As Sure As The Sun Rises

My travel to North Carolina for She Speaks was long and I use that statement literally and metaphorically. On the day of my departure from my hometown of Sacramento, CA I expected a full day of trekking across our US. I opted to fly Southwest Airlines (because I had a free ticket) which is how I usually fly but along with my bag of honey roasted peanuts, you expect to change planes, experience lay-overs and feel like a veal during your travel. I left at 7:55 PST and landed in Greenville, SC (this was the closest SW flies into Concord, NC) at 7pm EST but my journey was not yet over so I took a shuttle to the Thrifty Rent a Car where I would pick up the vehicle that would take me the last leg of my trip. 

I was thankful for AC as it IS humid and the temperatures were in the 90's. You take this mixed with 8 hrs on/off a plane with hundreds of people and it takes every bit of you not to think about the potential "funk" that you've accumulated along the way. What is it about traveling that makes you feel so funky? Is it the recycled air? I don't know...but the AC and a car to myself was a welcome change of location. Since I had never been to "the Carolinas" before, I programmed my Google Maps and headed out. 

The drive was an easy ride as the airport and my destination were both easily off the freeway but my map told me it would take me approximately 90 minutes to arrive at the Charlotte airport, where I was picking up another California girl, Keri on our way to the conference. So I found some favorite stations on the Satellite radio and started cruising. 

The Carolinas are beautiful and the landscape I observed as I drove was green and lush. The sun was out amidst the clouds and I enjoyed the warmth and brightness of it after many hours trapped inside. Soon the climate began to shift and the sun was hidden by thick, dark masses of clouds that had slowly rolled in. 

 It wasn't long before the rain came in. The gentle drops washed the dust off my windshield and made that wonderful "tap,tap,tap" sound as they fell. I love rain....one of my truly favorite things. The clouds gave up all they had in the moment and as smoothly as they rolled in they seemed to relax and hide in the background as an amazing rainbow laid out in the horizon. There is a comfort that comes when you see a rainbow and it made me smile as I traveled down the highway. While enjoying the brilliance of the color spectrum, I didn't even notice the black clouds in the distance and in the direction of my destination. As my rainbow faded and the sky grew darker I was entertained with a exciting lighting display. It light up like bright photo flashes against the dark backdrop of the skyline and seemed to be choreographed to music in it's frequency and rhythm. 

As I have reflected my time at She Speaks and been trying to grasp all that I heard, saw and felt, the weather I experienced on my way conveyed the impression of my experience. 

SUN

You see, while at the conference I felt the warmth of my Lord in his presence and in the lives of the women I encountered. I experienced the joy of camaraderie with these sisters in Christ and found clarity in the LI GHT of God's words. I was thankful for the consistency of HIS words...just as surely as the sun rises..

Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;– Hosea 6:3a

RAIN

God provided more of himself, his truth and met us there with affirmation and fed us with His words. He, like rain, washed away the dust off our eyes and gave us a fresh vision. He poured out Himself onto this event and watered our spirits causing us to grow more toward him. He came and gently "tapped" on our souls reminding us He was meeting our needs, that HE was our provision.

he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” – Hosea 6:3b

RAINBOW

The Rainbow was the banner he held up to us that weekend reminding us His words are true yesterday and today. That His promises were true in the beginning and His promises are true to today. He promises whatever the storm in our lives that it will not destroy us. He will also demonstrate his mercy to us in His light as it reflects off the rain. He is present. He loves us beyond measure. 

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant 

between me and the earth.-Genesis 9:13

LIGHTNING

The lightning, for me, was the most magnificent of all because God reminded me of His power to show himself. I believe that before this last weekend, I underestimated God's power. I didn't use the power of his name with full understanding. God reminded me that our worship with him can be a powerful way in which we connect with him even in the simple act of opening our hands and lifting them to His holiness. God showed up. He was not quiet. His power was revealed, light a brilliant light show against the dark backdrop of this world. 

When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from

the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind 

from his storehouses.-Jeremiah 10:13

I AM GRATEFUL for this weekend. 

I am thankful for the ways he shows up...

warm and consistent, 

refreshing and providing, 

reminding and promising, 

moving mightily and with purpose to bring glory to Himself.