Bring the Rain...

"Bring me joy, bring me peace Bring the chance to be free Bring me anything that brings your 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" Mercy Me, "Bring the Rain" It has been raining here this week inside and out. Forgive my randomness today but today I just need to write for me to have an outlet and also request much prayer. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). I came across this verse and I realized that I fail God and my family miserably with this: 1. Be joyful always- I am not ALWAYS joyful- in fact in most cases I am not- I carry each burden with me which tends to make me well irritable, short tempered, not patient,when I completly should be, constantly rushed, and living to get through each task of the day- and then comes tomorrow. 2. Pray continually: strike two for me - as much as I think I am in constant prayer I have come to realize that I have only been in prayer usually when there is a need. If there is a prayer request- of course I pray, C and I have been doing devotions in the car (our home away from home) and thank goodness there is a prayer at the end of each, I normally fall asleep in the middle of my prayers at night and wake up in the morning praying for those I snoozed on, but as for CONSTANT prayer- when things are going good, I forget to ...... 3. Give thanks in ALL circumstances because normally, if the road I travel is paved, not muddy and the tires are not flat then this road is fitting and I become set in my comfort zone but then comes the pot hole- you know the one - the one that throws you off path- the one you did not see coming (or in my case maybe you did but you didnt want to face it, you were too proud to be in Constant prayer about it, or you denied all aspects that YOU actually had control of the "wheel") And where is all of this coming from one might ask?!? I read SO many blogs and most all pour out their heart over their "pot holes": death of a loved one, infertility, cancer, illness, finances and so forth- so today I decided to share my pot hole with you- so that together in Christ we can all pray. “…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16) My Dad (and I most graciously covet) your prayers- I want you to paint a picture of a man in your mind who is patient, kind, gentle, giving, loves all, very knowledgable, hands of steel, heart of gold- an avid reader, has a love for wilderness- my picture would probably be that of a perfect image one that soothes the soul in fact my painting would probably not consist of an actual person (becauase we all are so imperfect) but moreso Gods great beauty, fields dressed in lillies, oak trees that stand tall through every storm with rings of wisdom and knowledge, a sky so blue you could taste the heavens..... I wanted you paint that picture because this next image leaves a bad taste in your mouth (literally too) and I want you to know the man that contains so much love and beauty and is covered in Gods grace. However, this man, my dad, is an alcoholic which is my pot hole. The same image we visioned above becomes tainted. I wish I could describe to you how the beauty in his life just shrivels up like a decayed flower. The story behind the alcoholism is long and maybe one for another day. For now, know this life needs prayer- and lately I have been praying for the Lords will to be done in his life which is so ironic that I came across the verse above..... Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). In so many ways I think I could have done this, or I should have done that knowing God is in control. I have prayed that he be consumed with Christ and not alcohol, prayed that his heart be condemned, his soul and body be renewed to live one that would glorify God- and in prayer prayer prayer that God's will be done however this verse was for ME- be joyful (of the beauty this life has to offer) pray continually (as our God loves to hear the voice of his own children) and give thanks in all circumstances (for God has promised that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character- character produces hope and hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts Romans 5:1-5 The rain continues to fall but I know God will see us through it all. What ever may be on your hearts today please do lift them up in prayer and continue to praise God as we are still .... Counting our Blessings... xoxo