Can you believe

Can you believe, half of 2022 has now passed. Not sure we’ve had that much fun, but time sure flies. As we enter the month of July, summer weather has arrived. This, of course, brings thoughts of meals outdoors, long hours of daylight, cooling off in the swimming pool or indoors in the AC, mowing the grass, fresh fruits and veggies, weeds, vacation travels, more weeds … the list goes on. Well some of that is true for some of us. Some will just continue dealing with health concerns. Some will continue dealing with economic stresses. For most of us, various issues will ensure that the road is a little bumpy, even through the summer days ahead. Nevertheless, summer seems to bring a time when we all withdraw from the worries and distractions of the world, and concern ourselves with family, friends and activities that bring pleasure. We slow down. We relax. From the beginning, the Lord seemed to understand that we all, even He, need to rest from our labors periodically. And thus, He created the Sabbath, one of the Ten Commandments. Our bodies require a time to restore their energy, our minds need to stop stressing to restore our creativity, and, physically, we just need to set our burdens down.
We like to think that, in His wisdom, God could see that we also need a portion of the year when survival is less of a struggle – a time when it is warm enough to not need a fire and a time when the harvest comes in and food is plentiful. A time when we can travel and share relaxed times with family and friends. Although it doesn’t apply to the entire globe, we think, in addition to one day each week, He provided us with a yearly season of rest. The season called Summer.
We hope that, even when there are moments during this summer when it’s not relaxing and fun, you will feel the restoration of your energy and enthusiasm flowing into your body and soul. We hope you will feel, as David felt, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:” Psalm23:1-3            Virginia                                                                                                                                          

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30