December 2010 Archives
God Does Everything Perfect
Winter has arrived and, in so much of the country, the snow is flying. Where I live, the ground is covered making it a beautiful sight (from indoors). I’m not a fan of cold weather but I must admit that God truly does everything beautiful in His time.
I used to complain about snow but I’ve heard that the ground needs the moisture to produce crops in the spring. And, when I think about it, if there weren’t snow, everything would be brown making it dismal looking outside. Yes, God does everything perfect.
It seems like, so often in life, we complain. It’s either too hot or too cold; too dreary or too bright. It’s easy to find things to complain about but there is also so much to rejoice about. God’s ways are perfect.
CD Review: Whiter Than Snow (Sweetwater Revival)
This recording from Sweetwater Revival is the first Christmas CD I’ve ever heard which contains primarily original songs. Cathie Paxson wrote ten of the 14 songs. Katharine Paull of the group wrote 2. Traditional carols included were “O Holy Night” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
Original song titles are: “Let’s Have a Christ-Filled Christmas,” “I Know the Maker of the Snow,” “The Merry in Christmas is Jesus,” “A Minnesota Christmas,” “Not Just for Auld Lang Syne,” “His Name Shall Be Called,” “Victory in a Baby,” “More Than Just a Man,” “The Treasure of Heaven,” and “Whiter Than Snow.” There are also 2 tracks where Katie Paull reads Scripture: Luke 2:7-11 and Isaiah 1:18.
Musically, some of the songs have that “Christmasy” feel and some sound like any song you’d hear on a Sweetwater Revival project. I love it that the focus is on the Christ of CHRISTmas. He’s the Reason we celebrate anyway.
Encouragement for the Discouraged
It seems like discouragement is not hard to find these days. As soon as life begins to turn out differently than we planned, we find ourselves becoming downcast and our thoughts become self-focused.
Repeatedly in Scripture, God’s people are told to “be of good courage” or “be of good cheer.” “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) That should be enough to keep us encouraged right there.
I know life is hard but the fact remains that God is still good. He is there when no one else is. When your friends stop answering your phone calls, God is just a call away. He desires you to “cast all your care upon Him for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) He doesn’t need you to help carry your load; He’s more than happy to carry the whole thing on your behalf. When you let go, you will feel instant relief. And then you can smile wholeheartedly and begin to encourage others, being that “light of the world” that you were called to be.
