The Sweet Signs of Memories

Today was a day of longing and nostalgia.  The sun showed itself for a short time today and heated the area to a thick 80 degrees.  Once again I found myself complaining about something; this time it was the heat!  After I persisted in complaining for a little while in my heart, God put something else in place.  It was not a rebuke as I probably deserved but rather memories that reminded me of wonderful things that come with spring.  Walking outside I felt the heat beating on me (I did not dress for high temps) but then there was a wonderful light, not hair blowing, breeze that pushed away the humidity for a little while.  Immediately I thought of camp, a place that is like a home away from home.  A place where I feel so comfortable and close to my Heavenly Father.  I smiled.  Even though there was no one around, I smiled.  As it brightened my face and mood, I took a deep breath caught the faint smell of a campfire.  I don't understand why someone would be making a fire but it placed me even more in the land of camp.  Coming home today, we drove through a thunderstorm.  With camp on the mind, I began to think of the great bonding time and conversations I had during those restricting storms.  I can't wait to go back! 

These sweet signs pushed the ugly thoughts from my mind and heart.  To God be the glory! ... and I am so grateful that I will be there this summer once again for the campfires, breezes, thunderstorms, and a beautiful getaway to spend time learning more about my Father.

Rain, rain go away... or not

Rain, rain, go away... I found my self singing this catchy song this week as the rain persisted to pour down in my area.  I grumbled about how I had to walk here and there in the rain, run in the rain, drive in the rain.... and the list goes on!  For the entire week, the sun did not show its beautiful face and everyone, including myself, was a little grumpy and depressed.

About a year ago exactly, God showed me something amazing.  I was grumbling about the overflow of spring rain and then God brought the song 'Grace Like Rain' to my heart.  I couldn't stop singing it.  The song talks about God pouring down grace just like rain falls down.  It changed the rain's image in my mind to something wonderful and glorious.  GRACE!  I was struggling with other things at the same time this rain was persisting last spring and God very obviously poured out His overwhelming grace on me.  Forever I will remember the symbol of grace tied to rain.  This is where our blog name came from.  Both of us know that God will continue to pour out His grace on us (no matter if there is rain or drought) but the idea that we can remember God's grace ever time it rains is powerful; therefore we titled the blog: Rain Evermore!

I woke up this morning and once again it was raining.  But I've chosen to praise God for the rain, and I hope you will too.  If the rain just becomes a drag, starting singing 'Grace Like Rain' and praising God for His complete control of all things and abounding grace!

Set Apart

Have you ever been giddy over God?  That is how I would describe that last couple of weeks for me.  Although I can't say that life has been 'great', I almost haven't noticed.  Let me explain.  I was confused a few weeks ago; it seemed as if I was no different than those around me.  This is no entirely bad except that through Jesus Christ we are transformed (aka. making us different).  I want to look like a sheep and be a sheep among the goats.  So I prayed a scary prayer: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)  I prayed before I realized what I had just done. Suddenly God started bringing things to mind.  Things that I was letting stay in my life and heart that were not holy and pleasing to God.  Some were easy to get rid of in my life, I just never realized they were there.  But others, deeper down, I knew of and didn't want to touch.  When it came to these certain things, I honestly didn't want to obey God.  I began to hear the voice of Satan say, "Did God really say..."  However, God gave me strength beyond I could imagine to obey Him.  One of these hard things to get rid of was going to Prom.  Please don't get me wrong, I'm not condemning Prom, but in my own life God said it wasn't necessary.  He said to me: "If you truly want to know me more, why would you spend a night selfishly."  What?  What about having fun?  This might seem really strange, but God showed me that it is so much more fulfilling to spend the time with Him.  This decision has brought criticism towards me, even from those who are older and I believe wiser than me.  It really hurt, but I honestly became even more happy, purely from obeying God. 

These strange things that God was showing seemed to be perfect, but I was getting no confirmation from other places.  I know I didn't need this, but I was really confused that God was doing this in my heart and many other Christians were looking at me strange.  A great friend of mine shared a book with me before this happened but I hadn't had a chance to read it yet.  The crazy thing was that as I was coming up with these why questions, I started to read that book titled Set-Apart Femininity by Leslie Ludy.  In this book, she addressed that in order to live the way that our Father God designed we must be set apart women who have given everything up in order to live sold out for Christ.  I was the perfect confirmation.  What is even more special about this situation is that God taught me this first, humans did not.  So through obedience and striving to live a set apart life I have become giddy over my Heavenly Father!  Do you want to be set apart too?  God desires it.