God’s Gift of Rain
Last night I looked for passages that speak of rain, simply because I wanted to share some of the photos I took yesterday evening. I first noticed the beauty of the evening when Ray and I drove home from the birthday party of our now-seven-year-old grandson. He is seven this morning, but yesterday he made sure we knew that he wasn’t seven yet because he was born close to midnight.
A car was close behind us as we crossed the bridge near our home, so we went on across and came back to take this photo facing west . . .
. . . and this one facing east.
This view is not far from the place where we came upon a fallen tree a few days ago.
When we got home, the fog was ascending from the portion of the river that flows just beyond this little rise.
I tried to capture the rain on flower . . .
after flower, . . .
and I relished the green in this new plant my new garden helper planted. Isn’t it pretty?
Somehow the rain had even splattered on this hen and chickens which is sitting on the porch waiting for me to plant it. It is one of my favorite plants because it reminds me of my mother and grandmothers who grew them when I was a child.
In Acts 14, we learn about the apostle Paul and his fellow missionary Barnabas when they visited the town of Lystra, where people worshipped idols. Paul told them:
“In the generations gone by
He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;
and yet He did not leave Himself without witness,
in that He did good and gave you
rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
Acts 14:16-17
When you homeschool, you have the opportunity to teach your children not to go their own ways but to follow God instead. You also have the opportunity to teach them Who provides them with the rains from heaven and the fruitful seasons.
Jesus also spoke about God providing for everyone. In the Sermon on the Mount, He taught us that God sends sunshine on both evil people and good people and rain for both the righteous and the unrighteous. Jesus taught that we should follow God’s example by loving both our neighbors and our enemies. He also taught us to pray for those who persecute us. Wouldn’t social media be a kinder, gentler place if everyone loved and prayed for those with whom they disagree?
Near the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, Jesus said:
“You have heard that it was said,
‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be sons
of your Father who is in heaven;
for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
For if you love those who love you,
what reward do you have?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
If you greet only your brothers,
what more are you doing than others?
Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
Therefore you are to be perfect,
as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48