  I will not complain!
2. The Lord knows exactly what He is doing.  In the literal weather, and in my life.  My ways are not His ways and I need to trust His are perfect!  We can take comfort that our lives and their events do not surprise God!  
3. We need to cherish His precious words and apply them to our lives.  He is extending grace and mercy to whoever wants it.
4. And, whether the weather … is according to as I think it should be, I will choose to remember…

this is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalms 118:24)