Tuesday through Wednesday, the wind howled,
 snow blew,
and the sky remained murky.
It's a good thing we have shelter from such blizzards.
We got two feet of snow.

But by Wednesday afternoon, the sun reappeared and glistened on the smooth white landscape.
After the storm, a small bird tried to fly through our sliding glass window, perhaps to find a haven from the frigid temperatures outside.
She gave up and flew into the protective snow-covered bows of the big ponderosa tree just off our deck.
Besides the bundled-up school children waiting for the bus, the only live thing I saw yesterday were flocks of crows and ravens, congregating on the white driveway across from us.
By the way they seemed to frolic in the cold, I think if they had hands they would have built a snowman.

Outside, it looks like a Christmas card.

So here is my Christmas card to you:

This Thursday morning, the 20th of December, I sit at my desk with a hot mug of tea.
Our central heating whirs unobtrusively as I click away at the keyboard.
The news anchorman reading his sound bites from the other room keeps me company.
The dishwasher chugs peacefully, disinfecting my morning breakfast dishes.
On my desk, my Bible is opened to the second chapter of Luke:

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.'"

My soul is filled with the joy of this message:
 'Fear not,
I bring you good news.
Christ the Lord has been born for you.'

That is the good news for us all: We do not have to try to reach heaven on our own power.
Christ has come.
He did the work.
We can rest and rely on Him.
And God will be satisfied with us...
not because we reached perfection, but because we trusted in Christ's perfection.

A Merry, Merry Christmas to you, my friends!