For As the Rain Comes Down...

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For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

- Isaiah 55:10, 11




Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

- Psalm 1

Today is Mother's Day and this post is dedicated to the two young mothers in my life, my dear daughters-in-love, God-given and Chosen One.

God gave me the most beautiful, most profound experience one could ever have in this life - and that is to birth a child.

But carrying a baby for nine months in the womb, and later giving birth to this tender, fragile being... turned out to be nothing compared to the life of mothering in the years to come.

Each step in the journey is precious.

The first thing I realized upon becoming a mother was my utter, complete dependence on my heavenly Father. How I needed Him every step of the way!

It was when I became a mother that my relationship with my heavenly Father grew deeper with every passing day. There was not a moment that I did not need Him to teach me, to tell me what to do.

With three young children born just two years apart from each other, there would be many times when I had a little baby, a two year old, and a four year old, needing my care and attention all at the same time.

If three were more young ones than my two hands or my lap could manage to hold at one time (and I remember how often I would squeeze all three of them on my lap while trying to read them a book), I cannot imagine how Susannah Wesley did it, who mothered nineteen children.

Yes, it was what I learned of Susannah Wesley's life that inspired me to keep my faith strong, and anchored in the Lord alone.

I struggled to maintain my time with the Lord, thinking it had to be the way I was used to doing my Quiet Time before the children came. Susannah was more practical. She simply sat down in a kitchen corner, pulled her apron over her head, and entered into the presence of God, right there in that busy place. Her children knew they were not to disturb her when she had her apron covering her head!

Nine of Susannah's children died as infants, but the ten that remained were all raised and nurtured to maturity... each one of them were raised in loving but firm discipline, and knew the fear of God at an early age.

The role of a mother is the most important task in this world, I believe. This world needs mothers who will raise good, obedient, God-fearing children who will grow up to be role models and faithful workers in the kingdom of God.

I want to encourage you, my dear daughters, today as we celebrate Mother's Day.

Being a mother is a high calling. I know it is not easy, and can be overwhelming at many points along the way.

But I encourage you to keep close to God, to let your heart be watered by His word, run often to Him, maintain to keep a private place and a private time with your heavenly Father, and you will not be lacking in wisdom as to how to bring up your child.

He will guide you, He will never forsake you, He will fill your hearts with hope and encouragement.

I am truly proud of both of you, and understand what you have to go through. It is not easy... but the reward of raising Godly children for His kingdom is something to look forward to.

Know that I am on my knees praying for you, and lifting you up before our heavenly Father.


Here is my prayer for you today, my dear daughters:

Father, thank you for my daughters God-given and Chosen One, for you have sent them to my life to be the mothers of my grandchildren.

Yours, dear ones, are the wombs that have given birth and will give birth to my generations! How awesome this is, to realize that right before my eyes, my generations are being birthed, raised, and nurtured.


Dear God, my prayer is for them first and foremost - that their hearts will continually be open to You. That they will not be distracted by the many needs and cares confronting them each day. That You will be their first thought, their first recourse. Their empty cups will be refilled by You each day.

I pray Father that You will encourage them in the fight, they will not grow weary when the battle is hard and the end is nowhere in sight.

They still have many long years ahead of them to persevere and endure. May their hearts be fueled by the thought that You are with them, and You are on their side.

May You be at the Center of their thoughts, and their endeavors.

May their young sons see in them the model that this world needs, the example of depending on You alone.

In their obedience to You, in their hunger for You, as they seek Your face daily, may their children learn to also hunger and thirst for You.

Jesus be their vision, be their strength, be their guide.

Be the wind that blows their sails to move forward, even in the midst of the storm.

May they feed on Your word, that Your word will in turn be the Living Bread that nourishes their children.

Hold their hearts in Yours, dear Father. Teach them the way, show them, guide them. Give them the wisdom that they need.

Give them patience and steadfastness.

Protect them from settling for second best, protect them from a watered down faith that could result after many days and nights of toil.

Keep them from giving up, keep discouragement and weariness from setting in as they walk mile after mile in this journey called Parenting.

Continually keep their lamps burning, filled with the precious oil of the Holy Spirit.


Thank You for Your encouragement, thank You for filling their hearts with hope.

Thank You because You will be their encouragement, and their prime motivation.

Fill their cups dear Father with Your joy...

At the end of the journey, when they have seen the fruit of their hard work, I know You will be waiting, with a big smile on Your face. And You will say to them, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into My joy, My rest, My reward... which I have prepared for mothers such as You."

Dearest God-given, and Chosen One... thank you for loving my sons and my grandsons.

I am eternally grateful to God for bringing you to my life.

I love you both!



First Born, God-given, and Forerunner (Matthew)

Worshiper, Chosen One, and Full of Hope (Elijah)


Here is my song for you on this special day. Be encouraged! Look up! Don't grow weary in the fight! Your labor is not in vain! May your hearts always be strengthened by joy.


Jesus Be the Center
by Michael Frye

Jesus be the center
Be my source, be my light, Jesus

Jesus be the center
Be my hope, be my song, Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus Jesus

Jesus, be my vision
Be my path, be my guide, Jesus






It is not until you become a mother
that your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding.

- Erma Bombeck

A mother is the truest friend we have,
when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us;
when adversity takes the place of prosperity;
when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us;
when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us,
and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels
to dissipate the clouds of darkness,
and cause peace to return to our hearts.

- Washington Irving

It was when I had my first child that I understood
how much my mother loved me.

- from For Mother - A Bouquet of Sentiments

Susannah Wesley in the Spotlight