The long, cold, dark, snowy, gray, and blustery month of January in Western New York – it is tough for me not to have even just a little bit of the wintertime blues during this time of the year. I just can’t seem to get warm, and I shiver at the thought of having to head outside, even to grab the mail from the mailbox.
Because of these conditions, I am especially thankful, then, for the mysterious warming of my heart as I read God’s Word. His words keep me from depression, from anxiousness, and from self-pity. Each time I sit to read, He fills me once again with the daily bread I need.
As I finish the Christmas carol devotional book I have been using (okay, okay, so it has been a month since Christmas, but the words of the carols have been wonderful to continue reading even after the “season” of celebration), some of the words within this poem/hymn struck me profoundly as I read them this morning:
How lovely shines the Morning Star!
Thou mine, I Thine
Keep me kindly in Thy favor, O my Savior!
Thou wilt cheer me; Thy Word calls me to draw near Thee.
(How Lovely Shines the Morning Star!, Philipp Nicolai, 1597)
There is always hope and joy that is found when we rest in Jesus! Thank you, Lord, for carrying me through the dark, dreary days.
Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. –John 1:4,5 (TLB)
January 24, 2009 at 10:14 am
Thank you, Kristin. Beautiful words. Beautiful truths. I’d just been thanking God for you when I opened my email, read your blog, and thanked Him once again.
January 24, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Well Kristin, it IS that time of year here in Rochester when the gray skies can hinder us from feeling healthy. Like you, I am reveling in God’s Word and thanking Him that He never grows weary of our requests for grace and that He is always faithful!
It was good to see you – in passing – at the game last night!
GO RAIDERS!
In Jesus’ Love,
Sue
January 24, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Great to see you last night. You are one of my heros. I love reading your blog, although I don’t always comment. Thank goodness the SON still shines even in January in Rochester!
January 24, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Kristin I am with you all the way in Jnuary and February! I must pray myself out of bed and then again out the door when I need to go out. I am so retiring to somewhere warm! I make sure to start the day in His word and focus on the verses that He gives me. If I focus on the coldness I will just stay in bed lol
January 24, 2009 at 2:41 pm
The Morning Star! Who is like Him?! It would have been enough to know Him–to experience His presence but He also gave us His word. Thanks for loving it. It must warm His heart. Jesus does so much for us–I sometimes wonder what He’d especially like. You’ve hit on it.
Love you.
January 25, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Hey Kristin,
Thanks for the encouraging word. And a note of encouragement for those of us who need to be sustained by more than His precious word in the darkness of winer… Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is real and makes getting out of bed nearly impossible. It’s OK to take medication if it’s needed for depression. Being on an antidepressant does not mean we are less spiritual. If you can manage it, get to a place that has more sun. I was talking to someone this week who is very affected by SAD and learned there is a place in Rochester where you can sit in a room where the whole wall is lights. That sounded really good to me. But I just arrived in sunny Florida, so you know I’m feeling great!
Keep up the encouragement!
LS
January 25, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Hi; Kristin, it was neat to see you this AM as well as to see the link on FACEBOOK. I loved the above note. It really touched my heart; now that I’m retired, I awaken each morning with my “special sun lamp,” with a cup of tea and Steve Green’s album IN THE MORNING. After 15-20 minutes, I head to the kitchen where I have a neat sign, that reads, WINTER, A CALMING AFFECT.Getting into God’s word as well as a cup of coffee – and I’m off to a good start.
January 26, 2009 at 8:54 am
Oh this came at just the right time. Thank you.
I have said good-bye to two very dear friends and mentors this month.
One from a sudden stroke at are 78. This lady was my friend for over 15 years. I spent every summer at the Muckdogs game with her. She had a real passion for Gospel Music as well. I will share this verse with her daughter who is also my friend.
Tomorrow I say ‘good-bye’ to my babysitter. She raised my brother and I while my mom and dad worked. She introduced my to the Gospel. She taught me in Sunday School; gave me two Bibles; took me to VBS. She was one of my lights in this world. She passes to heaven at the age of 90 plus. I was blessed to have known her.
Blessings to you and your family. I hope you are all well.
Lynda
January 26, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Hey Kristin,
You hit the nail on the head- from the comments I can see that the others agree with you too. The other I was thinking, why am I such a grump? LOL- it’s GLOOMY! God certainly does have a way of providing us with a sense of peace and joy that can carry away the grump and gloom of winter. Tanning works too, but that has a tendency to turn your face into a suitcase and increase your risk of skin cancer….so, I’m gonna stay in the word. LOL.
XOXO
Joce
February 5, 2009 at 12:24 pm
LSP Thanks for saying that. I have found this year that mall walking is helping. The kids schedule forces me up, but walking the mall MWF 8ish to 9ish after the kids are off gets those endorphins pumping. Wantta come?
February 6, 2009 at 2:16 pm
God is so gracious to us, in all of our needs and in every situation. LSP hit the nail on the head with Seasonal Affective Disorder, but there are also those of us who suffer year round no matter what the weather. This past summer I did some real soul searching…decided to go off all medications and really open my heart to what God wanted for me. I have only once suffered as much as I did this past summer, and that was when I was first diagnosed. I cried out desperately to the Lord for wisdom, guidance, and strength. God used a dear friend, a faithful mature Christian, who just happens to be my general practitioner to speak to me. There are definite defferences between types of depression. I just happen to be one who suffers from chemical imbalances. I am thankful to our precious Lord for allowing me to understand this, for placing people in my life who can support this, and for using my depression to reach out to others.
Although I conitnue to take medication for depression, and I am in control of it, I still get the winter blues as you mention Kristin. It helps me to remember the beauty of nature that He has given us. It is only for those who know the love of God to be able to look at the beautiful white snow, feel the cold on the face, and snuggle up in a warm bed with our loved ones to realize how lucky we are.
April 5, 2009 at 5:07 pm
It is easy to fall into bad habits and here we are in APRIL and it is SNOWING!!! We have a winter weather advisory!!! Even though there is snow and cold these April days, listening to God and reading His word provide a sense of warmth and light like no other.