The Snow

I LOVE the snow...I love how it covers everything in the most beautiful blanket of white...I love how it causes everyone to slow down....I love how each snowflake is completely different and unique...just as God made us...each one of us designed in a unique way with the purpose of working for God in His Kingdom.  I love how God reaches out to us and wants to show us His love anyway He can and yesterday, He taught me a lesson about His love as my family enjoyed the snow....let me tell you about it....

First of all, let me say this...it's been a long time since I've had such a wonderful day from start to finish...yesterday was one of those days that I pray I remember forever....Luke, Landis, and I hit the sledding hill by 8:00am and had a blast sledding with Luke and watching him fly down the hill, listening to him squeal and beg to do it again, and just watching his tiny self in his puffy snow clothes climb the hill and stomp in the snow.  After the sledding fun, we cooked breakfast together, snuggled with baby Kate and played with her and then Landis left to go get his mom so she could come play with us.  While she was gone, Luke helped me unload the dishwasher and as he sat on the counter "helping" me, he began asking me all kinds of questions about the difference between Satan and Jesus. He wanted to know what the Devil looked like and if he really had horns on his head.  I took the opportunity to explain to him that the Devil can take on many forms and most of the time, he chooses to make himself look beautiful so we are attracted to him. I explained to Luke that the Devil would entice you with things that would hurt you and that Jesus would always lead him with love. Luke walked away from the conversation understanding that Jesus is LOVE, kindness, goodness and the Devil is lies, hurt, and selfishness. We also talked a lot about who He should follow and, my heart warmed, when he told me that he wanted to always follow Jesus.  I appreciate my heavenly Father giving me the opportunity to have talks such as that one so I can plant seeds in my little boy's heart....seeds that I pray daily for the Holy Spirit to grow into deep soil that will lead to the salvation of Luke at a young age.

After Luke and I finished our chores, we headed back outside with Daddy.  This time, we decided to make a snowman.  As we each began to roll snow, Luke had a different idea...with no warning, he made himself a hefty snowball and out of nowhere said, "SNOWBALL FIGHT!" and nailed Landis in the nose with a snowball - making it bleed.  I thought it was a little funny but Landis did not.  However, knowing that Luke didn't intentionally hurt him...Landis extended mercy to Luke and did not retaliate.

After that accident, we all went inside to warm up and play. Our house was so full of love...me, Landis, Luke, baby Kate, and mammaw Carolyn...chili was in the crock pot, Daddy playing his guitar, me, Luke, mammaw, and Kate playing on the bedroom floor...I really think I grinned all day.  :)

Then, finally, in the late afternoon, Luke and I went back outside by ourselves.  We finished our snowman (which looked quite hideous but gave us a good laugh), Luke used his snow markers to color the snow, I followed Luke as we stomped along the paths that he was making, and then we made us a sledding path.  We finally got the sledding path packed down good enough where Luke could make it from the top of our yard all the way to the road...and that he did about 50 times.  For over an hour, I pulled Luke in the sled behind me up the hill and then watched him go down.  He was the cutest little thing on that sled....I would watch his little head from behind as it zoomed down the hill....then, I loved to see his grin look up at me and say, "Let's do that again."  Such joy - pure joy!

So, speaking of pure joy....let me begin on the real reason that I began this blog.  In the midst of that wonderful day, God showed me a spiritual principle that I thought I would share....

When we went sledding in the early morning hours, the sledding hill was slick, real slick because the top layer was ice.  Landis and I had both gone down the hill enough to know that it was slick.  Luke was ready to try going by himself so we wanted to let him.  I stayed at the top of the hill and Landis stood in the culdesac so he could stop him if he went too fast.  I gave Luke a tiny push and off he went...loving every second of it...he picked up speed faster and faster and then all of sudden, Luke went off course....off the road heading toward a group of trees....I watched as Landis (standing quite a bit away) took off running as fast as he could, without hesitation, he dove to try to stop Luke but Luke kept going...as we held our breath and watched, Luke safely made it through the trees and came to a soft landing in the middle of our neighbors' yard.  Luke got up and said, "Can I do that again?"  I laughed and laughed at how silly Landis' looked chasing Luke and poor Landis was out of breath and had a hurt shoulder from diving.  :)

When we came back in the house, Landis and I watched it all happen again on video and we both started thinking about how what happened relates to our spiritual relationship with our heavenly Father.  When a father's son is in danger, the father doesn't think about himself - he does what is needed to save his son.  Landis didn't worry about getting hurt - all he knew to do was to take off after Luke to save him - all because he loves Luke so very much.  You see - that's what our heavenly Father has done and continues to do for us.  First of all, when He saw us (as sinners) in danger of Hell (eternal death), He didn't think selfishly but instead, He did all He could to save us - He sent His only son to Earth to die for our sins.  We were heading for the trees of destruction (just like Luke) and our heavenly Father RAN to save us.  And, He still does that for us today - daily.  Because God gave His son to die for us and because Jesus endured the miseries of this Earth FOR US, we have a father/son, father/daughter relationship with God....He loves us just like Landis loves Luke SO when He sees one of His children heading for danger, He RUNS to save us, to rescue us, to deliver us....you see the Devil will plant trees of hurt, deception, pain, sickness, darkness, around us but our heavenly Father is always waiting to make that dash to us to deliver us so that we can make the smooth, soft landing that He desires.  That's LOVE y'all!

As Luke went down that hill yesterday, he wasn't scared....he didn't even know he was in danger....he TRUSTED that his daddy was at the bottom of the hill to catch him and as a result, he ended up having quite a joy ride.  When we are led by the Spirit, God will reveal things to us that we need to do or that He wants us to do.  How many times have we not obeyed because of fear?  And, therefore, we missed the joy at the end.  If Luke would've been scared of the hill, he would not have experienced the joy at the bottom. If we don't act on what God has spoken to us, then we may limit our joy of obedience that God wants to lavish upon us. We can stand at the top of the hill and KNOW that God is the one at the bottom protecting us.  We can take that little push and let God guide us all the way to the soft landing.

For many, many years, I did not obey God....I didn't even think about asking Him what He wanted me to do. I took His love for granted and was very selfish.  For the last two years, I have not only asked God for forgiveness for not obeying but I have asked Him to help me be led by His Spirit. And, even after all those years of abandoning Him, He was ready and willing to guide me and teach me as soon as I turned my heart towards Him....what a LOVING, awesome God we serve.  Around Thanksgiving, God spoke something to me that I needed to do.  It was something that I didn't WANT to do....I was scared....I was confused....and, I could have easily made a selfish excuse but I didn't....I listened....I obeyed and I cannot explain to you in words the joy that I experienced....it was a different kind of joy than I've ever experienced before....I didn't experience the joy because of some crazy fun adventure God sent me on...I didn't experience the joy because God told me to preach or teach to a big group of people and I got worldly accolades.  I experienced joy because I obeyed God and He reached down to me and gave me a big hug....and, oh, it felt good...that is true joy!

Gang - God LOVES you - He loves you like you love your earthly children.  He's ready to catch you at the bottom of the hill...He's ready to dive for you and to push you out of the way of danger....matter of fact...He already has....Jesus dove for YOU - DIED for you - to push you out of the way of danger - turn to Him and He will always guide you through the trees.

As we all continue to be SNOWED IN for a few more days, I pray that you choose to reach out to Jesus...instead of picking up that mystery novel or turning on the TV, pick up the Bible - read it - get to know our savior personally - learn about Him, His ways, His compassion - talk to Him with a pure heart, reach out to Him for guidance....and as a result, begin the journey of peace, love, and JOY!

Love,
Toddy