“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” Psalm 23:2

Green…it’s all around us — unless we live in the city. But even in places like New York City, there are green places where we can see how G-d has woven the color green into the very fabric of the earth. It points us to life, to refreshing, to new beginnings. In North America, most people will see how winter brings a blandness to the earth — and often to us as people. The barrenness, the lack of color, the diminishing light, along with the cold and the bitter, they all play together in a dance of diminishing returns. This is the joy of winter…a time when the earth seems to take a break and rest. Although these times may appear dreary and confining, even these times are needed for the new growth coming in spring again.

The winters of our life can seem dreary and even barren, but there is new growth taking place even when we can’t see it. G-d is at work — even if it feels as if G-d is asleep. G-d knows that the earth needs intervals of rest, just like we as G-d’s children also need times of rest.

Our verse today reminds us of this important truth – “He makes me lie down in green pastures…”

How are you handling this Christmas season…the rush, the busyness, the weariness? Are you taking time to allow G-d to help you stop and enjoy the beauty of the earth, and to be a part of G-d’s renewing presence? If you’re anything like me, when I am tired…I get “hangry” — a combination of hungry and angry. I am not at my best. I do not reflect Christ’s joy, light, peace, life or anything good. And usually those closest to me get the brunt of my “dreariness”.

In these weeks to come, as you look around and see “green”, let it remind you to take time to find rest and renewal. You may be thinking you can’t afford to, but in reality we can’t afford not to. It doesn’t have to be long…just a few minutes remembering the many gifts of blessing we all have — remembering G-d’s in control, remembering the abundant life that comes through Jesus. And if you are struggling in life feeling that deep loneliness or depression of an emotional winter, know that G-d is near; G-d is at work.

My prayer for this Christmas devotion is that, as we have just four days until Christmas, I hope each one of us can experience the new life of Jesus Christ budding out in our lives…even during winter because we have found rest in G-d.

Pastor Dave

“Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 1:18-20

The color we most think about during Christmas is white — at least that is my opinion. You may not have thought of white being a Christmas color — but what would a candy cane be without “white”? How would we have snow on our gingerbread houses without “white”? The sheep, the snowflakes…so much of Christmas is colored “white”. To get the color white, it is necessary for all the colors of the spectrum of light to be reflected off of an object. I love the idea that white is a product of light being reflected. There is such a deeper spiritual truth here.

Our verse today speaks of our sins being cleansed to be white as snow or wool. When we pull all of this together, we proclaim that Jesus is the Light. As such, Jesus cleanses us from sin, and so we become reflections of him. From then on G-d only sees us as clean, as pure, as white as snow…because we are seen as through the cross of Christ. Now, this is a beautiful spiritual truth built right into the fabric of nature all around us.

Today as you look around and see things that are “white,” let it remind you that Jesus has paid the price for our sin…paid it in full. There is hope for all of us because we have forgiveness from G-d through our relationship as we reflect the nature of Christ to others.

On this 5th day before Christmas, and on into this new year, may “white” remind us of the hope found in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dave