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hile we were out in California for Christmas, my hometown was blessed with a much- needed accumulation of snow. Having a white Christmas and getting to play in the snow added some extra excitement for us. First came the snowman, and next came “Frosty” the carefully crafted snow show- steer by Randy. With each day that came, we were watching the weather reports and hoping Frosty the snow steer would make it another day. This reminded me that just as the snow steer will melt and just be a memory, everything in this world will live in is only temporary. While we embrace these memories and appreciate the joy they bring, our focus should be on eternal things, and making differences that will last for eternity. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:13-18: 13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being
renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Throughout Paul’s ministry, he was severely beaten and persecuted because he was living for Jesus. He was able to have a good attitude and move forward because he knew that his pain was only temporary. He knew that he was going to spend eternity with Jesus. It was all about his perspective. When we are worrying or hurting, we need to keep in mind that it’s only temporary. Likewise, the blessings that we have in our lives are also temporary. We count down the number of years our kids have left in the showring until they graduate and go off to college, knowing that these memories of showing will have to last us a lifetime. We should take time to pause and enjoy each moment to the fullest. The most important thing about eternity is making sure we’re prepared for it by accepting Jesus Christ into our hearts, asking for forgiveness of our sins, and living each day for God, because just like Frosty the snow steer, the things of this world will all go away. •
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BY: JENNIFER POAD, TX
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