White as Snow

Winter. Winter means cold, which is what it has definitely been recently. Winter also brings with it ice, sleet, treacherous road travel depending where you live and snow. Winter weather can strike and change plans that you might have made. Yet, we have been blessed with a variety of different seasons. It could just be winter all the time, or just spring all the time (which might be nice after what seems like an eternal winter), but no.
We have four different seasons that we get to experience and enjoy each year and each season has its own unique aspect to it. Think about it. In summer, you can go to the beach and the days are longer and warmer. Spring means winter is over and there is new life all around as flowers grow and the grass turns green again. Fall is still somewhat warm and brings with it the beauty of the leaves as they change from green to reds, oranges and yellows. And then there's winter which brings snow, snowflakes and  ice skating and sledding among other things. I am thankful that with each season, there is something different to been seen or enjoyed.
Winter can seem to stretch on and on though, as it gets cold and the sky likes to stay grey. It can be so easy to complain about the cold and how we want spring and summer to come back quickly so that the days get warmer and longer. The one thing I like about winter is the snow. It can be beautiful and lovely as it coats the ground making it look like someone has dusted the earth with pure white sugar. Snow, to me, holds a beautiful reminder about Christ's saving work on the cross. I came across this verse in Isaiah when I was doing my devotions reading the other morning:

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool." 

Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

Because of Jesus' blood, we are washed white as snow. He takes away our sin, and we have new life in Him. So when there is snow on the ground and I look out and see it, that is what I am reminded of.