We know you are busy! And we also know how easy it is to neglect God’s Word when life is moving so fast.
If you ever need a reminder of why God’s Word is so important for all of us, read Psalm 119. It’s full of wonderful descriptions like “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (verse 105) and “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart” (verse 111).
Another favorite is “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (verse 103). God’s Word isn’t just good for us like medicine, which often tastes bitter. It’s good for us like a tasty treat because the results of following God are pleasant and satisfying.
With this truth in mind, this year we are presenting a series of short devotions called “Spoonful of Sugar.” Scattered through the year a week at a time, we will send you a sweet bite of biblical truth to encourage you and help you grow closer to our Lord. These will be sent to our paid Substack subscribers, but this first one is free!
Spoonful of Sugar devotions will include one Bible verse and a few short questions to spark conversation around the verse’s meaning and message. We also offer a beautifully designed quote from each devotion as a free download so that you can pin it up on the fridge or set it in the center of your nightly dinner table.
If you’d like to receive these delectable, bite-sized morsels of God’s Word sprinkled throughout the year, we encourage you to join my Friends & Family. For only $5 a month you will receive all of my posts—not only the weekly blog posts you already receive but also my “Friends & Family” newsletters, special posts on “What I’m Reading” and “What I’m Learning,” our new podcast series Growing Older Not Old, and, of course, this new mini-devo “Spoonful of Sugar.” You’ll also have full access to anything I’ve written in the past. Sign up here.
Here’s the first “Spoonful of Sugar.” Hope you enjoy it!
Spoonful of Sugar: The Beauty of God
“He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.”
Psalm 147:16
Each winter here in Central Arkansas, we never know if we will receive any snowfall. So February of 2021 was an unforgettable month—over 10 days Dennis and I experienced a sleet storm followed two days later by a major snowfall followed by another significant snowstorm. We ended up with nearly 18 inches of fluffy whiteness on the ground and layered on pine boughs and branches!
It was gorgeous! Having grown up just south of Lake Michigan in Crown Point, Indiana, snow was a regular part of my childhood and I have never lost my affection for winter’s beauty. Dennis and I love living in Arkansas, which is full of unspoiled natural beauty, but we do miss annual snowfalls. So three back-to-back winter storms was historic, and for us personally it was a wonderful gift.
I was entranced with the miraculous wonder of water becoming tiny ice crystals. It is true no two snowflakes are alike, and we watched as millions of these intricate and delicate beauties floated, spiraled, and danced their way to earth.
We went for many walks in our frozen sparkling cathedral. I wanted to feel the snow, hear the gentle crunch under my boots, watch the transformation of everything it touched.
And I saw. The small rises and falls in the shape of the earth that can’t be seen when all is brown. Little birds quietly flitting and hopping on pillows of white. They let us get closer to them in the silence as if we were experiencing wonder together.
At such times I am overwhelmed by the beauty of God’s creation. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and forget to notice the intricate, elegant beauties in God’s creation all around us.
Here are some questions to ponder, or discuss with your family:
- Like seasonal foods, what are your favorite sights or sounds or smells of winter that are available only where you live?
- The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:20 that “For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made …” If you can take a few minutes, think about what you can “clearly perceive” about God in His creation.
- Find a book or webpage about snowflakes and read about their amazing designs and unique, one-of-a-kind shapes. Give thanks to God for His amazing creation!
And then to consider that God created me as a unique human being … As Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…” God is truly a wondrous Creator!
Use this FREE DOWNLOAD as a daily reminder with your family … put it up on your refrigerator!
Remember: To receive Barbara’s complete “Spoonful of Sugar” series, become a paid Substack subscriber!
