The Cold Is Not As Cold

Hello, Church Family...

This thought came to me the other day as I was walking out to my car on another cold winter day. The cold is not as cold when You (God) are with me. Even though we have had a very cold winter along with many storms, blizzards, and power outages for some, I am convinced that it is not near as bad when we keep the perspective that God is with us always – no matter how bad the situation.

David said in Psalm 23:4, “Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”. I believe the rod and staff represent the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Thank God that we are never on our own, even in the worst of situations.

If this winter has been long and difficult for you, think for a moment what it would be like if you didn’t have God’s comfort and peace in your life to help you through it. I believe God’s fire can warm our hearts, even in the coldest of winters. It just doesn’t seem to be as cold when you keep in mind that God is right there with you. That is called setting your mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). This will always give you a better outlook on life. After all, we died, and our life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians3:3) – even if it means living it out on this earth in the middle of a cold and nasty winter. God is still with you. That makes everything better.

Philippians 4:8 also encourages us to think on things that are noble, of good report, and praiseworthy, among other positive descriptive words. It hit me the other day that I am also very thankful for indoor plumbing, and that we don’t have to run out to the outhouse to go to the bathroom (some of you may remember doing that)! I am also very thankful for a garage and a car and house that have heat. We should also be thankful for snow plows that clear the roads (even if they don’t always get there as soon as we might wish). For those of you that lost power, thank God for generators, friends or family to stay with, or extra blankets to cover up with. I am still working on being thankful for my shovel and snow blower when clearing drifts from my driveway, but I am getting there.

I am convinced that if we can learn the art of setting our “mind on things above”, the cold won’t seem as cold. Spring is only 22 days away!

God bless,
Pastor Jeff

P.S. Information about ALC’s group trip inJuly to Campmeeting at Rhema Bible Church in Tulsa will be available this Sunday! We would love to have you join us!