In the time of reaching out to others on the east coast, I was reminded how much different the weather has been back there. Of connecting that day after Christmas, my sister reminded me that they had once again been in the 80's............not the 1980's but in the temperatures we think of as in the summertime around here. She told me how they had to run their air conditioning once again. And here we were seeing ice and sleet fall like ribbons on Christmas Day evening on our way back from a "country" Christmas. No, there was no John Denver tunes, but I should ask my daughter about that one. But we did hear Rockin' around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee. Yes, we were in the country hearing country type music and was certain joy to my heart.
But back to the east coast and the high heat warnings, that was something I was surprised to hear about that day after Christmas. Also, THEY ARE KNEE DEEP in water that will not evaporate...........it just stands there, and it rains another 5 inches to add to the existing rain already beginning to stagnate on the ground. No, not a good thing at this point, and my sister was concerned if more rain came in before this extra moisture was gone.
Evaporation! I thought in all this time, that all you needed was some heat to evaporate the extra water on the ground, but she said they need the sunshine (like direct sun shining), and they only get really cloudy skies each day.
So I think about this scripture:
Exodus 16:13-21
13 So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. 14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground. 15 So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: 'Let every man gather it according to each one's need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.' " 17 And the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. 18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one's need. 19 And Moses said, "Let no one leave any of it till morning." 20 Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted.
NKJV
This is one of my favorites in that God fed them from that dew that fell overnight. Like a frost on the ground, the small round substance was something to eat. It was like bread.......and one was to gather to those living in each household but no more. They gathered according to their need. They had to eat it when it was available to eat and if not eaten........every bite........then any part of it was rotten......spoiled.........not good to eat and then it would breed worms.
Yes, evaporation........!
Let's look at the word condensation........
a process whereby a gas or a vapor becomes a liquid. Condensation is that which appears on the inside of the window in the winter time.........like when boiling a liquid on the stove and the condensation appears. Like today, I can see water droplets or those beads of water appear on the glass window. It has occurred because of the humid air reaching the cold surface of the window.
But what about too much water...........that accumulates..........standing water with no place to go or how about water that dries up and remains dry.......to produce the results of a"drought"?
In our walk with the Lord, we too, can suffer from evaporation. When we begin to think our walk is A-okay! When we miss some services because it is the "holiday" time and you know I read that scripture or studied that before! Or, I do not need to go, as I am really busy and I have ministry tomorrow.........and wow, that is a lot to ask of me right now!
Evaporation!
As my sister spoke of the accumulation of rain water from the last few weeks, it was evident that it was not draining well. And I had always thought they might have an under ground spring running rather parallel to their property in the country. So the whole 5+ acres has water. She laughingly referred to the "sinking" and I told her to watch for those bubbles coming up to the surface. Yes, she laughed but I have continued to think on that for it can affect people who walk with the Lord.
If we become to lax in our daily lives, and can blow a dozen or so services every six months, then what does they say about us?
When we think about any "selfishness" and we are talking about the one who just chooses to skip the service, skip that time together for all leaders. In that act of being selfish is the basis of all immorality. In thinking of our salvation and all that came through Jesus was by no selfish act. He was bent on that outgoing love.
When we see that big puddle of water on the roadway, and see it become smaller everyday, it is either because there are many vehicles driving through it or there is a bright sun shining overhead. In that direct heat of light, that water evaporates. As the breeze starts to blow over that puddle, that which was wet is now becoming something else entirely.
Back in the late 1960's we took a trip to Disneyland. In all that work and effort to make an amusement park, we had a really good workable schedule of planning where and when we would have our meals. Of course, our one morning was in the midst of Phoenix, Arizona and on that early morning light, we drove to the nearby Denny's for breakfast. In our delight, we saw the one cook outside, breaking eggs onto that hot sidewalk, and we watched them cook those eggs. No was not interested in eating them from the sidewalk, but I had seen what the temp over 110 degrees plus a hot sidewalk with asphalt all around caused a high heat of nearly 126 degrees in that morning light could do to an egg on a hot sidewalk. Yes, it was fry city!
If we do not replenish in that liquid and refuel with the word of God that brings wisdom to us, then how can we make it to the end of this "run"?
Job 14:1-13
14:1 "How frail is man, how few his days, how full of trouble! 2 He blossoms for a moment like a flower-and withers; as the shadow of a passing cloud, he quickly disappears. 3 Must you be so harsh with frail men and demand an accounting from them? 4 How can you demand purity in one born impure? 5 You have set mankind so brief a span of life-months is all you give him! Not one bit longer may he live. 6 So give him a little rest, won't you? Turn away your angry gaze and let him have a few moments of relief before he dies.
7 "For there is hope for a tree-if it's cut down, it sprouts again and grows tender, new branches. 8 Though its roots have grown old in the earth, and its stump decays, it may sprout and bud again at the touch of water, like a new seedling. 10 But when a man dies and is buried, where does his spirit go? 11 As water evaporates from a lake, as a river disappears in drought, so a man lies down for the last time and does not rise again until the heavens are no more; he shall not awaken, nor be roused from his sleep. 13 Oh, that you would hide me with the dead and forget me there until your anger ends; but mark your calendar to think of me again!
TLB
When we die, then we die. There is no last minute fitting several decades of life into a few minutes. Even in my age, I think of who can do several things and still keep going, yet it is to be in God's plan and not my own plan. As I read over what is given here in Job, I think of that water evaporating from a lake and how the river disappears in drought. That when man lies down to rise no more, he will mingle with that which is of the ground, that which is of no life.
Our time is now. It is a moment in which we can as individuals and as team members make a difference for the kingdom of God. It is not in the "sweet by and by" ....it is in the "here and NOW"!
With evaporation, we see.........dehydration! Without the supply of water, we see a firm ground, but may be in drought. It could have the appearance of cracks, and disappearance of what may be around the land area that is dry in drought. There may be no plants, no trees, no life of any kind sustained for any amount of time. With the disappearance of water, one will see the exodus of wildlife from that region. Yes, all life from before would just fade away!
In my recent health issues, one thing kept popping up.........and the questions by the doctors was this: "are you staying hydrated?"
Yes, drinking 6-8 big glasses of water a day.........but on the flip of that......is " are your cells absorbing the water that is available to them?"
So two things: yes I had water but the opposite was the cells were not doing their thing in the right way for health for me.
In that state, one can become depressed, run a fever, and all for lack of NOT absorbing the needed water given through the mouth and to be used all the way down to the cellular level. We can be flushed, irritable, tired and fatigued, well,...........you get the idea here.
We should watch over our bodies and drink plenty of water daily, but we also must put the water of God's Word into our bodies. We must fill up and fill up and then spend time in corporate worship with those who are like minded in the things of God.
John 15:13-17
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
NKJV
John 16:12-15
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
NKJV
Father, thank You for Jesus. We are no longer foreigners and aliens but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household. We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become the holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Father, we have been appointed to go and bear fruit and that our fruit should remain, that whatever we ask You in Jesus' name may be given us. And we are commanded to love one another.
Thank You for the Holy Spirit Who is active and operating in our lives today. We give thanks that we can hear Him speak and declare to us the things that are ours. And we are thankful we hear today and are lead in that pathway that is even ...without .......pits.
We understand that from Proverbs 28:9 ...that he who turns away his ear from hearing the law [ of God and man], even his prayer is an abomination, hateful and revolting [to God]. If we regard iniquity in our heart, the Lord will not hear us. For we understand that according to Proverbs 15:9-10...that the way of the wicked is an abomination, extremely disgusting and shamefully vile to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation.) And that there is severe discipline for him who forsakes God's way; and he who hates reproof will die [physically, morally, and spiritually].
Father, we desire not to end up in that "hot spot" like an egg on an overheated sidewalk........fry out all the liquid in seconds and be done for good.........when just filling up with Your life and wisdom will take us where we need to go in Your safety, peace, and love. Our desire is to please You and walk in the way that will bring glory to Your name. We pray to be those who will not stop because it is a "holiday", but keep going in the way of righteousness that is life and health. Father, in Jesus' name we desire to not be wise in our own eyes; we fear the LORD and depart from evil. It is health to our flesh and strength to our bones. (Proverbs 3:7-8)
Asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father may give to us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know HIM better. That our eyes of our heart be enlightened in order to know the hope to which He has called us. Amen.
You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV)
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