Cold!

Cold!

Good Morning Friends,

Last night I read a little Shakespeare during the National BCS football game to warm the Spirit. And now this morning the shelters have filled and the blanket brigades are out for it is Cold!

Scripture:

 From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.

Job 37:9 (NRSV)

Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.

John 18:18 (NRSV)

They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.

Job 24:7 (NRSV)

The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it.

Acts 28:2 (NRSV)

If a person has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need and that person doesn’t care — how can the love of God remain in him?

1 John 3:17 (CEB)

Message: People have died as the blast of Arctic air called a “polar vortex” brought the coldest temperatures in two decades to the United States. It is even cold here in Southern Florida. Colder still in Auburn but a strange warmth in Tallahassee persists. The response is to get a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate and hunker down with a good book around a fire. But friends, a key characteristic of the Christian though is to bring warmth to a cold situation, not just taking care of our own needs but welcoming others to the warmth of Christ on a cold winter’s morning…covering them with a warm blanket as well as spiritual coverings. The love story to be shared is this. Christ came into this world as our Romeo and we, humanity, his leading lady Juliet. It is a romantic encounter between lovers from two feuding family courts…there is gain and loss for our natures contrast. The story like the weather…like the game both hot and cold…but God’s love is played out on a heavenly stage for his earthly creation…..an eternal love and our story has yet to end. Winter is here but springtime is coming.

Pray we have a love relationship with Jesus that warms our very soul. Pray we share the warmth and experience the gift of the way that rekindles in us a fire of generosity. Pray we not be cold frozen in the winter of our discontent. Pray we accept the risk of winter in the hopes of spring.

Blessings,

John Lawson