Spring RainSo let us know,
let us press on to know the LORD.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.
- Hosea 6:3
Ask rain from the LORD
in the season of the spring rain,
from the LORD who makes the storm clouds,
and he will give them showers of rain,
to everyone the vegetation in the field.
- Zechariah 10:1
And it shall be said,
"Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people’s way."
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him
who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite..."
- Isaiah 57:14-15
You do not delight in sacrifice,
or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
- Psalm 51:16-17
For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
- Hosea 6:6
It has been very dry here the past weeks. In the previous years, the months of December to February would be cool and misty, even slightly rainy. But these weeks, there has been no rain at all.
A water conservation alert is being circulated; we are being asked to use water wisely.
In the midst of this dry spell, thoughts of heaven and true worship have remained on my heart.
Last Sunday our guest speaker Ray-an Fuentes, a Filipino performing artist who ministers through music and anointed teaching, spoke words that cut through our hearts.
In May this year, we Filipinos will be choosing the next president of our republic. A nation of about 90 million, our country is plagued by corruption and poverty, among many other things.
Ray-an spoke on this passage from 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain,
or command locusts to devour the land
or send a plague among my people;
if my people, who are called by My name,
will humble themselves
and pray
and seek My face
and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven
and will forgive their sin
and will heal their land.
The physical circumstances we find ourselves in often have a direct connection to our spiritual conditions.
First the natural, then the supernatural.
To us, the people called by His name, God's name, have been given the mandate to perform certain spiritual requirements before God hears from heaven, forgives our sin, and heals our land.
Much as we look to our government leaders to work towards the solution of our nation's ills, the Bible states it clearly: the healing of the land depends on the Christians, the people called by His name.
Not only are our regions facing the prospect of a literal drought in the coming months, I believe we are also in a season of spiritual dryness...
threatened by spiritual locusts...
and a spiritual plague of blindness, apathy, and wrong focus.
It has been said that any chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
The same might be said of society. Being made up of families, the society in which we live is only as strong as its weakest family.
I realize that the analogy can't be completely correct.
Nevertheless, lately I've been aware of my heart's deep desire to lead my own family in the paths of righteousness. To make sure that at least I do my homework in this department - standing guard so that my family will not suffer from spiritual dryness, that there will be no access points for spiritual locusts to enter and eat up our spiritual gains, and that no spiritual plague comes near our tent.
We truly are three families now - each of my two married sons now head one small family unit, leaving me and my daughter as the remaining members of the original nuclear family.
Understandably I could never impose my own spiritual standards on any of them! Much as I want them to have a heart like mine for worship, for intimacy, for intercession, for seeking kingdom secrets by drawing close to God, putting Him first on the list of their daily priorities, it is not my position to legislate any of these things in their lives.
When the children were growing up, many valuable seeds were already planted in them.
Today each one of them, together with their spouses, is in varying stages of spiritual maturity, with their own sets of experiences, spiritual perspectives, and personal goals.
The most I can do is to be a model, to be around when needed, providing encouragement, and faithfully praying for them. May each son and daughter desire to truly go deep, growing closer to God, and taking the corresponding action in that direction.
Tozer is right, "You are as holy as you want to be."
The end of year 2009 saw me pondering these things in my heart. A string of events as the year came to a close led me to seek God's face and draw very near to Him.
Indeed, the best thing I can do is to have a heart like Mary, observing, taking note, and treasuring in my heart all the things that my spiritual eyes can see.
There is a vigilance required of me these days. God has spoken this direct word to me before, "Contend for the destiny of your family."
It is in this sense that I believe any nation is as strong as its most faithful prayer warrior and intercessor.
The words of Jesus have to be held on to as being true and powerful: Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.
The enemy would love to have us believe that our nation is going down the drain, and that our prayers are not availing much, or not powerful enough. But my faith never wavers in this area. God sees my heart and hears my prayers.
The enemy should never be given the opportunity to discourage or dishearten us.
This is the year of breakthrough...there are many answers to prayer coming our way! God would still have us view the past, current and future events of our lives from the perspective of heaven!
Yes, I desire to be vigilant. And yes, I know that as the doorkeeper, I must know how to contend for the eternal destiny of my loved ones.
But God reminds me that He desires mercy, not sacrifice. Whatever spiritual investments I make must never be done in a religious, self-righteous way. Done in the wrong spirit, they will only end up becoming a heavy burden to carry.
Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Yesterday in church I was misty-eyed as we sang the song that never fails to stir my heart each time I hear it...
You are forever in my heart...
You see me through the seasons...
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness...
I look to You, I wait on You...
I'm carried in everlasting arms
You never let me go
Through it all
God has remained faithful to me through all the seasons of my life.
The weight of my family's, as well as the nation's, spiritual responsibilities on my shoulder would be too heavy for me to carry.
God has called me to be an intercessor, the one who will stand in the gap. He has not assigned me to be the redeemer!
Don't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, Lidj. This is what my husband Ernie would often tell me when he was still here on earth. Ernie would always be my balancer, my neutralizer. He had such a joyful and light-hearted way of looking at life.
Sometimes I can be like Chicken Little.
But God reminds me of His faithfulness. Once again, He says, It's not about you...it's all about Me!
Hearing this takes a big load off my chest!
I have been turning to God's word more and more these days.
How refreshing His words have been...as I've been drinking them in like a thirsty wayfarer in the desert.
His words speak so clearly!
Francis Frangipane once said that humility starts when we admit our need before Him.
So, as this day ends, I gladly run to my Father and pour my heart out to Him, drawing near, lifting up to Him my family, and my nation...
Thankful for another opportunity to worship Him...in spirit and in truth.
Letting His word speak to me, even in the historical circumstances that my nation is in right now.
I cannot remove my self from the context of my nation's history, but God is fully capable of being God over my life, my family, my country!
And as I draw close to Him, I can hear the sound of rain!
Embracing worship as a lifestyle does bring us under the rain of His presence and favor...and these days I am re-discovering the joys of worship.
It is a progressive experience of learning, unlearning, re-learning.
It is not an escape mechanism as some think; I believe it is one real way of escape provided by the Father from the traps that the enemy puts before us.
Drawing near in worship opens our eyes to see things from the Father's point of view. There is always hope, there is always a sense of good things happening!
Lindell Cooley is one of my favorite singers. He has written many songs that are truly relevant to the times and the seasons that we find ourselves in. I share here one of his songs, It's Time.
Listen to it and be moved by his passion!
it's time
time for the dead and gone
time for the broken ones
to live again
it's time
time for the dead to rise
time for the wings to fly
to live again
Chorus
i can hear the calling
i can hear the sound of rain
over the mountains and over the valleys
i hear the calling, it's time
it's time
it's time for the dead to sing
it's time for the walls to ring
the songs of freedom
it's time
it's time for the numb to feel
it's time for the wounds to heal
with songs of freedom
it's time for the tide to turn
it's time for our hearts to burn
with the desperation
it's time
it's time for a sacrifice
it's time that we pay the price
for our generation
i can hear the calling
i can hear the sound of rain
over the mountains and over the valleys
i hear the calling, it's time
it's time for the dead to rise
it's time for the wings to fly...
it's time for the numb to feel
it's time for the wounds to heal...
it's time that we pay the price
it's time for the sacrifice...
over the cities and over the nations
i hear the calling, it's time
it's time for the children to return home
it's time for the prodigals to come back...
it's time to break down the walls
it's time to see them all fall down...
i hear the calling, it's time
Not only are our regions facing the prospect of a literal drought in the coming months, I believe we are also in a season of spiritual dryness...
threatened by spiritual locusts...
and a spiritual plague of blindness, apathy, and wrong focus.
It has been said that any chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
The same might be said of society. Being made up of families, the society in which we live is only as strong as its weakest family.
I realize that the analogy can't be completely correct.
Nevertheless, lately I've been aware of my heart's deep desire to lead my own family in the paths of righteousness. To make sure that at least I do my homework in this department - standing guard so that my family will not suffer from spiritual dryness, that there will be no access points for spiritual locusts to enter and eat up our spiritual gains, and that no spiritual plague comes near our tent.
We truly are three families now - each of my two married sons now head one small family unit, leaving me and my daughter as the remaining members of the original nuclear family.
Understandably I could never impose my own spiritual standards on any of them! Much as I want them to have a heart like mine for worship, for intimacy, for intercession, for seeking kingdom secrets by drawing close to God, putting Him first on the list of their daily priorities, it is not my position to legislate any of these things in their lives.
When the children were growing up, many valuable seeds were already planted in them.
Today each one of them, together with their spouses, is in varying stages of spiritual maturity, with their own sets of experiences, spiritual perspectives, and personal goals.
The most I can do is to be a model, to be around when needed, providing encouragement, and faithfully praying for them. May each son and daughter desire to truly go deep, growing closer to God, and taking the corresponding action in that direction.
Tozer is right, "You are as holy as you want to be."
The end of year 2009 saw me pondering these things in my heart. A string of events as the year came to a close led me to seek God's face and draw very near to Him.
Indeed, the best thing I can do is to have a heart like Mary, observing, taking note, and treasuring in my heart all the things that my spiritual eyes can see.
There is a vigilance required of me these days. God has spoken this direct word to me before, "Contend for the destiny of your family."
It is in this sense that I believe any nation is as strong as its most faithful prayer warrior and intercessor.
The words of Jesus have to be held on to as being true and powerful: Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.
The enemy would love to have us believe that our nation is going down the drain, and that our prayers are not availing much, or not powerful enough. But my faith never wavers in this area. God sees my heart and hears my prayers.
The enemy should never be given the opportunity to discourage or dishearten us.
This is the year of breakthrough...there are many answers to prayer coming our way! God would still have us view the past, current and future events of our lives from the perspective of heaven!
Yes, I desire to be vigilant. And yes, I know that as the doorkeeper, I must know how to contend for the eternal destiny of my loved ones.
But God reminds me that He desires mercy, not sacrifice. Whatever spiritual investments I make must never be done in a religious, self-righteous way. Done in the wrong spirit, they will only end up becoming a heavy burden to carry.
Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Yesterday in church I was misty-eyed as we sang the song that never fails to stir my heart each time I hear it...
You are forever in my heart...
You see me through the seasons...
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness...
I look to You, I wait on You...
I'm carried in everlasting arms
You never let me go
Through it all
God has remained faithful to me through all the seasons of my life.
The weight of my family's, as well as the nation's, spiritual responsibilities on my shoulder would be too heavy for me to carry.
God has called me to be an intercessor, the one who will stand in the gap. He has not assigned me to be the redeemer!
Don't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, Lidj. This is what my husband Ernie would often tell me when he was still here on earth. Ernie would always be my balancer, my neutralizer. He had such a joyful and light-hearted way of looking at life.
Sometimes I can be like Chicken Little.
But God reminds me of His faithfulness. Once again, He says, It's not about you...it's all about Me!
Hearing this takes a big load off my chest!
I have been turning to God's word more and more these days.
How refreshing His words have been...as I've been drinking them in like a thirsty wayfarer in the desert.
His words speak so clearly!
Just press on to know Me, and I will come to you as the spring rains.
Yes, ask Me for rain...and I will send it.
Humble yourself. Just admit your need of Me.
Pray.
Seek my face.
Turn from your wicked ways.
For I am an approachable God. I dwell in contrite hearts.
And I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
The sacrifice that is acceptable to Me is a humble heart. A broken and contrite heart I will not despise...
Francis Frangipane once said that humility starts when we admit our need before Him.
So, as this day ends, I gladly run to my Father and pour my heart out to Him, drawing near, lifting up to Him my family, and my nation...
Thankful for another opportunity to worship Him...in spirit and in truth.
Letting His word speak to me, even in the historical circumstances that my nation is in right now.
I cannot remove my self from the context of my nation's history, but God is fully capable of being God over my life, my family, my country!
And as I draw close to Him, I can hear the sound of rain!
Embracing worship as a lifestyle does bring us under the rain of His presence and favor...and these days I am re-discovering the joys of worship.
It is a progressive experience of learning, unlearning, re-learning.
It is not an escape mechanism as some think; I believe it is one real way of escape provided by the Father from the traps that the enemy puts before us.
Drawing near in worship opens our eyes to see things from the Father's point of view. There is always hope, there is always a sense of good things happening!
Lindell Cooley is one of my favorite singers. He has written many songs that are truly relevant to the times and the seasons that we find ourselves in. I share here one of his songs, It's Time.
Listen to it and be moved by his passion!
it's time
time for the dead and gone
time for the broken ones
to live again
it's time
time for the dead to rise
time for the wings to fly
to live again
Chorus
i can hear the calling
i can hear the sound of rain
over the mountains and over the valleys
i hear the calling, it's time
it's time
it's time for the dead to sing
it's time for the walls to ring
the songs of freedom
it's time
it's time for the numb to feel
it's time for the wounds to heal
with songs of freedom
it's time for the tide to turn
it's time for our hearts to burn
with the desperation
it's time
it's time for a sacrifice
it's time that we pay the price
for our generation
i can hear the calling
i can hear the sound of rain
over the mountains and over the valleys
i hear the calling, it's time
it's time for the dead to rise
it's time for the wings to fly...
it's time for the numb to feel
it's time for the wounds to heal...
it's time that we pay the price
it's time for the sacrifice...
over the cities and over the nations
i hear the calling, it's time
it's time for the children to return home
it's time for the prodigals to come back...
it's time to break down the walls
it's time to see them all fall down...
i hear the calling, it's time
18 comments:
The beautiful picture of the rain reminds me of how GOD comes into our lives....rinses of the dirt and grime and we bloom in the spring of our lives...HE blooms through us.
Praying for you as your country chooses a new president and things continue to grow and change in your life.
Blessings, hugs, and prayers,
andrea
Thank you for the verses of promise and hope. My country also needs a lot of intercession.God is on the move.
The picture of the rain drops reminded me that God waters me when I allow His word to wash over to the depths of my soul.
With love,
Yolanda
The picture of the rain drop is so beautiful. We all need God's rain to fall on us and our countries. Praying for you as you choose a new leader.
Hi again Lidj,
I just saw your comment on my post. My name is pronounced like Mary.
Thanks for not calling me a rat!
"Much as we look to our government leaders to work towards the solution of our nation's ills, the Bible states it clearly: the healing of the land depends on the Christians, the people called by His name." These words your wrote jumped out to me today .. I had the thought that we (Christ's followers) are united through him, not our nations. It suddenly felt nice to have so many sisters and brothers all around the world without borders :)
Hugs .. and thanks again for sharing your deep faith!
My spirit was being drenched in the rain shower here today. I feel so refreshed and rejuvenated! Thanks once again, for another lovely visit with you, Lidj!
You are very wise to understand that you already planted the seeds in your children, and now God must grow their gardens. It can be very difficulty for a parent to walk away when their children become adults. We still have the longing to control to some degree. But if God did a beautiful work in our own garden, we can trust He will be faithful to do it in our children's garden...
Lidj, It is so true that as we draw near to Him we can hear the sound of rain, our deliverance from a dry and thirsty land. And we can not carry that rain. It has to come from its Originator. You are so right, we are not the Redeemer. But we have been called to have intimacy and fellowship with Him and in that we will be able to know what He knows concerning His hand upon our families and our nations. We will be able to see from His perspective and trust and know and see the big picture of how God is going to show the world His Goodness in the midst of all that looks so grave. He is going to shine in all of His glory as we link up with Him and agree with His report instead of the report of the world. His mercy endures forever and changes everything!! :)
And from His perspective, the best is yet to come! :) I loved this post Lidj. I love your heart.
God Bless you,
Christy
Hi Lidj,
It's always a pleasure to visit your blog . . it always renews my spirit and the work the Lord has put in me.
Prayer is so powerful . . I remember this quote from "The Seven Secrets" by John Hagee, "the tragedy of our day is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer". Will keep you in my thoughts as you pray for a new leader. God bless you Lidj.
Lidj...
I am filled up here today with so many things that God is showing me in my own life. This is loaded!I feel like I am in a 'let the rain fall' place these days, so your words are fresh and meaningful.
The bottom line is Tozer's: "You are as holy as you want to be"... it puts all of what we desire right back into our lap... and calls on us to do it HIS way. The provision behind the holiness belongs to us, but, it also calls on us to obey, to walk, to live, according to what we already know. Honestly, if I just lived each day with the knowledge of Him that I already have... my life already would be holier than what I often 'settle' for. I am challenged and it's where my heart is these days. It's time to get moving, isn't it?
Love this today Lidj... words for my heart.
Love,
Sonja
Dear Lidj,
Charity begins at home, the saying goes.
Christianity also must begin at home.
I have been so blessed by my Christian parents, I quote my father's wise answers to my many questions every day. His upbringing is a vital part of me every hour of the day.
He was wise as well as loving.
I can merely hope I can bring further what he has sowed, to my daughter, my husband and my friends.
The four hike-ladies were out in snow and sun today. We found a warm corner and sat discussing just the issues you are bringing up for two hours.
Oh, we condemned double moral and phariseeism among politicians, the Christians in particular, but ended up in agreeing that saying grace before eating, also in schools,and elementary school classes going to church before Christmas and summer vacations are small, but important causes worth fighting for.
Christ is in the little details where we can make a difference and be heard.
We ended up talking about family affairs and shared problems and praying issues.
Friendship is a miraculous strength when it comes to fighting spiritual battles on the home front too.
Prayers can be said midst in the wilderness, in a combination of laughter, tears, coffee on thermoses, snow and sandwiches.
We just need to share openly what our needs and goals are.
From Felisol
I like this! " I believe any nation is as strong as its most faithful prayer warrior and intercessor." It is true, isn't it? Because He dwells inside just one...and He is more powerful than anything on earth...therefore just one, with Him dwelling inside, is actually all that is needed! But then, one can put 1,000 to flight, but two can put 10,000 to flight!
We really don't need to get dismayed, do we?
Although, I also think that we need to learn to look through the eyes of the spiritual when we expect God to move. God doesn't move so nations can become rich. God moves so that people's hearts might become rich with Him, etc. I think sometimes we're discouraged because we think our prayer is supposed to result in something that isn't exactly what God has in mind. :-)
((((hugs)))) for this, Lidj!
A beautiful picture {including the picture you painted for us} & a beautiful post! Thank you!
Wylie
A mother's greatest human resource is prayer....
these days I am finding comfort in Isaiah 59:1
thank you for a most beautiful post...I am posting again on my public blog....thank you for your sweet friendship and continued prayers for my family...
hugs and love to you
Your thoughts and words are precious to me....and your extra visit to my neglected blog.
At present, I'm struggling to remain in one position long enough to just read my Bible and think on it with a few added prayers. I rise in pain and often discouraged. Healing and strength building is very slow and I appreciate your prayers. I am not praying for my family as I ought at present...your post is challenging
Matt continues to be my neutralizer from the making mountains out of mole hills. I know how to pray for you and I know our God is faithful.
As I am hosting a little tea party on Saturday, I wish you could join me. I'm needing good company among my few pretty things over the tranquil elixir of tea.
I love your rain picture, even if you've been dry lately. Your focus was one of my favorites--I love how you put it, that the natural and supernatural are linked. It's so hard sometimes to just live as the model and not beat our loved ones over the head, asking, 'Can't you see!?' when God makes Himself so apparent in the natural. Praying God will give you the words, and that they'll take note of your life as you live for Him. Much love, Lidj.
Thank you. Your blog is so - uplifting. Forteh
Hey Lidj!!
What a wonderful post!
I can relate with the stirrings within your heart on so many of the issues you spoke of here!
A nation in draught.....Oh, how true are your words concerning the spiritual state of both of our beloved nations. I'm praying for a deep hunger and thirst for righteousness within our nations and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit of the likes we've never seen!! Glory to God! As I read your words re draught and rain, the scripture about Elijah came to my mind and how he prayed and the drought ended in I Kgs 18....It was through Elijah's intercession (vs's 42-43 msg)....
........Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bowed deeply in prayer, his face between his knees. ....and the rains came!!!
I'm in agreement with you Lidj....prayer and intercession is crucial for the next move of God upon the nations.
Our children.....I also have two grown children that are married and I'm trusting that the seed sown in them is and will continue to bare much fruit for the Glory of God! It's hard sometime being "mama" and just letting go and trusting God, isn't it. Your words regarding this are exactly what has been on my heart for my kids allot lately! Here's a few scriptures that I stand upon for my kids....Psalm 112:1-2 and Psalm 102:28
Lidj, I'm blessed to have you as a new friend. It seems that so often you and I are on the same "page" in our journey! Awesome!!
Your words bless me!
Love, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!
Jackie
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