Bountiful, Beautiful Blessings...

*This is the first of my "list" of things I love about snow.*

A while back, a friend of mine had reminded me that God sent manna from the heavens to feed the Israelites while they sojourned in the desert. It was good to remember that. I thought about how God had supplied their every need, and that He has promised to do just that for each of His children even today. 

Paul wrote to the Philippians (in 4:19), “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” This is true. Yet we tend to be a generation of doubters. In these “get it now,” and “buy now, pay later” times, it’s no wonder that we are an impatient people. 

When we simply rest in God’s goodness and faithfulness, we allow our true provider to shine. Even Jesus taught us to pray, by asking God to “give us this day our daily bread.” (Matt 6:11) This of course is reminiscent to the days of manna consumption, but speaks of so much more. Manna really symbolizes our every need, whether edible, monetary, emotional, etc. God is Jehovah Jireh, which means “God provides.” Who are we to limit what He provides, the timing, or even quantity?

Rewind a few days to this year’s Groundhog's Day, and to the 5th worst storm recorded in Wisconsin’s history. At my house, there are snowdrifts that reach to the top of our 6-foot fence. Our garage door was nearly hidden by the bounty of white splendor, and our driveway became nonexistent, as a five-foot-high by six-foot-wide drift swallowed it whole like a ravenous whale. It took two neighbors with their snowblowers about 45 minutes to carve out a path large enough for a car to fit through. 

So, what does this have to do with God providing? Well, some may take the path of God providing friendly neighbors to help us in our time of need. Sure, that is more than right, and we truly appreciated every minute of exertion they spent on us. But there is something else here that stirs my faith and excitement.

As I was driving through our city, now fortified with bulwarks of a northern winter’s bounty, God spoke to me very clearly. He reminded me of the manna that was always enough, never sparse. He also reminded me that He promises to bless us richly. 

So what is our part in this? First we need to trust God with our all. That is key. Our faith in Him should always be our number one priority, for it is through faith that we expand into all other aspects of Christian life. Second, we need to trust God enough to give Him what He asks for. Know this: God doesn’t need anything of ours. But he loves our contributions just as a parent loves the offerings sincerely brought to them by their three-year-old. It’s not a patronizing event, either; it’s one that tells of adoration and care. 

So we, as little children, offer everything in our lives to God. In return, He pours out His blessings upon us in a dance of life, love, and passion. If you’re in a climate that can support this... Next time you look out at the high walls of snow, guarding your every step along the carved-out paths, think of God and His abundance. He doesn’t look to blanket our meager surroundings with His blessings. No, I believe He longs to completely cover and engulf our lives so that the only thing people see when they look in our direction is His bounty.

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.” 

--Malachi 3:10-12