Joel 2:23-26
Be glad then, you children of Zion,
And rejoice in the LORD your God;
For He has given you the former rain faithfully,
And He will cause the rain to come down for you —
The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,
And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
"So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army which I sent among you.
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
And praise the name of the LORD your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame.” NKJV
Isn’t it wonderful that when you’ve really blown it, and all the things you were warned about have happened, that the Lord still has a rescue plan available? He is willing, not only to save us from evil, but to restore the things that our sin has stolen from us. Because of their rebellion against the Lord and worshiping false gods, Israel went through severe persecution and bondage. Yet, when they turned again to the Lord and went back to their roots, God delighted in granting abundant renewal and restoration.
We Your children pray, Holy Spirit rain;
Let Your Glory come down!
Heaven’s river, flow so the world will know
That Your Glory’s come down!
We, Your people hunger for Your presence;
We are thirsty for the rain!
Breathe on us refreshing Wind of Glory;
Touch Your people once again!
Breath of Heaven, fill Your people;
Let Your Glory come down!
(Kevin Jonas)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Coming Rain
Hosea 6:3
Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD.
His going forth is established as the morning;
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.
NKJV
Sweet Jesus, the knowledge of Him is the catalyst for rain—rain poured out on our hearts and souls—satiation of thirst, relief of drought. Seek Him out. Run to Him. Chase after Him. Persist. Pursue. For He said, “you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.” He is not some nefarious wisp, a nebulous concept that defies logic, but He is as established as the morning. As certain as the sun rises, He is there waiting and calling to us. When we accept Him and surrender to His will, the dryness in our soul and spirit will be no more. His love pours through us like a fountain of water. It brings life, breaks the chains of bondage, and lifts us up to a true fulfillment of our potential: freedom to be true to our destiny, freedom to be what He created us to be.
Come, every one who is thirsty in spirit;
Come, every one who is weary and sad.
Come to the fountain; there’s fullness in Jesus
All that you’re longing for; Come and be glad.
(Ho, Everyone Who is Thirsty, Lucy J. Myers)
Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD.
His going forth is established as the morning;
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.
NKJV
Sweet Jesus, the knowledge of Him is the catalyst for rain—rain poured out on our hearts and souls—satiation of thirst, relief of drought. Seek Him out. Run to Him. Chase after Him. Persist. Pursue. For He said, “you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.” He is not some nefarious wisp, a nebulous concept that defies logic, but He is as established as the morning. As certain as the sun rises, He is there waiting and calling to us. When we accept Him and surrender to His will, the dryness in our soul and spirit will be no more. His love pours through us like a fountain of water. It brings life, breaks the chains of bondage, and lifts us up to a true fulfillment of our potential: freedom to be true to our destiny, freedom to be what He created us to be.
Come, every one who is thirsty in spirit;
Come, every one who is weary and sad.
Come to the fountain; there’s fullness in Jesus
All that you’re longing for; Come and be glad.
(Ho, Everyone Who is Thirsty, Lucy J. Myers)
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Healing Rain
Jer 5:24b-25
"Let us now fear the LORD our God,
Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season.
He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest."
Your iniquities have turned these things away,
And your sins have withheld good from you.
NKJV
What an awesome encouragement Jeremiah is giving to the people of God. Hard times have come. Crops are slim. People are hurting. The economy is spiraling out of control. Frustration, depression, anxiety, anger, and turmoil fill the land. Calamity is right around the corner. This could be today. The feeling is the same: helplessness, despair, grasping at anything or anyone that offers hope. Yet, our hope should be in the Lord. Jeremiah’s command to the people was one born out of wisdom, experience, and an attunement to God that few people realize. Fear the Lord, who is our God. Reverence and respect Him, give Him the glory He deserves. He is the One who is in control of the heavens and the earth. He is the One who sends the rain—but remember it will come in its season. Hold fast to what you have heard and learned from Him. Harvest is reserved for you. Do not allow sin in your heart to keep you from the good God has stored up. The rain will come, in its season—in God’s time.
Healing rain, it comes with fire
So let it fall and take us higher.
Healing rain, I’m not afraid
To be washed in Heaven’s rain.
Lift your heads, let us return
To the mercy seat where time began,
And in your eyes I see the pain.
Come soak this dry heart with healing rain.
(Healing Rain by Michael W. Smith)
"Let us now fear the LORD our God,
Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season.
He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest."
Your iniquities have turned these things away,
And your sins have withheld good from you.
NKJV
What an awesome encouragement Jeremiah is giving to the people of God. Hard times have come. Crops are slim. People are hurting. The economy is spiraling out of control. Frustration, depression, anxiety, anger, and turmoil fill the land. Calamity is right around the corner. This could be today. The feeling is the same: helplessness, despair, grasping at anything or anyone that offers hope. Yet, our hope should be in the Lord. Jeremiah’s command to the people was one born out of wisdom, experience, and an attunement to God that few people realize. Fear the Lord, who is our God. Reverence and respect Him, give Him the glory He deserves. He is the One who is in control of the heavens and the earth. He is the One who sends the rain—but remember it will come in its season. Hold fast to what you have heard and learned from Him. Harvest is reserved for you. Do not allow sin in your heart to keep you from the good God has stored up. The rain will come, in its season—in God’s time.
Healing rain, it comes with fire
So let it fall and take us higher.
Healing rain, I’m not afraid
To be washed in Heaven’s rain.
Lift your heads, let us return
To the mercy seat where time began,
And in your eyes I see the pain.
Come soak this dry heart with healing rain.
(Healing Rain by Michael W. Smith)
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