Baby, It's Gonna Get Cold Outside

Baby, It's Gonna Get Cold Outside, originally uploaded by Praying for Lions.

The weather this week has been unseasonably mild. I can hardly believe that we've enjoyed temps in the mid-70's the last few days. Incredible!

In the midst of the balmy, spring-like conditions, I did something rather strange--I bought a load of firewood. You just read the last line correctly--I bought a stash of hardwood ready for my fireplace.

You may be thinking, "Mark, you've lost your mind!" You may be right about that but it has nothing to do with me buying a load of firewood. Even the person who sold me the wood recognized that it was an unusual time to be stocking up on the wood chips.

Yes, it has been nice this week, but there is one thing for certain...we've got two more full months of winter ahead. To borrow a few lyrics from a song I've heard recently, "Baby, it's gonna get cold outside!" Trust me, I'm no weatherman but I'm telling you the truth...a winter blast is on the way---sooner or later. You might as well get ready now.

As followers of Jesus, we take His words and His teaching very seriously. Jesus concluded his most famous message (the Sermon on the Mount--Matthew 5-7) with these words...

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." (Matthew 7:24,25)

Notice the progression in Jesus' teaching. First comes the building on a firm foundation. Then comes the storm. The storm is a sure thing, sooner or later--the rain will fall and the wind will blow. It's not a matter of "if" but "when" the storms come.

You might say that I bought some "cold" insurance this week. I loaded it in short sleeves, but I'm ready for winter's bite. I'm prepared. It's a good idea for a boy scout but especially for a follower of Christ.

I'm no prophet of gloom and doom. You'll hear no prophecies of imminent Apocalypse coming from my lips....and yet...

...the best time to prepare for the storm is while the sun is shining. Why not spend some quality time with Christ this weekend. Spend some time in His Word. Feed your soul at the table of God's love BEFORE the crisis strikes.

Whether or not you buy any firewood this week is your business. You may not even have a fireplace. But the Arctic blast is coming...sooner or later. Will you be ready?

TODAY is always the best time to get ready for whatever TOMORROW brings. You know what to do.

Praise the Lord and stack the firewood.

Live the Red,

Mark