Living in the Philippines is a lot different than living in Los Angeles. Everyone warned us. The Philippines is hot. It is humid. The moist tropical air rots clothes, grows bugs and especially wreaks havoc on immigrants who have been used to the dry, desert air of Los Angeles. Well we have been fortunate that it is fall in the Philippines and it is not quite so hot or humid. Except for a couple of extremely hot, humid days, the weather has been bearable and there have even been a few days when the heat and humidity have subsided and it has been very, very pleasant.
While we had been warned about the heat and humidity, no-one mentioned an almost miraculous transformation which has taken place with our skin! After only a very few days in the tropics, both Diana and I noticed that our skin had become completely moisturized. The dryness in our hands and feet had now been transformed into a delicious smoothness which we had never felt before, living in the dry air of Los Angeles.
Despite living in dry air all of our lives, it took less than a week for the moisturizing to take place. I sometimes rub my palms with my fingers and still marvel at how smooth and moist they have become. It appears that moving to the tropics has some benefits after all!
Let it Rain!
No matter where we live we are constantly surrounded by the blowing hot winds of malice, unkindness and criticism. At times it leeches out the love and kindness of even the most courageous and devoted heart. In the midst of this barren world and this barren time, the Spirit encourages us to “Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone” (Zechariah 10:1).
As we are nurtured by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we begin to assimilate the moisture from heaven that transforms us into Christ’s likeness. We are then commissioned and sent forth to revive those souls which have become de-hydrated under the fiery arrows of Satan. May all of our souls be revived with the Heavenly Moisture of heaven.
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By Jim Park. Copyright © 2006 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION © 1982.