Puddle Jumpin'

Run In The Rain!

Matthew 5:45

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Recently there was a major marathon in Houston. Novice to professional runners trained for weeks and months to prepare for this race. The day of the race, the weather was uncomfortably cold and the clouds unleashed a torrential rain.

Any good athlete understands that in preparation for competition, you have to prepare for the unexpected. Anything can happen in battle!

Just the same, our lives are a constant battle. As we race toward the finish line, which is eternal life in Heaven, we must act and not react.

1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it."

Anything can happen everyday. The winners are those who know how to adjust and keep moving.

My challenge to you this week is to learn how to RUN IN THE RAIN! Despite what comes your way – keep Running! Prepare for the rain.

Rain may seem negative to some and beneficial to others. It can slow you you down or remind you that GOD is providing the nourishment you need to grow taller and go farther. 

EVEN IF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH HELL, KEEP RUNNING – EVENTUALLY YOU WILL COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE!

Little Cup - LOT OF POWER!!!!!

Thirsty????????

The first Sunday of every month, the church that I attend has a communion service. It is the day we take a small wafer and a shot of grape juice as a symbol of the Lord's Supper as well as His Body and Blood.

This Sunday, I distributed the pre-packaged communion cups with pride. The juice filled cups were petite with a pliable purple metallic top that holds a wafer wrapped in plastic. I was excited when I received my own cup. The new year had begun and I knew that by taking my communion wafer and juice, I was officially launching into a new year with Christ.

As my pastor went through the statements leading up to the congregation eating the wafer and drinking the juice, I desperately struggled to open my cup. Everyone else seemed to easily pry their cups open. Mine felt like they added super glue, monkey tar, and melted iron to fasten it.

I fought and I fought with that cup. Eventually I put it down and realized I was standing behind a table with a plethora of unopened cups.

How many people are standing in the midst of miracles and are struggling to see something great happen in their own lives? Slow down and look at the fact that you are surrounded by God's power and your ability to witness your blessing is in your persistence to pursue HIM!

The woman with the issue of blood fought to get to Christ. When she reached Jesus, He noticed a change. He said her faith healed her! It was her faith through relentless tenacity.

His blood heals, mends, fixes, and more. We have to pursue Christ passionately! As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. (Psalm 42:1 NIV)

The bible says in John 4:13-14 ^"Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

I thirst for God and I will go through anything to get Him. Keep pushing, Recognize His abundant blessings, and Know that your effort to breakthrough will be rewarded!

Mary Did You Know?!?!?!?

Luke 1:30-33

“30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, foryou have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womband bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, andwill be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him thethrone of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacobforever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

There are many songs that signify time and season. Will Smith’s “Summertime” is an anthem for the end of the school year and the startof Summer. Frankie Beverly’s “Golden Time of Day” makes me think of Spring andback yard grilling. This year I heard a song that will forever bring winter andthe Christmas season to life. Cee-Lo Green’s remake of “Mary Did You Know”evoked the Christmas spirit and a deeper thought.

Everything has a season or time. In that time or season manythings can take place.

This song tells the story of the Virgin Mary carrying the life of a baby who would make sure that Christians had everlasting life! It questions the thoughts of Mary as she carried Jesus for months and delivered him in a simple barn.

I had several thoughts about my son as he grew in the womb of his mother. I created expectations and built all sorts of scenarios for what I would do as he grew into a man.

But my thoughts, despite their size or awesomeness, pale in comparison to what God pre-planned before He placed my son into his mother’swomb.

We won’t fully know the plans for our children but we do know who holds their plan in His hands. “To train up a child” doesn’t mean toforce them in your direction – it means to encourage their talents and lead them in the direction that God has prepared.

Believe the best for your Children and know that God’spowerful purpose is coursing through their veins!

Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he isold he will not depart from it.”