Weather or whether?

Today in Iowa is just beautiful. It is sunny and warm. It is amazing how much conversation we have with people about the weather. I find myself talking to the grocery store clerk about it; talking to family who live out of state about it; worrying about events that may or may not happen because of it. No matter where we go, we talk about the weather with whomever. Everyone talks about the weather.

I used to watch the news every night to see what to expect. We want to be able to plan on what to wear. We ponder about "whether the weather" will give us a snowy day. We talk about how nice it is and how awful it is. Meteorologists want to predict what the forecast will be days in advance, so busy people can plan their life. The funny thing is, is that even though we have all this great technology to predict the weather forecast....God at any moment can bring a storm or send a rainbow regardless of what the 5 o'clock news predicts. In our life, He is the one who calms the storms and brings the blessings.

I wonder what would happen in our world, if the Lord was talked about as much as the weather? I wonder what would happen if people listened to the Word of God as much as they did the forecast....If they tuned in once or twice a day to hear His thoughts and reveal His forecast. What would happen if instead of asking lost family members about how the weather is in their hometown, I would be bold enough to ask "Who is calming the storms in their life?" Could I be so confident in the Lord, that I could ask complete strangers in the eyes and ask them if they know Jesus, rather than what their thoughts are on the weather?

In Matthew 16:2 Jesus answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, "it will be fair weather, for the sky is red;" and in the morning, "It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening." Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the sign of the times."

Next time I am out and about, and I am meeting up with strangers, I hope I don't look at the skies and comment about the weather. Rather, I hope I look up to the Lord, and that He will use me to reach His lost souls with a message of hope. It may be the last moment they will ever get to hear the "good news."

How then shall I live? What then shall I talk about? What would the Lord say in this? Am I open to listen to Him and speak forth the hope I have in Jesus? Or will I once again speak about the weather? Lord, search me and show me....

Written 11-8-09