A View From The Overflow

I love summer in Raleigh. This summer has been remarkable! One of my favorites things about summer is the afternoon thunderstorm. In this area of the country they are consistent and they are predictable at least somewhat predictable. First the blue sky fills with clouds that getter darker and darker hinting that it may rain. After a while those clouds begin to glitter with flashes of lightning like some muted flashbulb going off hidden deep behind those clouds. Seeing those flashes cause you to say “looks like it might rain”. Rumbles of thunder and more flashes of lightning but the sounds are sharper and heavier. The lightning now looks like a science experiment every young boy dreamed of when they were play with electricity. Still it is only a hint of coming rain. one other development occurs here that is the confirming evidence. There is the smell of rain. A crisp wet fresh smell that says it is not just a possibility but that rain is coming within the next couple of minutes. I love the smell of rain!

I wonder if there are not some times when God moves in our lives and he preceeds it with the smell of “rain”. There is an old hymn I used to sing as a kid that I have been singing recently. It goes like this “there shall be showers of blessing, this is the promise of God. there shall be seasons refreshing sent from the Saviour above.” God is sending rain to us. I can smell it. Here are just a few of the ways that I am smelling rain:
I have had 4 conversations in the past 7 days with people who have given their lives to Christ, found healing, or been set free from slavery of some type thorugh the ministry of CATT that I had no idea about.
I have met several people who have come to CATT this summer searching for faith and truth.
We have had an incredible opportunity to become the occupants of a wonderful building through a series of God sized open doors.
We have several people who are missionally joining the CATT family and team in order to give themselves to advance the kingdom of God.
The Night of Worship was one of the most spiritually rich experiences we have ever had.
We have hear dhow churches in the same area of Raleigh have suffered attendance drops this summer as much 60-75%. We have maintain our attendance only dipping 10% on a few occasions.

These are just a few of the scents of rain. I believe that we are about to be a part of rich showers of blessing in that God is going to use CATT to make a kingdom difference in the lives of many people in our community. I smell rain!