Summer has finally arrived. We’ve been having those “dog days” and those “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer,” and it’s only July. Plans are being made or have already been made by many of us for our summer getaway. Many, I’m sure, are looking forward to that long overdue R & R or some escape from the heat and humidity.
For some, this vacation season will mean spending time with family and friends, many of whom you may not have seen for quite some time. But then again, there are those who don’t travel anyplace during June, July or August and remain right here in Plant City.
Life, as we know it, seems to come to a sudden stop as soon as those final report cards come home. The “normal” routines with which we were so accustomed get tossed out the window and the money just doesn’t seem to go as far as it did when the kids were in school.
Then, add to this the “advantage” of living in Florida — sun, fun, pool, beach, heat, humidity, more heat and more humidity, an afternoon thunderstorm or two, and there you have it — life in Florida.
As much as things change, things stay the same. The services of God’s house continue to be held regularly in our community and ministry continues to be done day in and day out in our community even during these dog days of summer.
Just because it’s summer, doesn’t mean the church is on vacation. It would truly be a sad and dark day if the church took a vacation. It would be even sadder and darker if our loving Lord took a vacation.
But the church doesn’t — and guess what — our God doesn’t either.
Sorry folks, we don’t take a vacation from our worship, praise, prayer or stewardship. These continue all year.
Think about it, when was the last time God took a vacation from providing for your needs? When was the last time Christ took a vacation from giving you forgiveness? When was the last time the Holy Spirit took a vacation from the comfort only He can bring? If you answered never (as I’m sure you did), why should we take a vacation from Him who loves us and gave His life for us? Since our Lord doesn’t take a break from caring for us, the prize of His creation, that should compel us all the more to live for Him during these summer months.
I encourage you, if you travel to new and different places this summer, or travel to some of the old places you’ve been before, take the time to worship Your Lord. I encourage you, take the Lord with you as you go, don’t leave Him behind. Remember His promise to you, “I am with you always to the very end of the age.”
So don’t let your praise and worship take a vacation.
May God richly bless your summer — and may your summer be spent in the SON!
The Rev. Dean R. Pfeffer is the senior pastor at Hope Lutheran Church, Plant City. For more, email him at hopepcpastor@gmail.com.