Well, the real summer is here and looks to be here for a week or two – or month or two, or three.  We are forecast to be in triple digits as high as 110 degrees on Saturday, which means we can look forward to up to 10 degrees higher in the garden.

We did get our first tomato today, couple of small o’ns, but tomatoes none the less.  Carla brought up a zucchini, so I will have to figure out how we will fix it.

All the animals are inside near the air-conditioning.  I can’t blame them a bit.  It is like an oven outside.

Jeremiah 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.

A verse of both comfort and of condemnation. 

It is a reminder that no matter where we are, what we are doing and whatever evil may be in our minds, God sees us.

He also is there no matter where we are, what we are doing, and whatever satan may be through at us, God sees u.

But it can also be a verse of promise. 

When we took Ken to Portland, to the hotel to give him over to the Marine Corps, he had no personal items on him – they weren’t allowed.

He would be taken to San Diego and we would not be allowed to see him for at least 13 weeks.  That was very difficult for Dad – and Mom.

When the other children left home, each was close, each could be contacted in person or by phone, so while it was traumatic for me I could at least call them – but we weren’t even allowed to call Ken on the phone during that time.

He would be one of hundreds.  He would look much like every other Marine recruit.  While the Marine Drill Sgt. would know who he was, he would not know him.

The Sgt’s interest was in making the men in his charge, Marines; but he was MY son.

It was a long drive home.  As we drove up the Gorge we came around a curve and before me were some of the pillars so famous and each one was golden, reflecting the Sun’s rays.

There were no shadows; it was that kind of light and I was comforted know that God was there, no matter who or what was to be encountered by my son, God was there for him.

As I drove through that light the Hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” welled up in my heart.

“Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with thee”

And the second Verse:

“Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, 
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.”

There is no hiding from God, except that which we desire.

Psalm 17:8-9 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

⁹ From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

We become so concerned about what people think of us, yet, we forget that God knows us, He knows our hearts, He knows our thoughts and we cannot hide from Him. 

But we can hide IN Him.  We will always have enemies.  We will always have people that wish to do us harm – God knows that and He wishes to place us under His wings and protect us.

No matter what the world my do to us, God is there, there are no shadows with Him.

Later, Dad :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again