Friday Coffee with PJ

Friday yet again! So pour yourself a cup of your favorite brew and reflect on some random thoughts which I hope will help you in your journey with Jesus Christ! 

Today is the final day of meteorological summer (June, July, August). And what a summer it has been here in Lancaster County! We perspired through a record heat wave in late June into early July which saw the mercury rise to an average high of 95.3 on six consecutive days! That's quite the heat (not to mention it piled up a lot of extra clothes needing washed)! In addition, the month of July was the wettest on record (we picked up 9 inches of rain in our rain gauge in a five day span!). Overall, the summer has been the second wettest on record, which in turn has led to a record number of times I have had to mow my lawn! And even though meteorological fall begins tomorrow, summer is not showing any signs of going away as the extended weather forecast for next week is showing several days with highs near 90 degrees! This is fine by me, for I will take 90 degrees over 20 degrees any day of the week and twice on Sunday! 

All this said, we know that real autumn weather is coming, followed by the season that features that white stuff (just can't bring myself to write the "s" word!). How do we know this? From our experience. We live in an area of the world that consists of four seasons. Winter, spring, summer, fall. Always in that order. Always the same months of the calendar. Farmers know when to plant, water, cultivate, and harvest. Road crews know when they can pave a new road, and when it's time to put their paving operations on hold. Retailers know when it's time to replace fall clothing with winter attire (although sometimes I think they get ahead of the game here!). 

Now we can explain this consistency of the changing seasons in a totally naturalistic way ... that seasons change in certain parts of the world due to the tilt of the earth. But for me, I see a greater hand guiding the earth's movement. In Genesis 8:22 we have the promise that as long as the earth endures, the seasons will come and go (Genesis 8:22). Hebrews 1:3 informs us that the Son himself sustains all things (which would include the earth's movement which leads to the seasons). Seasons come, seasons go. This is an evidence of God's faithful oversight of his creation, the work of HIS hand! 

So today, as you prepare yourself to say goodbye to the lazy, hazy days of summer and welcome the soon to come crispness of an autumn evening, stop what you are doing. Lift your eyes toward heaven. Thank our Father above for his faithful care of this world ... and of you! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj