Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - 11 Days & Ways To Have A Merry ChristmasSample

Winter Wonderland of Faith

2 Timothy 4: 21a – Make every effort to come to me before winter.

2 Timothy 4: 13 – When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

There is a two-mile hiking path in our neck of the woods that is so lovely and peaceful.  Lisa and I love taking our time walking this woodsy trail that wraps around a big, beautiful lake.  It is one of my favorite things to do with Lisa.  It usually takes me about 15 minutes or so to stop ruminating on work or a situation I need to address.; but when I finally disconnect from the treadmill of my mind and re-connect with God’s first spoken word (creation), it always fills me with peace, creativity, closeness to Lisa, and, most of all, union with the Father.

Northeast Ohio is amazing in the fall!  The leaves are always in radiant color on that trail; but oh, let me tell you, it is grandiose when it snows!  The snow hanging from the blue spruces is like a Norman Rockwell painting.  It truly is like walking in a winter wonderland.  Lisa always fights me because it is too cold for her; but once we get moving, it always inspires us.  I think of this each time we sing: 

Later on, we’ll conspire as we dream by the fire

To face unafraid the plans that we’ve made

Walking in a winter wonderland

I get a little chill bump thinking about that line.  It is a fun line but it is near and dear to me.  We were married in December.  It was a sunny day but very cold.  It snowed the night before, so the wedding pictures that were taken outside have a beautiful layer of white snow that just put the icing on the cake.  I have a picture of me holding Lisa in my arms with snow all around us--just two young lovers starting a life together that was filled with dreams.  I told Lisa the day we married, “I can’t promise you much, but I promise you I’ll always love you and that you will never be bored!”  She reminds me of the latter promise each time we take a walk when I vent about a problem associated with owning what God has loaned me with our ministry.

To “face unafraid the plans that we made” is very hard to do.  Through these devotionals, you now know how I deal with darkness of night and the mental activity that falls on me from time to time.  I have to say that I always thought fear is the opposite of faith and that I was not being a good Christian in those times.  I now feel that certainty might be the opposite of faith. 

Walking along that trail in winter, as creation and all of the creatures slumber, I am reminded that fear is nothing but a very real human trait.  Creation does not fear the long, cold night. To me, fear is a siren or an alert. When you are driving and you hear a siren you are alerted that something is wrong.  So you look for a police car, fire truck, or ambulance and pull over out of their way.

When you fear the unknown, you are not in unbelief.  You are human!  This is the time to recognize the alert, pull over, and find a trail or a place of solitude that allows you to disconnect from your mind-spin of worry and re-connect with your Father.

In the opening Scripture above Paul knew it was getting cold.  He asked for his winter coat and, most of all, parchment.  He knew he needed to cover up and write.  We are so blessed to have God’s Word to warm our souls and to be able to wrap our fearful minds in His promises.

Tim Keller says, “It is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that actually saves you.” This Christmas you can fill your mind with a lot of things, but keep the object of your faith first and foremost.  Faith has a face: it is Jesus the Light of the World! May the light of His loving words direct your mind and keep you safe, at home, and warm this holiday season.