The week: It has been snowy, cold, and beautiful white outside. There is just something about little brown birds in the snow-white trees, kids playing in the snow, and the hush and quiet that comes from the blanket of white outside.

The silence after a snowstorm isn’t just your imagination — all those tiny flakes actually trap the sounds of your surroundings. There are these little gaps within the snow and those are very efficient at absorbing sound. Link

Thoughts: Sometimes we get so used to go, go, going that when snow comes and snows us in – it can feel a bit like we are going stir crazy because our bodies and minds are used to running. But this year, so far, has been slow and instead of trying to speed it up and get moving. I am leaning into slow even more that I usually do. If the Lord knows where you are and sends snowstorms to keep you in. Then why fight that?

Interesting verse I read in my daily reading:

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that are weary and laden, and I will ease you.
²⁹ Take my yoke on you, and learn of me that I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

Matthew 11:28-30 Geneva Bible

and I will ease you…

EASE: Physical comfort, undisturbed state of the body, peace of mind, to rest. Maybe if you are like me you need a little, “come to Jesus” for your weary soul and worn out mind.

I am telling ya… lean in. Something in you may yell and tell ya that your being lazy and need to get moving but if you just watch that voice just blow on by like clouds and remember that all that is out your windows right now is hunkered down and resting. Then why not you?

Something joyful:

The sun came out and this little bird met the morning rays..

Something I read and thoughts about that:

“The church cannot be the salt of the earth if we keep sugar coating the gospel.”

Facebook post

I had an instant irritation with this post. I get what it is trying to say. Yet I can’t help thinking it isn’t quite saying it as clearly as it could. Yes, the church is to be salt of the earth, we are to be flavorful and making the world salivate for what we have to offer. I think it is the sugar-coating part that I disagree with. The gospel is simple – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. He became poor so that we could become rich! He died, rose again and is coming back. Thats why they call it the simple gospel. I don’t think we sugar coat that. But we keep sugar coating the truth that the cure is for a problem – Sin. We have sinned and we needed Jesus to die in our place, so that if we would be willing to believe in his substitutionary death – we could receive everlasting life.

One great preacher said it this way:

Christ offends men because His gospel is intolerant of sin.

Charles Spurgeon

HIS DEATH SO THAT WE COULD LIVE!

Yard wildlife: I didn’t know that the bunnies would nibble the peach tree ends for a snack in the winter. How lovely is that?

Thanks for reading today!

Starla