Saturday, March 01, 2008

Snow

I find myself thinking about snow a lot lately... probably because we're covered in it up here in the hills of Northern Pennsylvania. It was snowy when we got here and it's been snowing ever since. Friday night we left for a concert for a few hours and when we got back you couldn't even see our tracks from earlier in the day. I usually don't like snow, especially when I have to go out in it. But something about this place makes it enjoyable to go out in the snow and walk from building to building. I've even enjoyed driving around in it (which is something that usually terrifies me).

I should explain where we are... on Thursday we arrived at Penn-York Camp and Retreat Center in Potter's County, PA. We're staying in cabins for 5 nights (yay - we get to unpack!) and playing at different churches and schools in the area. (For those from home - it reminds me of Pinebrook, but a little bit nicer!) It really has been a blessing to be able to stay here for the week, and we're taking full advantage of the retreat atmosphere. Several have gone cross country skiing, there have been snowball fights, soccer games in the gym, devotions by the fire, and hours of pool and ping pong in the fellowship hall.


We've had 4 performances here so far - 3 youth concerts and a Sunday service. We've had very different responses at our three youth concerts - tonight's concert had the students on their feet dancing along, while Friday night it was all we could do to hold their attention... but it's our prayer that even when we don't see a response from the audience, God is still working through what we present. We have another concert tomorrow night at a home for troubled youth. Last year's team played here as well and the students really enjoyed it. Please pray that our ministry there would be effective in pointing the kids toward Christ.

Anyway, back to snow... all this thinking about snow reminded me of the different ways the Bible uses the image of snow, in particular - to demonstrate God's power and His forgiveness:



"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,'and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.' So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor." Job 37:5-7


"He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?" Psalm 147:15-17


"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?" Job 38:22-23


"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7


"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

I've especially been impacted by this reminder of His forgiveness. Watching the snow this week - how bright and clean it is, and the way it covers everything that has been there before - has been an awesome reminder of our position in Christ. No matter what happened in the past, no matter how dry and dead the ground underneath may be, we have been covered completely by the purity and righteousness of Christ. Wow.

So, that's what's been on my mind this week. :) Thanks for reading and please keep praying!

Renee

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! Love the pictures, and am so glad you were blessed with this time and place.

Melody

Anonymous said...

Never thought I'd be longing for a snow storm! see you soon : ) m.