During the summer months, our church holds a monthly event called Summer Sunday Nights. We gather at a host home and eat (we have to, we’re Baptists) and fellowship. This past Sunday we met at a home that is a little off the beaten path. It is a popular home as it is a ranch that’s used for recreational activities such as hunting and group activities as they have ample space for lodging. Needless to say, folks who have been there love going there.
This past Sunday the weather did not want to cooperate. It was dark and the threat of rain loomed. As my wife and I prepared our dish to take, lightning flashed and thunder crashed. We were shaking our heads wondering how many would actually be there. I am one of the event organizers, so there was no question about my attendance. Rain or shine.
We had clouds and sprinkles on and off on our drive and when we were about to turn onto the ranch road, flashes of lightning could be seen in the distance. UGH.
When we pulled up to the main house, things didn’t look promising, but I assured my wife it was because we were organizers, we needed to be there before everyone. But, even as I walked in the hosts were kidding that it would be us, them, and the Pastor and his wife. We laughed. Even then, there were about fifteen, mostly kids who were in the pool.
I checked my radar, and those flashes of lightning were part of a massive storm that had its sights on the ranch. I let Pastor and Carolyn, now by the pool know and went back inside to help. I prayed for the storm to pass us, and for people to come.
One by one, two by two, and five by five, families began to arrive. Overall, my final count, because I stopped counting, was 87. There were probably more. It was an amazing sight to see so many battle the ominous skies, and even though the afternoon storms raged, not give up the thought of attendance.
It never did rain at the ranch. That huge storm that seemed determined to rain us out, fizzled out. My thought is that the devil had intentions to ruin our fellowship together, but God had other intentions. The only time those outside came inside was to eat.
Why do I believe this was God keeping us dry? You can take a look at the image above. He gave us a rainbow to show, “Hey, I got your back.”
Life is much like that. We have every intention of doing things for the Lord, but when we see the storms looming around us, we go inside; we quit. Storms don’t have to be the reason for us to give up or go inside. God has our back. He is all around us. He knows where we are. We just have to trust in Him and look for those signs he gives us. Sometimes the are right before our eyes.
Deuteronomy 31:6b – “For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you.
He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Moments for the Heart 