One Day the Rain Will Come

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Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me. Psalm 71:12

The ducks in the drainage ditches out front looked so pitiful. There they were five ducks all trying to squeeze into the tiniest puddle of water. The ditches themselves were sad looking with the bottom all cracked and parched, one would have thought it hadn't rained in years rather than just a few months.

There are times in my life when I feel dry and cracked. Some times it's in my marriage when my husband and I seem so busy we can't even take a few moments to sit down and talk. Sometimes it's at church when nothing seems to be going right. Other times it's in my prayer time with God.

During these times it feels like God is far from me and I just need a few drops of His love sprinkled my way. After what someone said last night, I felt discouraged and weary like everything I've done has been for nothing. I prayed and let God know how I felt, and how I know the message I received was not from Him. Still I felt bogged down my this.

I quickly reached out to those prayer warriors I have found over the last few months and each one responded to me with words of encouragement. One even took the time to text the prayer she was praying right to me. Boy, did I feel God raining down on me! Others responded quickly as well and a few even called.

So luckily for me, God did respond quickly! I also know that for this much weariness and discouragement to try and bring me down; God is about to move in a big way!

Our ducks in the ditches are much happier now, rainy season has begun. Our ditches are now overflowing. I know that God's love for me overflows even when I feel dry or discouraged.

Strength, Weariness, & Just Plain Busy

Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV

Funny, it's hard to believe that youth ever grow tired or weary. The kids who are coming to Vacation Bible School this week are sure full of energy. It's hard to keep up with them after working all day!

I am sorry it has been awhile since I have written. Weariness has begun to wear me down. Every week I have good intentions to sit down and write, but some how my time gets full and once I sit on my couch it sucks me into slumber land.

Our church has been put on a plan to succeed or else. It seems that the older the church the more they want to close it down. The church where I attended as a little girl and where I accepted Christ was closed. Another small church's doors will be closing, and another two churches close to our church may close.

It seems in order to help God's kingdom grow, we have to put in more and more hours at the church. I love serving God and doing the things He asks of me, but some weeks grow tiresome. Especially, when I have put a lot of effort into doing something and the turn out is low.

I often wonder, "why are the bigger churches having more success?" I don't believe they are praying more or trusting in God more than we are. It also seems they have the same small number of people helping to make the programs work, so what is it? Why do these churches grow and the little ones fail?

Often, I have heard it's because the older churches don't want to change, "We've always done it this way." But I'm not so sure that is it. I mean we as a church are willing to change. We are making every effort too, we have put our trust in the Lord, and we are looking at what other churches do. So what is it that makes a difference?

Take this year and getting the word out about our VBS. We passed out 96 moon pies, put out flyers, and even mailed a letter to the local churches to let their children know about our VBS. At first, people wouldn't take the moon pies because it had religious propaganda or their child was allergic to the nuts or eggs. Uggh!

Then by the grace of God, the moon pies were passed out! We received a phone call from one of the letters and he was going to let his 200 children know! Praise God!

Our first night of VBS brought 9 kids. "Nine, really after all this only nine God?"

Sure I am grateful for the 9, but it was discouraging. The next night brought us four more and last night two more arrived!

We will strive on and know that God will work in these 15 children's lives. It just would have been awesome to have so many that our church would be busting at the seams!

I will keep on hoping in the Lord and allowing Him to renew my strength. I still believe His glory will shine even at our small church! We will all be soaring on eagle's wings!