And So It Continues

So many promises of rain for this week – weather forecasters predicted showers all week, the sky was black and looking like rain, thunder in the distance – but only a short, short shower. Sort of sounds like our walk with the Lord, doesn’t it???? The Bible foretells of great rewards, promises of eternal life, signs everywhere of a promised land of milk and honey, even the preaching and Words of the Lord to follow, days of wonderful provisions. All signs of life eternal life. Everything we do or say leads to the final reward. Hmmmm - what started out as a simple weather report has become a life style report!

I love the fruits that are readily available here in the Valley as well as the vegetables. Even though we are between seasons, there is an abundant supply of fresh produce in the stores. We were praying for a plentiful supply of produce for the weekly distribution – we received more than enough as well as box books for smaller children and boxes of canned much needed goods. One of the fruits that we received was Dragon Fruit – never really paid much attention to it before. It really is pretty scary. After asking the colonia ladies how to eat it, they cut one for me and showed me how to eat it. Very simple – cut off the top, scoop out the meat, and slice it. Sort of weird looking on the inside but tastes very much like Kiwi.

Lots of activity here in the park – new to the park trailers being moved in, a few more trailers for sale, lots of remodeling and revisions going on in the buildings, especially the beautiful new colors in the swimming pool area, the pool hall, the annex, and also the main hall. Repair work getting done in some areas. At least the help is able to work inside while the heat is so high during the day.

We will be busy this week preparing for the big distribution in the colonias this Friday. Opal, the sweet lady here in the park has donated three new sewing machines and tables, as she is going to go to the colonias starting in September to teach the ladies how to quilt. We are often donated a lot of quilt tops, so we can donate a few to the colonias for the ladies to be able to sandwich together and make family quilts as well as other sewing projects, perhaps some to sell. As we are also donated fabric, Ida is going to work on teaching them to sew their own clothing using the donated fabric and patterns. God is so good – He provides, even if we do not know at that particular time what we will use the provision for.

 Sunday nights a few of us get together to play cards – it is just a time to relax and get a little competitive, not to mention that there are often snacks available! When everyone is here for the winter months, card playing goes on all the time although I enjoy the small group of us summer folks who enjoy the quiet of a Sunday evening.

This morning’s sermon was a continuation of the series of common  “religious clichés”. How many times have we heard or actually said “God won’t give you more than can really can handle”??? There are seasons in our life that are extremely difficult, especially if we are Christians. Sometimes we wonder how God can love us and yet cause difficult life situations. Does the Bible really say that He won’t give you more than you can handle?? “¹³No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” I Corinthians 10:13. It seems to really say that doesn’t it?? Brokenness is common, there is divorce, family estrangements, poverty, even the absence of fresh water. In all of this, God is faithful. He will take someone who is broken and mend him.  Temptation is also common. How do we feel when we look in the mirror – do we see guilt and sin?? We then turn to worldly things to hide that guilt which is common. Our world is broken but God continues to be faithful. Endurance is then uncommon. It is the world that gives you more than you can handle. We are drowning in a sea of sin, but God is still faithful. He will supply you with a way out so you can endure what the world hands you. You stumble and fall because the world is broken. God is there again to show us another way out. With God’s help, you never have to endure more than you can handle. God promises and does supply a way out – through prayer, church, devotions, whatever brings you closer to Him.

Have an amazing week – August is already here – autumn us close on the heels of this month. The kiddos start back to school so please be careful when you drive as they are pretty excited about a new school year and not very observant. Remember how you felt on your first day back in the fall – who is going to be my teacher, who is going to be in my classes, what am I going to wear????