Blessed rain

After several years of drought, we were in big trouble, with more dry conditions predicted. Throughout autumn, we were forbidden to use any water outdoors. Not to gloat, but to give thanks, we've been getting a little rain each week now. More fell last night. They're letting us water our yards one day a week on a temporary basis. So we'll replace the shrubs we lost, and hope they make it.

Yesterday was gorgeous, 80 degrees F., sunny, with a breeze. A friend and I took a walk after lunch at work. Last evening after dinner I sprawled on the chaise on the patio with a book, Chuck with the newspaper; and something much better than a book or paper happened. Our neighbors walked over, a cup of coffee in each hand to share with us. We visited until after dark--lovely! (The book was a give-away, and turns out to be worth every cent. I'm going to toss it rather than invest precious time reading something so poorly written.)

In the early verses of Joshua, God is calling him to take over leadership of the people of Israel after Moses has died. God says, "Don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed." It occurred to me that that's advice we'd offer to someone whose work is preaching or Bible teaching. But Joshua had three totally "secular" jobs: he was to carry out one of the most daunting military campaigns in history, he administered courts of justice, and he had to see to the provision of food and supplies for a few million people. Shouldn't he have been reading Sun Yat Sen or Peter Drucker?

First, he was called by God, in which case there is no "secular." It's all God's work. Secondly, if we nourish our minds and spirits with the Word of God, never letting it be "out of mind for a minute," and practice it, it will gradually transform our character so that we will do God's work in God's way. The outcome ("success") would amaze us. And finally, saturation in the Word of God helps us prepare for our real destiny: eternal life with Him. (This is not to disparage helpful books on war or management or parenting or whatever.)

Our Sunday school class winter party got snowed out once and "busied" out lots of times, and will finally happen tonight. Can't wait!

Love,
Carol