This morning as I stood in our bathroom listening to the gentle sound of rain falling on the skylight, I felt that “gentle nudge” to go downstairs. I wasn’t really sure why. I hadn’t finished getting ready, and there was still some time before I had to wake my husband and daughter up to get ready for work and school. Still, the Voice was insistent, so I obediently went downstairs wondering what I would find.

Daylight was just beginning to break, and I could see that the sound I had heard on my skylight upstairs was actually the sound of sleet mixed with a few snow flurries, an unusual sight here in North Carolina to be sure. The sleet had begun to accumulate on my back deck, but, to be honest, the sight wasn’t much to behold. Still, I stood there watching.

After about a minute, the sleet became less, and suddenly, it was snowing! I watched in amazement as the flakes became larger.

My house backs up to woods, and right now, they are a tangled mess of brambles and brown, dead leaves. Certainly not particularly appealing to look at.

But as I sat and watched the snow fall against the backdrop of those seemingly unsightly woods, my perspective began to change. Seeing those woods with the beautiful snow falling all around them somehow had made them look beautiful as well.

As I watched this glorious sight, I began to realize this is exactly what God does for us. It is why He sent His Son to die for us.

Our hearts are brown and dead on the inside just as those woods are from the sin that fills us. But just as that snow falling changed the way those woods looked, so does God’s view of our hearts change at that moment when we ask for forgiveness of our sins and that Jesus come in to live and wash our hearts as white as snow.

My heart was so full as I thought about this this morning. I sat there thanking God for loving me, for sending Jesus to save me, and for sending me downstairs that I might share this special moment with Him.

It was such a beautiful time spent with Him alone before the hustle and bustle of the day began, and it set the tone for my entire day. What a wonderful God we serve!

Sweet Blessings,