(Photo: “Yuki Daruma” AKA Snowmen made by the Hutton children)

Wow, the snow really came down this weekend. In the past six year that I’ve lived in Kyotanabe, it has never snowed so hard! It was great. It was a heavy snow all day Saturday. The snow stayed with us most of the morning Sunday but by Monday is was hard to see even a remnant of it. Actually, it was perfect! It was heavy enough to play in and enjoy. And just when it was getting a bit inconvenient to move around in, it disappeared! 

Since I decided that wouldn’t attempt skiing or snowboarding this year, I had it set in my mind that I wouldn’t have a chance to experience snow. So, God really surprised me with this gift. And a friend yesterday was telling me a very similar story. As I wondered how may others enjoyed the surprise snow, the following verse can to mind (although it talks of rain and not snow)… 

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 
– Matthew 5:43-45 (NASB)

Please pray for the dear people here in Kyotanabe and Japan as a country that they would realize their great need for a Savior; that, although all of our sins are as scarlet, they can be made as white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18)