Waiting For Rain

 

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What is so special about simple rain?

Have you truly witnessed God’s gift of rain?

 

Everywhere, anticipation of rain

Withering crops crave God’s rainfall today

Farmers wait faithfully for rains to come

Without rain, hearts and plants start to decay

 

The farmland depends on these vital rains

Last year, little rain arrives to help out

Sunny skies chase away clouds too often

“Next year” cries out from thirsty lands of drought

 

Farmers sow their spring crops on faith alone

Waiting for nature to moisten the ground

Praying to the Lord, asking for His rain

Rain arrives, new life rising skyward bound

 

God sends righteousness, in the form of rain

Fulfilling prayers, easing farmers’ pain

From Isaiah 45:8:  “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the Lord have created it.”

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Jesus Will Be With Us

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An early winter blizzard covers the immense ranching country.  The harshness of the storm threatens everyone’s safety, both people and cattle.

Phone lines are disconnected, with most on the ground.  Electricity is off except where well-prepared ranchers turn on generators to provide for their needs.  All roads into each ranch are drifted shut with the heavy, dense snow.

One rancher is overly concerned for the welfare of his family and his cattle herd.  The family is warm and safe inside their home, and they have enough groceries to last for several more days.

However, the cattle stand in harm’s way.  Their water supply and feeding schedule have been disrupted, and the rancher worries about the length of the storm and the consequences for his 300 plus head of Black Angus cows.

At suppertime on the third night of the storm, the atmosphere is tense.  The rancher’s son sees the worry painted on his father’s face.  This faithful, little soul of a five-year old reminds his father with words filled with hope, “Jesus will be with us.”

Overnight the storm begins to abate and move on.  In the morning, crews begin to slowly and carefully clear the roads.  In a matter of hours, they will reach the isolated ranch.

Using his powerful four-wheel tractor with its giant dozer blade, the rancher clears a path to where his precious cattle are nestled against the wall of a massive shelter.  While he makes sure the water is running, and the cattle receive their hay with a helping of rolled oats, he smiles and remembers the faithful words of his young son, “Jesus will be with us.”

Seeking His Guidance

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From Psalm 37:23-24:  “Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”

God wants us to succeed today

Asking for our patience and trust

Allowing faith to rebuild hope

Studying from His Word, we must

 

Always trusting in our Father

Bringing us guidance and His love

Achieving good through His name

Touching hearts, His joy sings above

 

We are never forsaken, never

Leading, God offers direction

Finding the means, moving forward

Meeting trials with reflection

 

The wicked gather all around

Following the Enemy’s lies

Causing God to judge their follies

Coming Judgment Day will apprise

 

Our Savior’s coming, all waiting

Receiving God’s Grace, what a gift

The Lord standing with the righteous

Accepting His plan, lives not adrift

 

We may still misstep and stumble

Preventing us from falling down

Reaching out, God’s hand guiding us

Fleeing, the thirsty Enemy frowns

 

Through His Word, the Father blesses

Giving generously, all with love

Choosing Jesus, Salvation comes

Seeking God’s guidance, from above

From the words of Dutch priest, writer, and theologian Henri Nouwen:  “A spiritual discipline is necessary in order to move slowly from an absurd to an obedient life, from a life filled with noisy worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where we can listen to our God and follow His guidance.”

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Charles Swindoll Quote

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Do you need some good news?  We can resist the enemy!  His attacks may be directed toward the vulnerable part of your life, but the shield of faith will protect you from them.  You can resist him!

From 1 Peter 5:9:  “Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.”

From Ephesians 6:16:  “With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

Patsy Clairmont Quote

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Faith is the quiet place within us where we don’t get whiplash every time life tosses us a curve.

From 1 John 5:3-4:  “For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.”

Sailing Away

From Luke 8:23-24:  “And while they were sailing He [Jesus] fell asleep.  A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger.  They went to Him and woke Him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’  And He woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, they ceased, and there was calm.”

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Sometimes life’s waters become turbulent

God’s seaworthy vessel carries the day

His Word quiets the daily storms we face

With His Spirit, angels leading the way

 

Jesus has walked on the water we sail

Inspiring many to always believe

Encountering rough “Titanic” struggles

Our journey will overcome, the storm leaves

 

Sailing off course, we have a champion

Jesus fathoms, walking ahead of us

Father, Son, Holy Ghost . . . never alone

Following our Savior, in whom we trust

 

God’s faithfulness, sets a perfect heading

Sailing away, His true compass leading

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Lonely Road

From 2 Corinthians 3:18:  “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”

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Sometimes life resembles a lonely road

Walking endless miles, filling with shame

Surrounded by darkness, bearing life’s load

Feeling mixed up, never into the game

 

God’s Word and Spirit bring transformation

Empty, spiritual desert . . . leaving now

Bringing dramatic change, new foundation

An oasis of faith becomes a vow

 

Discovering new hope, suffering ends

God’s light shines ahead of our faithful steps

Stumbling and failing, no longer contend

God’s Glory reigns supreme, without missteps

 

Old ways transforming to a better life

Exchanging total control with our Lord

God’s Grace gives, without cutting like a knife

His everlasting love, brings rich accord

 

God’s army of angels, walking ahead

Lonely road left . . . following Christ instead

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Franklin Graham Quote

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Depositing our faith in Jesus means God is now responsible for us, because He has purchased us.

From Proverbs 3:5-8:  “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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Never support experience which does not have God as its source, and faith in God as its result.

From James 2:14-17:  “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?  Can faith save you?  If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?  So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”

Max Lucado Quote

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In our faith we follow in someone’s steps.  In our faith we have footprints to guide others.  It’s the principle of discipleship.

From 1 Timothy 4:12:  “Be an example to the believers in Word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”