Shattered, broken heart

pieces gathered by His hand

for reconstruction

             -Margaret Slabach

I took a walk around the block with my 20 month old granddaughter the other day. My big hand was holding her tiny one tightly.  We walked slowly; little legs take tiny steps.  We had to stop frequently to touch and feel the remaining little snow piles along the way.  My strong hand steadied her when she tripped or stumbled on the uneven sidewalk. 

This is such a picture of my Father who holds me with His strong right hand (Ps. 18:35), guiding me, steadying me as we walk this journey of life together.  I don’t have to be afraid; I can trust Him, just as my granddaughter trusted me on our walk.  I am sure she never even thought to doubt my ability to protect her.  No wonder Jesus said that we need to become like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

I am also sure that He would also love it if I took more time to touch and feel the “snow piles”- the wonders He’s created; not running so fast through life, missing the thousand little things He put there for me to enjoy.

So… anyone want to take a slow walk to touch the snow?

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow...                                Is. 1:18

...Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Ps. 51:7

As I ponder the above verses, snow is lazily falling, blanketing the earth and I wonder how anything can be whiter than this freshly fallen snow?  Yet, Isaiah and the Psalmist attest to the fact that when God cleanses us, washes away our sins, our hearts will be even whiter than this fresh snow– no trace of ugliness.  Isaiah says our sins are the color of scarlet, not black.  I wondered about that.  Matthew Henry, in his commentary, says that scarlet is a deep dye and the cloth needs to soaked a long time.  So, Isaiah must be assuring us that even if we are steeped in sin, if we go to God and repent, God can and will cleanse us so much so that not even a trace of the scarlet dye remains.  What a promise and a relief that I don’t have to be stuck with my sins.

Don’t know about you, but I think that is something to get excited about!  Anyone need some cleansing?  Don’t be afraid to go to Him and have Him wash you clean; He’s waiting.

Whiter than fresh snow

are sins forgiven and cleansed

remembered no more

                         -Margaret Slabach