Bring the Rain.

Driving home tonight I wasn't quite sure that I would make it in one piece!  I couldn't see the lines on the road, my whippers were going full throttle, and the sky was lit up like the 4th of july....it was just another typical summer thunder storm.  For some reason the song Bring the Rain kept popping in my head, so I started to sing:

"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?

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 had a Katie moment as I drove; the song clicked.

Life has thrown all sorts of struggles my way: family struggles, financial strain, loss of a loved one, you name it.  But I've come to realize that without those seasons in life, my relationship with Christ would not be the same.  If my life was all peaches and pink roses - pictures of Dorothy from Wizard of Oz running through the fields of flowers come to mind - would I really fear God as I do?  Would my faith be as strong?  Would my dependance be less?  James 1 says, "Consider it PURE JOY, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, NOT LACKING ANYTHING."  Not only do was have trials because of sin, but God uses those trials to mold us, so that when we join him at Mount Zion we may be complete!

As the song ends, may we all sing "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY...I'M FOREVER SINGING."