Stay Cool

We're breaking 100 this week in Utah, starting today. Stay hydrated. Stay shaded. Stay cool. Sorry for the random weather update. But, whenever it is hot, I am reminded of a promise of God from Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” When we trust in the LORD, we do not need to fear the heat and drought of our times. Wars, rumors of wars, economic instability, political division and uncertainty, job issues, relationship tensions, and avocado shortages can all work together to increase fear and anxiety, threatening our peace from God. But, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD." Notice, it's not just trusting IN but also our trust IS the LORD. We don't just trust expressions, acts, and words of God, we don't just trust the character, reputation and faithfulness of God, but we also trust God Himself. How? A Relationship with Him, where we can be... Planted. Rooted. Thriving. Fruitful. God invites us and makes the way through Jesus for us to have a relationship with Him, where we talk to Him, listen to Him, learn about Him, and have His help to be more like Him. We are given a wonderful gift of grace to be able to plant our lives in Him, and let Him be the source of our life, to give us peace, joy and hope that endures through the heat and drought of life. So, how can we thrive, not just survive, the heat of our times? Trust God. Trust in Him but also trust Him as Friend and Father. It was said of Abraham, who trusted in God with a simple and genuine faith, that "he was called a friend of God." (James 2:23) Isn't that wonderful? We can have the security of a relationship with God where we are called a friend of God. So Trust God, and you will be... Planted. Rooted. Thriving. Fruitful. Okay, stay cool out there. And look for ways to tell someone about how cool it is to have a relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Grace & Peace, Keith PS: You kept reading. Congrats. You made it! Enjoy this fun retro themed music video from the band CAIN about how blessed we really are to know and trust God. I believe they'll be in Utah in October for a concert with Zach Williams.