Fair Is Fair Is Snowy And Tornado And Earthquake

Okay, I'm sitting in my living room, and I'm thankful for a cozy corner with my sweet dopey dog and a warm fireplace - in April! It was almost 80 degrees last weekend, and tonight it may snow. Roy left this afternoon for his first visit to Mt. Hood, and they're expecting a snow storm...he bought chains for the tires - just in case. Ugh. Did I mention it's April? Mid-April. The average temperature is supposed to be 60 degrees.

And what's even more crazy...I've gotten e-mails from friends and family back home that Indiana had an earthquake this morning. INDIANA - an EARTHQUAKE! You're kidding me, right?

Then, let's review. In January, we here in mild-weathered Vancouver, WA, had a tornado - the first one in 30 years! Shall I continue my ranting, or are you sufficiently stirred-up?

Stirred-up, I hope, in a glorious way! Does our God reign supreme, or what?! Yes, He has set nature in its courses, but He isn't limited by the patterns He's set in motion. He can form heaven and earth to do His bidding any way He pleases. He can show me my beautiful mountain one day and cover it with snow the next! He can make the earth His footstool and then readjust the Midwest just a little bit on April 18th if it suits His purpose - because our God is a majestic and awesome Creator, Who reigns over every molecule and breeze. And our God cares about every sparrow and knows the flight pattern of every pesky mosquito. (Notice, I can't believe he cares about a mosquito...anyway, nevermind, I'm on a roll)

The thief on the cross challenged Jesus to save Himself and the two at His side. He thought he knew better than God what needed to happen on Skull Hill that day. I'm so glad Jesus didn't listen to him. Sure, I'd like to have 75 and sunny all the time, but I dare not challenge God's powerful display through nature. I would do better to stand in awe of Him and acknowledge that He is God. I tremble at His majesty and run into His arms for His love.

Well, which is it? Good or evil? Do you look at the black letters or the white ones? This week's devotional was about perspective, and we've all got one - OUR OWN - thank you very much! Our perspectives are ingrained from birth and pretty hard to see beyond. And yet that's what we're called to do as servants of Jesus Christ. In order to offer grace (undeserved favor), we must be able to see the other person's perspective, to give the benefit of the doubt, to admit we may not see things exactly as they are.

I had to make a really hard decision this week. I looked at it one way. Then I turned it over and examined another aspect of it. I mulled that silly decision over a thousand times in my mind. By the time I tried to look at all the "perspectives," it had more facets than the Hope Diamond! Finally, I decided to hold it up to the Light of God's Word. I read the Bible until His perspective came to light - because that's the one that really counts.

Now, I felt led to read in Hosea. That may not be a passage God leads you to read. I had to read 6 chapters before I saw God's perspective (hopefully, you're a quicker study). But I think God likes stubbornness. Perhaps "persistence" is the more politically correct term, but it all comes down to this. Do you believe God can show you His perspective if you sit there long enough - either in prayer or reading your Bible? Try it. I dare you. More than that, He beckons you. Find His perspective on whatever is troubling you today.