“Ask of the Lord rain in the time of the latter or spring rain.  It is the Lord who makes lightnings which usher in the rain and give men showers, and grass to everyone in the field.”  (Zechariah 10:1 AMP)

It has been raining for several days and it’s easy, if we are not careful, to get “under the weather,” if you know what I mean. This is definitely a time to hit the drive through and reach for a nice sweet treat that will definitely add a bit of sunshine to the day. That sweet treat for me is a praline and crème latte.  Wow! Now that definitely helps!

As I savor every sweet sip of this latte, I want to share with you a timely event that occurred recently.  I had noticed throughout the day that about the time the sun would begin to poke its joyful self out, the clouds would move in pushing its bright light out of the way to make room for more rain. As I was driving home from my daughter’s home during one of these occurrences, I looked up into the sky and I saw a beam of lightning in several different directions looking amazingly like a cross.   It was both beautiful and fearful at the same time. It was right at that moment I realized that I needed to take more time to observe everything God has created and appreciate it.  Although I definitely don’t want to be in the path of lightning, I can enjoy the beauty of it as it calls me to remember Zechariah 10:1.  “It is the Lord who makes lightnings which usher in the rain and give men showers, and grass to everyone in the field.” 

With that scripture in mind, there is nothing I desire more than for God to rain down on me with His presence.  I want the showers of His love to overwhelm me, washing away the old and making room for the new.  Do you need a fresh start?  How about a fresh day? The same wonderful Father who created the lightnings that give us rain is also the One who says that His mercy is new every morning. Did you know that every single day we can have a fresh rain of His presence to wash away all of our mistakes, and we can begin new? Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed with all of my shortcomings and just want “to call it a day!”  Have you ever felt like you just wanted to give up?  How about the thought, why try?  I think we have all been there.  The Good News is that the Father knew all of our shortcomings and that is why He sent Jesus to rain on us washing away all of our sins. The Great News is that even in my weakness, I am loved and cherished by the Father.  Lord, thank you so much for the rain as it reminds me of your love that never ceases.

“Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” (Ps. 37:4 amp)

Early in the morning I like to take my coffee cup in hand, look out the window as the sun rises and reflect on God’s goodness. Granted it takes me awhile to get my eyes open but as I do, I am amazed at the beauty of the world around me.  Have you ever taken a moment to enjoy the orange and yellow colors of the sun as it peaks its head up to say,”‘Come on, girl, time to wake up!”? Could it be that the sunrise is the Father’s silent alarm clock?  It is here, in this moment , that I begin to delight myself in the creativity of the Father.  The word delight means “to take great pleasure or joy or to give great pleasure or joy.”  A synonym would be “to please” (Webster’s dictionary).  It also means “to enjoy enthusiastically and often excessively.”  If we are to delight ourselves in the Lord, I guess that would mean that we are to take pleasure and enthusiastic joy in Who He is and what He has created.  According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, we make God our heart’s delight.  We can enjoy the fact that there is a God and that He has chosen to reveal Himself to us; therefore, we delight ourselves in His beauty and love.  As I delight myself in Him, something inside of me changes, and His desires become my desires, and the secret petitions of my heart become an excessive, joyful longing to know Him more.  Isn’t that amazing?  Just think, as you take time to enjoy Him through the sunrise, He is revealing Himself to you in ways you have never expected.  Come on, you can do it?  Set your alarm clock earlier tomorrow morning,  grab that cup of wonderful coffee, and as the sun begins to rise, allow the colors of His beauty to light up your day.  Tell Him that you love Him and then listen, as He whispers through the sunrise, “I love you more.”

Knowing you and sharing with you today is my joy.  I love you.   Daddy’s girl,  Julaine

New to our ministry is our devotional entitled “Grounded in Him.”  Here Julaine takes a fresh look at daily life while enjoying some of her favorite lattes.  Will you join her every week for a fresh word and your choicest latte?  Julaine’s heart is to give you something to awaken your heart to love every day.