Rainy Days and Mondays...Are Incredible!

The end of a long day.

Looking at the weather forecast yesterday I wondered how God would reveal Himself today. The forecast was for heavy rain Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. With 150+ people from Willow Creek Church(Chicago) prepared for a 7 house blitz build how would it play out? Well, it rained and it rained and it rained. It's still raining as I type. The teams went out in the rain at 7a.m. and worked all day in the rain. They didn't stop. They didn't complain. They didn't tire. When they pulled into LPC around 5:30 pm they were wet but content. One report after another came in how their demonstration of the gospel moved the hearts of residents. One resident living down the street from the homes came down to the construction site. A Habitat representative was fearful as the man approached, thinking the worst, that he was going to blast her for the obstruction of traffic on the street. Instead he walked up to her and just wept. I don't know what the dialogue was after that but I can only imagine. This is how the Father redeems the storms, turning possible tragedy (having 150 volunteers sitting all day in our facility) into a demonstration of unimaginable love. You can't wrap your mind around that kind of display. It is a sermon preached without words, moving the heart in a profound way, directing devotion to the Father of Glory who delights to weave beauty out of sorrow and hope out of despair. Even my heart was moved by this demonstration of love, pushing through in such despairing conditions. They were merely reflecting on a smaller scale the greatest demonstration of love, the most profound sermon preached without words, the Incarnate God suffering an dieing to make us His own. "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8 ).

Some continued to work, taking donated plastic utinsels from their wrappers. A dull but important job. Thanks. A small group in an informal gathering, getting to know one another by answering some of the "table talk" questions we provide. "If you could be a dog what kind would you be?" Several of the Habitat staff. Worn out but still managing a big smile. These guys worked for months to get materials and foundations in order for this project to take place.