It's All In How You Look At It

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

John 10:28-30 

 

This has been a rough week.  Ever had one of those?  One of those weeks where you just can't seem to get anything right?  When these times come around, I have the tendency to come down hard on myself.  I will doubt myself. I will berate myself. I will also tend to not like myself.

 

But it is in these times that God will allow me a short pity party and then He will remind me to change my perspective. He will remind me that I am His and nothing....absolutely NOTHING can change that.  He will remind me that Christ came to this earth, giving up everything He had in Heaven, just so He could love me, understand me and save me.  I will be reminded that my Abba holds me in His hand and protects me and loves me.  I will be reminded that there is NOTHING that can ever separate us from the love of Christ. 

 

He will remind me that the negativity is from the Pit Dweller and to let it go.  He will remind me that the Pit Dweller has no power over me because Christ died for me.  He will remind me that as a child of the King of Kings, I should hold my head up and remember just whose I am.  And when I look at my life from that perspective...I'm not drenched, I feel the rain and welcome it!

Let It Nourish

Let my teaching fall on you like rain;
    let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass,
    like gentle showers on young plants.

Deuteronomy 32:2 

 

Ever notice how much we moan, groan and complain when the forecast calls for rain on the weekends?  I used to work with a person who, quite literally, ranted and yelled when the weekend forecast called for rain.  Some people hate rainy days.  I, personally, like rainy days (except having to be on the road with people who have no idea how to drive in the rain).  Rainy days are times of reflection and contemplation for me.  

Think about this now, how many people don't like to think?  One would imagine that number would be fairly small, but quite the contrary is true.  Need proof? Think of all the people who go through the motions of their daily routine without ever once thinking about much of anything.  I confess, I can usually do that until the third cup of coffee kicks in.

What does rain do for us?  Well, it cleanses.  It washes pollen and dust out of the air.  It also cools us. It releases nutrients in the earth that help plants grow.  Rain refreshes!  

Now, what does Scripture do?  Well, it cleanses. It clears out our hearts and minds when we focus on God.  It refreshes the anxious, depressed, and weary spirit.  Scripture REFRESHES!

 

Let God's teaching fall on you like rain!

Let God's love settle on you like dew.

Let God's words fall on you like tender grass, 

like gentle showers on young plants. (Feeding, nourishing and restoring you).

When It Rains...

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:18 

 

In the movie "Forrest Gump," there is a scene where Forrest is waist deep in water and monsoon season starts.  Forrest said, "One day it started raining, and it didn't stop for FOUR MONTHS!"  He and his platoon members walked in the rain, sat in the rain, slept in the rain, ate in the rain and the rain just kept on coming.

 

Ever have one of those seasons of life where it feels like the rain just won't stop?  You feel like Job when the messenger came to deliver bad news and before he could finish speaking, here came the next messenger with bad news and before he could finish speaking, ANOTHER messenger came with bad news.  It feels as though the bottom has dropped out of your world and you are helpless.

 

Let me give you a couple of Ponder Points:

•  Storms are going to come in life.  If we didn't have storms, we wouldn't appreciate the sunshine as much.
• Just because we can't see the sun during the storm doesn't mean the sun isn't there.  Look above the clouds and you will see the sunshine!
• When the rains come, we have a choice to make: cower and cry OR let the rain cleanse us.  God sometimes brings the rains to clear away the dust that has clouded our sight for so long.
• Sometimes God allows storms for the sole purpose of reminding us that HE is the one who is in control and that we need to look to Him!  He never leaves us, but sometimes we forget to remember that.  
• Talk with God through the storms! Remembering that all His Son had to do was tell the storm to quiet down, and it obeyed.