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!

What Are You Passionate About?

After our Walk for Life yesterday morning, I made it home in time to hear the announcement that Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed as Supreme Court Justice. I thought about the passion that had been displayed during this process by the opposing sides, the media, the senators, the activists that pounded their way into the chambers; incredibly emotional and convinced people on both sides. Then I saw emotions rise even higher as angry protesters passionately chanted on the steps of the supreme court. One thing’s for sure: They ARE passionate. I’ll be honest with you – I sensed my passion needed a pick-me-up in comparison to those highly passionate men and women I saw standing up for what they believe in – right or wrong.

Yesterday morning, some of our EMwomen joined other passionate people in the Walk/Hike for Life in McKinney, TX. There were booths set up with passionate representatives from homes for pregnant, homeless women that provide hope and help to them. Centers were represented for women who need healing after choosing abortion and for helping women to choose life. There are many people who are passionate about “choosing life” and who devote themselves to many volunteer hours to help make a difference. What is it that drives these people to give of their time to causes like this? What drove our little band of women and one strong man to raise funds and to show up to walk for life? It was the passion to make a difference.

It's time we all become passionate people -- to be those who put our lives on the line for a cause that radically changes the face of our country. Nothing great is ever accomplished in life without passion. Nothing great is ever sustained in life without passion. Passion is what energizes revolutions and mobilizes armies into action. Passion is what causes explorers to boldly go where no man's gone before. Passion is what causes scientists to spend late night hours trying to find the cure to a dreaded disease. Passion makes the impossible possible. Passion gives us a reason to get up in the morning and say, "I’m going to do something with my life today." Who wants a boring, monotonous, routine life? God created us with the emotions to have passion in our lives and He wants us to live a passionate life.

Today, I ask, “What are you passionate about?” Are you passionate enough to give your all to a cause that could change the world? That kind of passion changed the U.S. when the Roe vs Wade decision was made 45 years ago. Since 1973, as of 5 am today, there have been 60,780,461 abortions; murders of precious babies (the ticker went up one by one as I watched online). What kind of passion drove prayer out of our schools and the 10 commandments from public spaces? What kind of passion was changed the definition of marriage between a man and a woman? My fellow believers in God’s Word, IT IS TIME to wake up and be heard with our passion for life, for morality, for righteousness and the truth of God’s Word. We must not be silent and nonchalant any longer. It's time we stir up our passion and register to vote in the November 6th election.

The passion of Jesus led to the redemption of man. We can model His passion. The Bible tells us that we’re to seek God passionately. We’re to love God passionately. The Bible says that we’re to serve and obey God passionately. We’re to trust God passionately. Then as if we didn’t get the message, in Colossians 3:23 He says "Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart as unto the Lord and not unto men." He says I want you to do everything passionately when it comes to loving Me, serving Me, living for Me.