A Winter of Grace!

Well, winter is knocking on the door. The holidays are only months away and soon we'll be rummaging through our closets for sweaters and coats. For me it's especially exciting. Winter is a very poignant time of year. It seems like fall reminds us just how fragile and weak our natural man is; but thankfully, winter sets in and reminds us of the grace of God. Psalms 51:7 and Isaiah 1:18 both speak of snow as the symbol of God's cleansing us from sin and unrighteousness. This reminds me of a friend of mine who always appreciated the beauty of snow. Not just because of how it looked (though it was marvelous) but mainly because of what it meant to him. When he saw snow covering his home or his surroundings, the picture of snow completely covering everything was symbolical of the peace that Jesus had given him as a believer. It reminded him of Christ's righteousness, life, and sacrifice and how those wonderful attributes of Christ cover us who believe; giving us peace, whereby now, all that is seen in us is white as snow. This picture of winter gives me great joy and comfort in the promises of our Lord.

When we gaze into the mirror and see ourselves for who we are, we must recognize our need for God's intervention, for God's unfailing love to come and rescue us from the deepest pits of sinful living, despair, and hopelessness. Christ is a wonderful Savior; He is the only Savior, the unique Savior of the world, and He is what makes Christianity different from every other religion on earth.

It is said that there are only two kinds of people in the world... 1) those who believe they must do something in order to save themselves and 2) those who believe there is nothing they can do to save themselves. We all know death is a certainty and that all succumb to its sting. What we need is a Savior! Young people, parents, go to Acts 13:13-52 and read Paul's wonderful declaration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Winter is a perfect time to find joy in the good news of Christ!

Please continue to pray for the new direction of our youth group as we have finished our Definitive Series in 1, 2 and 3 John. As always, I pray for each of you and know that anytime you have any questions or concerns, go to Mom and Dad especially, but also know that I am here and desire to help in any way I can.

Many Blessings and Much Regard,

*Drew - YYL