Winter Whines, Proper Perspectives, and God's Grace

"The temperature is going to be 32 degrees tomorrow morning," my husband announced as I woke up today. "You will need to go turn the furnace on in the boat." UGH. 🌡❄

I knew colder weather was soon upon us and I have been dreading it. (I do NOT complain about the extensive 100 degree Texas sunny days!) After living in WI for 30+ years, surely I can handle a few cold snaps during fall and winter in TX.  I keep asking myself why is this temporary cold so bothersome? Finally I realized-the boat! Our camperesque live-on boat located closer to work to reduce commute time is the source of my cold weather stress. If the engines, generator, or water in the lines on the boat freeze, it wreaks havoc.

As I laid under warm blankets worrying and whiney about the cold and boat, a blog post I read yesterday came to mind and suddenly put everything into a totally different perspective...

From https://www.appleofhiseye.org

Micha's Devotion        https://www.appleofhiseye.org/connect/blog 

Written by Micha Cohen 

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 2:14-17)

In Bible college, I had a hermeneutics class where we focused on these four verses for a whole semester! They are now my life verses!

In Roman days there would be processions celebrating the return of a king with his captives behind him. We are Jesus' captives. We used to be captive to sin, but now we're HIS captives!

Whenever we talk about Jesus, people will respond in one of two ways. To some, we stink like "death." They respond in anger. To others, we're the sweet smell of Jesus, of "life." They praise God we're there!

One time while doing an outreach in Israel during Sukkot an Orthodox Jewish man came up and attacked us and tried to tear down our booth. He saw I was videotaping his attack and he hit me in the face a few times and stole my camera. Some secular guys took it back from him and returned it to me. Then two women in full Islamic coverings came over and asked, "Why did that man attack you?" We told them it was because we believed in Jesus. They asked, "Why didn't you fight back?" We told them again it was because we believed in Jesus. They asked if we had anything they could read about what we believed, and we gave them a New Testament in Arabic! Praise God!

It's worth it to find those whom God is drawing to Himself out there and be willing to face those who think we stink!

From Devotions from the Field, copyright 2013 Jews for Jesus.

Dramatically different perspective-people's lives and eternity... In the course of life, the boat and potential consequences of freezing is "small potatoes" to quote my brother. But the potential consequences of sharing Jesus is eternal! For a world that desperately needs HOPE, PEACE, JOY, the grace of Jesus is life-giving, now and for all eternity. 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. From Romans 3 

In Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. From Ephesians 1

What are the "cold weather" situations that cause you to worry or whine? How can the importance of God's lavish love for you through the grace of Jesus Christ help you put life's priorities in perspective? How can you share God's love with others-starting with those closest to you and rippling out?

Perspective

Just two months ago my basement was not quite filled to capacity, but pretty close, housing treasures galore!
-Two banquet tables covered with cities built of Lincoln Logs and Hot Wheels, constantly being arranged by Murdy boys and visiting boys, big and little alike!
-A huge gold column from the grand hall of "Phantom of the Opera" along with multiple other musical theater memoirs.
-The largest piece of shrink wrap you can imagine that once covered our boat (never know when you might need that😝).                              
-Papers galore and toys, some broken waiting to be used in the next project or experiment, along with shelves and shelves of beloved old books.
-Cushions and afghans of every kind that became makeshift seats for the impromptu movie projected on the wall.
-Drums, shakers, and noise makers of all sizes.
-Boxes and boxes that chronicle purchases of shoes, small appliances, keyboards, guitars, etc. that might be used to wrap a present or store something else.
-Little Tyke van, tricycles, and bicycles.
-John Deere tractors and corn planters.
-Ping pong, pool, and foosball tables.
-Guest bed, bunk bed, baby bed.
-Etc. Etc. Etc.
OH THE MEMORIES!!

But for the past seven weeks, my job has been to empty out my house! When we made the decision to move I couldn't imagine how I would ever manage to clean out the basement. Bit by bit, with the help of family and friends (a big thanks to all who helped!), slowly there was less and less left. I was ecstatic to have finished cleaning it out just in time for the last of Daniel's infamous bonfires. As the kids came over, I was excited to show off the clean basement. As I walked down the stairs with one teenager, tears streamed down her face as she mourned, "It's so sad; everything we had so much fun with is gone!" Perspective!!! After all my work, I saw clean basement. She saw end of fun times. And for a moment, I sat & cried with her!!

Perspective!! So many things in life are all about perspective. I contemplated. I was struck by an image of a cross and the perspective of that. For some, the image of Jesus on the cross was of just another person in history dying. For me the image of the cross is Jesus. Son of God, Lord of lords, my Savior, Salvation of the world!! Not only did Jesus die on that cross to pay the price of my sins, but He rose from the dead conquering death! John declares, "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30-31

I pray that you seek God and will have the wonderful perspective of Jesus as your Savior! What's your perspective?