Sounds Like Rain.

Monday, March 14, 2011
Sounds Like Rain. The past couple of weeks in my life have been incredible. I’m exhausted after running nonstop through it all, but I would not trade any of it if I could. A couple of weeks back our students took part in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine, in which we raised thousands of dollars to get food and the gospel to those who are hungry. God blew my socks off with the events of that weekend, and I left so very thankful to have the privilege of being the youth pastor to such an amazing group of students and volunteers. I remember thinking, “It kind of sounds like rain…”
As soon as the 30 Hour Famine event was over, I immediately began pouring myself into prep work for our vacation Bible school, which is scheduled for the end of June. As I’ve been working on these materials, an excitement has begun to grow inside of me for this awesome week of seeing God move in the lives of kids. Person after person is stepping up to volunteer to serve God through VBS this year, and it’s so exciting to see Him telling them where to serve. Sounds like rain…
This past weekend God allowed me to spend a couple of days driving our high school forensics and debate teams to Fayetteville for a competition. This is a great group of students, and the trip was a blast. I know this wouldn’t be some folks’ cup of tea, but any time that I get to spend around students is a blessing no doubt. I get to learn more about what they are facing in their lives, as well as little by little point them to Him if they don’t already know Him. It was such a blessing to spend the weekend with them…sounds like rain.
And then yesterday I had the opportunity to preach at the 11AM and 6PM service at Calvary Church in Conway. The pastor is a lifelong friend of my pastor, and that’s how the preaching appointment came to fruition. I went on to Conway early yesterday morning so I could catch the 8:30AM service at Antioch Baptist Church where a lot of my family goes. It was such a blessing to get to see family, as well as get to preach to some great people who sure do love the Lord. Then to finish off the day with dinner last night with some great friends from back in the days when I was in youth group myself just topped it all off. It sounds an awful lot like rain.
I got the message when I got out of church last night that some decisions had been made at my home church where I serve. A couple of my awesome students helped another awesome student give his heart to Christ, and there were a couple of other decisions yesterday to follow Christ in baptism. As I sit here writing this morning, the sound of rain is flooding my ears as a light thunderstorm moves through Cabot. But as I review the events of the past few weeks in my mind, and as I view the blessings of God upon my life in recent days, I must admit – in the grand scheme of things – God is raining down His blessings and unmerited favor on my life in undeserved, unimaginable ways.
Some would say I’ve been really busy here lately. Others would say I should schedule more down time to manage my rest. And then there are those that just wouldn’t understand at all how much of a blessing all these things have been to me. But if you ask me what I think – if you ask me what I believe it all is – well, my answer would simply be: it just sounds like rain…



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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