Rain,Rain Go Away...

 

 Hosea 6:3 "He will come unto us like rain."

"Into each life some rain must fall."

  -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow."

I am not a lover of the rain... by that I mean walking on it...enjoying the wetness.. absorbing the feeling.. not me.

Give me a book, a fire and a warm throw . I'm ready to curl up and wait for it to stop.

It is raining today. I'm not near a place to curl up and wait it out. I'm facing a big window and feeling shivery as I watch it pour. Then drizzle. I'm feeling a little hum drum at the overcast skies and look of grayness in this Spring month. 

I often think of the little "Rain, rain go away" nursery rhyme on these days. I truly want the rain to go away and come again another day...

I referenced the origin of that little rhyme today. It was interesting to note that it originated during the 17th century when Spain and England were rivals. 

The great Spanish Armada went out with 130 great galleon ships to face the smaller English count of 65 galleons and countless smaller merchant ships. Rain and stormy weather scattered the large Spanish fleet and the English vessels defeated them. Thus, someone penned the little ditty about the rain... 

I kind of feel that way...Which brought me to do a little thinking and researching about the word "rain". And I, of course, learned some good lessons on this rainy day...

I first read in Hosea, how God will come to us like rain. And then I read about the different kinds of rain. I am challenged and blessed. 

One reference was of spring rain. Which speaks to me of new blessing and renewal. How many times have I been rejuvenated by a new rain from God and His Word!  Just within the last two weeks, I have experienced that! I love spring rains in my life!!

 

To the children of Israel, God sent a rain of bread... to sustain them. Not so wonderfully palatable, but sustenance nonetheless.  Probably a good percentage of my days I am just living... no great things happening, but I am being sustained!!!!

I also read of the rain " on the just and unjust". I experienced some of that the other day. God doesn't spare us the hard and difficult.. he lets us experience it along with our neighbors and friends..... and those we think do or don't deserve it!

 

But then I thought of the children's song, "The wise man built his house upon the rock." The rains came and the house stood firm.. I am indeed building my little house right there on the Rock and expecting to stand firm and not be washed away by the bad things that happen to me!!

Noah and Jonah's stories prove that God can use water to our disadvantage

If we don't obey.

 
 

And then that Revelation promise of hungering no more and thirsting no more and being forever where no rain has to be interpreted... just a living fountain of beautiful water supply forever and forever!

 

My lesson in the rain about the rain.. It made me feel a whole lot better than moping!!!.....

 

God's To Do List

 

God's To Do List

Psalms 37:5 "And he shall bring it to pass."

I am an endless list maker.  Maybe because, my memory just isn't sharp; and probably partly my organizational personality.  I have lists posted everywhere. I find the discarded ones in the car. I do part time work at an office where the Calendar has what we call a To Do. It's a very popular tool that keeps us on task!

This morning, as I rose early, and was making plans for my day, I wondered what God has on His To Do List today.

You know, it's hard to imagine God putting on His list for one of His children: " Car Accident." But I can imagine Him noting: "Use circumstances to speak gently to them" or " Let them feel my arms". 

Or even for those who aren't really acknowledging Him: "Give them a reminder nudge" or "send a scripture". " Open their eyes"

There's so much argument about what God orchestrates in our lives. Does He let bad things happen? How come He let that one die?  Why did He choose terminal illness for a mom or a spouse or a best friend?  

Just recently, with some unfortunate happenings in my life, I am tempted, as we all are, to question a little. Why did our camper at the National Campgrounds
 happen to be the only one destroyed? Was he picking on us? Why is a very dear person that we love so much experiencing terrible pain?  Why do family members have to suffer undeservedly?

So many questions I can't answer. I just know that I, as a parent, or a grandparent, would never write in terrible things to do to my children on my To Do List.

But I do know I want them to be responsible and caring adults. I know that I want their goal and my goal to be Heaven. And if we've lived life at all, we know we can't live in a sheltered, spoiled environment, and grow strong or stay strong.  I also know that the Big God I know spends a whole lot of time straightening out messes I get myself into. And He's working it for my good.

I spend alot of time creating, changing and completing my lists.. I believe it keeps God busy doing the same. I spend time searching out the best time, the best place and the best way to do my tasks. So does God.

I love a completed list where I don't have to transfer anything to a new list. The Psalms  scripture says "He will bring it to pass.".  I believe it. I love to push the "Completed" task button on my work computer.  I think God has to move some tasks to future dates; he has to change some, but ultimately He is working toward completing them!

I think He has a To Do List for Everything and Everyone.  His big Pencil is a big one, forever busy....and I trust His Plan and His ways. Though I can't see it, and often I don't understand it, I know He is using everything for my good.

Sojourners

" For we are strangers before thee and sojourners... our days on the earth are a shadow." I Chronicles 29:15

I feel like a pilgrim and a bit of a stranger today. I am like most of us; I get attached to things in this world. My foundations have been somewhat shaken. 

In a world of shifting values, charged political environment, and friends and family who are changing allegiances, I search for solidity. I'm from an evangelist's home and background of ministry, ,so I have few geological roots.

I'm mostly ok with that. But I have found comfort in a few things. For one, my church campground, where I have attended all my life and where we took all of our children every July.  It is the only place still in my life that the memories have lasted a lifetime and we are still making them.

Last evening, the old tabernacle was partially destroyed by high winds. The beginning of the end; which was sure to come soon anyway.

Along with that, we had a small park model trailer on the campgrounds, purchased and used for making Monark Springs  memories. That is also destroyed. 

 

I am a little traumatized because of some closing chapters, but I was searching for a scripture this morning to help me with this, and read about being a sojourner. 

I'm reminded that as bonded as I get to people, circumstances and things, I am just a guest here. 

I love having guests and enjoy in giving them my best!  God has given me some very good amenities while I am sojourning. He met me time and again under the old tabernacle. He let me make precious memories in my little haven of a trailer. All of it was a gift from God to me. 

I thank Him as I deal with closure. It's ok. I'm moving on to making new memories and so grateful I can cherish the ones I will forever hold in my heart! 

Here's to sojourning!