Preparing for Rain

I was out cutting grass this evening and I was thinking about all the rain we have had here in the upstate so far this year. One thought I had while cutting grass was how this time last year we were in a drought that had been affecting the area for the past ten years. Then I began to think about when I was 14 or 15 that we had been in a drought that was so sever in the south east that farmers out west were sending hay to the upstate of South Carolina so people could keep their livestock feed. I can remember working in the back of a tractor trailer and it being100 degrees outside dragging square hay bales out and loading them in pick-up trucks. I remember churches and individuals all around the country praying for rain like they did during the dustbowl era.

I than had a thought about Elijah and how he had prayed and the rain stopped for 3 ½ years. (1 Kings 17:1)

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand; there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” (ESV)

Then how he prayed for the rain to return (1 Kings 18:45).

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’ ” 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. (ESV)

 Do you ever wonder if they were prepared for the rain? After ten years of drought conditions here at home; we were overwhelmed with the amount of water that came in the past eight months. The ground soaked up as much as it could and the water began to pool and run; the creeks overflowed and it took out bridges and roads, it left a path of destruction everywhere. The truth is water is the most powerful force in nature it controls life and death it can teardown mountains and build up islands only to tear them down later. We have seen the destructive power of water through the devastation of hurricanes like Katrina and Sandy. So I still wonder if they were prepared for the rain.

In scripture we see rain in two contexts in the Old Testament. The term mātar which can mean rain in the physical or metaphorical sense. It is either a blessing or a curse depending on the context of the scripture; to much rain is destructive while the right amount allows life to prosper. As I thought about this one of the things I have heard most of my Christian walk has been that if we praise God he will rain blessings down on us.

 The question I am asking myself tonight though is how prepared are we for those blessings (the rain)? Are we praying for something and feel as if we are in a drought? We ask God to deliver us from certain situations and bless us with certain things. However, when we get them do we know what to do with them?  There is a story I was told several years ago about an evangelist during the years of the dust bowl that was preaching a revival. The major issue at the time was prayer for rain. One night as they were preparing for the revival to start people were coming in and on the front row a young girl came in and sat down in her hand she held a red umbrella. The evangelist realized that she was the only one present who had one. He asked the people during the message if they were ready for it to rain. They all said they were, However, She was the only one who came prepared for God to answer her prayers. Are you prepared for rain to come into your life either as blessings or destructive? Tonight keep your umbrella handy and be prepared for God’s rain to come into your life as you walk in the light of God’s Word.

Blessed Afflictions

Good morning! Have you ever considered your afflictions as a blessing from God? I know some of you just said, “What in the world did he just say?” You see when we think of the word affliction it cares negative ideas we think of disease or strife and no one really wants to experience that in their lives. Even though we don’t desire to experience them; they always seems to find us, not only for the saint but also the sinner the difference comes from understanding what the rewards are for enduring those trials that come. I have gotten were I listen to an audio Bible as I work out and even some days when I am alone at work. It helps me to manage my time and allows me to have God’s word penetrating my life. Especially when I am really doing something I do not enjoy like running; talk about an affliction, I am still not yet fond of it. But this morning Psalm 90 really jumped out at me as I was trying to finish week two of Couch to 5k. The part I desire to share begins in verse 12 and it reads;

“¹² So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. ¹³ Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! ¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. ¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. ¹⁶ Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. ¹⁷ Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”

Psalms 90:12-17 (ESV)

Verse 12  is something we all must be willing to understand if we really want to enjoy the time we have been given. We do not know when God will call anyone of us home. Preachers often quote this verse Matthew 24:36, “36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” talking about the rapture of the church; but in the meantime death comes for people every day. We must learn to appreciate and enjoy even those days that we would rather not experience because they are a gift from God.

One of the interesting parts of this Psalm is it seems to contradict one of the things I have always been taught as a Christian. Verse 13 would claim that God departs from His people but in truth we turn and move away from Him. We seek to do everything in our own power and when things do not turn out the way we desire we try to blame God for not being there when He was there the whole time. We just chose to do it our way instead of His. So the writer of the Psalm considers themselves to be afflicted. When in truth they have been blessed. Each day we are given is a blessing from God. When I look back over my life I have had to stop and realize every time my life was difficult and hard I was trying to maintain control. In the days that I started off by turning everything over to God I can remember walking in peace even on the days when my entire world has been turned upside down. The second part of vs. 15 is where I want to leave you today in the NLT version it reads, “Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good.” In my life it has required I change my perspective about life and stopped focusing on today but began believing in what God has promised for my tomorrows. His word is true and His promises are real. Philippians 1:6, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Do you trust Him in your afflictions? If so you will trust Him all the more with the blessings He has in store for you. Have a blessed day as you walk in the light of God’s Word.

Shared Blessings

25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter." 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. Mark 7:25-30 Is who you are important to God? Or does he work in our lives for other reasons? When we read the above scripture we see a women who is not a Jew asking Jesus to heal her daughter of an unclean spirit and at first Jesus tells her he will not because he has not come to the Gentiles. Have you every wondered why He would say such a thing? He is after all the Son of God who is love and should show love to everyone He meets. in our churches today many of those sitting on the pew hold some of this same opinion that Jesus expressed. You know what I mean why are we helping those people? Why do we give this money to the state office? Why are we involved in that soup kitchen? Don't we have enough people inside our walls that need our assistance? But you have to love what the women proclaims to Jesus, it is almost funny. She explains that out of the abundance that the children are blessed with even they dogs are blessed as the scraps fall to the floor. Are we a blessed people? Are we a blessed church? So why would we not bless those around us who might not know they Lord as a means to help them come to faith in Jesus. Often we get so wrapped up in ourselves and the activities of the church we forget that one of the greatest gifts Jesus gave people was mercy. This women was not part of Jesus assignment He came to bring salvation to the Jews. But through this woman's faith and persistence Jesus answered her prayer. It was not because of who she was but because she believed in Jesus that he maded her daughter well. We read in Acts 10:34-35, "34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." We need to understand that God in the end does not care for you because you are the son of so-and-so or the next big movie star. He loves you because He created you to live in relationship with Him. That relationship is different for everyone but in your relationship with God you are the child who gets to eat first. Yet as God blesses you others will also be blesseblew challenge you to accept your blessing and as the lord leads share it with those around you. It might just be what changes a heart and brings one more soul into relationship with God. Allow God'sword to be alight unto your feet.

Missing Miracles

49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6:49-52 (ESV)

What miracles has God brought into your life? Has he answered your prayers does He provide for you when you have no means? The question is not what He has done for you lately but do you recognize what He is doing in your life. To be honest we often overlook what He is doing in our lives and through our lives. Something good happens and we are often quick to forget, “Him that is the author and finisher of our faith.” Just as the apostles did? I look back over my own life today and see all the wonderful things God has brought me through even when I was not walking in obedience to Him and His word. When I was an alcoholic and addicted to pornography He still cared for me. From surviving car crashes, my marriage to my wonderful God fearing wife, to the birth of my children, the loss of my father, the loss of my oldest son God has always been present in my life. I assure you if you will take the time to look He has done the same for you. You may still be in a trial; we all go through them the difference comes in whom do you place your trust. Like Paul told the Philippians,

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Phil 4:11-13 (ESV)

When we recognizing the miracles that God has already worked in our lives we can allow that understanding to lead us into a closer walk with Him. I pray that as you learn to trust Him and walk in the light of His Word you will be strengthened to endure all that the world might throw at you knowing that it may not bring understanding but that in whom you trust will bring peace. Have a blessed day.