My Rain Collection (Why I Love Rain)

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.-Hosea 10:12

     I was searching for some Bible verses today and I came across the verse above.  Isn't that verse exciting?  It makes me think of that story that was told in the movie "Facing the Giants."  You can view that scene in the movie here.  If you've watched the movie before you may recall that Mr. Bridges tells the story of two farmers who prayed for God to send rain, but only one of those farmers went out to prepare his fields to receive the rain.  Mr. Bridges then asks Coach Taylor which one he thinks received the rain, to which the coach replies, "The one who prepared his fields for it."  Mr. Bridges continues by challenging him with the question, "Which one are you?"  He goes on to point out that God will send the rain when He's ready but we need to prepare to receive it.

     Doesn't that fit the verse from Hosea?  ". . .Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you" (emphasis mine).  Isaiah 55:10-11 also gives a wonderful picture through rain (or snow):

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven    and do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth;    it shall not return to Me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.-Isaiah 55:10-11

     Isn't that an incredible promise?  Every single time that I read/speak/hear/memorize God's Word He promises that it will serve His purpose for shaping and molding me to be more like Jesus.  I'm often challenged . . . am I preparing my heart for rain?  When I go to church, or youth group, or when I just open my Bible every morning out of "habit" am I praying and begging God to break up my "ground," or in other words, give me a broken and contrite heart?

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.-Psalm 51:1

     Another Scripture that I love is Psalm 72:6:

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,    like showers that water the earth!

     Isn't the LORD ("He is") like rain on mown grass?  Jesus Christ is the Truth (which sets us free!).  He is Life.  When we enter into His presence He relieves us of our burdens and sins, and He refreshes us . . . like refreshing rain on mown grass!  I love that picture.

     I love rain.  It's refreshing and cleansing.  Every time it rains it reminds me of these verses . . . and every time it rains I want to sing "Word of God Speak" or the chorus to "Blessings."  Rain makes me happy, and it brings me closer to God because it reminds me to pray and thank God for these promises, and ask Him soften my heart so that I may be saturated, soaked, and overflowing with His grace and love.

     P.S.  If you really want to hear rain right now, go to: rainymood.com (If it slows your computer down considerably try clicking the tiny pause button at the bottom of the page.  That should help some.)

Daring to Love

O LORD, who shall sojourn in Your tent?
    Who shall dwell on Your holy hill?
. . .
[He] who swears to his own hurt and does not change.
-Psalm 15:1, 4b

     Reading through Psalm fifteen several weeks ago I've especially been meditating on this part of verse four.  "Who swears to his own hurt and does not change."  Isn't that what Jesus did?  When He walked on this earth He committed to love those around Him.  He didn't love only when it was convenient but He also went out of His way to love.  Even when He was hurt by his closest friends/disciples He still loved them and He did not change.  He committed to love all of us by sacrificing Himself for our sins and becoming our Righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).  Even though we mocked Him upon that cross He still loved us.

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”-Luke 23:34a

      Jesus dared to love, even when He hurt from it.  He committed to love even when it hurt the most and He did not turn aside.  He submitted to the Father's will even in His own anguish and bore the entire wrath of God on our behalf.  Now He commissions us to love as He loves us.

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."-John 15:12

     Do I dare to love those whom God has placed in my life?  Do I commit to love family and friends even when I may hurt from it?  Do I stay true to my commitment though I may not feel like I can love them? 

     Ruth hurt a lot when she committed to love Naomi.  She was willing to become humiliated multiple times on behalf of offering Naomi a better life.  Through all of the heartache that Naomi and Ruth faced God blessed the acts of their selfless, hesed love in amazing ways.

     Hesed love: the kind of love that is loyal.

     Committing to love others isn't easy but in the power of Christ it is possible and the rewards are tremendous . . . whether gained in this life or beyond.

Give!  Give the love we have all received to those around you.  Give until it hurts, because real love hurts.  That is why you must love until it hurts.-Mother Teresa

"He Is"

     This video on http://bravehearted.com/ is incredible.  It's eleven minutes of who God is (all the names of God) with ever single Scripture reference included.  Don't stop watching the video until it's finished! :)

"I Have No Good Apart From You"

     Last night I was reading through Psalm 16.  I think this one is becoming a favorite.  I love the verses, and as I read God brings to mind other verses.  It's really cool how there is SO much life in each individual verse in Scripture and yet it all fits together like one big puzzle!

Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge.I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;    I have no good apart from You.”  Psalm 16:1-2  ESV

     I can go to so many other things to try and take refuge from the storms of life.  But only God is a true refuge in times of trouble.  Praying verse one really helps me to remember to go only to Him.  There are so many other verses in Psalms that correspond with this one.  Psalm 27:1 and 118:6 are favorites (you should take a minute to grab your Bible and read them, even though you're probably familiar with them).  I also like meditating through Psalm 18.
     "LORD" when in all caps in the English Bible means "YHWH," often pronounced, "Yahweh."  The proper translation is "He is" (third person).  I love it whenever I read this because "He is" holds so much meaning.  You could say, "He is . . . what?  He is love?  He is forgiving?  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever?  He is forever-present?"  Well, yes . . . but He is so much MORE than that!  He . . . is.  He just is.  He is more than my words will ever say.  ♥
     Last of all, "I have no good apart from You" is a really strong statement.  Often my Christian life doesn't reflect this.  There are things in this world I can feel like I can't live without.  But the truth is that apart from Christ I have nothing good!  This also acknowledges that I cannot bring myself good.  I do not . . . cannot bring good bring good to anyone, including myself.  I am not good.  There is nothing good in me.  This brings to mind a passage from John 15:

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  John 15:4-5

     Perhaps the God's spiritual giants never become less weak or less dependent on God.  Perhaps spiritual giants are those who are most aware of their own weakness and dependency on God.  For God's power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10).