​The power of concerted prayer and agreement in faith was overtly demonstrated over Easter weekend. Our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, summed up the results of the prayer convergence like this: "Shot down on a Friday...Good Friday...hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday, and rescued on Sunday...flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday. A pilot reborn, all home and accounted for...a nation rejoices. God is good!" We certainly saw the hand of God in action as one of our American pilots was rescued from the mountains of southwestern Iran.
 
One F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down on Good Friday with two airmen in it. These airmen ejected from the plane but became separated in the rugged terrain where their plane crashed. The pilot was rescued on the same day, but the weapon's operator could not be located. He avoided capture by climbing a 7,000-foot ridge in Zagros Mountains despite injuries, including a sprained ankle. Upon reaching the top of the ridge, he hid in a narrow crevice to evade capture. At this point, he was able to send out a beacon signal. Pete Hegseth reports: "When he was finally able to activate his emergency transponder, his first message was simple, and it was powerful. He sent a message: 'God is good!'"
 
President Trump is calling the airman's rescue "an Easter miracle." The reason for this comment was because of the difficulty of the mission. In addition to our armed forces trying to pinpoint the airman's location, the Iranian forces were also hunting for him. They offered a bounty to anyone who could find him alive. It is reported that the United States rescue mission used one hundred fifty-five aircraft, including four bombers, sixty-four fighters, forty-eight refueling tankers, thirteen rescue aircraft, and more. American air power was used to destroy any Irian advancing units. At the same time, United States special forces made their way toward the stranded officer and lifted him from his hiding place. Regarding the number of personnel and equipment used in the rescue, President Trump said, "We were bringing them all over, and a lot of it was subterfuge. We wanted to have them think he was in a different location, because they had a vast military force out there—thousands of people were looking."
 
The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel's IDF assisted in the operation. They launched strikes designed to act as diversion, drawing Iranian security forces away from the crash site and toward other areas. General Frank McKenzie, a former commander of U. S. Central Command said, "We did in fact lose a couple of aircraft in that mission," but added that he would take that lose "any day" in a situation like this. "It takes a year to build an aircraft—it takes two hundred years to build a military tradition where you don't leave anybody behind."
 
President Trump acknowledged the watchful eye of the Lord in the rescue. "When you go into these areas, you don't come out like we came out. God was watching us." It seems many were led to pray Psalm 91 over the weekend operation. "I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.'" "...He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge, His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart...He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways...I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name..." For those intercessors who may wonder if their prayers are making a difference, this rescue was a demonstration of their effectiveness. Did you know that the U. S. military has a prayer guide written by Gloria Robles of Intercessors for America that is based on Psalm 91? God calls us to partner with Him in prayer. When we do, we will see His miracle-working power.

We are in the middle of Passover week. Included in this week is the celebration of First Fruits or the day of the resurrection of Yeshua/Jesus. This is Nisan 16 on the Hebrew calendar. In 1 Corinthians 15:20 He is called "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." The New Living Translation says, "But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So, you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back." (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
 
For life to spring forth we must first have death. This was demonstrated with Jesus who willingly went to the Cross to take our sicknesses and diseases, pain and sorrow, sin and guilt on His body. During the three hours between noon and three p.m., He felt the pain of His spiritual separation from His Holy Father because of what He was bearing. The first two verses of the prophetic Psalm 22 is a look at what Jesus would say as He hung on the Cross. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving Me, so far from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer, by night, and am not silent." 
 
The "groanings" of Messiah are followed by a statement of truth and comfort in verse three of Psalm 22. In this Psalm there is a move from despair to faith in the truth of who God is. "But You are holy, enthroned in the praise of Israel." (NKJV) "Yet You are enthroned as the Holy One; You are the praise of Israel." (NIV) The word "enthroned" or "inhabits" in the KJV is the Hebrew verb "yashab" which means to remain or dwell. God is everywhere! Psalm 139:7-10 makes this clear. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast."
 
As we contemplate Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, we should see a call to worship the Lord. That message began as Moses went to Pharoah to obtain the release from slavery for the children of Israel. "So, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, 'This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews says: How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.'" (Exodus 10:3) Today our enemy, the devil, does everything he can to stop us from worshiping the One True God. Just as God broke the bondage of slavery for the Israelites, Christ broke the bondage of sin and sickness for us on the Cross. He was resurrected on the third day with a message of victory over death and a call for us to come near to worship Him.
 
Rabbi Jason Sobel tells us that "Passover reminds us that without God's intervention, Israel would still be in bondage." After the Exodus, Moses realized that what is most important for God's people is His presence. Moses said, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here...What else will distinguish us from all the people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15, 16) This question is still for today. We should be defined by the presence of God. That comes as we open our hearts to worship Him. Today we glory in the resurrection of Christ and His promise of eternal life for those who believe in Him. Let us make today and the weeks to come ones of His Presence through extravagant worship! 

​On the same day (Nisan 10) that every Jewish household was choosing their unblemished, spotless lamb for Passover, God brought Jesus into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey to present His Son as the pure, spotless Lamb of God. Large crowds met Him there and "took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!'" (John 12:13)
 
Four days later Jesus joined His disciples in an upper room for a Passover Seder. He was being obedient to the Scripture in Exodus 12:14 that says, "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance." At this Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."  (Luke 22:15) God's plan was for His people to remember how He set them free from slavery in Egypt. He also knew that through the retelling of the Passover story, a connection would be made that His Son, Yeshua, is the Passover Lamb. He shed His blood that would be applied to the doorpost of our hearts for eternity. The blood of the lambs that was applied to the doorframes of the homes of the children of Israel was for protection from the death of the firstborn.
 
There has always been a battle over the power of the blood. It was Emperor Constantine who legalized Christianity but forbid the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus during Passover. The Church in Rome joined the battle and tried to stamp out Passover and pronounced a curse on Christians who celebrate it. Satan hates Passover because he knows the power of the blood. He also knows that it points to Jesus as being the Passover Lamb. The first time Jesus was introduced this way was by John the Baptist who said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
 
On the original Passover night, the head of every household stood at the door of his house with a basin containing the blood of the lamb. He used a hyssop branch to dip into the blood and smeared it on the two doorposts and the lintel over the door. In doing this, he was making the sign of The Cross. The applied blood redeemed each family from the power of the death angel. Deliverance comes by the Cross of Jesus and by His shed blood!
 
At today's Passover feast there are four cups to drink. The first one is called The Cup of Sanctification, which represents the power of the blood to take away sin. The second cup is called The Cup of Judgment. Before drinking this cup, a drop of juice is taken out of it ten times and dropped onto a napkin—one for each plague. We are to remember that by the stripes of Jesus we are healed. The Cup of Redemption is the third one. Jesus said, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many." (Mark 14:24 - NKJ) The third cup would become the center piece of communion and spoke of the greater redemption and deliverance that humankind would experience through the forgiveness of sin from the Lamb of God. The final cup is called the Cup of Praise and is the one to remind us to rejoice because of our promised future. Truly, the Passover table was the birthplace of the Communion table.
 
The deliverance of the children of Israel came at the first Passover in the land of Goshen in Egypt. From this Passover table, a nation was born. The Passover table is a place from which one is sent out and the beginning of an annual reset as this is the time that God ordained to be the beginning of a new year on the Hebrew calendar. Yeshua, Jesus, reminds us of His position as the Passover Lamb at the Passover table and draws us into a new year of intimacy with Him. As Israel used the Passover feast to reset their year, Let us remember that God delivered us from the bondage of sin so that we can pursue a more intimate relationship with Him. Praise the Lamb!

Jesus was resolute in His journey toward Jerusalem in the days before Passover would begin. On the way He stopped to visit His friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha in Bethany. Those who joined Him at the supper given in His honor were about to witness an extravagant act of worship by Mary.
 
John 12:1-11 describes the scene where Mary brought a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from the essence of nard. This perfume was one of the most expensive substances in the world and came from the Himalayan mountains. The actual common name of the plant is Spikenard. The plant gets its name from the hairy, spike-like roots that were crushed to extract the thick, amber-colored oil. The Bible first introduces us to this perfume in Song of Solomon 1:12. "While the king was at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance." (NKJ) It was truly the fragrance of royalty.
 
To the horror of one of the disciples of Jesus, Judas Iscariot, Mary poured the entire pint of nard on Jesus's feet. Then she wiped His feet with her hair in an act of total submission. During the time in which Jesus lived, guests who came to someone's home in the Middle East would have had their feet washed by household servants. However, the anointing of His feet was an act of selfless love by Mary. Judas expressed his indignation over what he called an extreme waste of money, explaining that the value of the nard (300 denarii or a year's salary) could have been used to help the poor.
 
If we look deeper into the agenda of Judas, we can see that he was the keeper of the money bag for the disciples and freely helped himself to the coins whenever he desired. Jesus explained that Mary's extravagance was appropriate because she was anointing Him for His burial. Jesus went on to say, "You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." (John 12:8) Sadly, Judas could not understand the act of worship that was being demonstrated before him.
 
Through the book of Revelation, we learn that both God and the devil seek worshipers. The devil had entered Judas as he was preparing to hand Jesus over to the Pharisees in a brief time. On the other hand, Jesus carried the Spirit of the Lord within Him and was worthy of all the worship shown to Him. The central question to ask ourselves is, "Who will we worship?" Pastor Francis Frangipane tells us that, "The enemy has easy access to the soul that is not protected by true worship of the Almighty!" Worship is based upon the reality of God, not circumstances. Francis goes on to say, "Without true worship of God, there can be no victory in warfare."
 
We were created first for God's pleasure. When we come to the end of our lives and go before the judgment seat of God, we will be evaluated by the way we worshiped the Lord. Whatever circumstances surround us, it is crucial for us to be true worshipers of Him. May this Passover season be used for us to move our worship of the One True God to the next level. 

​There is a picture of an open Torah scroll making rounds on social media that should make us pause and think about God. As demonstrated by this picture, He speaks to us in a multitude of ways that will direct our attention toward Him. At the beginning of Israel's "Operation Lion's Roar" a missile came into Beit Shemesh, in Israel, and killed nine people and injured many more. These people were sheltering in the basement of the town's synagogue. Those who helped clear through the rubble found an open Torah scroll with a shard of metal from the missile that was stuck at the reading for the week.
 
The Parasha (Torah portion) to be read for that week is called "Zachor," which means remember. This Scripture commands us to remember the attack that Amalek made on the Israelites after they left Egypt. It would have been read on the Sabbath before Purim and comes from Deuteronomy 25:17-19. "Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!" With the placement of the missile fragment directly beneath this Scripture, God was speaking to His people.
 
The missile fragment seemed to be reminding the Jewish people, as they prepared to celebrate Purim, how connected the past is to the present and future. How is this so? Along with the weekly Torah portion, there is also a selected reading from the "Prophets" to be recited in the synagogues. This is called "the Haftarah." It is meant to relate to the Torah portion. The haftarah that connects to Deuteronomy 25:17-19 comes from 1 Samuel 15:2-34. It is the story of King Saul's battle against Amalek and his failure to destroy King Agag as instructed by God. Because Saul spared the life of Agag, years down the road Haman arose and continued the battle against the Jews during the reign of Queen Esther. Haman was a direct descendant of King Agag. (Esther 3:1) However, God always gives us an opportunity to redeem our situations. Just as Haman was a direct descendant of Agag, Mordecai, Queen Esther's guardian, was from Saul's tribe, Benjamin. Therefore, Saul's descendants had the opportunity to accomplish what he failed to do.
 
This uncanny position of the shrapnel from an Iranian missile under the "Parashat Zachor" highlights the importance of doing what God instructs: "Remember," and "Do not forget!" Isn't it interesting that the missile that struck the Torah scroll came all the way from Iran whose name was Persia where the story of Purim took place about 2,500 years ago? God uses every means at His disposal to speak to us and guide us in all truth. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

After crossing the Red Sea, the children of Israel began their journey toward the Promised Land. The route would be through the wilderness where their surroundings required constant miracles for survival. Three days into their trip they began to grumble about lack of water. After finding undrinkable water, Moses called upon the Lord. He was instructed to place a "tree" into the bitter water of Marah. The waters were transformed into sweet, drinkable water. At this spot, God introduced Himself to the Israelites as Jehovah Rapha, "The Lord Who Heals You." From Marah, the Lord led them to an oasis called Elim or "The place of great trees." Not only were there twelve springs of water but also seventy date palm trees. Scripture says, "So they camped there by the waters." (Exodus 15:27) What a miraculous encouragement!
 
I thought back on this section of Scripture this week as I looked at pictures of the desert in Israel today. Normally, the expansive southern portion of Israel, known as the Negev, is characterized by brown, rocky, and rugged mountains because there is so little rainfall and sparse vegetation. However, the rainy season that comes during the winter months brings the desert to life. This year there were uncharacteristically heavy rains that transformed the wilderness into a vibrant landscape of green ground cover sprinkled with a plethora of flowers.
 
Psalm 126:4 invites us to compare the wilderness seasons of our lives to the transforming landscape that comes about when the wadis or dry riverbeds of the desert overflow with water after the rains. The water brings what seems like instant life to the desert, and pictures how our lives can be transformed from barren and desolate places into those of hope and renewal. The children of Israel were returning to Zion after years in captivity and sang out, "Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev."
 
The Desert show in the Negev is so spectacular this year that many travelers have been drawn to the region to witness the amazing transformation of the landscape. Portions of this desert were inaccessible to the people because of the Hamas-initiated war on October 7, 2023. So, it is with great joy that the people of Israel have returned to look at the spectacle of beauty that speaks of hope to them. The God who makes the flowers grow in such harsh conditions is also the God who will help them triumph over adversity.
 
Those who live in the Negev celebrate the spectacle of flowers with a yearly festival called Darom Adom. It is named for Israel's national flower, the red anemone, or Kalanit in Hebrew, which means "The Red South." For about six weeks while the desert blossoms, there is a period of time when the hills are covered with a carpet of red anemone. Among the sea of red, one can also spot white iris, yellow mustard, and purple lupines. The transformation of the desert is truly a spectacle to celebrate that draws our attention to the God of creation—Elohim.
 
This amazing display of God's glory on earth recalls His promise from Isaiah 35, verses 1 and 2. "The Desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God." We too can blossom as we ask for the water of God's Spirit to be poured upon us. Hallelujah! 

​The prophetic significance of this time in history must not be missed. A "blood moon" or total lunar eclipse is expected to occur on March 3, 2026. I believe it is no accident that this will happen on the Jewish holiday of Purim. When the earth passes between the sun and a full moon it blocks the direct sunlight and casts a reddish shadow on the moon's surface.
 
Many in the prophetic circles see the blood moon as a symbol of judgment against the enemies of Israel. Isn't it fascinating that on Saturday morning both the United State and Israel began a joint military operation against Iran, which used to be called Persia? This campaign will be continuing through Purim. The blood moon is seen as a sign from God that He is intervening in the affairs of the Middle East, and that He will turn against the evil forces surrounding Israel. It is also a signal from God for the Jewish people to return to Him. 
 
How remarkable it is that Israel and the United States joined forces to strike the Iranian regime and remove it! When we look at the story of Esther in the Bible, we are reminded that Haman's plot to destroy the Jews in the Persian empire was destroyed on Purim. There was a complete reversal of the decree by Haman, the evil second in command to the King of Persia. That gave the Jews the upper hand. Could this be happening again for the Christians and small Jewish population in Iran?
 
The United States calls their battle against Iran "Epic Fury," while Israel calls theirs "Operation Lion's Roar." It appears like the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is roaring with epic fury against the evil regime in Iran and that they are being removed. This will be a time of mixed emotions for the people of Iran. There have been many casualties to their communities over the years. However, at the same time, the Christian community, called the largest underground church in the world, is being set free to worship God without fear of persecution. The small community of Jews remaining in Iran will also be able to worship in their synagogues.
 
The most interesting part of the story of Esther and the Jewish people in Persia is that God is never mentioned in it, yet He is undeniably at work in the affairs of His people. Just as Esther and the Jews trusted God to help them, may the people of Iran, Israel, and the United States rely on His faithfulness. Purim is always celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of the last month on the Hebrew calendar, Adar. Esther's cousin, Mordecai, who had been given the king’s signet ring, sent letters to all the provinces of the king establishing the yearly celebration on these dates. Adar 14 and 15 became days "on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month that was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor." (Esther 9:22 - NKJ)
 
In a post sent out on February 26, Lou Engle Ministries suggested prayer and unified decrees for us that follow:

• Plead the blood of Jesus over our nations and the Jewish people.
• Restrain the Spirit of Haman and its murderous intent.
• Pray for the removing of the veil of deception and antisemitic ideologies.
• Declare Jeremiah 49:35 - the breaking of the bow of Elam (Iran) and freedom for the Iranian people who are living under this oppressive regime.

Let us join in these prayers.

We are now in the final month on the Hebrew calendar, called Adar. The meaning of Adar is strength, and it is the month of completion. When we finish the year in strength, we prepare to enter our next season to receive the blessings God has in store for us.
 
The dominant event that occurred during the month of Adar is when Queen Esther saved her people, the Jews. She was one of many beautiful virgins brought into the haram of King Xerxes because of her great beauty. Esther entered the palace in the month of Tevet, the tenth month on the Hebrew calendar, and was able to gain the favor of Hegai, the eunuch charged with overseeing the beauty preparation of the women. Because of her humility and respect for Hegai, he moved Esther into "the best place in the house of the women." (Esther 2:9) There she began twelve months of beauty treatments.
 
God had a plan for Esther that would "test her mettle." She would need courage and strength and the ability to overcome adversity. Candice Smithyman's book, 365 Prophetic Revelations from the Hebrew Calendar says, "We are never truly promoted until we are faced with a situation where we have to stand for righteousness..." (Page 339) So it was with Esther. It came to her attention that the King's most honored noble, Haman, was plotting to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom of Xerxes. (127 provinces from India to Ethiopia) It was determined that this would happen in the month of Adar through casting the Pur or lot. Esther's cousin, Mordecai, warned her by saying, "If you remain silent at this time, relief or deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
 
Esther was about to be promoted. She had been positioned to make a change in King Xerxes's kingdom. The prophet Kim Clement said before he died, "Your destiny dictates your present circumstances." How true this was for Esther! She would be tested in her faith and would need to stand strong in her battle against the enemy of her people. Fasting and prayer became the order of the day as Esther asked her people to join her in this. She was given a strategy to prepare a lavish banquet for the king where he would be overjoyed with her attention. In return she requested that the king grant her life. She added, "And spare my people--this is my request. For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation." (Esther 7:3 and 4)
 
Haman came to the end of his road, and a gallows that he built for Mordecai was used to hang him. An order was written to override Haman's which would allow the Jews to assemble and protect themselves and to plunder the property of their enemies. Mordecai became second in rank to the king. Queen Esther and Mordecai designated Adar 14 and 15 as day for a yearly time of celebration of the victory for the Jewish people. Today, Purim, as it is called, is still celebrated by Jews all over the world.
 
What can we learn about this month that will impact how we live in Adar? This is a time for us to develop war strategies against our enemies. Those enemies could be physical or spiritual. God will be pleased to help us in this endeavor as we ask Him. He has already given us the mighty weapon of His Word. We should break wrong decrees spoken over us with the truth of God's Word and persevere until the battle is won. We must remember that the favor of our King Jesus will overturn every curse. When a curse is overturned the door of our destinies will be opened. 

Every year Jewish synagogues read through the first five books of the Bible or Torah, written by Moses. There are fifty-four sections to the weekly Torah portions. These portions or sections are called Parashat. Each Parashat is named after a significant word at the beginning of the section to be read. Last week's portion is named Mishpatim for laws, judgments, or ordinances. This eighteenth Parashat covers Exodus 21:1 through Exodus 24:18. It contains a detailed system of rules for the people that include the civil code, social justice commands, ways for ethical living, and ways to apply the Divine law to everyday life.
 
In Parashat Mishpatim we see that one of the ways that God determines faithfulness to His covenant is how we treat one another, even enemies. Moses wrote how justice should be lived out in daily life. We have in this portion of Scripture an invitation to live in ways that reflect His justice and compassion. God wants us to remember that even our enemies are made in His image. In God's Kingdom, justice, and mercy work together.
 
God brings us into situations where we get to quietly attest to our faithfulness to His commands. One such situation is written about in Exodus 23:4 and 5. "If you come across your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there. Be sure you help him with it." We reflect the Lord to our neighbors, strangers, and adversaries by how we treat them." 
 
God leads us on the path of humility in our day-to-day experiences. There is a Hebrew word used only ten times in the Scriptures. That word, zud, means to boil up, seethe, or arrogance. When we allow arrogance to bubble up it leads us to behave in a way that does not honor God. We read that Nehemiah led the Israelites in confession of their sins. He reminded them of this: "But they, our forefathers, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and did not obey Your commands. They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles You performed among them..." (Nehemiah 9:16 and 17) He commands us to even protect the property of those who oppose us. Humility helps us cool down the arrogance of wanting to do things our way so that it does not bubble up and explode in anger.
 
Our behavior is shaped in the heart and manifests through physical action. We must ask ourselves, "What is brewing in my heart, and does it reflect the One True God that I worship?" We must follow the instruction given in Colossians 3:5. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature..." Considering this week's instruction in Parashat Mishpatim, let us make David's prayer in Psalm 19:14 our own. "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer."

Environmentalist Rachel Carson said, "Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life." It is incumbent on us to deliberately slow down to contemplate the creativity and majesty of the Lord. Doing this puts life into perspective and repositions us to renew our awe of God.
 
Sadly, I believe that our society has lost its awe of God. David's Psalm 8 reminds us of the Lord's excellence. "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have ordained, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than angels, and you have crowned him with glory and honor...O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!" (Verses 3-5, 9 - NKJ) When I want to reinvigorate my awe of God at this time of the year, I look outside at the snow-covered ground and am reminded that every one of the millions of snowflakes is unique.
 
Henry David Thoreau says it so well in writing about snowflakes: "How full of the creative genius is the air in which these are generated! I should hardly admire more if real stars fell and lodged on my coat. Nature is full of genius, full of divinity: so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand." As I contemplate this statement, I look at a book that I have come to treasure over the years. It shows me individual pictures of over one hundred snowflakes. The author of the book called The Little Book of Snowflakes, Kenneth Libbrecht, explains that the images are of "freshly fallen snowflakes, captured using a special photo-microscope. The most symmetrical crystals are usually found during light snowfalls, with little wind, when the weather is especially cold."
 
Mr. Libbrecht includes some interesting information about snowflakes in his book. He writes, "Many well-formed snowflakes have six nearly symmetrical branches. Sometimes you may find twelve-branched snowflakes as well. One thing you will not find falling from the sky is an eight-sided snowflake...A symmetrical snowflake is not a frozen raindrop, but rather a single crystal of ice that grows directly from water vapor in the air. The process takes about fifteen minutes, as the snowflake slowly drifts to earth...We do not yet understand all the subtle mysteries of snowflakes. Exactly how the simple interactions of water molecules produce such a dramatic diversity of structures remains a puzzle."
 
The author of my snowflake book is optimistic in his evaluation that scientists do “not yet understand the subtle mysteries of snowflakes." I believe this is a mystery of God that we should accept and then let it grow into an amazing awe of who He is and what He has done. God has left us clues about Himself in what He has created. I am reminded of the song, "How Great Thou Art." "O Lord, my God, when I, in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made. I see the stars; I hear the rolling thunder; Thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee. How great Thou art, how great Thou art." Why not spend this week contemplating the mysteries of God? It will increase our awe of Him.