Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Ever Faithful


The day dawned bright and sunny. In spite of Accuweather's prediction for potentially severe thunderstorms, not even a cloud dotted the morning sky. Each of the previous weekdays held the possibility of rain, but by Friday, not even a single drop had moistened the ground in our neck of the woods. As we completed final preparations for the party, we were hopeful that the rain would hold off for one more day!


Our daughter, Riley's graduation get-together was planned for Friday evening from six to nine in the evening. The hourly forecast was calling for a thunderstorm to roll in right in the middle of our celebration. If the gathering would have been an indoor event, there wouldn't have been a reason to give it a second thought. But, you guessed it! We had set up tables, chairs, and decorations outside to accommodate the sixty-something guests who had RSVP'd.


With tables festively decorated, candles and tiki torches lit, and six dozen balloons floating lazily in the afternoon breeze, we began noticing dark clouds that seemed to materialize from nowhere...their billowing forms creeping across the sky hinting at the weather to come. As I made the final trip out to pick up the sheet cake and ice, I silently prayed that the Lord would hold back the predicted rain. I glanced toward Sawnee Mountain, one of the few places untouched, as yet, by the sinister clouds. I was reminded of the words penned by King David, "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help; My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth" (Psalms 121:1-2; KJV). No matter what happened with the weather, I knew God was in control.


Back at home, last minute food preparations were coming together, when my husband, Steve, poked his head in the back door to let me know that the first drops of rain had begun to fall. I began tossing a plan 'B' together, as we continued to pray that the Creator of the universe would hold back the rain. I remembered another time the Lord had been called on during a storm - unlike our storm, the one mentioned in the Bible was life-threatening.


Christ had asked the disciples to row across the Sea of Galilee, to reach another city. The story picks up, "But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy" (Luke 8:23). These weren't cowardly men. Remember that the disciples were seasoned fishermen who had endured several storms on this very lake. Yet this storm left them terrified! How could Jesus sleep through this? They wasted no time waking him and relaying their concern, "Master, master, we perish" (Luke 8:24a). In full control, the Lord "arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith: And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him" (Luke 8:24b-25).


To know the One who is in charge of it all! If the winds and water were obedient to Him, I was confident that He could stop the raindrops even now as they made their way from sky to earth. We continued to pray. As we made several trips in and out of the house, transporting food to buffet tables, we were keenly aware that the drips of rain had stopped. Thunder rumbled in the distance as the first guests arrived, but we decided to continue with our original plan of an outdoor celebration.


Throughout the evening, guests commented on the torrential downpours they had driven through as they made their way to our house. The thunderstorms were all around us, yet aside from those few drops of rain as we set up the buffet tables, no more rain dampened our party. The Lord answered our prayer and held back the rain! Our God is so gracious!


It's amazing to see God at work. What a testimony of His love for you and me. He is worthy of all of our praise. "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever, To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever" (Psalms 136:1-4). Even in the small things, He is ever faithful! Praise His wonderful name, today!

16 comments:

  1. It is amazing to see God at work. I'm glad you had a wonderful evening. Congrats to all of you:)
    Blessings,
    Karen

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  2. Hi Maria -

    I love the way God cares about every detail of our lives. Congratulations to your daughter on her graduation!

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  3. How wonderful! I'm so glad you had a nice celebration of such an important event and saw God's goodness in the process.

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  4. Karen - Love God's faithfulness, even in something a small as the weather! Thanks for your well-wishes! Looking forward to catching up on your blog!:)

    Susan - It's so encouraging to know that even the little details are important to Him!! I'll pass along your congratulations! I look forward to getting back to your site today!! God bless! :)

    Carla - God IS so good!! We had a wonderful celebration and took lots of pictures so we can remember the momentous occasion!! Can't wait to stop by your site and catch up!! :)

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  5. Blessings Maria, Loved hearing this testimony! When my grandchildren are worried about tornadoes I always tell them that we know the One who makes all the weather and just have to trust Him. So glad the weather was good for your party-what a wonderful way to celebrate such a great milestone.
    Hugs, Noreen

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  6. Noreen - Great reminder for your grandchildren! What a gift of faith you can share with them! Thanks for stopping by and may God continue to bless you as you write for Him! :)

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  7. Love serving the ONE who even the wind and the seas obey. Congratulations of such a wonderful family milestone. Is that beautiful porch your home?

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  8. Nice story. Some of the details here probably made the evening even more memorable, didn't they? Congratulations also to your daughter for graduating. We have one graduate in Dec from college and next May from high school

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  9. How wonderful it didn't rain! I love the look of your porch and how you hung lights and flowers! It couldn't rain after all that hard work! So glad it was nice and you have another great memory. GOd is good!

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  10. Praise His mighty name!!! I have to tell you the Lord has shined His mercy on many a party of mine and yes even our guests marveled! Oh how he loves us!

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  11. I love God surprises. What's better yet is that we aren't dependent upon his miracles to give us joy. Your family obviously would have counted the day as perfect - rain or shine. Love those kinds of gatherings!

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  12. What fun when God shows up to say, "I not only love you--I like you!" He is sweet like that.
    Thanks for sharing this blessed time in your lives. Congrats to your daughter!

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  13. Glenda - Amazing to know the One who is in control of it all!! What a blessing! Yes, that is our deck - it proved to be the perfect spot for entertaining! God bless! :)

    Warren - Yes, the details of the evening sure offered up opportunities to praise the Lord and made the night very memorable! I'll pass along your congratulations; and I'll be keeping your family in prayer as you've got some big days coming up soon!

    Terri - I'm still marvelling at all we were able to accomplish before the party! This week has been very rainy and we wouldn't have been able to pine straw, hang lights, decorate, etc. God certainly did provide!! I definitely agree - God IS good!! Blessings to you!

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  14. T. Anne - Thanks for sharing the way God has intervened @ your parties, too!! He never ceases to amaze me - and His love is abundant! Have a blessed week!

    Jan - You're absolutely right! No matter the weather, the occasion would have been super special! I love how He is intimately involved in the details! He cares about the small things! God bless you, girl! :)

    Jen - So glad you stopped by! I'll be sure to pass along your congratulations! I love seeing God at work - He truly is worthy of all of our praise! Have a blessed week!

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  15. Amazing Grace! I know that, had God not stayed the rain, you would still be praising Him for Grace to get through the storm! :)

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  16. Ginger - You're SO right!! So glad you and Ron were able to come! Praying for you - especially for that stubborn hip to heal! Looking forward to our prayer time on Monday! :)

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