It is rainy season in the Philippines!  What does that mean…it RAINS and when it rains, it can be monsoonal!  Such was the case yesterday (Sunday) at the Motocross Messiah Fairgrounds.  The morning started out sunny with coaches and riders on the track, enjoying the freshness of a new day.

 

Then as 10:30am approached, the sky suddenly began to darken, the winds picked up to a force that had the dust pelting our eyes, and the rain started.   It began as a sprinkle and as we gathered under the tent as we do each Sunday morning, the sprinkle turned into a downpour, that turned into torrents of rain, that were then whipped by the wind horizontally through our shelter that has only a roof and no side walls.  While it may be the tropics, it had suddenly become cool and as Sam began to share the word, I looked down to see that my legs below the waist were soaked.  Other riders were shivering and the thunder of rain and wind was making it next to impossible to hear Sam share.

I was frustrated to say the least.  We had new riders there, first timers, and our whole purpose for being there, under a tent, in the dirt and dust, is to share the love and Word of God.

And then it happened…. God began to flood my mind with torrents of scripture, like the rain…

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” (James 1:5-8)

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

“You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”  (Matthew 8:26-27)

And then I felt the Lord asking me… “Why haven’t you prayed… you preach it and teach it…exercise your faith!”

As Sam tried to speak over the sound of the rain hammering down against the roof of our shelter, I began to pray, “Lord, for the sake of those who are here for the first time, so that the power of Your Word may be proclaimed, please Lord, come against this rain.”

My eyes were closed as I was praying these words and suddenly there was a calm, I opened my eyes to see that the rush of wind had stopped and the torrents of rain ceased.  There was nothing but a gentle sprinkle…and it remained that way for the duration of our morning service!

I was BLOWN away… but why should I have been… I serve the Lord that, “even the winds and the sea obey!”  Lord I believe… Please God… help me with my unbelief… and He does…  Time and time again!

We serve the Lord of all creation!  We have access to a powerhouse through prayer that most of us barely even consider.  Please… be encouraged… take your concerns to the Lord!  These things that we ask in accordance to His will… He hears…  and He Responds!

In just over 48 hours, Sam, Connie, and I will start our travel to the states for 18 days of speaking at the Regional Work and Witness Conferences on the East Coast, West Coast, and Central States.  We will also be speaking at several churches and Northwest Nazarene University.

Please, commit to pray! Please commit to pray for safety of travel, health, pray for Sam’s precious wife, Faith, and twins who will remain in the Philippines, but most of all, that God would direct us to where he would have us, give us spiritual sensitivity to where he is at work, and give us the courage to obey in speaking and doing what he would have us to speak and do!

We believe that God has great things in store for the days ahead – we desperately need you to call upon the Lord and partner with us in Prayer!

Yours and His,

Todd, Connie Lou, and Sam and Faith Tamayo