DEVOTON - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

DEVOTION – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

Holy Land Devotional

Let is snow, Let it snow, let it snow ????

By Rev. Heidi Bak, Porchtown Zion UMC

ISAIAH 55: 9-12 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Henri Nouwen once described Lent as the season during which winter and spring struggle with each other for dominance. Some of us certainly experienced that in Israel and especially these past weeks in NJ. If you look closely at the base of the Olive Tree you will see snow. Yes, Snow. We were told that Israel’s climate would be like “Florida in Winter.” Many of us who traveled in January experienced the Florida part, but some of us got in Winter part.

While no traveler wants the rain to fall during their trip, it must rain some time.

Our guide shared with us that the winter is a very important season of dormancy and replenishment. This is especially true for Israel as it receives 90% of its yearly rain water totals in this short period of time, that must sustain the region for the whole year. But, as desperate as the land is for water, so too, is it for the word of God, as only 7% of the total population is Christian.

Maybe we can look at the rain and snow differently--not dreaded, but welcomed. As the buds open on trees and days lengthen because of God’s watering, so too can this be a spiritual season which calls for greater openness to the word of God and a conversion in every area of our lives, so that God’s word will not return empty.