Hi there, friends,
 
            It’s good to connect with you today.  I trust that you are experiencing the presence of God in your life these days.  That is what we need to keep praying for.  He wants to be experienced by you so that you might know His boundless love and grace in your life. 
 
            I feel that we are heading into a season where we are going to experience God more and more.
 
            Have you ever smelled the rain coming?  According to Scientific Magazine:
 
Before the rain begins, one of the first odors you may notice as winds pick up and clouds roll in is a sweet, pungent zing in your nostrils. That's the sharp, fresh aroma of ozone—a form of oxygen whose name comes from the Greek word ozein (to smell). Tropospheric chemist Louisa Emmons at the National Center for Atmospheric Research explains that ozone emanates from fertilizers and pollutants as well as natural sources. An electrical charge—from lightning or a man-made source such as an electrical generator—splits atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen molecules into separate atoms. Some of these recombine into nitric oxide, and this in turn reacts with other atmospheric chemicals, occasionally producing a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms—ozone, or O3. (Most atmospheric oxygen is made up of two atoms—O2.) The scent of ozone heralds stormy weather because a thunderstorm's downdrafts carry O3 from higher altitudes to nose level.
 
            You can predict that the rains are coming when you smell ozone!
 
            Another way you can predict the rains are coming is with sight.  It reminds me of the story of Elijah.  There had been no rain in Israel for three and a half years because he had prayed.  But then, he prayed again and believed that rain was coming.  As he prayed for rain, he kept telling his servant to check to see if the weather was changing.  Here’s what it says in 1 Kings 18:   
 
43“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said.
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
45Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling
 
            In this case, it was when they saw the cloud that they knew rain was coming.
 
            I feel that the rain of the Holy Spirit is coming on us.  I sense it in the excitement and anticipation of many of you.  Whether it was the large group of about two hundred that read through the New Testament together last year or the more than one hundred of you that are invested in the Experiencing God study now, there is a growing hunger for Jesus. 
 
            Recently, I’ve seen physical healings taking place, someone being set free from demons, another one coming to Jesus.  There is an increased interest in evangelism and outreach. 
 
            Friends, these are days of anticipation and expectancy. 
 
            How can you be sure not to miss out on any of it?  Keep orienting your life towards Jesus.  Fix your eyes on Him.  Order your life around Him.  He is the most beautiful, intelligent, powerful, caring, and strategic being in the universe and He wants to be in a close, personal relationship with you.  Don’t let anything get in the way of that.  Nothing can compare to His presence.
 
            Let’s all continue to draw closer to Jesus.  In that we will truly find life to the full!
 
            This weekend will be the last in our Bootcamp Series.  I will be speaking about Sabbath, God’s gift of rest to us.  I hope you can join us.
 
            Have a great weekend.  Enjoy the rain!
 
            I love being your pastor.
 
Pastor Tim