Hot, Tot, Spi-got!

I am looking out my kitchen window at our charming little tree that sits in our front yard, and I am wondering why, even though it is mid-Summer, the leaves are changing brown and orange already as if it is Fall. They should still be a blazing green. Even though it looks pretty, it is a little upsetting because it only reminds me of how horribly HOT it is outside. Today it happens to be a nice humid 102 degrees, and tomorrow we are expecting 104. It is hot-tot-spi-got, as my little family likes to say (but that's the only dorky saying of ours that I will divulge for now.....)! Even though I have lived here for almost 10 years, I still haven't gotten used to these Missouri summers. This summer has been hotter than normal, but I still miss the mild upper 70's and lower 80's of Northwest Washington State where I grew up!

On top of it all, my beautiful vegetable garden that I worked hard to prepare, and then planted and watered and weeded till my back got sore and my legs got eaten up by bugs (as you will remember from my previous post), has now almost completely burnt up because of this uncharacteristic heat. Needless to say, my high hopes for an abundant harvest have already been a bit dashed.

So yes, we've had a bit of a drought here in good ol' Missouri, and my poor little tree and garden are proof of that. Although I am remembering to praise through it (remember my last post?!) I have to admit that I've felt that drought this Summer in my own life as well. It's funny how the seasons and the weather can really match up with my life moods at times. Any one else relate? I can't say there has been anything "major" going on, and I praise God for that, but for some reason I've struggled for the past couple of months with just the everyday goings-on and routine; the nitty-gritty details of life; feeling off-center; struggling to meet my goals; feeling over-busy or over-distracted; and so on and so forth. And it seems at the end of each day I am worn out, dried out, and badly needing some renewal! So physically I have felt this drought, although I do believe that spiritually I am growing through it! God is still faithful, and if anything, I have taken this time to seek after Him, focus on my blessings by praising Him, and put forth extra effort to pray and be in the Word. After all, He is the Living Water that can quench my thirst and bring the refreshing rains to ease this drought! (See John 4:7-26, & John 7:37-38 for more on Jesus as our living water).

And really, that's all I have to share for now, nothing too profound. I'm not completely out of the drought yet, and Missouri still has a while to go before these hot summer days subside and I can bask in the coolness and beauty of Fall. And that's just the thing--life is made up of seasons. Even in our own circumstances we experience the freshness of Fall, sometimes the barrenness of Winter, the joy and newness of Spring, and sometimes the drought of Summer. In every season though, make it your purpose to seek the Lord, whether things are going good or bad. Praise Him through it all. In every season or circumstance of life we can choose to turn away from God, or turn toward Him. When you turn toward Him and begin to know Him, you know that there is a purpose for every season under Heaven, and that He has the best things planned for you if you would just trust Him with your life (Jeremiah 29:11). The Lord wants you to rest and enjoy the good times, and He wants you to grow and learn in the tough times. He wants to walk with you, guide and direct you, and uphold you--you just have to allow Him to. And He already loves you!

Let Him be the refreshing rains of your life, and be encouraged today wherever you are at!

 But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
   whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
   that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
   its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
   and never fails to bear fruit. -Jeremiah 17:7-8