The western edge of Michigan is known for a weather phenomenon known as lake-effect snow. Cold winds blow over the vast expanse of Lake Michigan, drawing the warmer lake moisture into the atmosphere and depositing the newly crystalized water onto communities along the shore. Last night and this morning, I witnessed this event, but from the untouched vantage point of Grand Rapids, just a few miles beyond the reach of today’s activity.
Lake-effect defies typical weather patterns. It happens as a byproduct of other climate conditions.
Lake-effect. I couldn’t help but expand the definition of the term as I heard the story of a young man named Mike. He’s a high school junior who stepped to the microphone last evening in a room full of strangers. Thoughtfully and methodically Mike unwrapped the elements of his journey. A family disconnected from God. An ignorance of the love of Jesus. A heart hungry to know more.
Mike embraced Christ through trust-filled relationships with Youth for Christ staff members in his local community. But then, just then… lake-effect.
Mike’s hunger for more of Christ pulled him into God’s Word with an insatiable appetite. Some of the morsels of Mike’s biblical meal begged for further explanation or discussion… and so Mike began to spend time reading scripture to his dad.
His dad… Mike’s father had journeyed in God’s Word years before, but for reasons that Mike didn’t unpack, his dad had walked away from his faith. Yet somewhere in the recesses of Mike’s memory he believed that his dad would know. He hoped that his dad would be able to help walk him through the important elements of his fledgling faith; and so they read the Bible… together.
A new creation breathing passion, life, hope and purpose back into a stagnant soul. Lake-effect.
Well beyond the strategic plan for ministry expansion, God does what God does. Snow falls where the weather forecast didn’t predict. A seventeen-year-old becomes an unexpected megaphone to interrupt a spiritual slumber.
“I started reading the Bible to my dad.”
And the wind blew. And the snow fell.
Lake-effect. Because this is how God works. Because this is the power of His plan. Because…
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” ~ 2 Peter 3:9
Lake-effect. Because…
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