Have you ever noticed how people behave in storms? Bad weather keeps us inside. We want to stay out of a storm. We're having some much-needed rains here in southern California now, and I notice fewer cars on the road-- and most conversations include something about rain-- and it's negative-- mud slides, flooding, destroyed property, hydro-planing on the highway-- storm talk. Every once in a while I encounter some jolly soul who enjoys and thanks God for rain, someone who doesn't jump at the opportunity to complain. Storms are a great opportunity to complain. I'm from Minnesota and I know about storms. Blizzards, tornados, raging winds and blinding snow in subzero weather-- but oddly enough I don't have a single childhood memory of complaining about the weather. We just faced the storms.
I often joke with native Californians and tell them they don't know what Real Weather is like. We Minnesotans know about Real Weather. So do North and South Dakotans and all Midwesterners and Easterners. How about Alaskans? How do they handle their storms? They face them.
There's simply no other way. Avoiding a storm won't make it go away. Hiding from it won't give us what we long for. We meet with endless storms of life-- maybe you're going through one right now-- The Lord empowers you with the Word of His Spirit: "Be strong and of good courage..." I pray you
don't run from your storm, or hide under the covers, or complain about it-- be strong and of good courage-- Please check out my website for more. http://www.mariechapian.com/
My Friends have come to know that I love the rain. On a rainy day someone will call and in the midst of conversation they will say, "isn't this a dreary day..." and I always say' "no it's a lovely day the Lord has made." Then I remind them of the dafodils...God's eternal light is always shining even on the darkest days. Since that day that my then 5 year old son and I took that hike to see what God wanted to show us in the pouring down rain, I have looked at rain through different eyes.
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of it.
I love the sound of it.
I love to watch it come down.
I simply love the rain.
It makes me think of God's word and I rejoice.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without making it bud and flourish so that it yeilds seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth, it will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11
Even in a storm with wind and all I know that all things work together for the good of God for those called according to His purpose. He sends his messengers on the wings of the wind...We just have to be still, listen, and then obey...
We have a place on the back waters of the Ohio river and we have seen our share of flooding and frequent winds here but have not had any real damage to speak of... Praise the Lord!!!!
Shalom....From His delighted servant
Storms will tell what kind of foundation a life has been built upon. Those who withstand a storm have built their life on God's word. His word is Rock solid...
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