“Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”

1 Chronicles 16:32-34

You can always tell when summer is winding down. Kids are getting ready for school by shopping for a new wardrobe and necessary supplies. Boats are settling into their spots in the marina. Vacations are coming to an end. The Minnesota State Fair is about to open. All of these signs of an ending of sorts can lead to some depression, some sadness, some grief, even saying goodbye. The seasons of the year help us keep track of time and look back at the memories and forward to the future. Even we old fogies continue to look forward.

God presents a plethora of beauty in each one of the seasons. Soon we’ll be witness to the beautiful colors of Autumn. The luscious smells of pumpkin or apple pies. The crispness of the air. The bonfires and hayrides will take the place of swimming in the lake or jumping into a canoe or kayak. With each of these lovely days (including the stormy ones) God is providing us with memories of summer, plans for the future and His own calendar. He has it all planned for us.

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

These are the days of summer.

When God’s tears pour from heaven replenishing the streams, rivers and seas,

When the sun spreads its warmth over the land and seeds emerge into life.

These are the days of renewal, restoration, redemption of tired, aging bodies,

Getting another shot at life.

These are the days – the final days for some,

The beginning of new adventures for others,

Whether we walk in the shadow of death,

Or cast all our cares to the wind,

We will all come to an end someday.

From the beginning of life to the end of it, these are the days,

God will always be in His heaven, yet constantly involved in the things of this earth,

He created it for His purpose and loves it entirely and passionately,

So much so that He gave the greatest sacrifice one can give for another,

He alone can calm the seas, make straight our paths, deliver us from sin.

He is the pilot of our ship and will always put us first,

He will walk with us through the perils we face each day,

He leads us through difficulties as well as successes,

He loves with no strings attached – only that we love Him back,

These are the days, the time of grace, a gift from God to us. 

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY!