This Is The Time I Must Sing

I heard this beautiful song yesterday and wanted to share it with you all.

I have tasted of freedom, I can go where He's leading,
For shackles can hold me no more.
I have learned of life's essence and I stand in His presence
And sing with my heart, "He is Lord."

Keep silent ye mountains, ye fields and ye fountains
For this is the song I must sing;
It's the time to sing praises to the Rock of the Ages,
And this is the time I must sing.

There are days filled with sorrow and plans for tomorrow,
But this is the time I must sing.
And I know there's a reason why in His own season
God gives me a song I can sing.

If the rocks would cry out should His praises die out,
The stones must keep silent as long.
As I've breath for the singing His praise will keep ringing,
And I will keep singing my song.
by William J & Gloria Gaither

Rain = Growth

"If it never rained, we'd never grow." It's a quote I keep quoting to myself and to my friends. It's so true. The rain is so important in the spring. Without it, the world would not be the beautiful green that it is. Without the raking, cleaning, pruning, mowing, rolling, ... etc.. that I do in the spring the lawns would not be half so nice. But even all that...without the rain, will help nothing. For it's the rain that waters, refreshes, rejuvenates, and brings the rainbow. Without the rain, there is never any rainbow. The rainbow comes when the sun begins to shine again. And while it rains, it's in faith that we know that the sun will shine once again in its splendor.

But we often feel that "when it rains, it pours." Which is often true. And many times we are afraid to bravely lift our faces to the rain and allow it to wash away all the dust and grime that had accumulated in the heat of the day. We want to hide from it, to protect ourselves, and hide our faces, complaining about the rain. Not realizing it's for our good. Our growth.

If life is all sunshine, we sail along, we live and laugh, but we grow cold and stagnant, and eventually begin to whither and die. And unless the rain comes we will die and decay and become useless. But the Lord loves His children too much to not send the rain. But will we drink up the refreshing , living waters and allow them to pour into our souls and do the reviving work it's meant to do? Or will we hide our faces and gripe and complain? We'll never grow.

Suffering is never pleasant, you would never wish it on anyone. but when it comes. When you feel as though life is overwhelming you, that it's just too much for you to handle at once. It's true, it is, but you're not meant to carry it alone. Take it all to Jesus. He'll carry it for you, He'll refresh you with His living waters and revive you for the battle ahead. Rest in Him. Drink the living water. Allow Him to carry you. He will be your refuge and your strong tower in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation.

And always remember the rainbow is only and always after the rain when the sun begins to shine again through it all.