I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.  Leviticus 26:4

The hymns and songs were selected weeks ago.  The sermon theme was also planned in advance, I would preach on grace. 

Sunday morning I woke to the sound of rain falling from the sky, and looked out into a dismal day – yet the rain is certainly a blessing as the ground table is low and the final crops of the summer are about to be harvested.

But then it happened:  those songs and hymns picked out weeks ago fit.  We opened with “Morning Has Broken” with the lyrics Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven like the first dew fall on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where his feet pass.

Then we sang “Grace Like Rain” proclaiming “hallelujah grace like rain falls down on me and hallelujah and all my stains are washed away”

I work hard to make sure the liturgy, songs, hymns and sermon all match the them, and yet even with all my planning only God can amplify it.  God provided us with a dual blessing yesterday, the rain for our crops and the rain for our souls.

Look for God’s blessings in your life today,

Peace,

Pastor Bill