Rain, Rain, Wherefore art Thou, Rain?

We've had very little rain in the past three weeks.  Finally, two days ago, some big storms rolled through.  Areas around us got three inches of rain.  Just 15 miles away, in two different directions, THREE inches of rain!  We got...ready for this?  0.15 inches of rain here.  That's right, not even two-tenths!  Arrgh!  Then, today on the way home from town, the rain was so intense that we nearly came to a standstill on the highway.  It was a real toad-strangler.  I was so excited, now we have some rain!  Then we got home...and it was bone-dry.  Not even a drop!  About two hours later, though, we did get some rain.  A whole 0.05 inches. Woo-Hoo! Celebrate!  Not so much.

It is so dry here that I've been praying for rain.

Which is unusual.  Me, praying for rain.

I remember very well one summer that we went to Tennessee to see all the grandparents and cousins.  I was six or seven years old (no older than that).  Here is a photo of my family around that time (Dad was behind the camera) .  I'm the blond girl on the left, in front of the Mother who looks like she's about to pass out from being a mother to five children.  She was exhausted, I'm sure. (Mom, this photo is so funny.  I love it!)

While we were in Tennessee, it began to rain!  Oh no!  The only thing we kids could do in Tennessee was play outside.  Heavens, five children descending upon grandparents who hadn't had kids living in their homes for decades, and what, did you say FIVE kids?  Send those boogers outside to play!  Don't call them in until supper.  After that, send them back outside to chase the fireflies.

We were in our station wagon with Grandmother.  Sandwiched in, up close and personal, getting to know Grandmother better.  Driving through Nashville somewhere, going someplace and under pain of death to be good to our siblings.  And it started to rain.  Rain!  What are we going to do now?


Grandmother, sitting in the middle seat, said how happy she was to see the rain.  "I've been praying for rain!"

I remember just as if it were yesterday, thinking, "What a stupid thing to pray for!"

Now I'm praying that stupid prayer.

Heard Today

Luci's prayer during our devotional time tonight:

Dear God,

Please keep all the people safe from tornadoes that might be coming near them.

(the weather was clear here!)

Please be with all the sick people.

You are so cool and awesome!

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Thirty Days of Thanks

I'm thankful today for second chances. (See yesterday's post, OK, so I spoke too soon.)

I'm also thankful for prayer. It is such a calming thing, talking to the One who made everything. When we travel (which includes the 25 minute drives to town on regular days at home) the kids are usually busy watching a DVD, and I pray. Yesterday, the 10-hour trip made for some good praying time.

Today, please join me in praying for Ann, a fellow blog reader. She is having surgery tomorrow, so please pray that it is successful and that Ann recovers quickly.

Ann let me know she is one of our readers after that post on the red dots on the map (see this Thirty Days of Thanks). I also heard from Sarah, who explained how the dots in Israel got there. :) And hey, Brandi and Julie! Remember Ann today and tomorrow, please. Thanks.

My Mom and Dad

Please remember my Mom, Audrey, in your prayers...she is in lots of pain, waiting for a hip replacement operation. Pray for my Dad, Charles, too--Dad is taking care of Mom and both of them are exhausted.

Inspiration for Olympic Prayer Band Arrested

I got this email this morning....

Pastor Zhang “Bike” Mingxuan, known for traveling across China on a bicycle to evangelize, was arrested by Chinese police just two days before the Olympics began. Pastor Bike was the inspiration for the recent partnership between The Voice of the Martyrs and China Aid Association to create the Olympic Prayer Band.

Learn More about the Olympic Prayer Band here

Pastor Asks for Prayer BandEarlier this year, Pastor Bike pleaded with VOM staff to ask Christians to pray for persecuted Christians in China during the Olympics. The pastor voluntarily preaches the gospel openly in China despite being persecuted. He has asked for his identity to be revealed to bring continued attention to the persecution of Christians in Communist China.

Thanks to Pastor Bike’s inspiration and the commitment of concerned Christians across the United States, more than 800,000 prayer bands have been circulated. On Aug. 6, Pastor Bike was arrested while trying to deliver medicine to his ailing wife. His wife and another pastor were also arrested. We have also learned this week that Chinese officials are opening a full investigation of the Olympic Prayer Bands that were distributed to house church members within China. Despite this increased pressure from Chinese authorities, Chinese Christians continue to ask for prayer and to make their plight known.

Order your Prayer Bands today!As the Olympics goes on, the harassment of Chinese evangelists continues to increase. Please help remind others to pray for persecuted Christians like Pastor Bike by ordering your prayer bands today!

More about Pastor BikePastor Bike, president of the Chinese House Church Alliance, rode his bike more than 10,000 miles, visiting 24 Chinese provinces to introduce nonbelievers to Jesus Christ.

Praying for China

From the Voice of the Martyrs website:

The eyes of the world will soon be on the Olympics. But the eyes of God remain on His children and especially those who suffer for their faith.

Despite what you may hear in the news, Chinese Christians who refuse to register with the government controlled church are being persecuted. Many have undergone horrific suffering.



We got our prayer bracelets today. You can get a free one, and order more from here. The bracelets remind you to pray for the Christians in China.