Hebrews 4:7-12

Don’t Disdain the Rain,Don’t Disdain the Rain, Get Wet! Get Wet!

● ● I stand here basking in The Rain of God…oh what I stand here basking in The Rain of God…oh what showers of blessings!showers of blessings!

● ● My Love Life will produce a vibrant and dynamic My Love Life will produce a vibrant and dynamic experience or me here and now…plus the promise experience or me here and now…plus the promise of Heaven when the dust settles.of Heaven when the dust settles.

● ● The best way to express my love and appreciation The best way to express my love and appreciation to Him is to be generous and compassionate to his to Him is to be generous and compassionate to his kids.kids.

THE RAIN OF GOD HAS TAKEN SO MANY THE RAIN OF GOD HAS TAKEN SO MANY FORMS …WE CAN HARDLY LIST THEMFORMS …WE CAN HARDLY LIST THEM

HOW CAN I SHOW LOVE AND EXPRESS HOW CAN I SHOW LOVE AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO SUCH A CREATOR?APPRECIATION TO SUCH A CREATOR?

● ● His Answer: Love my kids!His Answer: Love my kids!

● ● Jesus said it as well: “As you do to the least of these, my Jesus said it as well: “As you do to the least of these, my family, you do to me.”family, you do to me.”

● ● Of course we are to love even our enemies…forgiving them, Of course we are to love even our enemies…forgiving them, praying for them and such. Luke 7:27-36praying for them and such. Luke 7:27-36

HOW CAN I SHOW LOVE AND EXPRESS HOW CAN I SHOW LOVE AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO SUCH A CREATOR?APPRECIATION TO SUCH A CREATOR?

● ● The Apostle Paul gave us a pretty good definition of Friends The Apostle Paul gave us a pretty good definition of Friends of Faith love:of Faith love:

--Patience--Patience --Kindness--Kindness --Without jealousy--Without jealousy --Without demanding one’s own way--Without demanding one’s own way --Minus irritability--Minus irritability --Not keeping of record of wrongs--Not keeping of record of wrongs --It keeps on keeping on--It keeps on keeping on --Hopeful and enduring--Hopeful and enduring

● ● How’s that for a Love List!?How’s that for a Love List!?

Remembering the One who Remembering the One who has a longest Love List! And has a longest Love List! And demonstrated it on the cross.demonstrated it on the cross.

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

Returning to God out of our Returning to God out of our abundance. A gift of thanks.abundance. A gift of thanks.

LOVING GOD BY LOVING HIS FAMILY LOVING GOD BY LOVING HIS FAMILY RESULTS IN AN OUTRAGEOUS LIFE-RESULTS IN AN OUTRAGEOUS LIFE-

STYLESTYLE

● ● Never a dull moment

● ● Always have thoughts and prayers for others running through our mind

● ● Uplifting the physically and spiritually lame, encouraging the weary and showing compassion to the confused, will keep us on our toes, on our knees and on track.

LOVING GOD BY LOVING HIS FAMILY LOVING GOD BY LOVING HIS FAMILY RESULTS IN AN OUTRAGEOUS LIFE-RESULTS IN AN OUTRAGEOUS LIFE-

STYLESTYLE

● ● This (loving-God-by-loving-others sort of life) is what Jesus modeled for us.

● ● He said, “I didn’t come to be served but to serve”.

● ● It is the most beautiful and appealing life…plus being the path to heaven.

● ● A life of First Corinthians kind of love is the right response to the Rain of God.

FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF OTHERS FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF OTHERS WILL BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO WILL BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO MAINTAINING THIS LOVE-STYLEMAINTAINING THIS LOVE-STYLE

● ● Who do you know who lived and loved unselfishly?

● ● Do we have examples in history of those who proved this selfless kind of living is truly possible?

● ● Focusing on Jesus Christ is a great start.

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● ● I will not distain the rain. I will not distain the rain. I will soak in the Rain of I will soak in the Rain of God. I will get wet in the showers of God’s God. I will get wet in the showers of God’s blessings!blessings!

● ● I will let the rain cause me to bloomI will let the rain cause me to bloom. My Love Life . My Love Life will produce a vibrant and dynamic experience or will produce a vibrant and dynamic experience or me here and now. And throughout eternity.me here and now. And throughout eternity.

● ● I will get others wet! I will get others wet! The best way to express my The best way to express my love and appreciation to Him is to be generous and love and appreciation to Him is to be generous and compassionate to his kids –showering them with compassionate to his kids –showering them with blessings.blessings.

Go! Don’t Disdain the Rain. Go! Don’t Disdain the Rain. And Get Others Wet!And Get Others Wet!