Reading in 2nd chronicles today, about Jehoidah, a priest, who saved Joash's life when his grandmother Athaliah tried to kill him, as she had killed all the other grandchildren so she alone could rule Israel.  Joash was only 7 years old when Jehoidah annointed him king, as his grandmother cried "Treason! Treason!" as the levite guards removed her from the temple and executed her.  Jehoidah and his wife had hidden Joash for 7 years. He riegned 40 years.  And the Word said he did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoidah. Jehoidah even found him a wife!

And then...

The "big important men" came to him and talked him into forsaking the LORD and he too became an idol worshiper

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Zechariah, who was Jehoidah's son.  And he came to the king, Joash, and said "Why do you transgress the commandment of the Lord so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD , He has forsaken you."

This angered Joash - how dare he rebuke the king!

So he had Zechariah stoned to death.

He did not remember the kindness that Jehoidah had done for him.  He killed Jehoidah's son - who said, as he died, " The LORD look on it and repay!"

 And a bit later Syria came against Joash and shortly thereafter he was killed by his own servants as he lie sleeping.

Amaziah was the son of a Jerusalem woman, so he had learned God's ways, and did what was right in God's eyes but "not with a loyal heart." He followed his father's example.

It always amazes me when I read this part of the Word. Joash owed his very life to Jehoidah, yet he has no qualms about killing Jehoidah's son.

So Joash didn't give a rat''s hiney about the fact that Johaidah had hidden him and raised him and found him a wife so he had an heir to take the throne. Power corrupt's and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Father, please never let me be ungrateful like Jehoidah.  I thank you for parents who tried to obey you and taught me to love You.  Please bless all who read this, bring them closer to You and fill them with Your Holy Spirit. Amen

Life here in the Mojave desert continjues.

We are in the 90s already, which is a bit higher than normal.  We are getting monsoons already, and the thirsty desert drinks it in. The hummingbirds are parched.  I have about 9 coming @ different moments, the majority are females - the males are probably finding plenty of flowers, as everything is still blooming. The Palo Verde, a green tree - trunk, foliage, and bright yellow flowers.  The agave are bursting into bright red flowers and the Mexican  Bird of Paradise are beginning to bloom.  Their lacy flowers begin bright yellow then turn orange and finally bright red.  I love them. They don't look the least bit like the blue BOP or even the white ones - but I love them anyway.  Our hedge, which is sickly and "stickish" in the winter has "reforested" itself into lush foliage and will burst into fragrant mauve flowers soon - and the rosemary, which has bloomed all winter, will reset and re-bloom again soon.

We are supposed to get high clouds by the end of next week, but I'll believe that when I see it. Our summer temps reach a high of about 116 - to 120 in the full onslaught of summer, so that's when we hit the A/C every day and the monthly bills until Sept. hit $300+ .It is worth it tho - there is no state tax here so we recoup at tax time - CA's state tax was exorbitant.

So desert life goes on.  The Las Vegas STrip is busy all year round, but esp. in the summer -  but then, we seldom go into that part of town, preferring our local stores and restaurants.

So, wherever you are located, I wish your Spring will continue much longer than ours, and your summer has a large quantity of " high clouds".