Becoming Rain Ready

The sugar fast is finished.  It came to a natural end while visiting our families in South Carolina.  I can't say I had a word from the Lord for it to end.  I had peace.  I am now much more aware of the sugar I consume.  I am slowly becoming aware that my diet and exercise habits need an overhaul!

On another "learning about yourself" note, I am reading Preparing For Rain by Michael Catt.  The book jacket says, "It is the story of a church that believed God for the impossible."  Catt is the pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church, the church that "challenged the Hollywood establishment with the locally produced, nationally syndicated moving Facing the Giants."  Half way into the book while learning about the building of the ministry team that accomplished this feat, I saw my own weaknesses.  The Holy Spirit put his finger on two heart attitudes that needed confessing.  With those heart issues unsettled, I realized Mr. Catt could not have hired me for his ministry team.  I am glad for the cleansing.  I asked God to prepare me personally for rain.  I read on.

Another eye opener from the book was that you need to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  There is no formula.  I acquired the book to see how they did it, i.e. how they made those movies.  I was looking for the formula.  Mr. Catt made it clear.  It is all about getting "alone with God and find out what He has called (p.166)" you to do.  He says, "We must be spiritually authentic ..." and "... we're to be original and unique (p. 167)."

There is so much more to the work of that church than just movies.  They have a huge sports ministry program, a diligent prayer program, conferences to refresh pastors, and the reclaiming of the arts - the movies.  I thought of my two tours with YWAM in Montana then Nashville with worship and dance to today's singing and songwriting in Nashville.  Again Mr. Catt offers this direction that comforts me, "The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing.  Timing is essential for us to see God's blessings.  I thought Sherwood was ready to build a new facility in 1992; we didn't build it until 2000.  I wanted to change our worship style in 1990; we made gradual changes over a five-year period without a fight or split.  We finished filming Facing the Giants in 2004, yet had to wait until 2006 for national distribution.  Be patient, wait on the Lord and trust his timing (p. 169)."  Running ahead of God. Yes, I have made that mistake before.  I don't want to do that again.  Wait. Wait. Wait on His timing.  I should also trust him for the plan.  It may be bigger and broader than I can imagine, like Sherwood.


As I edit this to prepare to hit the publish button, a new thought hit me.  These two items are related.  God is working on both my physical body and spiritual house.  Wow, prepare me for rain!!!  To believe you for the impossible!!!!!!!!!