Winter

SO I started writing this long post about winter and how it correlates to this season of rest my husband and I are in but I realized I was making what I wanted to say much more complicated than it is.

Here are some words that come to mind in most peoples minds when you say winter:

Cold Quiet Rest Loneliness Bareness Nakedness Crisp air Dark

Snow Dreary Death Hopelessness

All of these words are so ... sad. As I was looking at how to write this out I realized that what I wanted to share has nothing to do with these words. A friend of mine once told me she LOVED winter. Honestly I thought she was nuts up until this past weekend. I could never understand why she loved the season. It's all of the above words...right?!

WRONG! During the winter season the earth rests. Everything seems to slow down, specially when snow blankets the ground. You can see through the trees and see what the leaves and bushes have hidden through out the rest of the year. In that you can see all kinds of things; a creek winding down the hill side, a small red cardinal sitting on the branch of a tree, or an old abandoned barn. This past weekend on my drive to and from church I was praying and asking God to show me something I haven't seen before, something about this season we are in and that is when I saw a small cardinal perched on a branch. I would have never seen it had it been the summer or any other season but winter.

That's when I realized, winter is more than those dreadful words, so much more! You see winter also means rest, peace, hope just to name a few. It's a time when the earth rests and prepares for spring. Spring is seen as a time of growth, renewal, of new life being born. Without winter spring can not happen.

God showed me that I must not rush this season of rest that we are in. That I need to see the beauty in this season because He is behind the scenes preparing us for spring. I believe our season of rest will come to an end soon and that our season of renewal and new birth is around the bend. Until the first buds of spring come forth in our lives I shall rest, sit back and watch how God's hands brings for the new ministry He has for us to do!

Blessings

I heard this beautiful song this morning and I just can't stop listening to it. Right now God and I are working on some things in my life. Some things I don't understand and probably won't ever and I am coming to grips with those things. Anyway this song spoke directly into those thoughts today and I wanted to share.

Hidden Damage

So today I have been thinking...I know hold on to your hats because I was actually thinking and it's only 8 AM. As I said the other day, I was in an accident. Thankfully the van is drivable so my husband has been taking it to work with him. Well today I had to meet him at the mechanic so that we can get the brakes in the car. While he was taking care of that I was sitting in the van. (yes that is my van and yes we are taking it tomorrow to get an estimate of what it is going to cost to get it fixed...praying it won't be a tremendous amount...this is coming out of our pockets.)
Do you know how embarrassing it is to sit in a vehicle that has this kind of damage? Right now all the openings are covered with a black garbage bag and PURPLE duct tape. So it stands out even more.
Anyway as we were driving home I started thinking about how looking a the van from one side you can not see any of the damage, but walk around it and there it is. Then this thought crossed my mind...how many people do we see that look whole, healthy and happy on the outside but on the inside are damaged worse than my van? Then you have people that have been "damaged" and you see the evidence on the outside such as with a burn victim and yet you get to know that person and they are more whole, healthy and happy than that other "perfectly put together" person on the other corner.
I am so glad that I serve a God that can see the inside past the "perfect outer shell" and can heal the damage on the inside all because He loves us! I invite you to pray this prayer with me today..
Dear Heavenly Father,
Today I came before you and ask that you reach deep inside of me and heal all the damage that no one else can see. Past hurts, negative thoughts, sins I have committed, all of it...Lord cleanse me from within, heal the damaged areas and restore to perfect health my body, mind and soul. Forgive me for the sins I have committed. I accept You today as King and Lord over all of my life.
In Jesus Name...Amen.