Do you ever feel like a nobody? In this crazy world where there is so much confusion and chaos these days, it’s easy to get lost In the shuffle. It seems as if you aren’t rich, famous and with the “in” crowd, your life has little or no meaning. You may feel like you are just another number. It’s easy to feel like that these days in the society in which we live. I believe the enemy of our souls uses this to bring people down and cause them to give up before they even begin.

But wait! Take heart my friend! There is someone Who loves you so much that He died to save you; not only for all of eternity, but for today, right here in the here and now, and His name is JESUS! Life, as you know it right now, doesn’t have to be this way. Instead of the mundane life that you may be living right now, it can be exciting and full of purpose, once you take hold of the fact that the God, Who created the universe and flung the stars into space, made and loves you. He knows your name and He has called you to a life of victory in Him!

You may say, “This may be true for others, but not for me. I have done too many bad things in my life. It’s too late for me. Just look at my circumstances! I don’t have a fighting chance!”

Oh no, my friend. You are wrong! Stop listening to the lies of the devil. He knows if he can keep you down and depressed, he has won. Rise up in the strength of the Lord and believe His word. He calls you Beautiful! The very hairs on your head are numbered. He already knows everything you’ve ever done and He still loves you. He is your closest friend. He is your counselor. Nothing you have ever done can keep Him away from you. The only one that can do that is you! Repent today and come to Him. He longs to hear your heartfelt prayer. He knows every thought you think and He is closer than your next heartbeat. He is holding your hand and walking through this very day with you. You are not alone and, Yes, you are precious in His sight.

Sometimes, before we can grasp all of this, there has to be a crushing in our lives. You know what I mean. You have to get so low that the only way to look from here on out, is up. But, just like the fragrance that comes when a beautiful rose is crushed, there is a fragrance in your life, once you put it all in God’s hand. He will refresh your soul and give you joy and beauty for ashes. Today is a new day! You are starting new. Isn’t God’s grace amazing?! None of us deserve it, but that’s what makes it so awesome!

No matter what giants you are facing today, God is bigger than the mountain that is in front of you. You cannot do it in your own strength, but rise up and know that the King of the world is living inside of you. You are well able to walk through this obstacle, and still have the victory!

Rejoice and dare to hope again!! Put your dancing shoes on, because, Oh what a day to celebrate. He knows your name!!

What a week we’ve had here in Ohio! It seems as if we’ve experienced all four seasons in just one week! The weather has gone mad!! Last week, it was almost 60 degrees, and this week, where do I begin? We’ve had record lows of 23 below zero and just when it starts warming up a slight bit, Brrrrr…… we wake up, this morning, to six inches of snow dumped on us overnight! I enjoy all four seasons, but I could stand for Winter to last only a short few weeks and that would be fine with me. If I were into skiing or snowboarding like my son is, that would be different, but, unfortunately, I’m not. In fact, it’s a real accomplishment if I can get through the winter without falling at least once, and I won’t even talk about driving in it! I’d rather not even go there! The problem is that I’m busy! I’m just too busy for this inconvenience. The truth is that all of this snow slows me down and I don’t have time to slow down, or do I?

Isn’t it funny how God’s timing works? His time table is completely different from ours. He has ways of getting our attention, even when we least expect it. That must be why His word says that His ways are not our ways. As I woke up to this mess this morning, I looked out my window, and I wondered, “What happened that made me want to rush through life at such a pace that I stopped noticing things that I used to as a child?” What seems like an inconvenience now, is really a blessing from God. Sometimes, you just have to change your perspective just a bit.

I looked out my bedroom window this morning, and taking it all in, it really is a beautiful sight to behold! There are ice crystals hanging off all of the trees and the dirty ground has been covered over with the most beautiful, fluffy white snow that shimmers like diamonds. It’s as if God is saying, “It’s a fresh new day. Another chance to get it right.” I can’t help but notice the lone robin perching on one of the branches covered in ice crystals. She is sitting there so calm, just taking it all in. I can hear a faint sound off in the distance. Could this really be? Can I really hear birds singing amidst all of this? How can they be singing when everything around them seems so dead and lifeless? There is a quiet stillness that permeates the atmosphere. It’s almost a holy hush. It’s as if God and all of nature have called a time out and blanketed my world with peace. I could, then hear God speak deep into my spirit, “What you think is an inconvenience is really me speaking peace into your day, calling you away for a time out to stop and rest for a bit. I know you love the Springtime and the flowers, but I made the snow too! All of nature is mine. Learn to savor every moment that you live. Look at my works. Aren’t they amazing? I have storehouses of snow that I have reserved for days like this, so that I can get you to slow down and look up and talk to me. ”

I love how God works. Sometimes, when life gets crazy, and on those days when you feel like you can’t take it anymore, He calls a time out and woos us back into His presence and gives us a fresh start once again.

I learned a valuable lesson today. If the birds can stop for a moment, then I can too, and if the birds can find a song to sing, even in this, then I can too! If you will slow down for just a moment, He will speak to you too, in His ever loving and gentle, still small voice!

Isaiah 1: 18
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.