There is a love that fills my heart,
like snow in the deepest part.
There is a peace from Heaven’s crown,
like snow gently falling down.
There is a grace from only Him,
like snow coating every limb.
There is a life made wholly right,
like snow turning woodlands white.
There is a seal, completely clean,
like snow on the evergreen.
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13
SNOW ON THE EVERGREEN
In our woods, snow comes
straight down and piles up, especially today with the beginnings of a
Nor-Easter in our state. The birds are scurrying at the feeder and suet cakes.
They know the storm comes. We have an evergreen that we planted years ago down
the yard here in Veery Glade. From the house, I can watch the snow coat the
evergreen with a white gown.
It is miraculous to become
a child of God. God gives a power to people who believe in His Son, Jesus
Christ like it says in the first chapter of John. Because of faith, an identity
transformation occurs by an amazing force from Heaven, that same force that
created us. God does the work of recognizing belief in our hearts. He who created
the heart reads the heart. Since the power is given by God, it is not a power
that we humans have without such a giving. It is only obtained by faith.
But if our
gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world
hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2 Corinthians
4:3-4
The result of not
believing is mental blindness. The god of this world, Satan, blinds the mind.
When someone is blind, they don’t see where they are going. They don’t
understand the lyrics ‘I once was blind but now I see’ in the beautiful song Amazing Grace. They don’t agree with
Reepicheep, that adorable fictional mouse in the Chronicles of Narnia, when he said, ‘We have nothing if not
belief’. The devil has blinded their mind.
And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2
The Living God is our Miracle
Re-newer, our Miracle Restorer, our Miracle Deliverer. God can create in us a renewed
mind, right spirit and clean heart. We rely on Him through prayer to work
miracles in our heart and mind.
Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isaiah 1:18
Our miraculous God can make sin
white as snow, blotting out any trace of it. He invites us to come and reason
with Him. Who would turn down such an opportunity from God Himself? Who
wouldn’t want their sin whited out? Maybe someone who thought she had no sin.
There are people who believe they have no sin. The Bible tells us this.
1 John 1:8
Some people believe they
are perfect in their own way. For them, there is no need for redemption from a
God who doesn’t even exist. Don’t let yourself be deceived. Draw close to God
and He will draw close to you. So much rides on belief.
While it’s true that all people are made in God’s image, it’s not true that all people are children of God. The given title ‘Child of God’ is for those born of God. If everyone were a child of God, there would be no need for God to send His Son to die for our sins. The devil wants people to think they are born children of God and not in need of a Redeemer. All attention on Jesus Christ, God’s remedy for sin, is what the devil works tirelessly to destroy.
1 John 1:9
Pray for understanding in
this: God provides the remedy only in His Son, Jesus Christ. There
is no other remedy. There is no other way. Pray today for your loved ones. We
are a work in progress.
John 3:18
We know it is the Creator
of creation who details His design. It was He who humbled Himself to be born a
human, which He created out of dirt from the ground. It is the Creator who puts
all salvation on one name, the name of Jesus Christ. Pray for our country and
leaders that they will honor God with their words and deeds.
In whom ye
also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy
Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians
1:13-14
As I watch the snow coat
the evergreen, I remember what the Bible tells us: God, the Holy Spirit is
deposited within us, the faithful, as a guarantee. By the Holy Spirit, we
become what we never were—children of God. It is, then, to us to keep at our
praying. Holding true to the prayer pattern, we plead the matters heavy on our
hearts with our Heavenly Father. Keeping the torch of a positive attitude, we
keep hopeful that God is more than able to do what we ask.
For we
ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers
lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one
another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man
appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that
being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal
life.
Titus 3:3-7
Enjoy the miracle of
renewal like the graceful covering of snow on the evergreen. May we be reminded
of the cancellation of sin, sealed identity and God’s
ongoing kindness.
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