Don't save it for a rainy day

It rained today… multiple times.  First it sprayed little droplets straight down to the ground like a leaky kitchen faucet.  The second time it rained, the droplets looked like little water balloons exploding against the cement.  Then came the torrents.  Curtains of rain that washed over the eaves trough and down the windows. 

The rain today was so calming to watch and listen to.  Have you ever wondered why rain is so soothing?  We all know what rain is.  Precipitation.  Water vapor condenses and gravity pulls it to the ground.  That's it... right?

Deuteronomy 32:1-3 [NIV] 

“Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth. Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!”

I don’t feel like I’m the greatest at deciphering scripture yet, but this passage from Deuteronomy makes me feel like God’s trying to say that we should let his Word rain down on us… saturate our lives fully.  As a new disciple, I’m like a hungry little seedling.  I need sunshine and air (and probably some Miracle-Gro plant food) and lots and lots of rain.  When I’m feeling strong, just a drizzle will keep me upright and blossoming.  But when times are tough and my back begins to bend, I need a flood to wash me clean and give me strength.

So the next time it rains, just curl up with The Good Book and let yourself be soothed and strengthened.

Breaking all the rules

Exodus 20: 1-21 [NIV]

"You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below... You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.  Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy... Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's house..."

The Ten Commandments are not the only "commandments" that God gives us in the Bible.  God commands many things of us and it may not always seem like the simple things are ones that we should follow with as much devotion as the Ten Commandments.  However so many people easily bend the rules and choose to not follow God's other commandments for one reason or another.  I am one of those people and I have a very specific commandment that I struggle with.  

In Matthew 6:34, God commands us: "...do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  This is (so far) my favorite scripture.  My good friend Beth shared this with me to help me get through my struggles with anxiety.  I've always fallen back on the "excuse" that I have anxiety and I can't help the way I feel and react about certain things and situations.  But I can.  I can give it to God and stop worrying... plain and simple.

A very short and sweet communion message from church yesterday really struck home for me.  Do we bend the rules and make excuses for breaking God's other commandments?  Murder?  Stealing?  Do we break these rules with as much lack of conviction as the little ones?  No.  We don't.  So why should we make excuses and break the little ones?  We shouldn't.  And I need to stop.

I agree with John's prayer

In John 17, Jesus prays for himself, his disciples and for all believers.  This is the longest prayer recorded in the Holy Bible and a great example of how we should all structure our talks with God.  However, it is also important to make sure that when we pray for ourselves, our fellow disciples, and all believers, we follow a few guidelines.  Yes... it might sound odd, but there are proper and improper ways to pray.  God does not want to hear prayer after prayer of "please do this" or "please do that".  Prayers full of thanks are all well and good too, but Jesus shows us the true way to speak with God.

John 17:1 [NIV]

"Father, the time has come.  Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you."

First, we should pray to be shown how we can glorify God.  Our eyes need to be opened so that we might see the ways in which we can serve each other, the church, and the lost.  This is the first step in removing selfishness from your prayers.

John 17:11-12 [NIV]

"...Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.  While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.  None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled."

Second, we should pray for protection.  Our minister clarified this by explaining that we should not be asking God to remove us from harm, but to protect and sanctify us.  We should be praying for the protection of our fellow disciples and those who are lost... those who we wish to bring into the church.  This is the best opportunity to pray WITH others too, especially your children.  Praying FOR others is also key.  Just the pure act of praying for one another brings us closer.

John 17:20 [NIV]

"My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message."

Which leads me to the final prayer guideline.  Unity.  When we pray for each other... with each other... you learn to love each other more.  You can't truly pray for someone without developing more love and compassion for them.  You can't make an impact on each other, the church, Lansing, or the world without uniting together under a common cause.

Some important questions can be raised here.  How often do you pray?  Do you spend your prayer time asking for things?  A better job... good health... less stress...  Do you throw in a thank you real quick at the end?  Are you in a hurry maybe?  Forcing prayer time in between everything else in your hectic schedule...  Maybe you're not even praying at all because your priorities don't include time for prayer.  This just isn't going to cut it.  

This week is supplication week at church as part of our Great Campaign.  This is a fancy word for prayer.  I challenge you to pray everyday.  I challenge you to pray with someone... for someone... and really focus on the way that Jesus teaches us to pray.