The Storehouse of the Snow and Other Blessings

“Hast thou entered into the storehouse of the snow?” (Job 38:22)

“Snow is here represented as something which is laid up like treasure, and kept in reserve for use when God shall require it. . . . like the weapons of war, to be called forth when God should please,” (Barnes’ Notes on the Bible)

What have I laid up in the storehouse of my soul? A treasure? Weapons of War? Snow? I admit, that when times toughen, and the little foxes tear at me, it is what I have stored up that sustains, strengthens, gives hope and sees me to a good result, a peace result, a joy result, a content result. In the midst of battle, it is the storehouses that tip to victory.

My Spirit has grieved to not see
Snow for the storehouse
Snow for the ground
For the pin oaks and fir
when all along
the snow for the storehouse was in me

The hurricane of snow’s icy taste,
feathery-melt snow-touch, metallic-smell,
crunchy yet silent sound
are just for reminding
of God’s mighty weapons, tools pulled
from His word, of His faith, about His love
all stored up in my heart
working out my fingers,
voiced in the faith ballad
walked out in my snow boots
God-Words heard, read, stored
in the Storehouse of the Snow

the snow today was just for reminding
to inventory this storehouse
of my soul
these miniature crystals, dazzling Holy Spirit light
from the inside out
Like God in me
Hast thou entered to inventory
the storehouse of the snow?

Inventory in the Storehouse of Snow

20 sticks of faith stories hung on rails in the rafters, curing, seasoning to share, remind and encourage when challenges come either to you or a neighbor?

15 bushels of humility from wrongs handed out and graceless moments, whether intentionally or not, cored into forgiveness, ready for sharing

Unending bails of God love so that you can love more than you need

10 Faith, hope and love seed bags, for open-handed sowing to feed those hungry for the bread of life?

1 Storehouse Manuel filled with the Word of God, the most important item in the Storehouse of the Snow, the most powerful weapon, the greatest treasure, without which all the rest means nothing.

Let the snow fall. Let it fill up the yards. Let it fill the Storehouse of the Snow.

Last week, while learning about the Storehouse of the Snow – and the inventory not only collected there but used in the Harvest Fields, while learning and working, I did not fail to gather the blessings for the storehouse, the blessing storehouse, blessings left me by my Father.

138. Time for a short trip to where I come from
139. 2 geese on an 2-lane road on an isolated mountain road. One thought he could take on my soccer-mom van.
140. Meandering streams
141. Roads that curve and turn with meandering streams
142. Trees older than my grandmother’s history, lining my daily walking path in my visit home
143. Fat squirrels rushing up and down trees before the snow came
144. Smiling at the ideas running through my head during my afternoon walks, feeling as though God were walking beside me, encouraging these ideas, an inside-my-skin dialogue, maybe even His arm was looped through mine. It felt that way.
145. A not-give-up attitude
146. Lunch with my aunt at a favorite restaurant
147. A perfect Thousand Island dressing on a perfect salad
148. Leftovers for dinner
149. Time together, sitting in the den watching shows I never get to watch and laughing with my aunt
150. Coffee already made when I get up, every morning – only in my aunt’s kitchen
151. New shoes that feel like me
152. A piece of art for my desk at my new job with this message: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.”
153. Time to stop on the journey home to visit my mother-in-law and two sweet gift-from-God friends. Not just time to stop, though – but overcoming my foe that rushes me when really I don’t need to be rushed, when really there is time – I just have to reach out and take it – time that is.
154. Hugs for hurts
155. Ale 8 and Big Blue Kentucky gifts for my Tennessee boys
156. A clean kitchen when I returned, compliments of my boys who seemed content I was home, a sighing-kind of content.
157. An amazing husband who was in charge of the last science project ever (I had led the first 4)  – over series circuits – and I didn’t have to do a thing
158. Pizza and cupcakes on a Friday night
159. A fire in the fireplace on a Friday night, snow fall outside and home being abundant enough
160. A husband who says he loves my heart, who knows my true intent inside and out, who knows when to let me fight my battles and when to champion me – a knight in shining armor to his damsel in distress
161. Green leaf spinach, eggs, beige artichokes, white asiago cheese and sausage poured into a pottery dish lined with puff pastry, and cooked into something delicious
162. Post-it notes on my bathroom mirror, something a sweet lady named Alvah taught me, along with how to make gingerbread cookies. I was a post-it note on her bathroom mirror – a post-it note for prayer. Her bathroom mirror was full of them.
163. Baby girl being held by 3 of her uncles – voices gentled, gentle carefulness, a protective stillness, – the sweet magic of a little girl suddenly in the midst.
164. Baby girl wearing the hat I knit just for her, a pink hat with a green stem.
165. Chicken noodle soup, a side pot of tortellini soup, popeye bread, laughing cow cheese – on a Sunday afternoon in a clean kitchen – and family voices, voices come together to love a bundle of one month old life.
166. Sweet peace before change. I start my job Wednesday