Something Unusual

Here we are in the first full week of August. The usual August is hot, muggy and dry, many years drought conditions.

This first week, and into the next we  have had fairly cool temps with some exceptions,and rain. Up until a few minutes ago we have been getting rain all day.  Thank the LORD, our Creator and Savior for giving this moisture for crops, hayfields, and yards.

Now let us be grateful for every day.  The rain is a blessing and so is the sunshine; even when it is hot and muggy.

That is how it is on the banks of Flat Creek today,

`tim

Blessed with Rainfall

I have been told that all of last year here in Southwest Missouri we received all of 10 inches of rain, and no more.  Also that since January of this year we have been blessed with over 14 inches of that sweet dew from heaven.  All praise to the One who gives it on the just and the unjust.

Just this past Thursday, April 18, we received over 3 inches.

Awoke this morning, a little later than usual, to a ground covered with frost, and 29 degrees.

Thank YOU Lord for YOUR bountiful blessings.

Early Fall

It has been a week now that the Autumnal Equinox occurred.  We have received a little rainfall in the past week as well which is a real blessing.  It has, however, been quite some time since there has been any water flowing over the banks of Flat Creek.  It has been at least one and one half years since the Creek flowed over the banks.

With the rain we have received our yard has needed mowing, and  I have mowed some of it, but not all.  I am back to pushing a twenty inch push mower to mow my nearly three acres of grass.  That is hard to keep up with, especially when you have other things needing done.

I am thankful for the green grass.  It was such a drab to look across our yard and only see brown, dead grass lying on the soil.  The trees I planted and the “Rose of Sharon” shrubs, as well are doing well.  At least some of the trees are doing well.  I planted eleven poplar trees, and only six are surviving.  All twelve of the “Rose of Sharon” shrubs survive.  I watered them every morning during the century degree weather; which was nearly every day for a month here in our valley.  I watered them everyday even when it was not in the hundreds of degrees.  The tallest trees are about five feet tall now.  From maybe two feet to five.  Those that are five feet; at least two of them were cut back due to dog damage, yet they have out grown the others.

It will not be long and it will be Thanksgiving.  I try to make each day a day of thanksgiving; and I fear there are days I fail to be thankful.  May there never be another.

-tim

I can see Green…

It has been some time since I looked out across the yard and saw green in it with the exception of the new trees growing.  The grass is brown.

Last night we were blessed to receive about one half inch of rain.  As I was walking around the yard this morning I could not help but notice green sprigs of grass coming up.  I had not even seen that in the previous one half inch rain we received a couple of weeks ago.  Today green sprigs of grass are shooting up all over the yard.

We still need more rain, but I am so thankful for the rain we received.  Thank YOU Lord Jesus.

-tim

A Few Drops of Rain…

This past Thursday, July 19, I took a short walk to the Creek out our back door.  Our dogs went along as usual.  I was sitting there in my chair, and in the shade of the trees over the gravel bar; throwing rocks in the water for the dogs to chase after.  I think that was the day the high temp reached 112 degrees here in our valley.

As I was throwing those stones in the water, and Archer in particular would chase after them; clouds came in, and it began to rain.  Do you know how refreshing a rain is falling from the sky above, giving you a soaking, when it is near 112 degrees?  Of course with the clouds and rain moving in the temp dropped dramatically.

With the rain falling I continued sitting there throwing the rocks, Archer chasing them, and I was getting wet without getting in the Creek.  It is refreshing, especially when we are in a full blown drought, to sit in the rain and get soaked.

When the rain stopped I went back to the house, and the temp was below 100 for a few minutes.  An hour later there was no sign that it had rained.  The ground was dry.  The buckets were dry.  Now it was back over that century mark.

The refreshment of rain for the ground and for a wretched ole soul like mine.  A reminder of God’s grace.  The wonders of God’s grace.

A few drops of rain along the banks of Flat Creek.

-tim

Well, It is Official Now

It is official now.  The national news media has proclaimed that over one half of the nation is in a drought.  That would include Missouri, Arkansas, and that includes my little ole place on Flat Creek.  There are many States which are suffering from drought, heat, and in the West there are fires.  In some places there are floods.

The thing is there is not a thing we can do about there being no rain.  All we can do is what we have always done; keep on keeping on.  We can also pray and ask God for mercy, and we could ask Him for rain to bring honor and glory to His name.

After all; which is more important: that we have rain, or that the name of the Lord be glorified?  Your answer to those questions will show the attitude of your heart.

All I ask is that you think about it for a while.

We are in a drought; there is no doubt in my mind about that.  We do need a good rain.  Maybe it is time to do some serious praying about our own condition.

-tim

The Hot of Summer

Now, with most of the country at or near drought conditions it is amazing that anything grows.  It is, however, good to see that even weeds; at least some of them; even struggle during these hot, dry periods.  It is a wonderful thing to have air conditioning in your home.

Last weekend, our family [Madge’s and mine] had our annual family get together – I guess you could call it a “Family reunion” – but that does not seem quite right for us, since we see one another quite often.  It seems to me a Family reunion is when the family comes together, after having  not seen one another for a year or so.  Our family seems to get together often.

From July 6 -8 we were on our way to our son Philip’s and Sarah Joyce’s  home in Booneville, AR. for the gathering on the 6th; eating, activitying various things, like Frisbee golf, swimming at the city pool, and bunches of other things; going to church on Sunday, and coming home.  We had a good time with Philip and Sarah Joyce, their three daughters; and our other kids, their spouses, and the other nine grand kids.

When I arrived back home my wife packed me up and marched me out the door :), for Children’s Camp at Baptist Hill, near Mount Vernon, MO.  We always try to get there the night before camp starts, so we can have all the kitchen supplies, food stuffs in order.  It is quite an experience preparing food for nearly 200 children and workers at camp.  Try cracking 35 dozen eggs for scrambling; and watch the guy, pour 2.5 dozen eggs into a cast iron skillet and cook them.  Actually it was two cast iron skillets he kept going while Jerry and me were cracking them.  Preparing gravy for that number was my responsibility, and I goofed up one meal; but all worked out fine; and with a few compliments on how good the gravy was.  That first time was for the evening meal of ham, mashed potatoes and gravy.  the second time was for breakfast biscuits and gravy and that evening was fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy.  I also helped with the potatoes.  It was a time saver to use packaged dried potatoes.  They were “real potatoes”, and tasted quite good.

It is good to be home.  It is a blessing to be able to serve the kids of camp, and have fellowship with some fine people around the area who are devoted Christian people.

The Summer is hot.  Thank the good Lord for the cool spots, and the rain we have received.

Now back along the banks of Flat Creek for awhile.

-Tim

The Heat of the Week

Yesterday August 02, 2011 is about as hot as it has been.  Really there is no doubt about it.  It was the hottest it has been all Summer anyway.

Records were set in 1954 and in 1980 for heat, but it appears that those records are being tied or bettered by the current heat wave.  I still don’t believe in “global warming”, because, right now in the Southern himisphere it is Winter, and I would almost guarantee that there is snow, ice and cold down there; and they are wondering where the heat is.

We just as well set back, and enjoy what the LORD of the Universe and all that is has given us.  We are warm, not freezing.  Many of us live in air conditioned homes.  Still for those who don’t go get wet somewhere, get in the shade.

By the way; the temp here yesterday reached a high of 111 degrees.  Things burn up when the temps get that high, including weeds.

Things are hot, dry and brown on the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

Unsettled Dust

On the afternoon of July 30, 2011 we had a massive historical event take place at our house.  It rained.  It rained so much it moved the dust from the ground to the air.  When it stopped raining the dust fell back to the ground.

It’s still dusty.  I say this laughing, because the rain had no sooner left, then the ground was dry again.

If I get to feeling pretty bad about the dry; all I need to do is think of those people in Africa who are in drought and famine; and then I see how blessed we  really are.

Lord of all creation, Jesus, we need some rain; and please help those people  in Kenya, Africa who are experiencing such chaos of drought, famine and military barbarism.  Meet their needs, and glorify YOUR name.

It’s Sunday.  Go to church today and worship our Lord and Savior.  Pray for the Lord to reveal your sins, confess them to Him, repent of them.  Then, pray for rain.

We need rain along the banks of Flat Creek too.

-Tim