rain rain rain

I love it when rain freshly coats the earth...filling our shoes with sticky mud...puddles are created in roads we were certain had been paved perfectly straight...
but you know what's sad? the groaning, the complaining...the pants that get soaked and send all inside to a dry place of refuge. Not many venture out in the rain. Why not? Well, they'll get wet, of course!

Something struck me about the rain today.
The Lord loves on us when it rains. It feels like His grace just showers the earth.
Rain is often gentle, refreshing...sometimes it is fierce, much like our Lord...He is all powerful, but He is gentle as well.
Reading through Isaiah this evening I came to chapter 40 and found this "He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."Our God is gentle and oooh how this next part gives me chills of delight "he carried them close to his heart."

So why am I so struck by the rain? I think far too often the enemy rejoices when it rains.
Why? We all cower ourselves inside to do absolutely nothing because it's raining and we dare not venture outside because, well, you guessed it, it's raining. Nothing fits right, works right and your hair, woah, forget about those straight locks my friend, it's a curly ponytail day. We get far too caught up in ourselves on rainy days instead of the One who has granted us the blessing...one more day to breathe, clean air, refreshed land, relaxation from all strenuous outdoor activities.

We become excuse-makers when it rains. When problems arise, the rain is to blame. When things don't get done, the rain gets blamed. When we don't look right, feel right and our attitudes are downright awful, it all falls on the rain.

I don't believe it should.
Next time it rains, take a moment to appreciate the One who created you...the One who loves you, even on rainy days when your feet are soaked and your hair is frizzy. If you're a runner, lace up those shoes and go puddle splashing; if you enjoy walking, pull on your hood or grab an umbrella; if you're a book worm grab a good book.There's a little something for everyone to do on a rainy day. Get out, step out, go out and appreciate the marvelous workmanship of His great hands, the taste of His power He has revealed to you in this storm.

Thank you Lord for rainy-days and the reminder of your grace that falls on us like rain!