Inspire Me Monday: Like God's Rain

 

 I had  paint party for my friends this weekend.

I enjoyed seeing how they loved to bring out their "inner child"

and play with paints.

 And even if I taught them the same technique,

all their paintings were as unique and beautiful

as they themselves were.

That's how God created us!

Each with our own talents and gifts!

 I love how Aly beamed and was proud of her creation!

 And how Leslie wanted to do this again and again and again!

"He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth." Hosea 6:3

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 3:9: "We are God's garden, His field..." I can picture God as my gardener, making sure I am blooming and fragrant! He watches out for little pests that can make some of the plants wither, or even destroy the root systems. He also prunes and cuts away dead leaves.

I don't think we even realize that we carry around something dead with us every day. It's smelly and ugly, but we can't shake it off. It's our sin nature. It's the one that wants our own way, it's selfish, it's cranky, it's indulgent. But it's dead, because in baptism, Jesus pruned it away! We are dead to sin, but alive in Christ (Romans 6, Col. 2:13)

One thing we need plenty of is Gods rain. We need His rain every day in our life. It renews us, refreshes us, reinvigorates us! God's rain is so refreshing to our parched souls.

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout...; So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.…" (Isaiah 55:10-11)

 "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." John 3:17

There are innumerable stories of conversion- how drug addicts, chain smokers, alcoholics, etc. are freed from their addictions. A lot of people think they need to be "good" before they approach God. But the opposite is true. We first need to come to Jesus, and ask to be His friend, to say, "I can't do this on my own. Help me." God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and He loves each one us, warts and all. That's why He sent His Son.

 I know someone who used to use bible pages to smoke marijuana with. Now he has devoted his life to helping the children who live in the streets of Manila. He bathes them, feeds them, gives them a place to stay, sends them to school and loves them like a father. Because He knows the love of His Father.

I know several inmates who are freer in jail then some politician who can buy anything, go anywhere, but is imprisoned by greed and guilt. But that same politician, although condemned by his own actions, can easily turn to God and ask Him for help.

Thank you Lord, that You never give up on us! Each one of us, we are Your masterpiece, and You love us, and want all of us to be confident in Your love and blessing!

 "I create Jerusalem to be a joy...no longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there..." Isaiah 65:18

After Typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of the Philippines, there was a lot of talk about how unprepared we were for it, especially the storm surges which were wave-like phenomena likened to tsunamis. "Why were we not informed?" people asked desperately. After a stock market crash, investors invariably ask the same thing. "Why were we not informed?"

But we cannot say the same about heaven and hell. We are inundated with warnings about what will happen after we die. Do we heed it? Do we believe it? Do we prepare for it? This is more devastating than any disaster and will have eternal consequences for us and our loved ones if we just push this "inside information" aside.

Many stories in the Bible tell us that we are a people in exile. We do not belong here. There is a permanent home prepared for us. Jesus quoted Isaiah in Mark 9:48 when He described hell as a place where the worm which will eat those who go there "does not die, and the fire is not quenched."

We would definitely rather be in a place where there is unquenchable joy, and where weeping will be a thing of the past. But it really is a choice we make here and now!

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