Gratitude....

Send some rain, would You send some rain?

'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again

And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade

Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?

Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down

Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid

But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways

And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs

Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time

Or maybe not, not today

Maybe You'll provide in other ways

And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude

A lesson learned to hunger after You

That a starry sky offers a better view

If no roof is overhead

And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between

Everything we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace

Move our hearts to hear a single beat

Between alibis and enemies tonight

Or maybe not, not today

Peace might be another world away

And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude

For lessons learned in how to trust in You

That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream

In abundance or in need

And if You never grant us peace ...

But, Jesus, would You please ...

"Gratitude"

sung by Nichole Nordeman on her recording (Sparrow music) "Woven and Spun"

Cassie

(Kaylee's friend, Cassie,introduced us to this song at the CHEFA Fine Arts Faire. Tim helped to set up for the event early last Friday and had the privilege of hearing Cassie's rendition of the song as he set up the sound system for that night. He was so moved by it that he came home and looked up the words to share with the rest of us -- and included it in his sermon that week, too.)

We're reminded that even in the midst of our recent great, great joy there's much need - and we, along with dear friends, come hungering and thirsting after God, needing to learn those lessons of trusting Him - with gratitude.


A friend from New Zealand, Genevieve Smith (http://www.issacharian.com/), recently made us aware of one of those great needs: a family whose father / husband just suddenly died, leaving behind his wife and several children, two of them recently adopted. Please remember this family in prayer (you can visit their blog to learn more about their situation and to be encouraged by the faith of this family: http://lazydranch8.blogspot.com/)

...and the Goehring family (an earlier post... Lou Goehrig's disease)
... and the Copeland family (ranch accident, brain trauma)
... and the Udall family (Karagin's bone marrow transplant / leukemia)

"Maybe You'll provide in other ways..... But, Jesus, would you please?..."