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2053

Abstract

p>“Attitudes are contagious.” Are yours and mine worth catching?</blockquote>Winter can create questions in our minds — sometimes more questions than answers. This is one reason we look forward to spring. As I said above, spring is a season of renewal. Leaves grow on trees and grass grows on the ground, and things are renewed in our hearts as well.Winter is a time when we ask more questions: like ‘WHY?” or “WHY ME?” We sometimes ask questions that maybe we shouldn’t ask because there are not real answers to our questions.God is a GOOD God! But he doesn’t answer all our questions or explain why certain things we don’t like happen — even when we pray for them not to happen. He doesn’t always tell us all he does or why he does it — or usually, he just allows things to happen in this cursed world we live in since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3).And God never says: “Ooooopps… I made a mistake.” Romans 11:33 says, “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out.”Winter is a time to contemplate both our successes and our failures — our high times in life and our sin. It’s time to contemplate King David’s revelation. Even though he lived in the Old Testament law, he had the revelation of our New Testament gospel, 1,000 years before it was born. I believe this is why he is called “A man after God’s own heart.” He spoke of our blessed state of being in the New Testament gospel. Here is his revelation:God imputes righteousness without works. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (Rom 4:6–8).We are given the mind and thoughts of Jesus in the gospel. We may not totally understand all of God’s thoughts and ways, but they are not a total mystery to us. But Jesus often says we must have ‘ears tha

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t hear.’ This doesn’t mean the flesh on the sides of our heads, but our hearts being receptive to God. Three times, Hebrews says, “Today, if you WILL hear his voice…”Winter is a time of listening, more than the other seasons. Others are more action-oriented, in (1) renewing, (2) resolving, and (3) reflection.Winter is a time of more personal communication with others than perhaps other seasons are. We are more laid back, and less hands-on. We often experience a deeper relationship with other people in winter, probably because we are more laid back and not as busy. We have more time for family and friends than we do in spring, summer, and fall.But akin to communication, studies show that GOSSIP tends to increase during winter. As a lawyer, I’ve never suffered from gossip. We lawyers are ruled by what is called ‘privileged information’ about our clients. And I have just tended to apply this to everyone, even if they are not a client. But I know many people suffer from a gossiping way of thinking and talking.I would just imagine that people have less to do, and more to think about during winter, and for their minds wander, dream and invent things that may or may not be true. The fact is that ‘make-believe,’ or even exaggerations, can become a reality to many people.This is something we must guard against.Winter is a time to develop more of a positive sense of humor. “Humor helps smooth the bumps of life.” And in that winter at least should be a time of joy, a sense of humor should also be more prevalent. And what we say with a sense of humor should be said with a smile that communicates more emphasis.And in having a lighter load than the rest of the year, we should be helpful and more encouraging to other people. God knows many of them need it. Plus, we are told in the gospel that when we bless people in various ways, those blessings are like a boomerang that comes back on us.</article></body>

Winter: A Time of Reverence: #5

The World is Such a Busy Place. Being Busy, We Can Lose Things that are Important to Us. Winter is Time to Remember Things

**This is the last in the series on winter. Next, we will talk about spring.**

This is the second to last segment about winter before we get into spring. Winter, beginning December 21, is a time of REVERENCE. Spring, beginning March 21, is a time of RENEWAL. Summer, beginning June 21, is a time of RESOLVE. Fall or Autumn, beginning September 21, is a time of REFLECTION. We’ll be looking at all of these seasons during 2021.

Winter, and especially before Thanksgiving and after Christmas should be a very joyful time of year. But psychologists tell us this period of about two months is a very down-time for many people. Plus they in many cases they don’t know why.

But winter can make us skeptics if we allow it to. Winter can dim our hopes if we let it. It can even make us pessimistic if there are too many clouds in the sky or too much snow. It can even cause anxiety and worry.

And it can dim our view of God, and what we pray for him about, and what we think that he might or might not do. For this reason, we’ve got to protect our thoughts and guard our minds. Proverbs speaks of ‘the issues of our heart.’ Philippians 4:8 tells us to think about good things. When we do, our attitude changes and life changes for the better.

“Attitudes are contagious.” Are yours and mine worth catching?

Winter can create questions in our minds — sometimes more questions than answers. This is one reason we look forward to spring. As I said above, spring is a season of renewal. Leaves grow on trees and grass grows on the ground, and things are renewed in our hearts as well.

Winter is a time when we ask more questions: like ‘WHY?” or “WHY ME?” We sometimes ask questions that maybe we shouldn’t ask because there are not real answers to our questions.

God is a GOOD God! But he doesn’t answer all our questions or explain why certain things we don’t like happen — even when we pray for them not to happen. He doesn’t always tell us all he does or why he does it — or usually, he just allows things to happen in this cursed world we live in since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3).

And God never says: “Ooooopps… I made a mistake.” Romans 11:33 says, “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out.”

Winter is a time to contemplate both our successes and our failures — our high times in life and our sin. It’s time to contemplate King David’s revelation. Even though he lived in the Old Testament law, he had the revelation of our New Testament gospel, 1,000 years before it was born. I believe this is why he is called “A man after God’s own heart.” He spoke of our blessed state of being in the New Testament gospel. Here is his revelation:

God imputes righteousness without works. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (Rom 4:6–8).

We are given the mind and thoughts of Jesus in the gospel. We may not totally understand all of God’s thoughts and ways, but they are not a total mystery to us. But Jesus often says we must have ‘ears that hear.’ This doesn’t mean the flesh on the sides of our heads, but our hearts being receptive to God. Three times, Hebrews says, “Today, if you WILL hear his voice…”

Winter is a time of listening, more than the other seasons. Others are more action-oriented, in (1) renewing, (2) resolving, and (3) reflection.

Winter is a time of more personal communication with others than perhaps other seasons are. We are more laid back, and less hands-on. We often experience a deeper relationship with other people in winter, probably because we are more laid back and not as busy. We have more time for family and friends than we do in spring, summer, and fall.

But akin to communication, studies show that GOSSIP tends to increase during winter. As a lawyer, I’ve never suffered from gossip. We lawyers are ruled by what is called ‘privileged information’ about our clients. And I have just tended to apply this to everyone, even if they are not a client. But I know many people suffer from a gossiping way of thinking and talking.

I would just imagine that people have less to do, and more to think about during winter, and for their minds wander, dream and invent things that may or may not be true. The fact is that ‘make-believe,’ or even exaggerations, can become a reality to many people.

This is something we must guard against.

Winter is a time to develop more of a positive sense of humor. “Humor helps smooth the bumps of life.” And in that winter at least should be a time of joy, a sense of humor should also be more prevalent. And what we say with a sense of humor should be said with a smile that communicates more emphasis.

And in having a lighter load than the rest of the year, we should be helpful and more encouraging to other people. God knows many of them need it. Plus, we are told in the gospel that when we bless people in various ways, those blessings are like a boomerang that comes back on us.