Catching Snowflakes

There are times that it is definitely fun to be a kid. The things you have the opportunity to do as a child that are taken away as you grow up. Last week, we were blessed to have a mild-temperature snow. It was super pretty coming down but didn’t stick to the ground. The kids were able to bundle up and go outside for a few moments. They played as the snow fell, but also they had the opportunity to catch some of the snowflakes on their tongue.

Ava made me laugh when she was looking up to catch snowflakes because she said the snowflakes went into her eye. So, she would look up and squint her eyes for just a few seconds to catch a few snowflakes and then wipe her eyes and face.

Oliver, as the picture shows, used his hood to shield his eyes from the snow falling. So he was able to stay in that position a bit longer while catching snowflakes. They both had a lot of fun for the few minutes they stayed out in the soft-falling snow.

Of course, I had to get in on the action, to show Ava how to do it. As I was tipping my head back and catching a few on my tongue, it made me feel like a kid for that ever-so-brief moment.

I am mystified by the fact that Jesus uses kids as illustrations. Sometimes we simply become so wrapped up in our own adult life that we forget what it is like to be a kid. No worries...no responsibilities...just be a kid. Being a kid can be fun and exhilarating! Take some time this week to be a kid - even if there are no snowflakes to catch!!

Better to Give than to Receive

It is not a secret that one of the reasons I enjoy the Christmas season is to receive gifts from people. However, from an early age, I heard the phrase “It is better to give than to receive. Hmmph!” “I don’t think so” would have been my typical response. I wanted any gifts for me! 

Though I didn’t enjoy that phrase, there still is truth to it. As much as I enjoy opening gifts, I enjoy buying and giving gifts to others, especially my immediate family. I enjoy watching my wife and kids open up the presents that I bought for them.

With the season and spirit of giving upon us, here is this week’s quote…

Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'.  ~ Bing Crosby

The things we have to give are not always about presents. You can share your smile, a hug, a compliment, a batch of baked goods, a note of encouragement, a long needed visit, a good attitude, extra change, and the list could go on.

Help make someone’s Christmas a “white” Christmas this year by sharing the blessings that God has given you, with others!

Industrial Inspiration: Dissipating Snowpile

In the town where I live there is this huge snow pile.  The pile is created by the accumulation of deposited snow the City puts there, which they've taken off of the main streets in town.  Since we've had a few good snows this season, the pile is about 3 "mountain ranges" deep.  Each pile was probably around 15-feet high.  Kids love to climb up with their sleds and then slide down.  I drove by once and noticed someone made a little tunnel to slide in and out before going down the hill.  It all looked so fun that I've even thought about going over to it to let the kid in me have some fun (maybe when my 2-year old gets a little older). 


As I drive past that pile of snow quite regularly it created a train of thought in my head.  That thought went something like this, "Though that much snow is taking a long time to melt, if snow is not continually put on top of the pile, it will eventally disappear, and no one will really ever notice". 


Does your business or your position reflect that statement?  To put it into a better context, did your business start out "big" - big dreams, hopes, income, etc., but has started to dissipate?  Did you start in your position with a lot of vigor and fire, but some of that has started to dissipate?  If you don't continually add to yourself and/or your company, you will start to dwindle, like the snowpile.


We've had some 60-degree days since that snow pile was created.  Those temperatures have caused some significant melting, but it hasn't caused the pile to go away, yet.  You may experience some low times or big hits, but that doesn't have to cause your "pile" to dwindle away.  You allow your dreams to melt away.  YOu allow your fire to go out.  Outside influences do just that, influence, but they don't have to put it out, you allow that to happen. 


You probably know how to put the snow back on your pile.  You keep yourself fresh, you create new goals, you look for ways you can improve, you look to see how you can self-renew, you evaluate the competition and see how you can be distinct in your field to keep snow on your pile.  If you don't do some of those things (and probably others) your pile will slowly melt away.  Then what happens?  Will people miss you?  Will your employer find someone who will be able to replace you with someone who comes in with "lots of snow on their pile"? 


May you find a way or ways to make sure your pile doesn't melt away, regardless of the environment (which will make the actual snowpiles eventually go away).  Do all that you can to keep your snowpile from dissipating!


I love adding more snow to my pile!

(This is from a newsletter I send out to businesses each month. If your business would like to receive one, please contact me by leaving a comment)




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How Sweet It Is!

Last Wednesday, I had the great privilege of baptizing Alexa S. into Christ! This is the greatest decision one can make! It takes away all the filth that sin brings to our life. It is the detergent of all detergents. No stain can withstand it. No color will be evident. Quoting from Isaiah 1:18, we are “white as snow” afterwards.

It sometimes seems surreal to know that one moment you are doomed for hell and the next moment you are welcomed to heaven. How can it be? Faith is the answer. It is all about faith. Without faith, we are just plunged. With faith, we are not simply plunged, but we are “plunged…to victory”. Oh, isn’t it sweet to know that we can have this “victory” because of Him?!

Each person who has taken that “plunge of faith” knows the feeling of coming up out of the water. You now see life in a different way. The Spirit is given as your gift. You have been forgiven of filth. You don’t just have your sins taken care of, you have a clean conscience. You now do not have to worry about a “next time” you sin. The blood of Jesus has already taken care of that. You don’t have to be baptized again and again to get rid of any sins because of Jesus. Oh, how sweet it is!

Another part of sweetness comes as a result of someone else being baptized. You get to see their excitement, zeal, and thirst. They are experiencing many things for the first time. Let their excitement be something that rubs off on you to give you a renewed/heightened zeal. I always look forward to getting to be around the people who have been baptized because it gives me such a thrill to see their excitement.

Soul Quest played a part in getting Alexa ready to make this awesome decision. I received a phone call and text regarding her decision to be baptized. Events like Soul Quest can really play a pivotal role in helping people make the decision to obey the gospel. I think we should praise God for those types of events, including workshops, Bible camps, and anything like that. They give an out-of-the-ordinary look at Christianity.

The next time you see Alexa let her know how excited you are about her decision and welcome her in to the “family”! She is a neat teen who had already been talking about Jesus to her friends, before her baptism.

Baptism…how sweet it is!