When the first notes sound, I hear and see the first fat drops of rain splashing into the dusty lands of my heart. The dusty lands of Africa that are parched, cracked and oh, so very thirsty.
Sometimes when she plays, I hear the thunder, and see the dark storm clouds of His presence start to form. Towering, with lightning. And I hear the deep sound of my God speaking in the currents of the wind.
How I love those times!
Here's something I wrote over the weekend as I have thought about shalom (Biblical peace), that echoes the cry for rain and the somehow desperation of my heart...
Shalom - not the absence of conflict
But to thrive, to be alive
Shalom - not me in my safe place
But to walk dusty streets in the rain and the sleet
To turn and see, and to be alive
Shalom - to listen, and to hear
And to Stand in the palace of poverty
With the people beloved
Shalom - the flowersofspringtime
In the wastelands of our lives
Shalom... We pray for the peace of this city
Oh God, we pray for the rains of your love
On the thirsty lands of our city (and hearts)
Jer 29 talks about the plans of God for our lives (hope and a future, to prosper and not to harm). How often we forget that he said that to his people who HE had carried to Bablyon. Maybe some of us have run away to a city to live in. Some of us he himself has carried to specific cities. All of us are in exile from our heavenly home, which is why we live lives of desperation for him and for spiritual life.
His command is that we put down roots wherever we are. That we love and live and give. That we breathe and see and hear (no scuba tanks or blinkers or fingers in our ears to block out the hurting broken noisy world around us).
His command is that we pray for the peace of the city he has placed us in.
People of God, we also need to realise that the church is NOT the kingdom. We are. And when we pray for the rains, we're praying for the rains of God on hearts, on nations and not just a "thing". We are his bride and his beloved. Not the buildings and rules and way we do things. WE are HIS. The church is not more important than the kingdom!
Shalom - not the absence of conflict
But to thrive, to be alive
Shalom - not me in my safe place
But to walk dusty streets in the rain and the sleet
To turn and see, and to be alive
Shalom - to listen, and to hear
And to Stand in the palace of poverty
With the people beloved
Shalom - the flowersofspringtime
In the wastelands of our lives
Shalom... We pray for the peace of this city
Oh God, we pray for the rains of your love
On the thirsty lands of our city (and hearts)
Thoughts on a Wednesday mornng. There you go.
My gosh how the Lord works your words for an orchestra of music. How He reminds us of what He calls us to be, to do. Thank you my friend. I am so inspired to paint those storm clouds and rest His peace and glory upon His canvas of oil. I am reminded by your words that where we go He goes and where we live, He lives and His church is in us. Love you girlfriend.
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