It's cold outside! We had a few weeks of spring-like weather and now we're back to the freezing weather. What's with that, I ask? My daffodils are very confused right now, but they give me hope that spring is indeed coming. I get very anxious for good weather to get here. I know that it's only February and that most of the country is still experiencing winter weather. But here in California, spring comes early, for the most part.

Life is like the weather. There are bad times and good. We are always wanting the bad times to be over so we can get on with the good. But in reality, the bad times are when we can learn God's love and care for us.

When the Israelites were in Egypt, they were slaves doing hard-labor. God was preparing them for the journey to the Promised Land that was ahead of them. Do you think they would have made that long journey if they'd been sitting on their behinds eating dates and raisins? God had a plan. So with us. God has a plan to make us into His image. Part of that plan is allowing bad things to happen to us to strengthen us for the "journey" of life.

Like the daffodils, we can be shining forth God's glory even in the "coldness" of life. There is Life inside of us that wants to be shared with others. All those experiences we have that seem bad are preparing us to share with others what God wants to do for them also.

The Israelites were told to tell their children about their experiences coming out of Egypt into the Promised Land. Do you have some stories to tell about God working things out in spite of the trouble you've experienced. Tell them to your children. Keep telling them so that when they go through tought times, they can remember what God did for you. They can remember that they have a God who cares for them even in the bad times.