Lord, Thank You For the Rain!

We’ve been having downpours of rain for the last few days. Aw, sweet rain! We are on a water ration here in Frisco – only one day a week do we get to water our yards. In this Texas heat, that just hasn’t been enough water and my lawn has suffered. I've lost two holly bushes and some plants in pots (I'm out of town too much to give them the TLC and water they need.)

For the times this summer when we could have used a good, soaking rain and it didn’t come to these last few days when it came in abundance, I still offer thanks to God in times of lack and times of plenty. Now, with this drenching by these autumn rains, my pots are so full of water, that the plants (what few remained) are swimming for their lives. "I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and oil." (Deuteronomy 11:14)

These rains have reminded me of the blessings of God. Feeling like we're in a dry, barren land and a spiritual and emotional drought has sometimes consumed us. Other times, we are in amazement at the downpour of blessings that fill our “joy” pots to overflowing. You know those times -- when we’ve prayed for “rain” (answered prayer) and a healing takes place after we were given a negative diagnosis, or our child was healed, or the "free" tire change, a $10 discount on a purchase, the unexpected check in the mail, the word from a friend that says "Your post today was exactly what I needed". These are all personal stories when I knew it was God in the form of a downpour -- every time.

As we were raising funds for our Walk for Life last weekend, I was bound and determined to walk even though I had something terribly wrong going on in my leg. I walked with a limp because the pain was so intense. I prayed for it, massaged it, iced it and sat in a hot tub with jets pounding on it, and it wasn’t getting any better. Then, on Wednesday night, I was at a prayer meeting at my church that started with singing beautiful songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. As I sat on that hard chair, the pain in my leg was throbbing, so I got up and walked to the back of the room and with all-out worship and praise, raising my hands and singing “love songs” to my Father, walking back and forth from one side of the room to the other, the pain completely left me. That was one week ago today. I walked in the Walk for Life and I still have no pain in that leg. I sincerely believe I received a miracle. A drought (pain) was once a part of my life, but the downpour of healing came. Today I am soaking in gratitude.

I assure you, God comes in the seasons of dryness, barrenness, and drought if we express gratitude in the midst of that season. In the dry seasons, our Father is working out things for our good. He’s a good, good Father who wants to give His kids great ideas, discernment, creativity, wisdom, knowledge and all kinds of exciting things that can turn our drought season to downpour season. We call on Him and He will open the windows of heaven to us. Deuteronomy 28:12 says “The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.”

Let it rain, Lord, let it pour!

I Will Not Just Survive….I Will Thrive in This Heat!

I moved into my home a year ago in April, and I continue to be surprised by the plants around my home that the previous owners left me: the gardenia bushes, the redbud tree, and my canna lily plants. A wise-and-more-in-tune-with-gardening person would have spotted these lovely plants when they first walked onto the grounds of this place, but this gal – who was missing a green thumb from the start, never gave them a second look – not until they were blooming.

Initially, the canna lilies looked kaput, but when I looked out at my backyard yesterday, I was surprised to see them in full bloom, hence, my inspiration for today’s post. Here's what I found out about canna lilies: “Canna lilies are beautiful, easy-to-grow plants that effortlessly bring a splash of the tropics to your garden. They’re especially welcome to gardeners with very hot summers. Where other flowers shrivel and wilt, canna lilies thrive in the heat.” Well, hello canna lilies, you are in the right place at the right time in this Texas heat. Other plants have died (check out my poor holly that is dead as a doornail because of the heat AND the fact that our water here in Frisco is rationed.) The heat causes those canna lilies to thrive.

Here it comes. Another of my life analogies. I’ve heard some cranky folks lately complaining about this Texas heat. I remind them “Hang in there. In a couple of months, the cooler temperatures will arrive and you’ll thrive again!” I laughed when I saw my Canadian cousin’s FB post a couple of days ago. “It was a chilly night, but we still enjoyed eating outside and the kiddos thought the pool was nice and warm.” I commented: “Lord, forgive me for longing for that cool weather! She replied: “Lord, forgive me for longing for that Texas heat!"

We can all relate to experiencing heat – both in the climate and in times of pressure when our "top is about to blow", during a heated-up conversation or debate with someone or we’re in hot water because of something we said or did. Are we like the canna lily and thrive with the heat or are we like my poor holly bush? What keeps us calm in the times of the storms that come as heat waves? What keeps us cool when the heat is on?
Eleanor Roosevelt gave this quote about a woman, but I think it’s applicable to men as well. “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”

And, that is so true. I’ve seen women and men who rise and shine, who accelerate, who go to a whole new level in their faith and confidence and trust in God when they are under some of the direst circumstances. My husband had a quote on his desk that faced him every day “In the middle of adversity lies opportunity!” That’s how we can make it during the heat. We take it on with all-out fervor and say “Bring on the heat! I was made for this. God power-packed me to win and I will! I will come out of this heat and not even smell like smoke!”

In Daniel 3:23-27 we hear about three Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who Nebuchadnezzar threw into the fiery furnace because they wouldn’t bow down to his idol. Their trust was in the one true God. And, in the midst of the hottest heat ever, the Son of God showed up right there in the heat with them. And, that’s the key for us when we’re under pressure and the situation and adversity have over-heated us. Trusting in God in the midst of the heat. Daniel 3:27 concludes that story of the three Hebrews with these words: “Then the officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn't even smell of smoke!!” And that will be our story, too! As we wholly trust in God Who causes us to triumph and come out of our “furnace situations”, we will survive and thrive like my canna lilies IN THE HEAT!