Winter

My father and I disagree on how to cut firewood. 

Dad has a theory that he calls, “2 heats”.  He believes that if you cut your firewood in cold weather, you work up a heat, then when you burn it, you get a second heat.  I have helped him cut firewood in knee deep snow and sub-zero temperatures.  Apparently, cutting wood in sub-zero temperatures also insures you work quickly ~ or freeze. 

Yesterday I put the motorcycles in the barn for winter.  Then I hooked up the air compressor to the water system and blew out the lines so they don’t freeze.  Also, the garden hoses had to be drained, coiled and packed away in the garden shed.  And much to my chagrin, the snow blower had to be moved out of the barn for easy access.  Finally, water pipes under the house have to be wrapped with heat-tape and insulated to keep them from freezing.  If you are going to live in the Pacific Northwest, winter is unavoidable and preparations must be made.

The more preparations that I make for winter, the fewer problems I encounter when the temperatures drop and the snow falls. 

There is an old saying that emphasizes this well:

“In times of peace ~ fortify …. In times of battle ~ rest.”

Our spiritual take-away is this: 

God demands that you spend time with Him everyday ~
which will build your faith and prepare you for difficult times.

However, most people try to “use” God as a spiritual 911.

God only hears from them when the storm rages and they have tried everything they can think of to escape the circumstances that are battering their life.  Finally, out of desperation, they call out to God for help.  And when He is silent, they shake their fist at Him and ask, “Why would God do this to me?” 

 

The truth is, we choose to wander far from God and then blame Him for the situation we find ourself in. 

That makes as much sense as refusing to prepare for winter, and when your water pipes freeze ~ yelling at January for being cold. 

Lets look at this another way.   

God loves His kids. 

And you are not a better parent that God. 

So if you sinful people

know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father
give good gifts to those who ask him.” 
Matthew 7:11 NLT

And if you, a flawed human, love your kids and try to do what is best for your kids.  Don’t you think that Almighty God, who is perfect in every way and loves His children without limit, isn’t working behind the scenes to always do what is best for them? 

What is confusing for humans is, we only view things in the temporary physical realm. 

We expect and demand that God remove us from whatever circumstance or situation we find uncomfortable and painful. 

God however, uses circumstances, events, and people to transform us into people that trust Him completely in every situation and respond to things in ways that honor Him.

When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.

Isaiah 43:2 NLT