By Rev. Donn

Most of us are familiar with the Scripture: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

As I look back at past summers, I see a trail of both beautiful and bittersweet memories. There have been summers that overflowed with joy and summers filled with deep sadness and pain. The common thread is that every summer is unique and has its own tale to tell.

Just as every natural summer has a story, so does every spiritual summer and we walk through each of the spiritual seasons many times. Autumn is a time of change. Winter is a time of barrenness and preparation. Spring is a time of rebirth. And summer is a time for bearing fruit and embracing the abundant life that surrounds us.

In Galatians 5:22-23 we read, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control.”  Our spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are cultivated and ripened when we remember our spiritual gardener, and stay in his presence. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you re the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit…” (John 15:5)

As we continue in the season of summer I want to encourage us to seize the joy of the season. Embrace the summer and all of its goodness. Start each day with a prayer of gratitude and then go and enjoy whatever brings you summer joy, and see how you can incorporate the fruits of the spirit into your summer activities.

We are blessed to know that God is with us in all the seasons of our lives and I pray you will experience God’s love and grace in each and every moment. God Bless, Donn