Winter offers a unique venue for building amazing projects that last only as long as the cold weather holds out. In a child’s eyes, a fresh snowfall offers the rare delight of fashioning snow forts, snow angels and snowmen.  Anticipation illumines a child’s face as he imagines the plans envisioned for his frosty materials! He presses on just for the joy of accomplishment; to see what he can build with his own two hands. Better yet is when Dad or Mom add their years of experience to his youthful energy. There’s no telling then what can emerge from the snowy scene. But the work must be done quickly. A snowman’s life is fragile when the heat is on.

Our first year in South Dakota offered many opportunities for my husband to be co-builder with our children in designing and constructing a variety of snow projects. 7 blizzards produced enough fort building material to last until June. Designs were made and altered so that the final result was a fort that featured a fire pit and a bench on which one could sit or sleep. Unfortunately, its usefulness was temporary. It wasn’t intended to stand forever.

Hebrews 3:4 reminds us that, “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”

Although God gave detailed instructions as to the building of both the Tent of Meeting and the Solomon’s Temple, they were poor, temporary imitations of the eternal home in which He dwells.

Our joy is in knowing that God builds eternal structures in temporal homes. The Spirit of God is the Chief builder using surrendered hearts and minds as construction materials. “You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

May I encourage you with these words from the Apostle Paul:
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”(2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NASB)
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Some days I do feel like that melty snowman under the sun at high noon. But God’s Word encourages me in knowing that He is working in me eternity while this temporal life crumbles away. 

Another year begins and I contemplate those empty little boxes on every calendar I see.
A plan yet to be executed.
An anniversary yet to be celebrated.
A debt yet to be paid.
A time yet to be prepared.
I look to the calendar to remind me which numbered square I’m on and I function according to the agenda driving that 24 hour period of time. Sleep. Wake. Dress. Eat. Read. Work. Play. And on it goes.
So what? A day in the life. My life.
Is it my life?
Or does my life belong to God, the One who rescued me from darkness and transferred me to the kingdom of His beloved Son?
My life is not my own.  I have been bought with a price. I forget that so easily. I often play in the kingdom of Light and reside in His grace and mercy, without a care or purpose. Day after day. His days of grace.
So, how will I number my days this year? They are mine. God has given me my days. They ebb and flow with other’s days, but they are uniquely mine. He has placed these days in my control; entrusted their usefulness and purpose to me, and me alone. Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon defines “number” as: to count, reckon, number, assign, tell, appoint, or prepare.
This year:
May I be faithful to count my days as a treasure, summed up in God’s Mercy and Grace.
May I reckon the time spent on tasks and projects as an offering to give Him praise and glory.
May I number the seconds, minutes, hours, and days as a singular gift. To be present in the present.
May I deliberately assign a purpose to my time so that it will bear fruit that is pleasing to God.
May I tell the worldly time-pilferers to clear out and my frantic heart to rest in God’s Presence.
May I appoint each day to wisely work for the King of Kings, to be about His business.
May I prepare each day to learn and apply God’s wisdom in my life to glorify my Father in Heaven.
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Psalm 90:14-17 O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, {And} the years we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants And Your majesty to their children. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

A new day dawns. I ready myself, glancing at my calendar. My eyes confirm what my heart is learning: this day will count for God.