I have to confess that I have had a poor attitude at times about winter weather. On days with bad weather I would often remark negatively to the family or in small talk with someone I would meet out around town.
The Lord has been convicting me of that and I’m so grateful that He has. He has convicted me of my sinful attitude about it. Isn’t God so merciful? He is the One Who created our world and its weather. In Genesis 8:22 we read, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” The Lord was committing to Noah that He would not smite every living thing as He did in the flood again. When I read verse 22 it was a reminder that God gave us the cold and the heat. I was having a bad attitude about something that God designed.
So now as I experience our Kansas winter I’m thankful for it. If it is from my Lord, it is to be received with thanksgiving. I know that in Kansas we have four seasons, none of which are too long. Then during the winter we will have days where the temperature is in the 50’s and 60’s just like this week. In the heat of the summer, we will have refreshingly cool days come along that break up the warmer days.
Repentance is a good thing and if you ever hear me complain about the weather, a gentle admonition is in order and I will thank you. Our God is so good isn’t He?
“And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.” Deuteronomy 26:11
Steve
I very much appreciate your honesty. I really, really do not like cold winter days. I have a very close friend that loves cold rainy winter days. When I am having a bad attitude about being cold I will call her and ask her to tell me how much she is enjoying the cold, yucky, miserable day. It always brings me such joy to hear her express to me how much she is enjoying the day. On one such day we decided that we are going to be neighbors in heaven. When I look out my heavenly kitchen window it is going to be very sunny and 100 degrees or so. When she looks out hers, she will see a blanket of freshly fallen snow. Of course, that is not a Biblical picture of heaven, but it helps us appreciate that everyone has a favorite season made especially for them by a God that loves us more than we can possibly understand.
Well, the Lord said he would not flood the earth, but up here in Canada we sometimes wonder about covering everything in snow! It is supposed to get up to freezing today, a welcome change from the -20 to -30 we were getting a couple of weeks ago.
Yes, there is much to be thankful for. As fathers we sometimes need to go looking for it, so that we can personally rejoice and so that we can model thankfulness to our families. Thanks for the reminder.
Steve,
Thank you for your words about God convicting your heart about the weather. God has been convicting my heart on the very same thing. I love the sunshine. Living in Tennessee you do not see the sun very often during the winter months, mainly December to February. But He has laid on my heart that I need to be thankful in all things – including the many days where there is total cloud cover and many times rain during the winter months. As your dear wife reminds us from scripture: take every thought captive into the obedience of Christ. 🙂 I am to be thankful for whatever weather He provides for that day. He is good. 🙂
Yours in Him who loves us best,
Terri W.
I read your post with very much appreciation. I know that some people become very discouraged with changes in the weather. I live in the Pacific NW (Seattle area) and am actually comforted by the dark days of rain we experience mostly November through February, but also many other times of the year. The clouds seem like a blanket, and if we have too many days of sun, it feels so very odd. I grew up in an area (Southern Idaho) where there were 4 distinct seasons. I loved it and miss it sometimes, but honestly, too much sun really bugs me! The weather affects us all in different ways, and it is refreshing to listen to your honesty. Thanks for sharing.
I had to laugh when I read your post as we are just south of you and they are saying we might get “tornadic” weather tomorrow or Wednesday and then a chance of snow on Friday night. Missouri has four seasons, but sometimes in Missouri, we don’t know which one we are in.
Thanks Steve! Needed the reminder here in WINDY Wyoming!
mr. maxwell,
i am from sunny and warm california, now living in wet cold western washington. it’s been 7 years now and still a day doesn’t go by that i don’t complain about the weather,the rain, or how people drive in the rain. all-in-all i find the weather creating a horrible negative person in me. this is noy who i am, i am god loving, kind woman, who would prefer people see the face in christ shining through.
your post is perfect. you have touched me in just the place i needed to listen and follow. god is so amazing. here i am in washington, a regular reader of your family blog, and god used you to touch a place in me that needed an adjustment in attitude.
i read your post yesterday and then felt a need to spend time in prayer. while in prayer i could hear a wind storm picking up. i am afraid of wind storms, but this time i gave my fear to god and i felt him warming my heart. today it started snowing again, and this morning i thanked god for the snow and how beautiful the fresh snow looks on the yard, and how it warms my heart to watch our dogs running and playing in it–they love the snow.
thank you so much for your honesty. blessings.
I have been reading back on some of your older posts for some inspiration and found this one. I could just hug you, Mr. Maxwell! I dislike change as it is, and I despise cold weather. I also find myself fussing about it quite regularly in the wintertime and wishing for warmer weather instead of just being content with the day the Lord has provided. I think maybe I need to be thankful for the cold weather because when it gets cold enough, it freezes the bugs and allergens in the air so I am not sick when spring and summer arrive! It is amazing how the Lord made the seasons to work together like that!!