Here it is noon, and I am finally getting to my computer so I can tell you about my time with the Lord early this morning. I truly hope it adds value to your day. Your time is valuable, so thank you for joining me.

As a winter storm approaches (possibly the biggest of a generation), our day ahead was to be filled with last-minute preparations. But first, thank the Lord my time with Him in His Word gave me the most important preparation there is… prepared spiritually!

As I began to pray for my family and friends who are in such need of health, healing, and financial concerns, I was abruptly stopped and redirected. I decided a better beginning would be to praise Him with a song by Don Moen, “Thank You, Lord.” Quite appropriate, keeping in mind that we,  “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless his name.” Psalms 100:4 NKJV. And then, it happened, as I was singing that song while looking for it on YouTube, up popped the barrage of winter storm warnings that half the population of our nation is predicted to be affected by.

With the realization of the dire need for safety, food, shelter, and warmth for multitudes in this storm, my thoughts continued in thanksgiving and praise to our Sovereign God. In my praises, I acknowledged our God who is always good, no matter the circumstances. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”.  Romans 8:28 KJV  

As I continued sitting quietly and letting the Lord speak to my heart and mind, this question arose, “Lord, is it true that man is now controlling the weather, and they brought this on us?” I might as well ask the question because He knows my every thought, right? 🙂 I thank God that He has shown me I can ask Him anything I want. He doesn’t mind His children’s questions because He always has the answers. I wrote about this in my blog  “My Many Whys”, to help me understand.

His answer to this question was clear. “Anything the enemy may devise is only allowed by Me, and if I allow it, it is for your good”… all things working for good for those who love Him. Talk about peace in the storm! And we get to experience God’s faithfulness in the process! And if He allows this weather to be devised by the enemy, we get to see it backfire on him. Just like convincing those who crucified Jesus. Wow, did that backfire on Satan! Amazing Grace and Mercy brought forth by the plan of God! The Perfect Plan that I wrote about in my book, “Blue Skies, Butterflies, &Battlegrounds”.

But then the best was yet to come…

With a forecast of snow, sleet, and freezing rain in various areas and degrees of severity, I remembered a dream I shared in my blog titled Joy Ride With The Holy Spirit. I had just shared this with a friend yesterday, because I wanted her to see what the Lord had shown me in this incredible dream…

Note about Ice and snow in the Bible: Ice represents God’s power over the elements and seasons. Job 37:10  NKJV “By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen”. Job 38:29 “From whose womb came the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?” Psalms 147:17 “He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand against His cold?” Snow is also used to represent God’s power and purity. Isaiah 1:18 NKJV “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins be like scarlet, They shall be white as snow, Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” And in Psalms 51:7 David also uses this concept in his prayer. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” On the Desiring God link it points out in Psalms 148:7-8 “Snow is purposed by God to glorify Him and “do His bidding.” Snow has a Sender (Job 37:6), frost has a Scatter-er (Psalm147:16), and God uses both to showcase His supremacy (Job 38:22).

Again, this was confirming everything the Lord had spoken to me thus far. Just look at His Word at what He says about controlling the weather. Pretty incredible, wouldn’t you agree? But we aren’t finished yet. 😊

So I opened my Bible (NKJV) to Job 37 and began reading in verse one. Each verse holds much deeper revelation of who God is as our Creator of all things and how all is at His command. In verse nine, it describes the weather pattern we are in right now: the whirlwind coming from the south and the cold from the scattering winds of the north. Verse 10 says, “By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen”. I was going to jump to verse 13 and count on you to read it all for yourselves. But seeing the numerous countries that my readers are in, I realize you may not have access to the Bible, so I must include V11-18. It is too good to miss. And again, if you do not have a Bible, with God’s help, we will get one to you.

The background of the story, the majority of the book of Job, is his dialogue back and forth between him and three of his friends. Job’s friends concluded that his suffering must have been caused by his sin. Job defends his innocence. However, Elihu, a younger man listening to the conversation, spoke up. He is dissatisfied with both Job’s and his friends’ arguments.

Based on Job 32:8, Elihu perceives his insights as inspired by God’s Spirit, which drives him to speak. As God inspires and we speak up, revelation is given. Thank you, Elihu, for speaking up when the Holy Spirit inspired you to. Because you did, countless people like me ( and hopefully those reading this) have clarity.  Elihu speaks in chapters 32-37, but I will pick up in 37:11; “Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. V12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the earth, V13 is the one that answered my question of the Lord this morning… “He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for Mercy”. Do you see it? Let’s move on. V14 “Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. V15 Do you know when God dispatches them, And causes the light of His cloud to shine? (I think of our meteorologist trying so hard to forecast our weather). V16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wonderous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge? V17 Why are your garments hot, When He quiets the earth by the south wind? V18 With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror? Sure helps us get things in proper perspective, right?

I will end here because I believe the Lord’s Word has made it known…

In Psalms 148:7-8 “Snow is purposed by God to glorify Him and “do His bidding.” Snow has a Sender (Job 37:6), frost has a Scatter-er (Psalm147:16), and God uses both to showcase His supremacy (Job 38:22).

Every day, our lives are filled with the truth of His Word. He gave me the dream Joy Ride With The Holy Spirit, the notes with the clarification of the meaning, and revelation in my time with Him this morning. For it is true, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless his name.” Psalms 100:4 NKJV. In His presence is our supply for everything we could ever need. We bless Your name, Lord Jesus.

When we are prepared each day, spiritually, we can be strong and courageous through any storm that comes our way. And the storms are coming, and we know who is always in control and have some understanding of His reason for the storms.

By the way, I texted my 16-year-old granddaughter and asked if she is ready for the arctic blast. Her response, “Born ready!” I love her sense of humor. She is much like her Dad in that. 😊 She inspired the title of this blog.

Are you born ready through your new birth in Christ? If not, 2nd Corinthians 6:2 NKJV, “For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”.

With love and prayers,

Reba