From Sarah

Jeremiah 17:7-8
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
       whose confidence is in him.

8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
       that sends out its roots by the stream.
       It does not fear when heat comes;
       its leaves are always green.
       It has no worries in a year of drought
       and never fails to bear fruit."

This year in my hometown area we have had a severe drought.  Grass has died, plants are brown, the crops
(especially corn) didn't grow, and farmers are facing
very serious problems.  Sometimes there will be a year
of drought.  We can't control it.  Nothing we do
caused the drought, and nothing we can do can stop the
drought.  It's just a fact of life.  Sometimes there
will be a drought.

It's the same in our lives.  Sometimes there will be
"dry" or difficult times in our lives.  Nothing you
have done caused the drought.  It's just a fact of
life.   The key is for us to trust in God before the
drought comes.  There seem to be 2 stages to the
drought:  1st, just heat; then the actual drought.
But if we have put our trust in God, not man (see
verses 5 and 6), several things will happen:  1.  the
roots will be established.  We need to have deep roots
(faith and trust in God). 2.  We don't have to be
afraid, even though the "heat" is coming. 3.  The
leaves stay green.  We can stay spiritually alive.  4.
There is no need for worry. (This is something I have
to remember!) 5.  We will continue to bear fruit.

Each of you have some difficult "drought" or dry times
in your lives.  I pray that this week you will "stay
green" and "bear fruit".

Shalom,