Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth.  Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”
Genesis 8:20-22

As we look another cold blast from the Arctic straight in the eye, we may be frozen to the bone, tired of winter, ready for summer or spring, anyway.  It is only the first week of March.  We may have weeks left of this winter weather.  We just don’t know.  But one thing we do know is that God told us that He will always have winter and summer, cold and heat, seedtime and harvest.  ALWAYS…while the earth remains.  He said it in His heart.

When you or I say things in our hearts, it more often than not is said with honesty, integrity, wholeheartedness.  We mean it.  Our hearts speak from the very being of who we are whom God made.  Our hearts speak with the openness and gloriousness of life.  

When God speaks in His heart, He speaks with His all, in His Truth, and the words spoken, whether silently or aloud, they are His very Word.  He says twice in verse 21, I will never again…. Neither will I ever again….  NEVER AGAIN.  He means that.  We, His children, know that.  As we learn to trust and revere Him as we grow in Christ, we come to realize that what God says, He speaks only Truth.  

So, we must accept these wintry blasts and walk in the snow for a breath of fresh air.  Or sit by the fire and keep warm.  Put on extra layers of clothing.  Let us spread our godly warmth to those who are cold, who need a bowl of hot soup, who need a jacket or pair of mittens.  Let us spread God’s Love by the warmth and truth that is in our hearts.  Winters are here to stay as long as there is the earth.

Father God, may we be Your emissaries to those who are cold without You. May we share Your love through kindness and caring, through giving and hugs.  May we stay warm ourselves because we are standing under Your wings of protection.  May we be a sweet aroma to You by our words and our actions.  In the beautiful Name of Jesus, I pray.  Amen.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2