One of the prettiest things is watching the rain gently fall in the desert cleansing all the foliage and cactus from everyday dust. Rain has been a joy where I live, that is until the rancher across the road leveled her pasture in order to bring in homeless horses that she had a heart to save. This created standing water on our lower property when the rains hit hard. We didn’t know what to do; we’ve never experienced so much collected water in the two decades we’ve lived here. Storms made me nervous wondering if the massive rush of water would reach too close to the house. I have been praying about this a long time. We’re not engineers, but God is. Last weekend, my SIL came out with his backhoe and a plan and dug a narrow pathway to reroute the ferocious water keeping it far from my house. Success! And, it came just in time for our first autumn rainstorm just two days ago.
Oddly, I saw a similar lesson during my study time in Acts 26 and noticed, again, how God engineered a new path for ferocious energy. No Nonsense Paul was on his way to torture Christians so they would curse Christ. But that Bright Light, brighter than the sun, knocked him off his horse and revealed the truth to his blind eyes. This story never loses its power for me. In fact, it inspires me every time I read it and I pray that the Lord will take the evil energy my prodigal walks in and reroute it for God’s kingdom and glory. I pray today that not only my prodigal, but all prodigals that are bringing such pain to their families will be captivated by the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and turn their lives around. Imagine all that mighty energy turning around for good!
“Heavenly Father, I stand today believing that you are working in the lives of our prodigals. Open their eyes to their true spiritual condition so that they can repent and be free from the bondage of sin. May your loving kindness lead them to freedom and may they choose to walk in your light and be restored to You and their families once again. Amen.”
My post today links to Brag On God Fridays and Spiritual Sundays!
Great post, Mom.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that your SIL took care of rerouting that water for you!
ReplyDeleteWe've had quite a bit of rain, off and on, for the past couple of weeks. It began raining yesterday, rained all day today, and will rain tonight. Temperatures are dropping, so we may have some snow mixed with that rain!
I love the picture. It looks like a place where I hike. And agree with your dgt. Great post. Have an awesome weekend
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that we see the Lord teaching us things from simple, ordinary things we encounter with. But I pray I'll have a receptive heart like yours. That's awesome that you are given that wisdom to fix that "problem" before it becomes big.
ReplyDeleteI join you in your prayer sister Mary. I also have a "prodigal brother" who was very strong in the Lord and went back to his old ways. You inspired me and reminded me to take a pause and remember those loved ones and others and pray for them. I believe in the power of prayer. Because that bro. of mine, before coming to the Lord, I told him I had been praying for him for many years to change his ways. He has a beautiful testimony how his attention was caught by the Lord and answered my prayer. Sad to say, I believe as our family had gone through a spiritual battle (literally against demonic spirits), he had gone astray again. Your post moved me to share this with you because I know you are a praying woman and I want to thank you. I mean it. For all of your prayers. Love you sister Mary. God bless and protect you.
Great post! I have been through your area and could visualize it while reading.
ReplyDeleteYou got rain? I think we had a drizzle or two a while ago but it was so little, I can't remember it! I love your comparison and join you in praying for today's prodigals.
ReplyDeleteWould love to meet you at an Arizona blogger get together. We have to find out where one is happening or start our own!
Blessings to you, Mary
Janis
Hi Mary:
ReplyDeleteGreat post - I too am always amazed at the story of Paul and how one man who was so adamant at destroying Christians became the leading missionary in the early church. It just goes to show that no one is beyond God's saving grace.
Many blessings,
Joan
What sweet words of encouragement and inspiration! I popped over from Spiritual Sunday and enjoyed reading several of your posts. I hope you are feeling better and I'm so sorry to hear about your sweet pup. I still remember how hard it was when we walked that path with my cat. Now I have all granddogs at all my grandkids homes and they are such a blessing. Praying for you today. :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow. I see orange cones in the background of that photo. Glad your s-i-l took care of the water for you. Blessings and safety to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great how God knows all the answers. I'm with you in praying for the prodigals. There are so many of them out there.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Charlotte
Such a beautiful prayer!
ReplyDelete..and God bless your sweet SIL for having the foresight (and ability!) to dig that trough. God's angels are everywhere!
Powerful post! Praying for you and your family today!
ReplyDeleteReminded of your study in the 23rd Psalm, He leaded me beside the STILL waters. Glad that does not say "standing water" and that your SIL saved the day with his back hoe. The end of the story about prodicals has not yet been told. Keep praying and believing.
ReplyDeleteGreat words of wisdom. Thank you so much for stopping by and joining me at Jeremiah 29:11...I'm following you, too!
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