Singin' in the Rain

By Brenda Black

There's no better place to be on a rainy morning than in the house of God being showered with blessings! Added bonus: God may speak booming words of wisdom. It's happened before. "Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm." (Job 38:1)

All the threats this past weekend for dangerous weather did not seem to hinder the faithful ones who were bound and determined to be in the Lord's House on the Lord's Day. In they came, bearing sunny smiles to brighten a cloudy day. That says a lot about a Christian. It says they want to worship and they care about the body of Christ and those they'll see on Sundays. The desire to be more than a fair weather follower says to the world, “My faith is genuine.”

Oh certainly, there are justifiable reasons to not venture out on a stormy day and the Lord gave us common sense for a reason. But the point is that so many professing Christians let any little thing stop them from enjoying the presence of the Lord and the fellowship of the family of God. How refreshing it is, instead, to come with expectations of meeting God to hear His thundering lessons or feel His soft whisper while we worship. You see, God inhabits the praise of His people! Listen to what happened after the temple of the Lord was completed by Solomon and the Ark was brought to its place.

“The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: 'He is good; his love endures forever.' Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.” (2 Chronicles 5:13-14)

Now there's a cloud I'd welcome! Believe it or not, God has the capacity and the desire to dwell among us, live within us, lift us from the cares of the world and bless us just by His magnificent presence.

“Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds – his name is the Lord – and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.” (Psalm 68:4-10)

Blessed are the poor in spirit! For when they are desperate to get to God, even during a torrential rain, the kingdom of heaven awaits! Rain or shine, there's no place I'd rather be than in the Lord's company, surrounded by His family. It's a little taste of heaven here on earth and a reminder of the gleaming city yet to come.

Don't wait till Sunday to draw near to the Lord. But when next weekend rolls around, don't miss the blessing of worshipping with others before a deserving God, rain or shine!