White as Snow!
We anxiously watched the sky and soonthe bits of white fell, obliterating the yellowed grass and etching
the outline of the bare limbs of trees. This annual winter
phenomenon brought back memories of Snow Storms past.
Snow creates dreams of a white
Christmas, the vision of sitting before an open fire when time seems
to stop. Snow creates the hope of a Snow Day by students and
teachers alike when the heart beats a bit faster as alternate choices
of what to do tumble through the mind.
Christmas, the vision of sitting before an open fire when time seems
to stop. Snow creates the hope of a Snow Day by students and
teachers alike when the heart beats a bit faster as alternate choices
of what to do tumble through the mind.
Snow means the rumbling of the salt
truck on its rounds to make travel safer for those who must be out..
Snow means finding all available dry mittens that will be exchanged
for wet ones after an hour outside for the children. Snow means the
erection of snow men and snow forts. Snow means making snow ice
cream and eating the sweet cold goodness, that dissolves on the
tongue.
truck on its rounds to make travel safer for those who must be out..
Snow means finding all available dry mittens that will be exchanged
for wet ones after an hour outside for the children. Snow means the
erection of snow men and snow forts. Snow means making snow ice
cream and eating the sweet cold goodness, that dissolves on the
tongue.
Snow means playing ‘snow angels’ in
the snow leaving tracks of laughter. Snow means making snowballs and
lobbing them at unsuspecting passersby. Snow fall means trying to
catch a cold snow flake on one’s tongue and letting it melt, as
lightly as a butterfly kiss in the Spring.
the snow leaving tracks of laughter. Snow means making snowballs and
lobbing them at unsuspecting passersby. Snow fall means trying to
catch a cold snow flake on one’s tongue and letting it melt, as
lightly as a butterfly kiss in the Spring.
As time goes by, the reflex to a snow
for grandparents is to put on a kettle of soup to bubbling on the
stove and postpone any thought of going anywhere at all.
Thankfulness arises when a child or grandchild wields the snow
shovel. Of course, the white hair, reflecting the white snow and
wisdom, means a grandparent knows that hot chocolate and cookies must
be ready at all times for visiting grand children.
for grandparents is to put on a kettle of soup to bubbling on the
stove and postpone any thought of going anywhere at all.
Thankfulness arises when a child or grandchild wields the snow
shovel. Of course, the white hair, reflecting the white snow and
wisdom, means a grandparent knows that hot chocolate and cookies must
be ready at all times for visiting grand children.
The business man is concerned about
the volume of sales dropping with every snow flake that falls. His
concern is relative to the depth of the snow.
the volume of sales dropping with every snow flake that falls. His
concern is relative to the depth of the snow.
But is this phenomen of white stuff
falling all there is? Does the way the way it falls make a
difference in our lives? Is the falling on earth the end of it? No,
Snow is an analogy, an illustration for the teaching of God. We are
used to the high tech tools of teaching, while God uses his creation
to teach of eternal truths.
falling all there is? Does the way the way it falls make a
difference in our lives? Is the falling on earth the end of it? No,
Snow is an analogy, an illustration for the teaching of God. We are
used to the high tech tools of teaching, while God uses his creation
to teach of eternal truths.
Just now, looking at the sunshine
reflecting the crystals of snow, I am reminded of three scriptures
that describe the Ancient of Days, God:
reflecting the crystals of snow, I am reminded of three scriptures
that describe the Ancient of Days, God:
• “As
I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took
his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his
head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.” Daniel 7:9.
I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took
his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his
head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.” Daniel 7:9.
• “His
appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.”
Matthew 28:3,
appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.”
Matthew 28:3,
• “and
among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe
reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.
The hair on his head was white
like wool, as white as snow,
and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze
glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing
waters.”
Revelation
1:13-15
1:13-15
If you close your eyes,
you will remember how blinding snow is in the sunlight. This scene
reminds me of the verses above, a description that helps us
understand our awesome God. God is pure, He is Holy, He is
omescient. Is it any wonder that He wants to see us, his creation, as
His pure and holy children? But how can that be? There are more
verses that use the imagery of snow.
you will remember how blinding snow is in the sunlight. This scene
reminds me of the verses above, a description that helps us
understand our awesome God. God is pure, He is Holy, He is
omescient. Is it any wonder that He wants to see us, his creation, as
His pure and holy children? But how can that be? There are more
verses that use the imagery of snow.
Isaiah 1:18 is such a
verse, In the midst of addressing a rebellious nation, Isaiah writes
these words of admonition from God:
verse, In the midst of addressing a rebellious nation, Isaiah writes
these words of admonition from God:
“Wash
and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop
doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
“Come
now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD.
“Though
your sins are like scarlet, they (sins) shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah
1:16-18.
Sins are pictured as a
scarlet stain and creates a visible imperfection to God.
scarlet stain and creates a visible imperfection to God.
Charles
Stanley explains
how this truth was brought to life in his photography: “I
occasionally use colored filters over my lenses when I photograph
in black and white. For instance, a light yellow filter darkens the
sky, while brightening the clouds. A red filter enhances the white
still more. That particular day, I experimented with viewing a red
dot on white paper through a red filter. To my amazement, the dot,
when seen through the red filter, appeared white. At that moment I
realized the overwhelming truth of God’s forgiveness. Our sin,
depicted as deep red by Isaiah, becomes white as snow and wool when
seen through the red cross of Golgotha. This is the great
transformation of forgiveness . . . God in Christ has cleansed you of
every stain of sin.”
(http://dailyevidence.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/white-as-snow/)
Stanley explains
how this truth was brought to life in his photography: “I
occasionally use colored filters over my lenses when I photograph
in black and white. For instance, a light yellow filter darkens the
sky, while brightening the clouds. A red filter enhances the white
still more. That particular day, I experimented with viewing a red
dot on white paper through a red filter. To my amazement, the dot,
when seen through the red filter, appeared white. At that moment I
realized the overwhelming truth of God’s forgiveness. Our sin,
depicted as deep red by Isaiah, becomes white as snow and wool when
seen through the red cross of Golgotha. This is the great
transformation of forgiveness . . . God in Christ has cleansed you of
every stain of sin.”
(http://dailyevidence.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/white-as-snow/)
Forgiveness is white, sin
is red. I choose this year – to be white as snow in Jesus. It is
not what I do to attain white-ness, but simply accepting the gift of
Grace through Jesus Christ and placing my life in his Hands.
is red. I choose this year – to be white as snow in Jesus. It is
not what I do to attain white-ness, but simply accepting the gift of
Grace through Jesus Christ and placing my life in his Hands.
As the Psalmist David
said in Chapter 51:7-12.
said in Chapter 51:7-12.
Cleanse
me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter
than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you
have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out
all my iniquity.
Create
in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from
me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a
willing spirit, to sustain me.
Dear
Lord, Every time it snows, bring your words to my mind. Help me to
count your blessings with each snow flake that falls. Help your
grace to cover me with forgiveness and my sins be blotted out. May I
be pure and steadfast in You.
Lord, Every time it snows, bring your words to my mind. Help me to
count your blessings with each snow flake that falls. Help your
grace to cover me with forgiveness and my sins be blotted out. May I
be pure and steadfast in You.
Help
me this year to be mindful daily of your love, and love those you
place before me.
me this year to be mindful daily of your love, and love those you
place before me.
In
Jesus’ Name, I pray!
Jesus’ Name, I pray!
Comments? eacombs@att.net