What If Blessings Come From Raindrops?

If we could measure our blessings by raindrops that have come to Frisco for the last week and, now, it shows rain every day through Sunday, then we would be overwhelmed with blessings. On Monday, I returned home from Austin in unceasing, torrential rain most all the way in which driving was extremely intense. My plan for a 4-hour trip was dashed because of the necessary slower driving. Somehow, rain doesn't seem to be a blessing during that time. But I’ve found out, and you probably have, too, that many times in life, blessings do come from raindrops.

Laura Story wrote a song entitled “What If Blessings Come From Raindrops?” based on the incredible blessings she had as a Grammy award-winning songwriter and recording artist. The faith Laura sang about was put to the test when her husband was on breathing machines after brain tumor surgery. He also had significant post-operative vision and memory loss. She said, "I spent my whole life singing, 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,' but until Jesus took me through something where my only option was to trust Him, I didn't really know that sweetness. It's hard to understand why God would allow us to go through this, but I know He works all things together for good. When He leads us through valleys, we get to trust Him and draw closer to Him all the more. Though I've doubted, His grasp has never released, never slipped. He's remained completely faithful to me. He has proven that He really is my foundation and my hope."

She went on: "I'd like to tell those going through tough times, 'God will fix your situation', but He just may not fix it. Scripture doesn't promise we'll understand everything while we're on this side of heaven, but it does tell us the broken things in this life will find their greater purpose in His redemption story. God promises there is a purpose for the pain we're going through. He promises He's doing something greater when we don't understand it.

I can vouch for what Laura said. I had to give reasons for the hope and peace that I had during my husband's illness and his graduation to heaven. People asked me, "How can you have so much joy?" Like Laura, I said, "My joy is found in Jesus. It's not found in my circumstances. I can't guarantee things will get better. But I can guarantee I'm going to get better. Life isn't all good, but God promises He will work it ALL together FOR GOOD for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28).

I urge you to listen to this beautiful song, written and sung by Laura. Perhaps it's a "rainy" season in your world today. This song may give you the encouragement you need to realize that though it might be raining, God's plans include the SUN shining again and you will come back stronger, wiser, and more joy-filled if you let Him fill you up with His goodness and mercy. What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ

Opportunities Often Come in the Storm

I thought about this Christmas cartoon when I witnessed a Texas-size hailstorm last night. LOL! Actually, it was a sight to be behold, and hear pounding on the roof of my kids' home. Just as it was starting to come down (pea-sized), Larry quickly put my car in the garage. Soon after that, the sizes were way over golf ball size as seen in this second photo. Larry timed the hailstorm by recording it. It lasted over 8 minutes with 2 inches reported. It is suspected that many homes' roofs will have been damaged because it came down in heavy winds. Sirens were also going off as a tornado watch was out and one of the kids' friends came upon the hail as he was driving on the highway, lost control of his car and ran into a concrete embankment. Fortunately, he is okay, but his car isn't. Whew! And I thought Oklahoma had weather excitement!

I understand that hailstorms are frequent here in Texas which means that roofing companies get plently of business. A good friend of Larry and Staci has a roofing company and immediately, he was saying, "Thank you, Lord", along with posting his business info on FB. Cominic just might be saying: "Opportunity comes in the midst of difficulty." That is what It's like for a good friend of mine who is a funeral home owner and mortician says "We never pray for anyone to die, but we do pray "When they do, we're here to serve them!" I think Dominic must say the same thing "We don't pray for a hailstorm, but when one comes, we can serve you!"

Dominic, knowing Payton and Alexia are working very hard to earn the funds they need for their Guatemala Missions Trip in July, gave them a call and said, "I'll give you $200 for every referral you can get me to come out and do an inspection and then repair their roof. You should have seen those two kids going into action -- on social media, calling, text messaging and emailing every homeowner they knew! Blessings often come during times of difficulty -- times of storms. Mercies in disguise.

This reminded me of a beautiful song, "Laura's Song". It speaks of the blessings that come during trials of our lives. I know it will bless you to hear it, too. The link is below:

What if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights,
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0

Blessings Through Raindrops

Day 154 of Photo Inspirations -- Blessings Through Raindrops

I turned on Pandora and this song by Mercy River was playing.   Oftentimes I listen to songs, but really don't pay too much attention to the words.  But, this time, not only was I hearing the words as though they were straight from heaven, I felt so impressed to play them for my family. Staci immediately said, "Mom, don't you remember how I sang that song when Daddy was so sick?  It was such a great comfort to me."

So, today, I share them with you.  They just may be the words coming straight from heaven to you.  The verses carefully detail how we typically pray.  We ask God to comfort us, protect us, ease our pain.  This song called ”Blessings”, is such a powerful lesson.  Most people think life should be good, and that the ”blessing” is smooth, easy days, being healthy, care-free, and  financially secure.
 
This song tells it better than I can.  Here are the lyrics, and here is the link to this beautiful song.  I hope you listen and watch this video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGniRk_GcLs

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace; comfort for family, protection while we sleep; we pray for healing, for prosperity. We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering, And all the while, You hear each spoken need, yet love us way too much to give us lesser things.

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear. We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near. We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love, as if every promise from Your word is not enough. And all the while, You hear each desperate plea,
and long that we’d have faith to believe.

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us; when darkness seems to win, we know that pain reminds this heart, that this is not, this is not our home.  It’s not our home.

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life, Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy? What if trials of this life -- the rain, the storms, the hardest nights --
Are your mercies in disguise?

Isaiah 41:10
”Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you.”

Yes, God hears those prayers......and answers each and every one -- in His time and His way.  When we understand His profoun love for us, then we'll understand that the "stuff" we encounter (the trials of this life) are His tender mercies in disguise.  He knows that without the trials and learning to seek Him through the pain, we may not know our desperate need for Him.  God is so rich in His mercies and ON PURPOSE to bring about the very BEST for our lives.  So....we trust in Him.....knowing that "ALL THESE THINGS are working together for OUR GOOD......"Romans 8:28.  Thank you, Father God.  Indeed the rain and the storms are your mercies in disguise.