Bring On the Rain!!!

So.... last night it was the final night of the Harvest Crusades and I got to see MercyMe and The Newsboys in concert... but that's was just half of it....

Something hit me that I never really faced before.... The lead singer of The Newsboys was talking before they sang their next song called "Bring the Rain"
He said that the band had just gone thru some hard times in life but through all of this they worshiped God. Now, this is a idea that I am familiar with but what shocked me was the next part he said. He explained that God used these experiences to help them grow closer to him and then he said that he now asks God to BRING ON THE RAIN!!

Did he just say what I think he said?!?! Did he just ASK for HARD TIMES and STRUGGLES?!?! What a Crazy Guy!! But then I heard a odd noise..... it was the sound of cheering!! The whole stadium went estatic!! All while I am asking myself ....Why haven't I been asking for the rain?!? These people must be crazy asking for hard times! WHo does that?!?! ...... But I realized I was looking at it in the wrong way...

When I ask for "The Rain" I am telling God that eventhough I would be suffering through these hard times, I AM WILLING TO, if it glorifies his kingdom and brings me CLOSER TO HIM! Afterall, Jesus indured the ultimate sacrifice and suffering for me, why couldn't I do my part.

I stood there in ANgel Stadium listening to the music of The Newsboys, but knowing that I was going to leave there with much more than a T-Shirt.



Romans 8:17-18

17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.