Raspberries After the Storm

"Rain, rain,
Rattle pane."

So said the old Irish shopkeeper when we bought a kettle from her shop one wet summer's day in Co Roscommon. And indeed, during the storms in my home country, South Africa, the rain, accompanied by lightning and thunder, does rattle panes, and drums on the roof with so much force that we cannot hear the TV.

But this was not the case when Storm Clodagh recently passed over my sister's house in County Carlow. We watched the wind whip trees into a frenzied dance in the rain, but the double glazed windows and the thick insulation muffled the sound of the wind to a barely audible murmur. The central heating kept us snug and warm. The wind and rain did not disturb our sleep that night. In the first light next morning we saw that huge bare branches, ripped from a sturdy ash tree  in the back garden, lay strewn on the ground.

The fallen branches had narrowly missed the autumn raspberry canes growing nearby. They stood proud and tall, bedecked with fruit jewels glowing  in the morning sun, beckoning hungry blackbirds.

I couldn't resist eating a few raspberries.They were delicious! Tasty reminders that even though terrible life storms have lashed me during the last few years, I can cling to God and He will never fail me. I will survive by his grace and will not be not be destroyed. He will enable me to bear friut for Him

Not by Might, nor Power, but by His Spirit

Our home here in South Africa is a work in progress. At this stage we have no garage or driveway, so our cars park on the lawn outside. We have one big, super-powerful car for when we need to get our family of five somewhere far, and a small run around for me for when we need to, well... run around. In the pic above, you can see Ginger modelling my small car.

Over the weekend, it rained. Then it rained some more. When it was done raining, it raining again just for fun. The funny thing about rain is that it has a magical ability to turn lawn to muddy slush.

On Saturday evening we tried to take my eldest and her friend to go visit other friends in the big car. We discovered that what used to be lawn, was in fact now a mud pit somewhat like quicksand that sucked you deeper in the more you tried to get out. If the powerful one couldn't make it out, there was not way the little one would! We didn't even try.

On Sunday, my hubby did everything he could think of to get the big car out but all his efforts only made it worse. In a last ditch attempt to get to church, he suggested we try push mine out the yard without even switching the engine on. That's the beauty of small cars - you can bully them as much as you want.  Minutes later my car was out and we used it to help tow the other one. I never thought I'd see the day that my tiny car would be used to tow the enormous one! As we were driving to church in the rescued big car, I said to the Lord, "Well that was fun. What was it all about?"

I could almost sense the grin on his face as He rubbed his hands and leaned in close...

When we find ourselves in a sticky spot in life, if we put our trust in ourselves to get out of it, our wheels spin, mud flies and we dig ourselves deeper. But when we trust God for a solution, stop frantically scrambling to rescue ourselves - HE is able to come through in ways we could never imagine. It's not about doing nothing, but it's all about where we put our trust - in our own efforts, or in His mighty power working on our behalf. A person of tiny faith who trusts Jesus is more effective than a spiritual powerhouse who falls into the trap of trusting their own strength.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 

Zechariah 4:6

Friends, I don't know about you, but I'm a little over getting splattered with mud from trying to dig myself out of my troubles! I'm putting my trust in His ability, His resources and His connections.

What are you trusting Him for today?

Dianne J. Wilson is a freelance writer and author from South Africa.

Her first official novel, Finding Mia, is now available from Pelican / Harbourlight, Amazon and in other places that you find good books.

Shackles is available as a free ebook.

DEVOTION: Will it Ever Rain Again?

     I am writing this from a drought-depressed section of South Africa. My husband and I live just four streets from the Indian Ocean. We're surrounded by water! Yet we are currently enduring the worst drought in many years.
     The city where I live has only enough water to last until September. What will happen then? We don't know, and frankly, don't want to think about it. Our gardens are dying, despite the "grey" water rescued from washing machines and used bath water.
     Africa is a land of contrasts. We've just returned from visiting our family in Johannesburg--a mere 14 hours' drive away. Their gardens also struggle to grow. Why? They've had too much water. Many of their plants have drowned. If only they could have sent us some of their rain.
     Some mornings we open the curtains and search the brilliant blue sky for just a trace of cloud. Nothing. When they do make an appearance they seem to bypass our city. On occasions, we've rejoiced as a heavy grey cloud has moved overhead, and pours down a few liters of water on our thirsty land. But before the gardens are even wet, and before it's made any impression on our near-empty dams, the clouds rush off again, and dump thousands of liters of water into the already very wet ocean. Is that fair or what?

Will it ever rain in our city again?

Yes, we're sure it will. In fact, the pessimists among us are already predicting the drought will end with floods.

One day it will rain again. Water will pour from the heavens. Our gardens will recover, and flowers will again bring colour to the barren landscape. Along the beachfront, indigenous plants will transform the seaside with a glorious border of tangled flowers and aloes.

How often we experience droughts of relational problems, spiritual dryness or perhaps ill health. As writers we experience a drought of inspiration and wonder if it'll ever rain ideas again. Yet the God who created us has known us since the moment of our conception. He knows what we need, and He assures us that He will never forget us.

Isaiah: 35:1-4a says "Cheer up! Don't be afraid. Your God is coming . . .” (CEV). So while we wait and pray for the rain -- or an improvement in our relationship, or for healing, or inspiration, let's remember that God is in control. While we wait, let's look for positive action we can take that will remind us of His goodness. Let's look for ways to help or encourage others.

Suggestion: Gather a bunch of flowers, wild if possible, and take them to an old age home or an individual who needs some cheer.

Prayer: God of Creation, as we look at flowers today, may we see your loving hand and provision. Amen.

And remember - the rains will come. Your drought will end. Maybe -- hopefully -- before this devotion appears on the blog!

Question: Are you experiencing a drought in your life right now? Or are you going through a flood? Share with us in a few sentences - then offer up a prayer for those who respond.

Shirley Corder is an RN, a pastor's wife and a cancer survivor. She's had her share of droughts, but the Lord has seen her through them all. Visit Shirley at her website or link with her through Twitter.