Vapor

The dog days of summer are upon us.

Melancholy accompanies the excessive temperatures and humidity and hovers over me like a cloud.

Shortly after sunrise, I went out to the garden to pick a fresh bouquet for the table. I wanted something airy, so I chose fleabane, blue sage, and globe amaranth.

Last week's pink zinnias, eucalyptus, and fox fern bouquet had lost their luster. So I tossed them in the trash and replaced the water with my "secret formula" of half tap water to half lemon-lime soda.

A scripture came to my mind...

"As for us, our life is like grass.

We grow and flourish like a wild flower;

then the wind blows on it, and it is gone—

no one sees it again." Psalm 103:15-16 GNT

I've reached a season where I thank God for every new day He gives me. But unfortunately, I have experienced too many funerals of people the enemy stole from their families way before their time.

Regardless, I choose to rejoice.

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope." 1Thessalonians 4:13 NLT

For Jesus' followers, death is not an end. It is nothing more than a temporary "Goodbye." And with each of those goodbyes, I have a strengthened resolve to seek out and finish my God-given assignment.

Therefore, I am sitting at my computer and writing to you.

In my heart, I know someone is hurting somewhere—grieving and longing for just one more day with someone they loved dearly.

I get it. I have been there.

We do not have a promise of tomorrow, my friends (Proverbs 27:1)

Let us lean into the arms of our Savior ever closer.

Dive into the Word of His Power, dust off our armor, and finish the battle before us. Our enemy is a forever loser. Not even death can be his victory.

"We thank God for the power Christ has given us. He leads us and makes us win in everything. He speaks through us wherever we go. The Good News is like a sweet smell to those who hear it." 2 Corinthians 2:14 NLV

Let us rob the thief as we bring more into the kingdom.

And as we busy ourselves with God's business, He shall stand beside us, giving us strength for each new day. As a fresh bouquet from His garden, our souls shall never grow dull nor fade because Jesus is right here with us.