Breathing Easier

The weather forecast for Sunday called for a combination of rain and cold. While many found this forecast undesirable I found myself praying that this time the forecasters had gotten it right.

I suffer from an allergy to cedar pollen and during the work week I had been feeling terrible.

According to an earlier newscast, we had just experienced the second highest cedar pollen count on record. I certainly did not have to hear that report to know that the cedar count was high.

The week for me largely consisted of watery and itchy eyes accompanied by coughing and sneezing.

To add insult to injury, even my closest friends felt it necessary to remind me that I both looked and sounded terrible.

Sunday, I was to be installed as an Elder in my church and I really wanted to be there. But, as the day approached, my condition worsened.

Throughout the day Saturday I prayed for the rain that was predicted by the weather forecast that night.

When evening came, I was exhausted but found it difficult to fall asleep due to my symptoms.

It was a faint noise that woke me up after only an hour or two of sleep. Not being fully awake, I wondered what it was. A few seconds later, I realized what it was.

Rain!

I turned on the television to view the radar and beheld a beautiful sight.

This was no passing shower. Almost the entire state was experiencing rain to one degree or another.

I thanked God for this blessing and went back to sleep.

When the alarm clock woke me up Sunday morning, I heard the rain still softly falling outside.

Throughout the night, as the rain fell, countless pollen grains were being washed from the air and my symptoms had dramatically improved.

By the time I left for church, the rain had decreased to a light drizzle and I got through the installation ceremony without so much as a sneeze.

Later that day, as I thanked God once again for this blessing, I also reflected on the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.

Just as the rain washed the air clean of airborne irritants, so the blood of Jesus washes away all of our sins.

Romans 5:8-9 (KJV) - But God commandeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) - In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;"

Hebrews 9:12 (KJV) - Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered in once into the Holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]."

It is through the blood of Jesus that we have eternal life.

And that really makes me breathe a whole lot easier.

Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.byethost3.com on Friday, January 21, 2011.
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I'll be back here on Friday, January 28, 2011.