Jun 5

Written by: tim
6/5/2009 12:11 PM 

As a student I always looked forward to the end of school and the plethera of activities that presented themselves.  Watermelon, trips to the beach or a local lake, camping, sleeping in, berry-picking, mowing lawns and later on more substantial summer jobs were all a part of my summer vacation.  My High-School buddies and I found ourselves cliff jumping, riding inner-tubes down rivers, roller-blading and playing tennis, volleyball or football almost constantly.   Summer is full of delightful endeavors!

Now as a parent I also look forward to summer.  I look forward to a much more relaxed pace at home and the chance to take the family to the lake for swimming and a picnic supper.  We may even find ourselves enjoying a Tacoma Rainiers baseball game at some point or going to a drive-in movie just because we can!  The smell of the grill and visiting with good friends as a sunset turns to dusk and then on to the quiet, magnificent display of the heavenlies all do so much in reducing stress and tension.

Sometimes I feel as though I can't soak up enough of summer with all the ingredients it has to offer.  With that said, now that summer is nearly here I am compelled to share with you some observations along with a few nuggets in response. 

Observation:  Very often we have this tendency to fill our summers with so much pleasure that we leave the Lord out of it either in part or completely.

Nugget:  Why do we do this?  Do we think that God frowns on us finding enjoyment in His creation or in one another?  There really doesn't need to be a disconnect here.

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you like down and when you get up."   Numbers 6:6, 7

I could easily add to that... "and when you're having fun, eating burgers, jumping into pools, or going on a road trip."

Nurturing our relationship with the Lord through the summer is also something that will help us make wise choices and not fall into compromising situations.

Observation:  We are an "image" driven society and this becomes even more apparent in what we wear to the beach.

Nugget:  I'm not advocating a return to the swimming costumes of 100 years ago here but I would like to ask you a very important and personal question:  What kind of attention do you hope to receive as a result of what you're wearing?  All of us desire to be healthy and fit and we want to feel good when we're at the beach but there comes a point when covering up a little more isn't such a bad idea.

Observation:  The result of observation #1 is that by the end of summer there are many people who have gorged themselves on pleasure and starved themselves on Scripture leaving them wondering why they're in a "spiritual dry season".

Nugget:  This really should be an obvious one but spend time in the Bible, with believers and offer praise to the One who loves you!  Spending time with Jesus is not a burden or a chore so let's not allow the change in schedule or lifestyle derial us!  We will be more fruitful and experience greater joy as a result!

Well I'm sure there's more nuggets to chew on but I'll leave it here for now.  Remember my good friends, there is no greater life than the one we have in Christ!

Be Great!

Tim