{"id":32444,"date":"2021-07-12T03:30:17","date_gmt":"2021-07-12T10:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=32444"},"modified":"2021-07-09T12:26:24","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T19:26:24","slug":"july-12-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2021\/07\/12\/july-12-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"July 12, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cAlso with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them on the face of the whole earth.\u201d<\/em> Job 37:11:12<\/p>\n

Measuring Mist<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Most of us have sat in the window seat of an airplane from time to time, looking at the clouds from above them instead of our usual place below them. They are nothing but mist, really\u2014something we can\u2019t commonly measure. We can only measure what drops from them\u2014rain.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know how the clouds are balanced, those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge\u201d<\/em> (Job 37:16)?<\/p>\n

As I sat at my window this morning, looking through the drought-dried leaves of a giant oak a few yards away, I watched small batches of pure white clouds pass from south to north. Chin on hand, I gazed awhile; the thought came to me, what if God would just gather all those delicate puffs of white into a cloud of substance, gray and threatening and heavy, and command that cloud to let go of its droplets to saturate this parched land?<\/p>\n

\u201cFor He says to the snow, \u2018Fall on the earth\u2019; likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength\u201d<\/em> (Job 37:6).<\/p>\n

It could happen\u2014we know He could do it\u2014as unlikely as it seems during a north state summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe causes it to come, whether for correction<\/em> (the flood of Noah\u2019s day comes to mind), or for His land<\/em> (to provide food and beauty for us and all His creatures), or for mercy<\/em> (Lord, have mercy on us, for the wildfires rage, and people are losing their homes, their substance, and even their lives)\u201d (Job 37:13).<\/p>\n

And so, like Elijah, I pray.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, \u2018There is a cloud, as small as a man\u2019s hand, rising out of the sea!\u2026 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain\u201d <\/em>(1 Kings 18:44-45).<\/p>\n

The seventh time? We\u2019d better start praying now.<\/p>\n

Powerful God, You who oversee all matters concerning clouds and rain, will You hear our prayers today for rain? Would you infuse the innocent-looking puffs into heavy, dark clouds that bring correction, provision, and mercy to Your people? We bring our requests in humility, knowing Your ways are best. In Your Son\u2019s name we pray. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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