God Says: "I've Got You Covered!"

In the 3rd week of February, we had a fast and furious snow storm to hit the Triangle.  It came in so fast that people could not get to their destinations before the roads became crowded and slick.  This was the storm that left thousands stranded on the highways with some people abandoning their cars.  For others it took 4+ hours to make a 30 minute drive home. 

The triangle area was covered in several inches of beautiful white snow.  I had decided to spend the night at work in case I could be of help in the residential buildings if staff could not make it in to work.  By that evening, the ground and every building/ structure and vehicle was covered.  As I looked outside, all I could see was white and ice that sparkled as the light from the street lights shone down.

What a beautiful sight that was!!  And the next day, the scene was still beautiful even though workers had begun the task of cleaning sidewalks so that staff could move easily from 1 building to another.  By afternoon, the snow again came fast and furious but with larger white flakes.  It only lasted a couple of hours, and then the storm had finally passed.

I love watching the snow when it is coming down and seeing how it changes the landscape from green and brown grass to white.  From trees with no leaves to trees with snow covered limbs.  From vehicles of varying colors to all white.  From bushes with varying-shaped leaves and colors to all white.  As the snow begins to accumulate, even the shapes begin to look a little different.  The railing on our front porch is flat on top, but with a couple of inches of snow on it, it becomes rounded on top.

I also love that time after dark when no one is on the roads, and all is  hushed and quiet like we have never heard before - no children playing outside, no vehicles on the roads, no wildlife making sounds in the woods.  As I looked at the snow the 2nd evening I was there, I heard God say to me "the robe of righteousness, clean and white".   "The robe of righteousness, clean and white".  Just like the snow had covered the earth, God was telling me that I am covered in the robe of righteousness, clean and white. 

The Benefit of Having the Holy Ghost!

TEXT:  ACTS 2:1-4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT PENTECOST!!!

Pentecost is the Greek word pentekoste’ meaning fifty.  It was the fiftieth day from Passover.   In the Hebrew, it’s pe’cach, meaning exemption, the festival or victim.  In the Greek, pas’cha, it's the Passover or special sacrifices connected with it - Easter.  It commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage and the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us.

The day of “Pentecost” was with the Israelites “the great feast of the harvest” (qatsiyr-kawtseer), as reaped or the victim thereof; sacrifice.  Exodus 23:16:  "And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field:  and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field."  (or “the day of first fruits”)  Numbers 28:26: "Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work."  It was celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Passover.