Let It Rain

Yesterday my daughter asked me a question.  She asked, "Mama is the rain necessary?"  I wasn't surprised that she was asking about the necessity of the rain because in her mind it was ruining her play time.  Saturdays are her time to spend outside with her sisters riding their bikes and playing kickball with the other children in the neighborhood.  My response was, "Baby if God decided to let it rain, then it is necessary."

Often times we experience periods of pain and sorrow, when our lives are topsy turvy.  We cry out to the Lord and are confident that He hears us but nothing changes.   Sort  of like this latest rain.  It began Saturday afternoon and on Sunday evening it was still raining.  The rain would be okay if it were just for a few hours or at night while I was sleep.  However when it starts to put a kink into my daily routine then it becomes a problem.  A continuous shower makes me wonder are there sunny days ahead?  So what is the purpose of rain?  Is it just to make us miserable?  To mess up our freshly done hair?  To dirty up our cars?  To keep us discouraged and depressed?  Even though it may seem that way on the surface, I stopped by to let you know that positive results can come from the rain. 

“And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. Deuteronomy 11:13-15

Why is rain necessary?  For growth.  Those of you who are babes in Christ need rain in order to become more mature.  And furthermore, if you are a mature Christian you need rain in order to bear fruit.  Without rain you are unable to fulfill the purpose that God has designed for you.  So don't be surprised when the rain comes.  Instead be thankful.  Begin to see the opportunity in the rain.  Thank God for the rain.  Tbe rain is reassurance that God has not forgotten you.  It is a fulfillment of the scripture that 'He who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns'. Phillippians 1:6  You may not know when the rain will start but you can count it a blessing.  There is one requirement though...that you obey the commandments of the Lord.  It doesn't matter how good you are in the eyes of man, what matters is how God sees you.  I read this quote in one of my daily devotionals that said, 'Where showers fall most, there the grass is greenest'.  So the next time the rain is falling in your life don't think that God has forgotten you. You may have to wait a while but just know that 'Waiting exercises our grace; waiting tries our faith; therefore, wait on in hope; for though the promise tarry, it can never come too late'. C.H. Spurgeon

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I confess to You that right now I don't completely understand the purpose of the rain in my life but I accept Your divine providence and know that the rain must be a part of the process so that I may fulfill the purpose You have for my life. Help me to be obedient to Your commands and to be an example to those around me who may not be as mature in their Christian walk.  Thank You for the rain because I realize that without it I would not grow. One thing I know for sure...no rain, no rainbow.  And no matter what I will continue to give You all the praise You so richly deserve.  In Jesus Wonderful Name I pray Amen. 



Amen

Driving in my car today and listening to the radio I heard a song entitled 'Let the Church Say Amen'.  The lyrics are simple.  The chorus simply states, 'Let the church say Amen.  Let the church say Amen.  God has spoken, let the church say Amen'.  It made me think about the times in my life when God spoke something into my spirit and I doubted Him.  I didn't trust Him.  Instead I moved ahead of His plan causing disaster.  This song made me think of the verse that I quote to myself often.  "He who began a good work in you will carry it unto the day of its completion. (Phil. 1:6)  I have to keep reminding myself that I am a work in progress.  There is no need for me to worry about what my future holds because I know who is in control of my future. 

Now I know that some of you reading this may be saying that God doesn't speak to you.  What about the promises written in His Word?  The ones that were written for us to read during those times where we are wondering if God is listening.  Those times when we are wondering if God really cares.  When we are questioning God and asking Him if He has forgotten you.  The problem may not be that God isn't speaking to you.  It may be that you aren't spending any time with Him or being still enough to hear Him speak.  There is never a time when I read God's Word that it doesn't speak to me.  In fact if there is anyone in my life that wants the ultimate best for me it is God and He left His Word to remind me.  All I have to do is "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and ALL these things shall be added unto you". (Matt. 6:33)

So what does the word Amen mean?  Amen is simply a declaration of affirmation. It affirms what is true.  It affirms that something said is of absolute certainty.  Let's think about this for a minute.  When you pray what do you say at the end?  AMEN.  What are some of the things you say when you pray?  Lord you are awesome!  You are worthy!  There is no one like You!  I believe that You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all I can ask or think.  Lord I am placing IT (whatever IT may be)  in Your capable hands.  My finances, my marriage, my health, my job, my children, my safety, my protection....in Your capable hands.  You ask for healing, peace, joy.  Lord, Your will be done.  And then you say AMEN.   All these things said with absolute certainty that God will do it.  So my next question is this, "Why are you worrying?"  All things are working out for your good.  But you have to spend time with the Father.  You have to submit to His will and to His way.  You must have confidence in the Savior, praying with expectancy.  Anticipation.  Ask yourself one last question: 'Do your actions take seriously God's will and instruction?  Saying AMEN is  a personal commitment of trust in God.  That means making His priorities your priorities.  It's saying yes to doing things God way.  The time has come to allow It's time to start living a life of AMEN.

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being patient with me.  I having done the best job in submitting to Your will and to Your way.  I haven't been praying with expectancy.  Instead I have been doubting Your ability to handle my situation in Your time and in Your way.  Please forgive me.  Lord, increase my faith.  Help me to be a steward on Your Word, trusting and abiding in it.  When my time becomes to busy, help me to prioritize and put You first above everything else.  I realize that only when I do that will everything else fall into place.  In Jesus' Most Wonderful Name Amen. 

Real Talk

Had a little talk with God all day today.  I decided that I was going to stop putting Him in a box.  Limiting my blessings by telling Him, "This is all I need You to do for me."  I decided to stop tying His hands by trying to maneuver my own blessings.  Like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.  I decided that I don't want anything that He has not especially designed for me.  I don't have to sit back and wish that I had what someone else has because I know that God has a blessing with my name on it.  I don't have to look at others enviously who have the external appearance of happiness because I have internal existence of joy.  I decided  that I must continue wholeheartedly in the Word.  It cannot be an afterthought.  I must begin and end my day with my Creator.  I cannot place Him on the shelf and take Him off when I need Him.  The Word must be 'a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path'...Psalm 119:105.  I must hide it in my heart so that I don't sin against God.  He truly is the source of my strength and the strength of my life.  It is the Word that has kept me going when all around me seems crazy.  I decided that no matter what trials I may face I am going to continue to praise my God. You see, I know that the devil has already been defeated.  My simple battles are nothing because my God has already won the war.  I decided that it is okay to cry.  Matter of fact today while driving home I had a good cry.  I can cry because I know that 'God shall wipe away every tear from my eyes'...Revelations 21:4.  I decided to PUSH (pray until something happens) my way through the things that are going on in my life right now at this very moment.  I know that I am still growing and maturing in God.  I have learned that there is absolutely nothing wrong with a few growing pains. I can be confident of this very thing that 'He who began this good work in me will perform it until the day of its completion'...Philippians 1:6. 

Every now and then you have to have a little talk with Jesus.  Tell Him everything.  If you are at your wit's end and on the verge of giving up, tell Him.  If you need a 'Right Now' miracle, tell Him.  If you are scared about what the future holds, tell Him. If at this very moment you feel overwhelmed with the responsibility you have been given, tell Him.  It is not necessary for you to go to God with eloquent speeches and memorized words,  God wants REAL TALK.  I remember a few years back when things were going less than great in my life, instead of praying about the situation, I was too busy picking up the phone to call my girlfriends.  Now the first call I make is to my Heavenly Father.  Let me share something with you.  The best thing that I could have ever done was develop a love for the Word of God.  There is a Word in the Bible for every occasion.  I developed my love for reading at a young age.  In fact, I have passed down this love to my oldest daughter.  Of all the books I have read, there is no greater read than The Holy Bible.  There are days like today when I was in need of some encouragement and I turned to Psalm 119.  I begin reading at verse 105 and read it until the end.  I was reminded that the words held within are 'perfect and completely trustworthy'...Psalm 119:138. I was reminded that 'as pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands'...(verse 143).  Then I turned over to Isaiah 55:11 and was reminded that 'God's Word will never return void.  It always accomplishes His purpose'. 

I don't know what is going on in your life right now but I do know that the God that I serve has the situation under control .  Let's not limit His power.  Let's praise Him through our storms.  Take time and read His Word.  Above all else, trust Him.  Over four hundred years of slavery in Egypt, God delivered.  Seventy years of captivity in Babylon, God delivered.  All those years of suffering and sin and still God delivered.  He sent His only begotten Son to the world, to be subjected to the same pain and suffering that you and I would face.  He went to Calvary, hung on an old, rugged cross.  He died and laid in a borrowed tomb all night Friday night, all day Saturday and all night Saturday.  But early Sunday morning, He got up.  When He got up, He had all power in His hand.  So today I am telling you to GET UP!  You are not defeated.  In fact, you are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

To the one true God.  I exalt You.  I  praise Your name.  I thank You for your steadfast love that endures forever.  I thank you for Your Word that You have left me for guidance.  I confess my sins, my disobedience to Your statutes.  Today I stand on the Word of God.  I love You with my whole heart.  Thank You for saving me.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen.