Snow and Frost, Stormy Wind

I laugh every year at the lectionary -- the assigned scripture texts for each Sunday -- because when we get to late December, we always read Psalm 148:

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!

So yesterday we got our snow and frost, and a few stormy winds too. I have learned not to trust weather forecasts, but this one was spot on. Now all of us are sitting at home, unable to go anywhere or do anything.

Mother Nature is pretty powerful. God reminds us that we are not in control. It's a strange feeling, isn't it, not being able to go anywhere and do anything we want? We're not used to just being.

Our church is closed today, but the good news is that we're open as a warming center for people who have nowhere else to go. A church member sent me an email offering to make sweetbreads and brownies and bring them over to the PADS folks in our church basement. The food pantry will do everything they can to be open tonight.

This is the church, being the church. Life is good. Give thanks.

Young men and women alike, old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted.
Praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israsel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!