"Egypt, Sand, and Snow" by Jim Yackel

It has been a long, cold, lonely winter. For so many, it has been a mean season filled with discontent. It has been a season of poverty and loss; of wandering lost in a contemporary Egypt while seeking Moses to lead them to the promised land of milk and honey. So many have cried out to be lead out of the desert as they are thirsty…

It has been a season of increased deception as 2011 staggered punch-drunk into 2012. While they are told that Recession is over they know it to be true as it has instead become a Depression. While they are told that consumer confidence is up, they know it to be consumer desperation instead. Yes, they have been wandering in a contemporary Egypt for the last several years; and that wandering has become a dehydrated and tottering gait as the abominable winter of 2011 - like a sinister leper – has left pieces of itself in the desert sand in 2012. Snow and sand, hunger and thirst; it has bruised the spirits of those who believe and shortened the tempers of those who reject the Word.

Spring time is coming and with it wellsprings of fresh, living water will flow. There cannot be resurrection without first a death, and death has been strewn about us in its malodorous decomposition. But now is the time for life anew! We will rise up on wings like eagles…

We look upon dry streambeds and see hopelessness. We chip away at icy windshields and crack the glass below - and in that our vision is impaired. It has been a season of sand and snow; hot desperate thirst in a paradoxical icy windburn. But, we will know resurrection as we will rise up on wings like eagles! Yes, indeed, spring time is coming and the sun will melt the savage winter’s icy fingers and it will release its clutch. One day, we will be free and that day is coming with hope springing eternal…

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;- Luke 4:18