“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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Contents:
1) Some Bible Thoughts on Snow (Bill Crews)
2) News & Notes
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Some Bible Thoughts On Snow
Bill Crews
When moisture in the earth’s atmosphere freezes, it can fall to the earth in the form of sleet, or hail, or snow — all of which stand among the myriad phenomena of nature that testify to the wisdom and power of God. What a devastating, frightening, and awesome thing a snowstorm can be. What a beautiful, fascinating, and awe-inspiring thing falling snow can be. Not only do the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament His handiwork (Psalm 19:1). So does the earth and every phenomenon thereon, even the snow (Psalm 148:8).
The word “snow” appears twenty-two times in the Old Testament (from the Hebrew words SHELEG, SHALAG, and TELAG) and three times in the New Testament (from the Greek word CHION). Let us look at some of those occurrences.
1. Leprous skin is described as being “white as snow” (Moses, Exodus 4:6; Miriam, Numbers 12:10; Gehazi, 2 Kings 5:27; all brought on by God).
2. White clothing is another matter altogether, and it was hard to come by in the days when the books of the Bible were written. White garments are often used as a figure of righteousness and purity. Sometimes they are suggestive of majesty and glory. The “Ancient of Days” (God Himself) is seen by Daniel with “raiment white as snow” (Daniel 7:9). So also Jesus at the time of His transfiguration (Mark 9:3, KJV). So also an angel of the Lord at the tomb of the risen Christ (Matthew 28:3).
3. The mountains of Palestine were not very lofty (the highest being a little over 3,000 feet in elevation), and were not often covered in snow, but to the north could be seen the mountains of Lebanon (a word meaning “white”) whose loftiest peaks rose to over 10,000 feet and were perpetually covered with snow (Jeremiah 18:14).
4. The worthy, wise, and industrious woman (wife and mother) of Proverbs 31 was “not afraid of the snow for her household” because she had seen to it that each member was clothed in warm, winter (double-woven) clothing which she provided for them (v 21).
5. Don’t expect to see it snowing in the summertime (unless a large volcanic eruption at that season darkened the atmosphere around the earth with its cloud of ash — a very rare occurrence). Just as out-of-place and unexpected would be honor conferred upon a fool (Proverb 26:1). Only those who act wisely deserve to have honors conferred upon them.
6. Jehovah asked Job such questions as these: “Hast thou entered into the treasuries of the snow, or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail?” (Job 38:22). As destructive as a hailstorm can be (if a crop is in the field), it also has a beneficial effect. It provides needed moisture and nourishment to the soil. Beautiful beyond words is a snowflake seen through a microscope, each symmetrical, each different. And a good snowfall on a farmer’s land is worth much more than the price of a generous application of chemical nutrients.
7. From our human standpoint the most beautiful use of the word “snow” in the Scriptures is in such passages as these:
“Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7). Sound like one of our hymns?
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). What a beautiful promise, and it still stands, for what was true for Israel, is true for us. Don’t carry the stains of sin upon your soul when you don’t have to. Compare Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Revelation 1:5).
1. And if anyone thinks that God’s word is not powerful and will not accomplish everything that He has promised that it will, let him hear this: “For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
I promise you that this article on “snow” will be of more benefit to you than any article that you can read in any encyclopedia on the subject. These are some thoughts from the only book that came from God.
Via the Roanridge Reader, Volume 35, Issue 16, Page 4, April 19, 2020
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News & Notes
Folks to be praying for:
Deborah Medlock writes that James’ condition of dementia and Alzheimer is worsening, and “he needs a lot more help watching after and his every day tasks.” She also requests prayer for Nina Staten (the cousin of one of Deborah’s friends) who now has COVID-19.
Cheryl Corbitt requests prayer that the virus will be kept out of the nursing home. Much precaution is carried out there. Cheryl mentioned that she and the other workers are all screened before entering the facility. A resident who returns from the hospital is put into quarantine for two weeks on a special hall before returning to her room. And residents with a fever are put into isolation for a week, depending on other symptoms.
Let us keep Jonathan Abbott in our prayers, too, who works in our local hospital.
As mentioned last week, Jonathan’s mother is having hemodialysis 3 days a week and chemotherapy once a week — and doing well with both.
Bud Montero’s 5 days of treatments for prostate cancer in its early stage will be May 4-8, and of which he has been given a very good prognosis. Each non-invasive treatment will be about 30 minutes.
Ginger Ann Montero is getting much better from her recent illness.
Ann Vandevander is now back home, where she receives physical therapy 3 times a week by 3 different physical therapists.
Emily Abbott Cox is now in about her 32nd week of pregnancy. Anita writes that Emily is doing “OK,” though her blood pressure is “a little elevated.” So she has the doctor’s order to rest this weekend and check her blood pressure three times daily. Emily mentions that “Easton can hardly wait for baby sister to arrive.”
Let us continue to keep each other in prayer.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
2) Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
The following services are all cancelled until further notice:
Sunday services: 9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thomastedwards.com/go (Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but going back to March 4, 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)