ice | Encouragement for Today

It seems as though the weather is in the news. Snow, freezing rain, ice, wind, traffic issues, schools closed, flights canceled.

Let me be completely honest. I am not a winter person. I do not like cold. I prefer warm, balmy temperatures. I will say that “when” it is snowing I think it is pretty, but that is as positive as this gal can get. Yes, I prefer summer and I am not afraid to say so. I may belong in the deep southern half of the USA on a permanent basis.

So I looked out the window and found myself watching these three little birds. I called them Larry, Curly and Moe. They seemed to have it together. They were flitting in and out of the ivy wall we have in our back yard. It is very thick and the ivy has taken on a life of its own. These boys (girls??) were getting deep inside the ivy and I would say were keeping as toasty as possible. I was reminded of a couple of things.

Yep, Larry, Curly and Moe were just fine. So why do I sometimes worry about my tomorrows? I am worth more than that the bird of the air. More important to God than Larry. More important than Curly, even Moe.

Then the second message hit me. Remember when I said that I do not like cold or snow? Well, I thought of Paul. You know when he wrote the church in Philippians from jail… “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13

And I don’t like snow. Gees. Can I trust Him? Can I be content? He says I can so I just have to make that choice.

Enjoy your quiet time as the cold shuts down part of your world…and look out the window no telling what you might see!

And while being content, I might just look at some deep south pictures!! 🙂

~Be Encouraged Today

Tammy

Everybody’s talking about the weather, around here at least. As I look on the weather map, I have a feeling that truly everyone is talking about it. Snow, freezing rain, ice, wind, traffic issues, schools closed, flights canceled.

Let me be completely honest. I am not a winter person. I do not like cold. I prefer warm, balmy temperatures. I will say that “when” it is snowing I think it is pretty, but that is as positive as this old woman can get. And when I say old woman, when it is well below freezing, my lovely arthritis in my hip reminds me that I am a tad bit old. So Yes, I prefer summer and I am not afraid to say so. I belong in the south, far in the south…but that hasn’t happened yet. Hoping someday it will, but that is for another day! Someday my hip will thank me!

So, I looked out the window this afternoon and found myself watching these three little birds. We have been throwing out bread crumbs of late because we have been out of seed for a while. These birds, let’s call them Larry, Curly and Moe. (I know it is not original, so just ask someone over 50!!)

At any rate, Larry, Curly and Moe seemed to have it together. They were flitting in and out of the ivy wall we have in our back yard. It is very thick and the ivy has taken on a life of its own. These boys (girls??) were getting deep inside the ivy and I would say were keeping as toasty as possible. As I watched them the Lord reminded me of a couple of things. He does that to me a lot.

First of all, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the bird of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:25-34

Yep, Larry, Curly and Moe were just fine. I have no need to worry about my tomorrows. I quit my job in October as I felt the Lord giving me permission to do..and yet sometimes my mind will wander to that missing income…but I am more valuable that the bird of the air. More important to God than Larry. More important than Curly, even Moe.

Then the second message hit me again (previously this passage had assailed me while doing a Bible study two days ago)…yep, there was more. Remember when I said that I do not like cold or snow? Well, I thought of Paul. You know when he wrote the church in Philippians from jail!!!! “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13

And I don’t like snow. Gees.

Can I trust Him? Can I be content? Yep on both accounts. He says I can, I just have to make that choice.

Enjoy your quiet time as the cold shuts down part of your world…and look out the window, not telling what you might see!

And while being content, I might look at some of my Florida pictures!! 🙂