Full Fall Tabernacle Rains of Hope
Living in His Undeserved Love
It has been about two weeks since my brother passed away at 59 years old.
We cried and grieved.
We persevered through arrangements.
Afterward, Dusty and I kept our plans for a five-day get-away with friends into the beautiful fall landscape of Old Mission Peninsula in Michigan.
I returned sick.
Today, energy returns.
I thirst for the Living Water of my Savior.
Just Him and me.
Gamay grapes on Old Mission Peninsula, October 2019
This morning, the rain is simply pouring buckets after the summer drought. I sit at my dining table and read the instructions for my new coffee pour-over – “Pour the hot water over the coffee grounds, just enough to soak the grounds and allow them to bloom for 30 seconds. Then, pour over the rest of the water in a circular motion.”
The instructions describe blooming as the swelling of the coffee grounds as they absorb the water, releasing gases, and foaming to a full-bodied flavor.
Today, it seems that my grief has been blooming, and now, in the solitude, it is full-bodied. Where there were no questions, now there are many. Where there were answers, now they escape me. Where tears were intermittent, now they pour like the rain. I embrace the flavor of what-ifs and wonderings and longings. But, I can only do so in the light of hesed – the undeserving, unfailing, all-powerful love of my heavenly Father. (Psalm 130:3-4).
When I woke up this morning, I heard “Tabernacle Rains.” On the last day of the great Feast of Tabernacles, the priest poured water on the altar in the Temple to symbolize the winter rains God would send for next year’s harvest, as well as the latter rains of the Spirit when He would come to set His “sanctuary in their midst forever.” (Ezekiel 37:26-28)
Tabernacle Winter Rains of Hope – then and today! Messiah Jesus is our Tabernacle Winter Rain of Hope! (John 7:37-38)
Are you thirsty? Drink of Him. Abide in Him. Hope in Him! For with the Lord there is lovingkindness and with Him is abundant redemption. (Psalm 130:7)
Sending love in Him,
Beth Ann
Hope in God Pottery by Jennifer Roberts with blackrockpottery.com and Old Mission Peninsula, Dried, October, Gamay Grape Leaves
Vine and branches, Old Mission Peninsula, October 2019
Shale Fragments™ - devotionals by Beth Ann Phifer is a division of Flower Girl Greetings, LLC. ©2020, All Rights Reserved.