The Unexpected Victory

Although it doesn’t look very spring-like today and the cold wind is blowing snow across the fields, the birds aren’t fooled.  They are determined it’s their time to be here and are bravely pecking through the snow for their daily sustenance.  This reminds me of Rich’s Palm Sunday sermon last year.  He noted that the “Triumphal Entry” wasn’t really one of triumph for Jesus.  The people mistook the signs and prophecies, molding them into their own vision for freedom.  But God had a different plan in mind:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”   Isaiah 55:8-9

 Jesus came to Jerusalem for a final confrontation with the Jewish leaders and to complete His Father’s plans.  What the common people viewed as the beginning of a new era for their nation was actually the beginning of the end.  In this final week, Jesus wrapped up all the loose ends of His ministry.  Separating the wheat from the chaff, His teachings were confrontational and pointed.  Warnings of judgment to come, the cleansing of the Temple, denouncement of the priests and scribes; all pointed to His authority as God’s chosen Son.  The establishment of the LORD’s Supper and His prayerful preparation of His disciples were His final arrangements made before the fulfillment of all the prophecies concerning Messiah.  Later that week, when Hope hung dead on a Roman cross, the darkness closed in over mankind.  But, wait!  What appeared to His followers as defeat and despair was actually victory!  Jesus Christ conquered sin and death, rising from the grave, never to die again! 

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  1 Cor. 15:55-57

Love as always,  Elaine

Icebergs Ahead!

I wrote the following seven years ago when I was more mobile than I am now.  But, as you can see from our current photos, these truths still hold true.  And God is ever true to His Word!

  Let's see now, it's late in March, north of Syracuse and east of Lake Ontario -- Yep!  That would be lake effect snow!  Some of you have been complaining that spring is dragging its bright green feet about arriving.  Here in the north country, we don't expect to see anything green until mid-April and even that's optimistic!  The past week brought us about 8 new inches of snow but we’ve had some glimpses of the warmer weather to come.  The snow pile in front of our house is down to only three feet (or was before today's snow!)  A small group of horned larks has been scuffing around the church house parking lot for at least a week now.  I have no idea what they're finding to eat over there but they flutter up in front of me every time I drive up to the building.  When I take my walks, I stop to enjoy the rushing stream that crosses under the road.  It's so nice to hear running water again and the snow melt swells the stream between icy banks.  The little marsh I pass is showing green moss in the hollows where a secret spring feeds the swamp even in the driest season.

  Only ten days ago I went walking at Selkirk State Park.  I couldn't wait to see the beach caught in winter ice.  I had to leave the car at the Ranger's station and go in on foot, using the cross country ski trails.  It was hard walking because the snow was getting soft and often gave way to my weight.  Snow shoes would have been nice!  But it was such a nice day (almost 40 degrees) and it was a short detour from my Pulaski grocery run.  The beach was eerie and foreign piled with pack ice.  The lake was still and flat and I could see a distant band of ice way out at the horizon.  Nearer to shore, large icebergs made it look like Antarctica.  After studying the shoreline for a while, I could discern familiar landmarks disguised by icy cloaks.  There was the rocky break-water out beyond the sandy beach.  In a few months sun bathers would be spread out on the shore soaking up the summer sun.  Hard to believe in such a frozen moonscape!

  The promises of God are sometimes like that.  We stand on a shoreline changed by the storms of life and, like the Psalmist in Psalm 119:82, we cry out,

 "My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, "When will you comfort me?"

  

Little do we know that God has not moved or changed at all.  No matter how forbidding the icebergs of our daily trials, we can always count on God.

 

"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in His majesty.  The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."   Deut. 33:26,27 

 Underneath all the turmoil of life on earth are God's everlasting arms.  The sunshine of His love and blessing can melt down all the obstacles that look so overwhelming just now.

  I find it amazing that spring will finally melt away all these piles of snow collected over a long winter.  And where do they go?  Do they take up space anywhere else?  Do they move off to trouble other travelers?  No, they simply melt down into the earth to help replenish it.  They make the green of spring all the greener and nourish growth even through the dry seasons. 

  That's the way our troubles are.  They don't move off to trouble others but God melts them down so they will nourish our own character.

 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2-4 

  God can melt down those ominous icebergs that trouble you so.  Not only will you be lifted up by His everlasting arms, but you'll find growth and strengthening through what you've endured!  Take heart -- spring IS coming!

Love as always,  Elaine