Blessings Among the Heat and Drought

Southwest Oklahoma, as well as other parts of the U.S., have seen record setting numbers of days with temperatures of over 100 degrees.  We have also been having a drought.  Our small town of Tipton has had only a few sprinkles and immeasurable rain only once or twice since October.  It's hot.  It's dry.  It's extremely hot!  It's extremely dry!

Our county has issued a water restrictions, where city water can be used for livestock daily, but lawns can only be watered a few days a week.  There has been a burn ban in effect for many months.  Cotton crops are suffering.  Herds of cattle and other livestock are being sold early.  The heat and drought are causing problems for farmers and those in the farming industry.

How can blessings be found among these problems?  What good can be seen from any of this?  Well, for one, there are not many flies this summer!  Not nearly as many as there usually are at this time of year!  Another thing we've noticed is that there aren't any mosquitoes to speak of.  That's a huge blessing when a few years ago the threat of mosquito borne illnesses were a hot topic throughout this area.

My husband and one of our friends see the blessing of no worms with their livestock.  When there is a lot of rain, the threat of worms getting into the ground and in the feed of the livestock increases greatly.  In years past this has been a huge problem causing some loss of life in some of the livestock.  The lack of rain has eliminated this problem this year.

And finally, because there hasn't been rain, there hasn't been much mowing going on.  We have well water for our lawn, so we have to mow quite often, but our field next to the house usually needs mowing several times a month hasn't needed it once at all this year.  My husband and son also mow lawns for people and they haven't had to do it very often, either.  Although they make a little money doing it, they are having more time to do other things since they aren't mowing as much.  Another blessing!

Sometimes it's hard to see blessings in the midst of trouble, trials, sorrow, sickness, or pain, but in each of those areas there are always blessings to be seen.  We just have to open our eyes and look for them.  We have to want to see them.  We have to expect to see them.

God is faithful and blesses us in so very many ways.....even in the heat and drought.  Thank you, God, for your blessings!!

Take the time to read this passage today:  Deuteronomy 28:1-12

Hidden Blessings

Each Christmas, I get my husband a devotional book...something that he can use in our nightly devotionals with our children.  This year's book is called "Jesus Calling - 365 Devotions for Kids" by Sarah Young.  The devotional thoughts so far have been great.  They're not very long, but they make excellent points directed to connect with the children (and us adults) and make us think about our every day walk with the Lord.

I would like to share with you the devotional from January 22:

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Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Learn to trust Me in all situations - the tough ones, as well as the easy ones.  Trust Me when you don't understand what's going on.  Trust Me when everything seems to be spinning out of control.  Trust Me when you feel like you are all alone and no one understands.  I understand.

Don't waste your time thinking about how things should have been.  Don't try to run away.  Start right this minute - accepting things exactly as they are - and search for My way through your challenges.  Learn to look for the blessings and the opportunities I have hidden in those difficulties.  Trust Me and lean on Me.  I love you, and I will never let you down.

Read on your own:  Psalm 52:8

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Remember all of the Hidden Blessings from the Lord as you go through this week!

Blessing or Bad Luck?

Sharing this little lesson with you today, courtesy of Alan Smith's "Thought for the Day".  Used with permission.

BLESSING OR BAD LUCK?

    The story is told of a man who was walking across the road when he was hit by a car.  The impact knocked him on his head which caused him to be in a coma for two days before he finally regained consciousness.  When he opened his eyes, his loving wife was there beside his bed.  He held her hand and said to her:

    "You know, Judy, you've always been right by my side.  When I was a struggling college student, I failed again and again.  But you were always there with me, encouraging me to go on trying."

    She squeezed his hands as he continued:  "And when I got out of school and went for all of my interviews and failed to get any of the jobs, you stayed right there with me, cutting out more classifieds for me to check on..."

    "Then I started work at this little firm and finally got the chance to handle a big contract.  But I blew it because of one little mistake, and yet you were there beside me all the way.  Then I finally got another job after being laid off for sometime.  But I never seemed to be promoted and my hard work was never recognized.  And so, I remained in the same position from the day I joined the company until now... And, through it all, you were right there by my side."

    Her eyes brimmed with tears as she listened to her husband:  "And now I've been in this accident and when I woke up, you're the first person I see. There's something I'd really like to say to you...."

    She flung herself on the bed to hug her husband, sobbing with emotion.

    He said, "Judy, I think you're just plain bad luck!"

    Our attitude makes a big difference in how we see things, doesn't it?  As the saying goes, we can either see the glass as half full or half empty.  We can either appreciate the good during our times of adversity (the faithfulness of God, greater opportunities to develop our faith, the blessing of good friends to see us through it) or we can moan and complain about our "bad luck."

    The apostle Paul is a great example of someone with a marvelous attitude. Through all of his trials, God had been right there by his side.  But never once did he blame God for his misfortune.  Instead, listen to the positive attitude in Paul's words as he sat imprisoned for preaching the gospel:

    "But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel." (Philippians 1:12)

    No moaning, no complaining.  Just a marvelous attitude that brought joy to his life.  May it serve as an example to you today.