No it isn't raining outside. It actually snowed more last night. The title will make sense eventually.
So, I had planned on writing the last few days, but I have been fighting with getting my laptop online at home. After a very unhelpful, but humorous, call to tech support, and more fun, I am finally up and running - if dial-up can be considered running.
Maybe some of you have read on our Family Blog (see link on the left) our thoughts concerning the song below. We first heard this song this summer and with all our family has been through in the past couple of years it has really meant a lot. I have been thinking about it again this week. I will let you read it and then I will share my thoughts.
Bring The Rain - by MercyMe
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You 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
I am yours regardless of the clouds that may loom above
Because you are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
Suffering your destiny
So tell me whats a little rain
Yesterday was a really annoying day for me at work. My monotonous job got worse. I am a results oriented person and would rather do a lot of small jobs that move along and get done than something that I sit at forever. Well, my assignment at work turned into the later. I realized that project could not be sped up and, no exaggeration, will take me 4 weeks minimum. A month of brainless activity, pulling the lever on a drill press, doesn't excite me at all. The process gives me lots of time to think and if I am not careful it turns into how much I dislike this job. Why does God want a family that is so willing to serve Him more than we are currently able to wait any longer? Doesn't He need us somewhere now (that is another whole song)?
So my thoughts come back to this song. What is a little rain. God obviously wants us in ministry but in His time, which evidently is not now. In light of all that He has done for me, what is a month of shear boredom.
Obviously, this song means more in relation to the loss that we have experienced over the past year and a half. Not that anyone came out an asked us directly how we could still praise Him, but many have said that they never could go through what we have. My answer to that is simply, in God you would if you needed to. Not that any of you need a reminder of this, but we are nothing special. God just allowed us a great opportunity to bring glory to Him.
Did it hurt? Of course. It has changed who we are forever, and I think that He intended that. We have more of an understanding about "life is but a vapor." Ultimately, through the pain, we realistically only had one option...Trust Him. Though things didn't go as we had hoped, it didn't make Him any less faithful. We know that many people saw Him who may not ever have otherwise.
So, all of that to say, we are willing to do whatever God has for us, whenever, where ever. If His desire for us is to bring Him glory, everything we encounter is an opportunity to do so. Our circumstances will not change our reliance on Him. We are forever in Him. How could we give in under any little rain...
