The following is a timely reminder from our friend ‘Pastor Joe’ – with summer approaching and a ‘vacation’ mindset in place, it’s easy to slip away from our daily devotional time and spiritual feeding. As a Mom we can fall back on, the ‘kids’ take up so much of my time. Well, how about including the kids! Find an age appropriate bible study or using one of Joe’s suggestions below, read from the book of Proverbs during the summer. If your children have been struggling with a particular character issue this past year or you know that the next school year is going to present some new challenges for your children, find scripture that applies to the situation so your children can see and learn God’s perspective. Use the ‘extra’ time provided during the summer to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Think everyone would agree that we’re glad God never takes a ‘vacation’ from caring for us, so no matter the season, as parents the example we are setting in demonstrating our continual dependence on God and the importance of building our relationship with Him – will provide healthy fruit. With Blessings! Anne Marie

It is hard to believe the incredible weather that we are enjoying right now in the Pacific Northwest. The last ten days or so remind me of the fabulous weather we usually get in August. The hot spell means that we need to be more vigilant watering our lawns, gardens and plants. It is time to water!

Thinking of the blessing of the weather from the past few days I was reminded of the spiritual danger that often accompanies God’s blessing in our lives. The danger of what happens when we fail to spiritually water our lives with God’s truth. In Proverbs, Solomon, the wisest guy that has ever lived passes on some essential instructions to his son. He encourages him to be careful to water his spiritual life. He does this by the personification of wisdom. “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:” Proverbs 1:20-21 In doing so he encourage his son not to neglect his spiritual life!

I want to share with you four insights that illustrate your need to water your spiritual life. The first danger is that there is always something else to do. Watering the lawn on a regular basis takes time, and it seem like there are always more important things to do. It is easy to rationalize “I will do it tomorrow.” Wisdom cries out ““How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?” Proverbs 1:22 Wisdom’s challenge to us is “Why would you neglect what is right?” It has been said that “we often sacrifice the best on the alter of the urgent.” Or as another saw says, “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.”

That leads to a second insight. When the grass turns brown it is too late to start watering. Yes, your lawn can be saved at that point but it takes a tremendous invest to reverse the damage done. The same is true in our spiritual lives. All too often we try to get “wisdom” when it is too late. Listen to lady Wisdom’s words about consequences. “If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.” Proverbs 1:23 She then goes on to mock the foolish, “since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—” Proverbs 1:25-26

Something else happens as the summer heat sucks the vitality our of your lawn… the weeds take over. The greatest danger in your spiritual life, just like your lawn, is a lack of health. The neglect of days past eventually takes its toll and that brings us to our last insight.

The outcome of neglect is certain death to our lawns, plants, gardens, spiritual lives and relationships. Psalm 1 which might possibly have been written by Solomon as an introduction to his father David’s psalms reminds us that the godly person” is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:3 NIV

Let me offer some practical suggestions on how you can water your spiritual life this summer. Read a chapter of Proverbs each day of the month. Better yet, get the Bible on cd/dvd/mp3 to listen to while traveling. Read a book on Christian Living this summer. Audio books also work great for trips. Make it a point to attend church each Sunday this summer when home and away. It’s time to water!  Pastor Joe Parkinson