Let It Rain!

Today is my day of surgery. I’m going to schedule a little longer post for this morning. Please spend some time in worship today.

Below is a post I wrote the other day before my surgery plans changed. It is still as real as ever…

I’ve been in a season of struggles lately. (I guess that’s what you call it). I was living my dream, then I had some health struggles that ended up in a stroke which down the road led to many changes in life. These changes have had a plenty of frustration but also in the middle of the frustrations was blessings. These have been moments I could never ask for but I truly believe it has been the hand of God at work knowing what I need. His love, his provision, his guidance has been a blessing and I hope I live a life testifying of his hand at work.

I’ve mentioned doing The Bible Recap bible reading plan, in the plan we just finished Zecharaiah. The other day we read Zecharaiah 10. Verse 1 from Zecharaiah 10 hit me:

Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;
    it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms.
He gives showers of rain to all people,
    and plants of the field to everyone. – Zecharaian 10:1

My mind in this reading asked, “Why the springtime, that’s when it rains.” I looked this verse up in my ESV study bible which in the commentary mentioned that pagan god followers such as Baal claimed they also controlled the rain. “Oh, ok…” I thought. It also pointed to verses in Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?
    Do the skies themselves send down showers?
No, it is you, Lord our God.
    Therefore our hope is in you,
    for you are the one who does all this. -Jeremiah 14:22

“Worthless!” I enjoyed that part. In a world of worthless goals (or dreams) they’re all worthless. As my pastor, Rob Leonard, has said for years: “There’s only two thing that last through time: the words of God and the souls of men” and why I cannot get that to stick in my think skull I do not know. Worthless, I have to keep telling myself that (I’m still not there being able to admit it fully). He’s the one who sends the rain. He’s the one my hope should be in.

 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. -Ezekiel 34:26

There they are again seasons and showers. God sends them. We are coming out of summer right now (thank you God!) As the season changes we’ve had some rain lately. In the midst of the summer we did not have a lot of rain but I see things still living outdoors off the rain we received earlier this year but then the rain comes and everything perks up (grass to be mowed included).

In this round of questions on seasons I had to take a good look at the seasons of my life. My God has been at work in my life in the good and the difficult seasons. He has provided and told me in multiple ways he has a plan so I’m here saying:

Let It Rain!

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I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. -Psalm 16:8

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” -Luke 17:20-21

Remember, our savior Jesus is not in that tomb any longer…

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. -Matthew 28:6

“In the darkness we were waiting, without hope, without light…”

Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, three in one
God of glory, Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings

My favorite part of this song…

And the morning that You rose

All of heaven held its breath

Till that stone was moved for good

For the Lamb had conquered death

Do you know him?

I believe salvation is as easy as ABC. Admit You’re A Sinner, Believe Jesus Is Lord, Call Upon His Name (Confess).

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

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Thanks!

-Michael Gilbert