One of my favorite places, out around the loop. It always makes me think of a song by John Denver,  called Cool and Green and Shady. Here are the lyrics:

Saturday’s, holidays, easy afternoon
Lazy days, summer days, nothing much to do
Rainy days are better days, for hanging out inside
Rainy days and city ways make me want to hide
Someplace cool and green and shady.

Find yourself a piece of grassy ground
Lay down, close your eyes
Find yourself and maybe lose yourself
While your free spirit flies
(musical interlude)

August skies, lullabys, promises to keep
Dandelions and twisting vines, Clover at your feet
Memories of Aspen leaves, trembling on the wind
Honeybees and fantasies
Where to start again
Someplace cool and green and shady

Cool and green and shady
Cool and green and shady
Cool and green and shady
Cool and green and shady

Words and music by John Denver and Joe Henry

Do you ever have those times when you feel like Someone is trying to tell you something?

Last week, our pastor mentioned some scripture about a cloud the size of a man’s hand – this wasn’t part of his main scripture, but he just mentioned it  in a side illustration. Then a couple of days later, I heard someone on a radio station mention the same phrase – “a cloud the size of a man’s hand”.

The next day, a friend on Facebook used that phrase as her status (thanks, Cris!).

I may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but I know when Someone is trying to get my attention.  So I opened my e-Sword* software and found the chapter: I Kings 18. I started at the first of the chapter and read it,  making notes as I went.

The chapter begins with Elijah going to see Ahab after a drought had been going on for three years. Elijah sees that Ahab, who is the king of Israel, has allowed pagan practices in the country. Elijah challenges the 450 prophets of Baal; the prophets of Baal will offer a sacrifice to their god, and Elijah will offer a sacrifice to God.  Whichever god consumes his offering with fire will be the true God.  Baal’s prophets cry out all day, but nothing happens. When Elijah prays to God, the fire consumes not only the sacrifice, but the wood and stones of the altar, the water in the trench, and even the dust around the altar.

Some of the lessons I got from this chapter:  one person standing up for what’s right is always in the majority;  be willing to do what God asks you, even if you’re doing it by yourself;  and just one person alone can call people back to God.

There are also some negative things to learn: Ahab was the king, but he allowed a woman (Jezebel) to lead him away from what he knew was right. Because he wanted peace between his kingdom and a neighboring kingdom, he allowed ungodly behavior into his house and his country.  It’s good to be peaceable with others, but not at the expense of doing what’s right.

Of course, there are lots of other things to learn from this chapter; check it out for yourself!

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*e-Sword is a wonderful Bible study program – the main program is free, and there are lots of Bible versions, as well as dictionaries, maps, images, commentaries and other tools  available – some are free, while others are very reasonably priced.

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