“Making the Most of Summer!” It’s June and summer is finally here. Many of us in Minnesota look forward to summer all year long. We Minnesotans get three months of warm weather to enjoy the outdoors. We tend to make the most of these three months by diving into vacations, BBQs, picnics, camping, going to the lake or river, fishing and various outdoor sports. Summer here is so short lived that many of us try to hang onto and savor every moment. But inevitably, before you know it, September is upon us and soon after that we know the snow will be flying. Many of us feel a sense of sadness and disappointment that the excitement and anticipation of summer has passed so fast. Recently I read Psalm 37:3-4 which says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (NKJV). God will give you the desires of your heart! How could anyone not be drawn to such a promise? The promise of summer often leaves us disappointed but God never does. I think there are several important lessons in these two verses that we need to apply to our lives. If we do, we’ll find the keys to contentment and fulfillment in our walk with Christ. The first lesson is to “trust in the Lord.” In good times and bad, in peace or in strife, don’t fail to trust God for every need whether it’s big or small. Trusting in yourself or your finances or in your family and friends will eventually fail you. But if your trust is in the God who created the universe and who loves you more than you can imagine, you will never be disappointed. The second lesson is to “do good”. An old hymn does a good job of putting this second key together with the first. It states, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus." In addition to trusting the Lord in good times and bad, if we want to live a contented Christian life, we must obey Him and do what we know is good. This secures for us a closeness in our relationship with Him which is a wonderful blessing. The third lesson is to “dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” We must abide in Him, determined to dwell where He has placed you, and be satisfied there. Know that He is with you, wherever He has placed you, and choose to be content in that for as long as He keeps you there. While "in the land" that He has given you, enjoy the blessings of God. Feed on His faithfulness in protecting you and providing for your every need. Give thanks always to Him for that faithfulness, provision and protection. The fourth lesson is to "Delight yourself also in the Lord." As you truly delight in the Lord, He transforms the desires of your heart so that they’re in line with His heart. Many Christians are thankful to the Lord for His presence, His protection, and His provision, yet they have not learned to delight themselves in the Lord Himself. The result is that their joy becomes increasingly dependent on their circumstances and on how much comfort they can acquire. But those who worship - those who adore the Lord so much that they long to be in close fellowship with Him, admiring Him and praising Him just for who He is, in good times and bad - they have a source of delight that never fades. This summer, may God help us to always trust in Him, to obey Him, to dwell in the security of being where He want us, to feed on His faithfulness, and to take sheer delight in Him. Then He will grant us the desires of our hearts. - Pastor Dan