It's interesting when two people in the same town pray for totally opposite things to happen on the same day. Years ago, my husband Steve was the preaching minister with a church in west Texas. One day two men came by his office at different times. Knowing that Steve was steadfast in his prayer life, the first one, a farmer, asked Steve to beg God to bring the rain so that his crops in the field would be nourished and not die. The second one owned a roofing company and business had been slow. He requested that Steve pray for God to send just the right kind of hail storm that people would need to have insurance companies replace their roofs, thus giving him plenty of business. God answers our prayers with "NO!" or "YES!" or "WAIT!" He also weighs the thoughts and intentions of our hearts!
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If you read my last post, you know the dilemma that barometric pressure and an ensuing storm bring to our home. As Hurricane Bill has headed for the shore, the climate on the East Coast has definitely been effected. I'm sure that there are some people who need the rain and are thankful for the storms. I scream - GOD HAVE MERCY - on days like yesterday and today! I have the head knowledge that there are reasons for most things and that GIGATTAATTGIG! Sometimes my heart screams otherwise!
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Over the past few weeks, multiple people have removed themselves from the GIGATTAATTGIG group on Facebook. Several have informed me that the more they have thought about this concept, it seems that their lives have gotten tougher. Several are just not sure that they really believe the phrase. One person emailed me and said, "Faith just seems so hard to hold onto or trust anymore." James, the brother of Jesus, responds to this in the book of the Bible that he wrote:
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"Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything."
James 1:2-4
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There are several contemporary christian songs that address this issue of "rain". They get us to pondering on whether or not GIGATTAATTGIG. I have put two of those songs on this blogs playlist. As you have been reading this, Michael Smith's HEALING RAIN has probably been playing in the background. Will you join me in listening to the second song on the playlist and following along with it's thought provoking words below? .
BRING THE RAIN by Mercy Me
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I can count a million times
I can count a million times
people asking me how I can praise You
with all that I've gone through.
The question just amazes me.
Can circumstances possibly
change who I forever am in You?
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Maybe since my life was changed,
Maybe since my life was changed,
long before these rainy days,
it's never really ever crossed my mind
to turn my back on you, oh Lord
my only shelter from the storm
but instead I draw closer through these times.
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So I pray:
Bring me joy!
So I pray:
Bring me joy!
Bring me peace!
Bring the chance to be free!
Bring me anything that brings You glory!
And I know there'll be days
when this life brings me pain...
but if that's what it takes to praise You -
Jesus, bring the rain!
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I am Yours regardless of
I am Yours regardless of
the dark clouds that may loom above
because You are much greater than my pain.
You who made a way for me,
by suffering Your destiny...
so tell me what's a little rain!
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So I pray:
Bring me joy!
So I pray:
Bring me joy!
Bring me peace!
Bring the chance to be free!
Bring me anything that brings You glory!
And I know there'll be days
when this life brings me pain...
but if that's what it takes to praise You -
Jesus, bring the rain!
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Holy, holy, holy!
Holy, holy, holy!
Holy, holy, holy...
Is the Lord God Almighty...
Is the Lord God Almighty...
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NOTE -8/23/09 @ 10:30 p.m.: Since posting this early this morning, I have learned that the group Mercy Me had a car run into their tour bus this month. There has been tragedy. A comment made by one of the singers includes these words:
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"Every night on stage when we introduce our song,
“Bring the Rain”,
we talk about God being in control.
If we believe what we say,
then we must continue to look at how
He will get the glory through this,
and bring healing to so many."
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You can learn more by accessing their website here:
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GIGATTAATTGIG!
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