Praise The Lord!

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
    stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Psalm 148:7-8 NRSV

Let everyone praise the Lord!

I went for a ride with my camera yesterday. The winter scenes are beautiful. They are breathtaking. But, steps outside of the vehicle and the cold will also take your breath away. We adjust to the seasons. They all bring something beautiful to remind us of God, the creator of heaven and earth. Each season also brings various hazards: freezing ice storms, snow storms, hurricanes, tornadoes. But, between those hazards to life we thank God and praise Him for the beauty of the earth and the life we have been given on it and in His Kingdom.

Let all God's children praise the Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Be Prepared!

It was 88 degrees here in Aura earlier this week. This evening, we are expecting snow. One can never tell what the day will bring. Here in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) we learn to be prepared for any kind of weather.

We spend many days preparing for winter. Windows are washed and sealed in plastic wrap; lawn furniture is put away; winter boots and jackets are taken out of storage while summer clothes stored for the winter; shovels are dug out; and, plows readied to be put on the trucks. We spend many days preparing and hoping for summer.  Everything we did in the fall to prepare for the winter is done in reverse. We spend a lot of time in the U.P. preparing so that we are ready for weather changes with each season.

But, how much time do we spend preparing for the changes that come with each day? Each day brings something new. Each day there are new challenges. Are we prepared to meet those challenges and overcome any adversity that might come our way?  Spending intentional time with our Father in heaven and our Lord, Jesus the Christ, each morning will help us to be prepared. Spending time in prayer with God will help us to meet the light of the day with renewed strength.

Be prepared! Pray! Spend time with our glorious Creator and Redeemer; our life and salvation.

And, may the Lord be with you that you may be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and that you may be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:11-14)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 100 - Thanks Giving!

A reason to shout for joy.... God is good. We were provided with an abundance of snow - enough to finally bank the house over the last few days.  Snow is good.  It waters the earth and in the frigid temperatures that sometimes happen up here in the U.P., it is an insulator.  So after Worship, yesterday morning, we got out and piled the snow up against the house.  This morning, I am walking on warm floors.  The cold winds off Lake Superior are no longer blowing beneath my home.

So this morning, as I reflect on yesterday, I am thankful for:
     the snow to keep us warm and the utility bill down.
     the exercise I received moving the snow (I don't get too much exercise in the winter - could - but -
         dont')
     for the opportunity to worship.
     for the fact that the annual report was finished and distributed to many for review.
     for all the children who helped serve at worship yesterday.
     for the fellowship at Zion afterward.
     for being able to cook supper for our son and granddaughter and visit with them for awhile
        yesterday.
     for waking up this morning.
     for being able to work serving the LORD this morning.

The list is actually pretty endless, but I think you probably get the idea.

The LORD is God.  Give thanks to Him for all of His gifts.  "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."  (Psalm 100:5 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Job 37 - Seasons - Nothing We Can Do About Them

Elihu lifts up the majesty and power of God.  And, it is indeed amazing!  He is in control of all the forces of nature. 

The seasons change.  They have changed every year since the beginning. Yet, we hear complaints about every season.  Every season brings challenges.  The spring is too muddy, the summer too hot, the fall is too windy, and winter is just too cold or there is either too much snow or not enough for the snow-mobilers and skiers.

Every region of the world has its specific weather challenges.  We were in South Carolina this summer.  It was too hot. We spent most of the time in the air conditioning watching television. It has been wet and colder here in the Upper Peninsula - not freezing yet, but colder the last few weeks. We've even had a few snowflakes.  And... I have already begun to hear the complaint, "It is too cold up here."  Actually, it's not.  It's about right for this time of year. 

I remember vacationing up here while we were living in various other regions of the earth.  It always amazed me that the conversations always focused on the weather.  Not enough rain!  Too much rain!  Too hot!  Too cold!  Rarely, did I ever hear the weather is just right.  I'm not sure how it happened, but instead of standing in awe of how beautiful the various seasons that God created are, human beings tend to complain them.  There is always something wrong with the weather.  It's like calling an inanimate object stupid when we're angry.  How can the weather be wrong?  It just is.  That's how God created it to be.  God is in charge of it. 

Personally, I kind of like the fact that there is something in this world that we haven't figured out how to manipulate, and that is the weather and the seasons.  I love storms.  I love to sit and watch the lightning and hear the thunder roar.  It reminds me that God is still in charge.

God's Peace - Pr. J