We experienced nearly nine weeks without any rain. We planted a half-acre garden a few days following a rain. There was no more rain for almost nine weeks. With the temperature during the day ranging from the low nineties into the hundred-plus range, it is needless to say that nothing came up - not even grass and weeds.

Just as we need liquids in order for us to live, so do the seeds. Without liquids for us to drink, we would quickly become sick and even die. The seeds lying in the hot, dry garden soil were not able to germinate and grow. We were able to water about one-quarter of the garden. The seed germinated and grew. We are gathering some vegetables from that portion of the garden.

Last week we received some good rains. The vegetable seeds that had lain dormant for two months, at the "scent of rain" were able to sprout and grow. Not only that, but the grass and weed seeds also sprouted and are growing! We do not desire great floods, devastating as they usually are, but we prefer the small rains, those rains that soak into the soil and are so very beneficial - not the great floods that wash away and destroy.

Thank God for the small rains!

Deuteronomy 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Job 37:6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.