“Come before winter.” Paul issued that special and specific request to the young preacher Timothy (Second Timothy 4:21). As he neared the end of his life, the apostle longed for the grace-giving companionship that only two Christian believers can share.
This morning after school drop-off I heard on the radio that snow is in our forecast. Yes, snow. By the time that you read this, the frozen precipitation may or may not have transpired, but the trend is clear. As the days shorten, and the sun hangs lower in the sky, and the temperatures trickle downward, winter is on its way.
I suppose that my embrace of a rather obvious reality may be causing me to notice more carefully the brilliance of autumn. Within the last few days I’ve been more than once left almost breathless by a few of the local vistas. In turning just about any corner around here, one is likely to catch at least a brief glimpse of the colorful canvass that has been magnificently spread before us by the Artist of the universe.
Here’s a scene that I just captured within a stone’s throw of the church, as the afternoon sun seemed to illuminate every leaf with LED intensity. The experts say we’re chronologically “post-peak”, but I’d say that’s a matter of opinion. My photo strongly suggests otherwise.
In the greatest sermon ever preached, our Lord Jesus instructed us to seek the kingdom of God today (Matthew 6:25-34). To seek Christ’s kingdom first. Our tendency is to worry about everything we think we’ll need tomorrow. But God is the only one who sees tomorrow, and He’s already there. Tomorrow is held tightly in the very best of hands. Christ has promised never to leave us or forsake us. He’ll take care of us tomorrow just as He’s taking care of us today.
So stop worrying about food or clothes or snow … or tomorrow. Rejoice in Christ today! Gorgeous evidences of His abundant grace are all around you.
Just look up, and come before winter.
We both have been in awe of our Lords gift of so many days of Fall Beauty, this has got to be the most beautiful yet, we drive down to the foot of Broadway often and the mighty Ohio and Tennessee rivers and the fall colors its like he sent all this natural beauty just for us. We are so glad you noticed our beautiful Kentucky fall days. We love and appreciate your sermons and Thankful you and your family are here.
Pastor, I love your writing. You are able to see beauty and mystery and God in everything, it seems. And then you put it in words that are poet-like. But, like all poets, you take a little license here and there. The sun doesn’t really hang any lower in the sky in the winter; it only looks like it does!
To be completely accurate, you could have said: “The earth is tilted 23.4 degrees relative to its orbit around the sun. From late September through late March, Earth is in the part of its orbit where the North Pole is tipped away from the sun. During this time, the northern hemisphere inhabitants see the sun lower in the sky and experience less than 12 hours of daylight”.
Now doesn’t that sound like something a poet would write? Of course not. Continue the wonderful work.
Awesome post Pastor Charles! A great reminder, that even though we get caught up in all the trappings of everyday life, work, schedules, mortgages, finances….etc, we should be seeking Him first!! After all He knows our needs and will faithfully take care of us! Tim Tebow once said “I don’t know what tomorrow holds but I know who holds tomorrow.” Praise be to the name above all names, Jesus!