The Just and the Unjust (Matt 5:45)

"Raindrop in my backyard"
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

I've been praying for inspiration for my blog since yesterday.  Yesterday was interesting.  We keep having these huge downpours of rain.  I was at my computer and heard a boom then the house loudly bounced.  Not such a great feeling.  It held up : )  Silly me, I told my husband the rain is messing up my flowers.  He said, "It'll be ok.  God knows how much water the flowers need."

Sigh.  I was driving home from the grocery store today, when I heard this song for the first time.  I wanted to share it.

We Won't Be Shaken, Building 429 (link)

The verse on the photo kept going through my mind.  Sometimes the Lord repeats Himself for me, so I'll remember it : )  So glad He does.  I was wondering as I drove, why God allows us to be in the rain and storms.  After all we're the "saved" ones.  Then it all came together.  We are to be in the storms with those who don't know about God so we can bear His testimony.  We'll have plenty of time in Paradise when the time comes.  But, for now we are his candles, the hugs that people need, sharing our tears and prayers.  He hasn't left us on earth because He forgot.  It's because He loves all of us.  The just and the unjust.  He wants as many as possible with Him.

On 9-11-00, I drove to work and saw "Police Activity in Lower Manhattan" on the overhead sign.  I thought it was a drug bust or some sort of violence.  I got to work and my friends were crying.  "They're bombing NYC and we don't know why!"  

I looked out a window upstairs and saw the plumes of smoke rising out of the skyscrapers.  A woman had her hands over her mouth as she shook and cried, "I don't know if my husband got out alive!"  

I'm not usually real emotional. I didn't know what to do.  So I hugged her, prayed with her, and cried too.  Eventually, I went back downstairs.  We were all silent, dumbfounded.  Awhile later she ran downstairs and told me her husband was ok.  He'd made it out.  Time for a happy dance!  We need to be there for others.  Our prayers mean a lot.  God hears and answers.  We have some good news to share don't we?  Besides faith shines brightest when it's dark.

It's good to know storms are not a punishment, they're an honor.

God bless!