Yes, it is warming up, it only went to 12 last night and it is warming up earlier as I write this morning.  Hopefully the sun will burn off the fog and low clouds after a bit and give more warmth and a brighter day.

One of the good things about the snow falling so early and so thick was the protection it gave to the ground.  While it froze the snow is like a comforter that blankets the earth with warmth and shielding it from the harsh cold.

Plants that would die because of the temperatures will survive because they have that blanket of snow on top of them.

The dullness of the day, the lack of sun has an impact though on the psych of both man and beast.  The sun’s light seems to impart a feeling of security that the world is going to continue on and it gives us energy and hope.  The lack of it can be depressing.  Even the animals are lackluster and don’t have the liveliness in their steps they have when the sun shines.

It doesn’t have the same effect on me that it does on Carla, but these past few years I know the difference in how I feel when it is drab and dreary like this morning, versus having the sun out.   Not sure I would survive in the nether regions of our earth where darkness approaches 24 hours a day for long periods of time – I am pretty sure Carla would go stir crazy.  

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 23:1-2 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

John 10:2-4 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

³ To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

⁴ And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Verse 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Verse 9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Verse 11    I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Verses 15-16 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

John 10:42  And many believed on him there.

Through troubling times we often find ourselves adrift, so wrapped up in those troubles we cannot find a way out of them.  We are alone, by ourselves and seemingly without purpose or a compass to guide us. 

It is hard, this life.  As I was feeding the hummingbirds this morning I was swooped at by one of them and then he lit on a branch and chattered at me for being in his territory.

He was cold, hungry and very upset that someone was where he had control.  He didn’t realize that I was the provider of his food, that without me there would be no food and he would soon die from deprivation of that life giving energy contained in it.

He knew where his food would be, he was there a short time before I was, he knew the answer to his need would be there.  The food would give him nourishment and if he had a doubt as to the location the sun lamp would guide him and keep him warm as he ate.  But he didn’t equate me with the food; I was an intruder, not the provider.

Shivering he watched as I put the feeder up under the sun lamp, still chattering at me, still upset.  I left and a few moments later he was partaking of that life giving nectar – but swooped down on me as I replaced it a half hour later – upset because I was in his territory and taking his food.

The poor thing was so wrapped up in his needs that he couldn’t see they were being met.  He chased off the others, because he felt he alone deserved to be in that area and the others – likely family – were interlopers.

In those times of troubles, we know where to go to find the food for our soul; but we don’t have the strength to pray, to read God’s Word, we are just overwhelmed by our circumstances.  When we do read and pray, it is often as a solitary figure we don’t want contact with anyone – we can’t handle it.  We sometimes are upset with others as they seem to interfere with our sorrow, not realizing that some have been sent to share their wealth of the Word to assist us. 

God’s Word is a light for us, it shines on us; it exposes our weaknesses; but it also shows us the path to follow to gain the nourishment needed to continue our life.  It provides the food our soul needs to live and heal.

As we read His Word we gain insights into our needs – we realize that He is in those Words.  He abides in them; He is alive and speaking to us through them.  His Holy Spirit touches us and brings His Word into reality for us. 

We realize that He cares for us, as a Shepard cares for his sheep.  The 23^rd Psalm is a psalm of promise, one of encouragement that though we go through dark times in our lives God is there for us; and eventually we will be with Him forever.

In John 10, Jesus shows Himself as that good Shepard, the one that will be there for His sheep.  The one that will lead, protect and love them.  The one that will guide them to where the best food is and to give them nourishment; He wants to be our Shepard.

He was speaking to the Jews, it was to them He came, but He also spoke so his other sheep, the Gentiles, US, would also realize He wants to be our Shepard.  He wants to care for us as a Shepard cares for His Sheep.

The end of John 10 shows that many came to believe on Him.  And as the Shepard watches over His flock and brings them safely home, so too will Christ watch over us and bring us safely home to be with Him.

These two chapters, Psalm 23 and John 10 both tell us that God cares for us, and He is there for us.  He is our Shepard.  As the God the Jews know, as the God we know, and as His Son who gave His life for us.

We have a Joy in Christ that no one outside His flock can understand.  Because we are of His flock we can read His Word and apply it to our lives, we hear His Voice.  He is our Shepard, we are His sheep.

We can follow Him with hearts lifted up, even in the darkest of times, because He is there for us, He cares for us, He is our Shepard whom we know we can go to and have His strong, loving hands wrapped around us and giving us comfort and peace. 

He is with us in those dark times and His light is shining so we will know HE knows the way to peace and comfort, to life everlasting with Him.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again