RAIN

Snippet

Suffering love is God’s strategy for overcoming evil.  His only strategy. God saves Through suffering.  Charles de Foucald said, “Not by his words or works, not even by miracles, but by his cross.” He overcame evil by surrendering to it in love and obedience.  (Brennan Manning Reflections for Ragamuffins pg 93)

Scripture

“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.  John 17:13-19 NLT

Song

Blessings by Laura Story

http://youtu.be/1CSVqHcdhXQ

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

And all the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love

As if every promise from Your word is not enough

And all the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not,

This is not our home

It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy

What if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise

Sentence Prayer

Father, bring on the rain and wash away the filth of evil.  Give me the courage to take up my cross this day, gladly bearing it with love and obedience.  Jesus, help us to see both the cross and the empty tomb as a reminder the rain will not last forever!  Help us look forward, by looking back at how your love has defeated every enemy that has opposed you.  Holy Spirit teach us how to dance in the rain, to drink up the challenges of this life. Holy Spirit protect us from the evil one.  Thank you for the rain.  Amen! R.M.