Good Olde Summertime

Hebrews 12:12-13 “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” Ah the glory that is the East Texas summer, the bright sunshine, the long evenings, the campgrounds and cabins bustling with anxious activity after the long shut in, everywhere you look life is inexplicably pushing to the surface. I seriously doubt that there is anyplace else on earth that appreciates the months of July and August like they do in east Texas. Having survived the deep freeze we are ready to bask in the heat and relax.This week I want to talk about a few of the things I believe God wants to see happen in your lives as we enjoy this special season. I trust it will add to the refreshing of your soul. The temptation is to take a break from God and the Body and you can wind up in worse shape after this refreshing time than you were in going into it. What should you be getting done this summer?{{more}}1. Make repairs. As any Dallasite can tell you the summertime is the time to repair the infrastructure that has been broken down by the harsh conditions that prevail throughout the rest of the year. 2nd Chronicles 32:5 says, “Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David.” Amen!This summer has been a major time of restoration around my house because of holes in the wall will be repaired, old and rotted wood has been replaced, grass, flowers and a few vegetables have been planted, the trees are all trimmed and pruned, I have painted and cleaned and hauled loads of old junk to the dump, I fixed the garage door and replaced toilet gaskets and even built a fire pit in the backyard. This is the season to make repairs.As I take a look out the front door of my office and I see that the city also is busy making repairs, our four lanes are down to two as they rip up and repair all the old sidewalks and curbs and fix all the pot holes and repave the whole thing. Many days it is a challenge to get in here with all the barriers, workers, and cement trucks coming and going. Amen!What needs repairing around your house? I am not talking about the building where you live now. I am talking about your house. What has been beaten and battered by the harsh conditions? You need to do more than just relax in this enjoyable season because it is not always going to be this way.When repairs need to be made things are going to go in one direction or the other. What is lame will either be dislocated or healed. Someone told me this week that they had lost something; that worship was not the same, and that early morning prayer had no appeal. Which way will it go from here? Either you make repairs or you head toward demolition. Psalm 147:2-3 says, “The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Amen! Come to the Lord, draw near with a contrite heart and be repaired this summer.2. Grow. Suck up all the life you can consume. One thing that always amazes me after the brutality of our winters is the way life springs forth in the summer months. You would think that no living thing could survive that cold; yet every year life conquers again. Psalm 1:1-5 says,”Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He 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. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, or sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watch over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Amen!Early morning prayer may run through the summer months because in the winter it is insane getting down here. Just pray at home when it is 20 degrees. This is not very spiritual I know but that’s how I see it! Amen!It is also easy to get a good routine going on vacation. Get up and get planted by streams, delight yourself in and meditate on the word. Anything that is alive grows and we have some growing to do that will take more than one lifetime!2 Corinthians 3:15-18 says, “Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Amen! I read once that the Scriptures were not given for our information, but for our transformation. Amen!Do not miss the growing season, you miss a few church services, though I do not recommend making a habit of it, but do not take a break from walking with the light of life! This is a time to be transformed, to be repaired, and to experience real spiritual growth.Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs, but be transformed by the entire renewal of your mind by its new ideals and its new attitude, so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you.” Amen! The summer is the ideal time to get into the Word and experience renewal of your mind by its new ideals and its new attitude! Make repairs this summer, do some transformational growing this summer; and finally because this is not the land of endless summer…3. Prepare. Soon the air will begin to feel a little different, the leaves will start to change, the harvest will be brought in, and we will be facing the beast again.Proverbs 6:6-11 says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. “Amen! How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.Proverbs 27:23-27 says, “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.” Amen!What must you do to prepare for the winter in these days of grocery stores and central heating?Did you know that my phone rarely rings in July and August? Is it because people are problem free in the summer? I do not think so. The enemy does not take time off. I think the big difference is the amount of idle time sitting around contemplating the problems.This past January to March I went to the gym every single day for three months, it is the first time since 2008 that I did not really struggle with winter depression. What should you do this winter? Prepare now. Plan to commit to one of the home groups, commit to a ministry at your Church, determine now to be in church every Sunday, you know it’s not that hard.I am going to put my Christmas lights up before it is -20 outside. Now you know how to make it the good olde summertime!