Listen for the Mighty Rain

"The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working)."  James 5:16

"We must keep on praying and waiting upon the Lord until the sound of mighty rain is heard."  Streams in the Desert

  Just wanted to drop by, visit a minute and encourage you.

  As I sat and watched the dark clouds approach, the first big drops hit the hot sidewalk with a loud splatter and drops of all sizes soon joined them in a huge downpour.  It was the beginning of a mighty rain.  As I watched the rain come down, I prayed, "Lord, how I want Your mighty rain to come in answer to my prayers."  I thought about what I had read about Elijah in the last few weeks---how there had been no rain for 3 1/2 years and after that space of time he then prayed for rain.  1 Kings 18:41-46 tells that Elijah prayed seven times for rain.  Let's take a look at the story and see what it can teach us about prayer.

  The Bible tells us that Elijah bowed himself prostrate to the ground and prayed for God to send the rain.  He then asked his servant to check and see if he saw anything on the horizon.  The servant answered that he had seen "Nothing."  Once again Elijah prayed.  "See anything, my servant?"  The answer again was "Nothing."  This went on seven times.  Prayer after prayer after prayer, but still nothing.  Finally, the answer came back;  "I see a small cloud the size of a man's hand in the far distance."  Elijah's response was "run!"  Can you imagine the way Elijah grabbed up his robe and took off down the mountain?  I'm sure he was thanking God and praising Him for His answer.

  I love Elijah's persistence in prayer.  I must confess that I sometimes give up if God has not answered to my liking after a few times on a specific request.  Elijah teaches us to be encouraged to keep on praying even when we see no fruit.  What about you?  Is there something you are praying about but have not received an answer yet?  Don't give up.  Keep praying.

  Let's summarize what can we learn from Elijah? 

1.  Be specific in our requests to God.

2.  Be persistent in our praying of requests to God.

3.  Pray according to God's will and His best in the situation.  It may require God re-directing our prayer to line up with His will

4.  Keep on praying, but understand that things happen in God's timing, not ours.  Here's a real life example:  I prayed for the salvation of my husband for over 6 years.  During that time, I would tell God that I wasn't going to pray for him anymore because I didn't see anything happening or see God working in his life.  God is so kind.  He would sweetly encourage me to pray one more day, reminding me that someone prayed one more day for me to come to know God.  And yes, God answered my prayer.  Talk about a mighty rain!

  I have several requests on my list that I am praying about.  I'm sure you do too.  Let's pray with the expectation of listening and looking for the mighty rain, His glorious answers to our prayers.  God is faithful!

  Don't give up, sweet friend.  Keep believing and praying.       

Jesus, Our Hope

"May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope."  Rom. 15:13 (Phillips)

Wow!  A cup of coffee tastes even better when you are visiting with a friend.  Let's do both!

  She sighed as she slowly closed the lid and taped up the last box.  It seemed to have finality about it, the ending of a season in her life.  But, the whole process felt like even more than that ... as if she were closing the top to the hope chest of her mind.  Both were filled with dreams, memories, and hopes she had desired in her life ... and both seemed to be coming to an end.  "This is silly," she thought to herself, "This is just one event in my life, but I am acting as if it will change everything."

  She knew this was the time to pray; yet her heart was so heavy.  "Lord, You have given me so many of my heart's desires, why do I now feel so hopeless now?  Help me to understand through Your Word and see what it is You are teaching me."

  Just as she breathed her prayer, her mind was quickly reminded of some verses in Jeremiah 17: 7, 8 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose hope the LORD is.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be anxious in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

  And, with that, she took hope in the Lord.

  I love these verses of encouragement.  What a wonderful visual, and promise to stand on!  The first part of the verse is the most crucial in our relationship with the Lord ... TRUST.  Trust in the Old Testament is the same word for believe and faith in the New Testament.  For us to trust means to believe God and His Word.  Trust literally means to lean on, to take refuge, to roll on, and to wait for.  Always remember that trusting God is a process that we journey through as we continually find our hope is in Him.  If our hope is in anything else ... our spouse, family, job, career, finances, etc. we will inevitably be disappointed.

  We have all had our hopes, dashed at one time or another, leaving us feeling hurt, disappointed, and empty, yet if we trust in the Lord, He will fill the hurt with Himself.

  The last part of that verse says the blessed are those "... whose hope the LORD is."  The word HOPE does not mean something we wish for, but conveys a truth, an assured fact---the fact of the resurrected Christ and what a difference He makes in our lives.

  As we grow in Christ and in the Word, we will be like a tree planted on fertile ground, with our root system receiving nourishment directly from Him.  In that growth, we find that we are established and found in Him.  Have you ever pictured yourself in that way?  I see us as starting out as that little sapling being planted in most precious soil by God.  Then, over the years, He nurtures us and tends to us---growing us until we become a most beautiful oak tree with boughs that are full of green leaves able to withstand the heat and the drought when it comes, and being a haven for others to come and find rest  Oh how He will keep us, even to the joy of still bearing fruit in our lives at difficult times.  Oh, doesn't that encourage you!

  Sweet friend, set your eyes and heart on Jesus, our hope.  Distractions and circumstances will come in your life, but He is so faithful to see us through and give us hope for each day.  I know, because He has done that for me and I depend on Him to continue to help me each day!

  I am so glad we had time to visit extra today.  I truly look forward to our times together.  I proclaim with you, "Jesus is our hope!"   

    

Yes Lord, I'm Listening

"And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.  Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth."  1 Samuel 3:10

I'm back!  Let's have our cup of coffee and visit.

  As the night shadows began to slip over the temple, Samuel hurriedly tried to finish his task. Samuel's priest, Eli, had already retired for the night and Samuel was eager to follow in his lead and head off to bed.  While performing his final task of the night, Samuel began to think of his mother and the coat she had made for him.  He knew the love that had been sewn into each and every seam.  It made him smile to remember when his parents had come to visit and given him the coat.  Each time he put it on he was thankful for their love and his special memories of them.

  But now he must turn back his thoughts to listening for Eli.  His room was close enough that Samuel could hear the priest in case he needed him  As Samuel lay down to sleep, he suddenly heard his name being called.  He raced into Eli's chamber to see what he needed, only to find out that Eli had not called him at all.  Returning to his cot, Samuel once again, heard his name being spoken.  And, once again, he ran to Eli's room.  "No, my son, I did not call you," Eli said.  But, then, it happened a third time.  This time Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling Samuel.  Eli instructed Samuel to go lie down and then told him what to say if the Lord called his name again.

  Samuel did as Eli says and lay down in his cot once more.  "Samuel, Samuel," he heard again.  This time Samuel responded to the Lord's calling by answering, "Speak, for thy servant heareth."

  Oh, how I love this story.  I was drawn to it not long ago as I was praying for each of my grandchildren, that as they get older, they might hear the voice of the Lord and respond the same way Samuel did.

  Then, of course, I thought about you and me.  Don't you love the way the Lord turns and asks us to examine our own hearts.  How many times the Lord calls to us,  yet we do not respond because we are too busy, or we have other sounds drowning out His voice, or we are afraid He may ask us to do something we do not want to do.

  I have a challenge for you and for me...when you hear the voice of the Lord, whether in reading the Word, or in your prayer time, or just by the thoughts the Holy Spirit gives you, respond.  He may be speaking to you about correction, or maybe some instruction, or giving you some direction for your life.  It could be in the area of improving your time with the Lord, in praise or thanksgiving, in obedience, or just by being still like Samuel and hearing the sweet voice of the Lord.  Whatever the time, when He speaks, respond, "Speak, for thy servant heareth."

  What an awesome privilege we have to hear His voice, the Creator of the Universe, who knows our name and takes the time to converse with us  May you be so blessed as you listen to His voice and then respond to what He asks of you.       

The Lord...Our Portion

"Thou art my portion, O Lord, I have said that I would keep thy words."  P119:57

"My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."  Ps. 73:26

  How fun is it that we can meet like this, have a cup of coffee, and talk about the Lord!

  There was an ancient custom among the Jews, of dividing the inheritance, whereby everyone received his allotted portion.  What comes to your mind when you think of the word "portion?"  It's a word that can mean a lot of different things depending on the context.  A "portion" can be an amount of something, a part of a whole, or, in some circumstances, it can be used to describe all that we need.

  Now, what does the word"portion" mean to you spiritually?  

  I am learning that "portion"---in the spiritual sense---means all that I need and have in Jesus Christ.  He is my portion---the Supplier of every need.

  John Mason in the Treasury of David helps to explain it this way:  "God is all sufficient; get him for your "portion,"  and you have it all; then you have infinite wisdom to direct you, infinite knowledge to teach you, infinite mercy to pity and save you, infinite love to care and comfort you and infinite power to protect and keep you."  God is your portion, all that you need.

  You will find the Lord to be your portion when temptations come, when sickness occurs, when finances are stretched, and when faith is tested.  You need to remind yourself and say, "God is my portion."  He is all that I need.  His love will sustain; His grace will be sufficient; and His presence a comfort.  He is all that to you and me---we just need to claim it!

  Realize the inheritance that has been allotted to you by Jesus Christ.  He is your portion, all that you need!