Noonan says, we are never alone and prays for us; “AWESOME CREATOR GOD, you made springs of water cascade between the mountains and rush to flood my heart with re-creation and gladness. I lift up my voice and sing praises to my Maker, from whom all blessings flow.” And, I add, God said in Ezekiel, I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing…..Amen and Amen!
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
thedailylily.com 
“showers of Blessing”, Ezekiel denotes the unfathomable generosity of a giving GOD/CREATOR. ‘He sends rain on the just and the unjust.’
And in Luke 1:39-55 Mary exclaims to Elizabeth in the beautiful ‘Magnificat’…My soul does magnify the Lord, my Saviour, For He Who is called Holy has done great things for me. His mercy, compassion and kindness is toward all those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has scattered the proud in the imaginations and designs of their hearts, put down the mighty from their self-exalted thrones and exalted the humble and penitent.”
What a mighty God of Blessing we serve! I thank Him for He has taken care of me from one generation to the next. He has given me a church, employment, food, shelter. Paul says we should be content if we have food and shelter. And our God always goes above and beyond because He is a magnanimous, blessing God. The God Who is the Giver of life has given JESUS CHRIST His Son…the greatest blessing ever given. Thank You, Father.
As I look out the window today and see the rain showers, I also see so much of God’s creation that will gratefully respond to them. The dry seeds that seem to have no life now will awaken and sprout. The grass will green up. The trees will get a good drink and soon the spring blossoms will open. Earthworms will come to the surface looking for air and the robins will get a good meal. Water tables will rise and replenish wells to provide water to drink in seasons of drought. God seems to have so many ways He showers His blessings.
As I sit upon a screen porch, the rains have left and the temps are in the 70s. The leaves are unfolding on each bush and tree, and the birds are even singing while basking in the sunshine. What a beautiful day. It all started with a BSF leadership meeting recounting all that Jesus went through JUST for US. The story of the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom (Jesus) to come made one stand aright and think 10 virgins all had lamps. 10 virgins knew Jesus was coming. 10 virgins fell asleep. 10 virgins heard Jesus coming. 5 had enough light and 5 did not. 5 got to go the the wedding feast and the others did not. Which group are we in – all seem to know Jesus!
Another lesson was that Jesus knows all about what we will do. He told Peter he would deny him as well as the rest. He told the disciples to not sleep to stand watch as temptation would over take them (is this not true for us), but
they could not stay awake and they did what Jesus said, they all denied Him in his deepest need. We are so blessed to have a savior who knows us so well and knows what the enemy has in store just around the corner for us. We are so blessed that Jesus died for our sins so we can be really FREE not like Moses delivering the people who were slaves from Egyptian rule. Jesus deliverance is the real thing. Freedom for eternity if we accept HIM and are in relationship with HIM. My mother before she died would ask over and over, “How can I be assured I’ll be with Jesus when I die?” I’d often say to my Mother, Jesus is the door Mom so if you know Him you are assured. Being older now I question the KNOW HIM. TO KNOW HIM IS? TO LOVE HIM and to show gratitude for what He has done and is doing in our lives and in others lives. What a blessing that JESUS will come again and that sin will NO LONGER be. What a blessing that He is with us, talking, leading, and guiding us until that glorious day. BLESSINGS!!!!!!! as we hold hands with Him who is light and truth and LOVES us.
The good thing about Peter was that his faith did not fail. Thank goodness Jesus intercedes for us. As with Peter He knew Satan had asked to sift Peter. Satan can not have power over God and Jesus asked for Peter’s faith to stand firm. Jesus told Peter,
“When you have turned back strengthen your brothers.” PETER DID. We are blessed by Peter’s example. When we go through really tough trials we don’t forget the blessing of having Jesus at our side. He is glorified. We want to let everyone know (proclaim) what JESUS did for us. Thank you Jesus for leading and guiding us through each day. For turning our day into JOY even as we walk through tough times. For teaching us that by leaning on you is the only way to stand. Jesus had told the disciples to wait and pray. Thank you Jesus for all the beauty that surrounds us and ALL THE HOPE JESUS gives us to live out each day. Think you for being available 24 hours a day, day in and day out, thank you for your HOLY WORD which teaches us how to live. Thank you for friends who study your WORD and share what they learn as well. WHAT a blessing.
A lot of lessons to consider, Rena. This statement you wrote, “TO LOVE HIM and to show gratitude for what He has done and is doing in our lives and in others lives.” makes me think about how to measure of love I have for Him and this question Jesus asked Peter three times (John 21:17) seems like a flood light into the heart.
“A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”
Some footnotes from my Bible for John 21:15-17 (NLT) “The third time, Jesus used the word translated into Greek, phileo (signifying affection, affinity, or brotherly love) and asked, in effect, ‘Are you even my friend?’ Each time Peter responded with the word translated into Greek as phileo. Jesus doesn’t settle for quick, superficial answers. He has a way of getting to the heart of the matter. Peter had to face his true feelings and motives when Jesus confronted him. How would you respond if Jesus asked you. ‘Do you love me? Do you really love me? Are you even my friend?”
“When Peter answered yes, Jesus told him to feed his sheep. It is one thing to say you love Jesus, but the real test is willingness to serve him. Peter had repented, and here Jesus was asking him to commit his life. Peter’s life changed when he finally realized who Jesus was. His occupation changed from fisherman to evangelist, his identity changed from impetuous to ‘rock’, and his relationship to Jesus changed, he was forgiven, and he finally understood the significance of Jesus’ words about his death and resurrection.”
I think Debi got it right when she said, “a lot of lessons to consider”. What a “shower of blessing”………. to have the precious Word of God. Help us Lord to walk in Your truth. In Jesus name. Amen.
I was thinking as I read the above how Peter thought & felt within his own heart that he loved the Lord Jesusso greatly that he was willing…at least in his spirit… to die with Jesus as he proclaimed to the Lord when Jesus told them how & what would happen to Him. But at crunch time Peter’s faith wavered. He denied Jesus. If Jesus had not prayed for Peter beforehand and interceded for Peter [and all the apostles that their faith would not fail] they would have been sifted, greatly, by satan.
I was thinking that when we pray for people that we should pray for them that at a time of temptation, or difficult circumstances, testings, trials, tribulations…pray to the Lord that their faith would not fail at the precise moment of decision. We must pray that for one another, for those brothers & sisters being persecuted in other nations and for ourselves that we would remain true to the Lord Jesus and that our faith will not fail at our moment of decision.
I can’t imagine the sorrow Peter felt in the events prior to Jesus death in his life. He was so sure he would be able to die with Jesus due to his great love for Jesus. Jesus told Peter he would deny Him three times before the cock crowed. I can see Peter standing saying, “Not me Lord, never.” He loved the Lord and had watched as he did miracle after miracle. He was probably thinking maybe someone else but never me. His self assurance was tried with the first denial. A servant girl said, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilian.” He denied it in front of everyone. Later another servant girl and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Peter denied it, this time with an oath. Later bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” (Quotes from Matthew 26)
Then Peter remembered Jesus’s words. Peter wept. Had fear loomed up so much in his soul that the Jesus who performed miracle aftr miracle and whom he had loved
worthy for him to stand with to the end. Peter knew, he wept. Peter showed a real turn around, repentance. He NEVER denied JESUS again. I think Jesus told the disciples of their running away and He would see them after the resurrection in Galilee to give them hope that He knew them, their flawed human nature, and He’d see them soon.
Seems when you feel total hopeless, like the dung of the earth Jesus knowing you, and speaking to you I’ll see you soon is extending hope. The Lord the lover of sinners who repent. He knew his disciples even the one who betrayed him. None of the others forsake him again.
I wonder how many times when people or I come around like the servant girls do I/we deny Jesus by what I/we say or do. Do I/we deny the group I’m with as Jesus’s followers. Do I/we deny Jesus by my own/our earthy words or choose earthy things in life as WORDS for us by Jesus. Do these words glorify Jesus/God. Who do I/we let others influence my/our talk. Truely I/we may be found much more quilty than Peter. He wept, He knew, He changed and never went back to denial again. Somehow I/we may continue on the road most travelled NOT really focusing on our Savior’s love, or HIM at all. Seems Satan has sifted and we fell willing into His hands.
In thinking more about Peter’s betrayal and some of the examples of our own above I suppose it is just as grievous to the Holy Spirit when an opportunity is presented to us in which we can give a testimony or a witness….right there before our eyes. And we let it fly by. Or we give some lame expression of our faith, not clearly, not enthusiastically, not heartfelt. Sort of lukewarm, sort of embarrassed, sort of half-apologetic. I suppose Peter’s out-and-out denial of Jesus was more authentic than some of our half-hearted, indiscernible reasons we give for the joy that is within us.
I remember with shame and embarrassment and sadness, an incident which occurred driving home from a funeral with some of my colleagues, one of whom was of a different culture. When the term ‘born-again’ came up this particular person asked what that term meant. Jumping in with both feet, ready to seize the opportunity…not taking a second to whisper a Holy Spirit prayer, I dove right in with both feet. My explanation was muddled and not at all cohesive, striving not to offend one of another culture/religion. I guess I had forgotten that the Truth of the Gospel IS offensive to those who do not believe. But, by my garbled explanation, I was not giving that person even an opportunity to believe. There was another Christian person there who could have explained it much better than I, but I did not give that person the opening. So a perfect opportunity shot. Therein was my answer to a question similar to Peter’s , ” I tell you, I do not know the Man!!”
Forgive me, Lord Jesus.
Thinking some more about failing faith. When Jesus told Peter how the Lord would have him give his (Peter’s) life to glorify God, this time the Bible does not say that Peter “winced”. But the Scriptures say Jesus told him that he would stretch out his arms and others would do to him what he would not want them to do. Nonetheless, Peter died a martyr’s death and this time did not deny his Lord. Peter was hanged on the cross upside down at his own request.
I suppose there was ONE denial at the end. He denied being hanged right side up like his Lord for he said he was not worthy to die on the cross in the same position as our Lord and Savior. So Peter chose to be hanged upside down. No faith failure there. God bless St. Peter.
At our services this past Sunday our pastors encouraged us to pray for the conversion of many this Easter Sunday. Consider the great opportunity upcoming Easter Services give to intercessors to pray that Saving Grace and Saving Faith will be given by the Holy Spirit. That we would pray that the Spirit of God would hover over the congregations in thousands of churches, hundreds of tents and the numbers of sunrise services held in parks across America, and over the universal Body of Christ globally. We would pray that each of us would be fit witnesses to those who need the Lord Jesus on this Resurrection Sunday. That we would give living reasons for the hope that is within us…the hope of Heaven
where Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father.
May we all bring glory to God this Easter season and bring many souls to Christ for it is the latter times.