The rain kept me from staying out too long this morning.  It is expected to rain all day and on into tomorrow.  I suppose these are what the bible refers to as the latter rains.  When I was a young boy, I didn't like the rain so much.  It always put a damper on things I enjoyed doing; especially being outside.  The rain is the source of some descriptive phrases, such as:  'rained out', 'rain check', 'it's raining cats and dogs', and 'don't rain on my parade'.  Of course, coaching baseball or any outdoor sport, the weather forecast had to always be observed to know whether or not to call off practice or a scheduled game.  While these all sound negative, the rain is a positive necessity for this world we live in.  

We've all heard the old adage, "Business before pleasure".  Well, when God 'schedules' His 'business' (Ps 147:8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.) our natural pleasure must wait.  What is one man's curse is another's blessing.  How many times has the farmer looked to the heavens on bended knees, while in the field, asking the Lord to send the rain so that his crops will grow?  While in another place at the same time, the mayor of a big city is looking out his high-rise window hoping that the rain will not come because he has a parade scheduled down Main Street to honor him or some other dignitary?  How many times during a draught have those in need for drink or bath asked God for the refreshing rain, while others, on the beach, bathed in sunshine, are having their pleasure, hoping that it doesn't rain: seemingly ignorant of the fact that a disastrous lack of water is going on? 

Hunting, fishing, hot-rod racing, and baseball on the morning of a worship day, are some of many activities hampered or stopped by the rain.  It has been said that rain will decrease the worship attendance on Sunday morning quicker than a championship football game.  Someone might arise on Sunday morning who has scheduled one of the above mentioned activities and say, " My day is shot all to pieces now, I might as well go to church".  The Lord has made  His day for worshipping Him in Spirit and in Truth.  John 4:23 " But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."   He did not make it to put natural activities first in our lives.  Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

My Mother used to love the rain.  She said it was peaceful and soothing.  Many is the time she would lay on her bed and drift off to sleep with the sound of the rain pitter-pattering against the window pane.  I remember when she was laying on the hospital bed in pain before she went home to be with the Lord.  She had such a strained looked on her face.  I wish it had rained at that moment.  It did rain, because my sister, brothers, cousins, and I began to sing soft hymns as she lay there.  The strained, pained look left her face for a little while as she was experiencing the soft sound of spiritual rain pitter-pattering on the window of her mind.  We were singing songs like "Amazing Grace", "Child of Grace", "Counsel" and the such like.  These were songs she loved to hear and sing.  When we finished singing and praying, she said in a peaceful voice, "Thank you, Lord."  The word of God has this effect on the thirsty soul longing for a peaceful, comforting, and nourishing rain.  The Lord has promised that.  Deut 32:2 "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:"

It began to rain this morning as I sat drinking coffee on the swing, and I was glad to see it.

Your Brother in Christ, I hope,

Carl