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MMB 6-26-23

Summer Heat

Of course it's always hot in Florida. Well, I'm from New England and I've seen it almost 30° below zero. I've also seen it snow in every month but July. So saying it's always hot in Florida is relative. Since moving here 8 years ago, my blood has thinned so a 50° day means a warm hoodie and hat. I've lost all respect for cold 🥶. In my latter years in Northern New Hampshire the rule was if my feet are cold the rest of me is cold. There are pictures of me sitting in my living room with two sweat shirts, a woolen cap and a blanket on me mid winter even though the woodstove just 6 feet away was putting out 80+° in the house. 

Summer heat whether here in Florida or in dog days of summer (3 H's - Hazy, Hot, Humid) in NH are uncomfortable. It's staggering to me that people tolerated such heat prior to central A/C.
Just this week in 90° temps and dew points at 73° when I got in our car I'd turn on the A/C immediately after starting it was so oppressive! 

Our tendency is to fight off oppressive things and embrace comfortable things. While reading through Hebrews, I was once again confronted with the reality that God's love for me may include turning up the heat. My disobedience in my flesh places me in a possible position to receive His loving discipline. I say love because 12:6 says so. I mean I replicated that when disciplining my children. It wasn't fun for them or me but necessary because I love them. God's love for me when I become wayward means He'll discipline me back to the right path. Sometimes it takes deeper discipline to bring me back, but I always come back. I am grateful that during these times of God's "heat" on me, 1 John 1:9 is true and forgiveness comes when I confess my sin.

I try and use my surroundings to remind me of God and His dealings with me. It's just turning noontime here on the ocean area of Melbourne, Florida and it's getting close to 90°. The A/C just kicked in as I have it set on 77°. Summer Heat means discomfort. The house is somewhat cool but the hot blaring sun makes one want to put the thermostat down more. Sometimes we do. Most times we leave it so as not to go over budget in our electric bill. But as I speak of Summer Heat, I think about the final verse in Hebrews 12. The discipline mentioned in v5-8 leads to words in that last verse that explain this is Kingdom stuff and Kingdom stuff just can't be shaken! "... A Kingdom that cannot be shaken ... Let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awesome, for our God is a consuming fire." That dear friends is an awesome statement and proclamation of love to us from our heavenly father. Claim it today folks. Love Him, Adore Him and Live for Him ... For He loves you!

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