I enjoy the different seasons, and summer is at the top of the list. Lots of outdoor activities, vitamin D, green corn and soybeans, great smells, cookouts, sitting outside during the late evening, watching the stars come out.

One of the top activities is eating homemade ice cream – what a treat! Growing up as a kid in the country our neighbors would have potluck dinners on a Saturday evening. We would take turns going to someone’s home for dinner, and during the summer there was always homemade ice cream for dessert! We had vanilla, chocolate, peach, raspberry – all with real cow’s milk – many different recipes to enjoy along with a few ice cream headaches.

My folks had one or two recipes that we enjoyed which were passed on to Cindy and me when we were first married. However, we or I had a problem getting the ice cream to harden up to the right consistency. At one of our family get togethers, I told my uncle about my problem, and without any hesitation he told me that I wasn’t using enough salt. His suggestion was a layer of ice, layer of salt, then ice again and salt, repeat ice and salt, and top it off with another layer of ice and one more layer of salt. The next batch we made I used his instructions, and within 20-25 minutes, the ice cream was getting harder to crank and was setting up. What a difference a little salt put in the right spot makes!

Well, I am telling this story about making ice cream to compare it with my prayer life and Bible study. In a recent elders meeting, Michael asked us to share something that was going on in our faith. I expressed that my prayer time had become a little lax and that I needed to step up and make an improvement. During that evening meeting it was suggested to start meeting again on Tuesday evenings with singing and prayers and asking God to speak not only to us but to our whole church family. We started August 4th . This time is open to anyone. I look forward to seeing and hearing what God wants to reveal to those who want to hear.

Just like the ice and salt in layers making the freezing process faster, putting prayer and Bible study together builds our communication with God. We will feel that He is near us. He helps us overcome temptation. God is a weapon against evil and brings us peace not panic. We will want to praise Him and give Him glory. All of this combined together will firm us into
God’s people of which He desires.

Hoping you enjoy the pleasures of summer and the blessings of prayer and being in His word.

Wayne Chamberlain,
FCC elder