smells like rain...feels like life

I had a chance to go to Arizona a few weeks back. Some friends of mine invited me to hang out in thier home. It was empty and so I could be there all alone, just me and God. It was amazing, actually better than that. As I pulled into Phoenix, Az. There were thunder showers lighting up the sky and I rolled down my window and I smelled the rain. That very distinct smell only found in the desert just after the rain. I came alive, something inside me was so stirred. It was gratitude. I appreciate that I had a moment like that, so I cried. I guess I just remember so much of my life has passed me by that when I am reminded it's not passing me by anymore I feel so lucky. Don't you? There are so many things that I get to experience that make me come alive and I know in the busyness of life I can pass them by, but so often I am breathless at the life I have been given. Even in the midst of all the challenges he has set before me, I am alive to the very core of my being! Wow! I was at a hotel this weekend because I had to speak at a small church near the Mexico border. I asked God, why do I have to pay for this room? I can't afford this. But as I was drawn by him to the front desk the following morning to minister to a woman who told me she was "barely alive", I knew why I was there. You know what? She has the same amount of clean time from meth I have. There is such a huge difference in her outlook and mine. What is it? Jesus. Jesus. It is Jesus. I prayed with her, she looked up at me and tears were streaming down her face. Her name is Jaime, I shared with her, invited her to church, maybe she will go. She said she didn't feel comfortable. Too bad. We have life, when we have Jesus and things like the smell of rain can bring you to tears. I think of my thirst for God like the desert needing the rain...I pray I will always be as the psalmist says "as a deer pants for the water my soul longeth after you" .....thirsty and grateful he will give me a drink.