“Poolside”

Ever wondered why September is the ninth month instead of the seventh like the prefix in the word “September” suggests? Or why October is the tenth month instead of the eighth like the prefix in the word “October” suggests?! 

It has to do with the Caesars. Julius thought so highly of himself he decided he needed a month. Thus we get July. Then, Augustus was not to be outdone and decided he too needed a month to commemorate himself! Thus we get August! So that is why our calendar year from September on down is two months pushed forward! 

I don’t know, maybe it was the heat during these warm summer months that got the Caesar’s all in a self-centered hot mess?! If we are not careful this same self-centered hot mess syndrome can befall us all the same, summer or not! Our cure for cool in the midst of our heated moments is found in Leviticus 23:34! (NKJV) “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of the Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord. (Notice the fifteenth day of the seventh month puts us conveniently in the middle of the summer months! That is really besides the point but gotta love when God underlines a point in my heart!) 

The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates and remembers God’s provsion throughout the time the Israelites tabernacled in the desert after their release from slavery in Egypt. In fact, it was during this desert wandering that God even provided water from a rock!! (See Exodus 17:1-7) One reason God did this, in this way, was because the people were questioning His presence among them.

In your hot desert moments/seasons how easy is it to become a hot mess wondering if God’s presence and Truth still holds for you? When we are shaken on the reality of our Truth we can become like the Ceasar’s, fighting for our own will and way only to end up wayward wanderers! 

For this reason we must look at John 7:37-38 (NIV) On the last and greatest day of the feastival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Jesus spoke during this very feast of tabernacles that remembers the presence and provision of God (even bringing water from a rock), making clear He Himself had come so that His Spirit might tabernacle WITHIN us!! Becoming the ultimate fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV) which states, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 

By the power of His Spirit, our hot rock heart is softened, cooled, saturated by rivers of living water!!!! Water that rushes forth and cleanses, making new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23)!! Dear one that’s living hope that won’t disappoint in your hot desert season! You need not become a hot mess over whatever plagues your mind, heart or even your calendar. No matter the season, you can always pull up “poolside” a.k.a. picking up the Living Water of His Word to rest in the refreshment of His presence. No matter the month my friend, you and I can always bask in the Son, “poolside”. 

© Janette Kieffer redeeminggrace991ministries.com