It's a Beautiful Day
No matter what happens in life, we give thanks to our amazing Lord God | Random Thoughts | Jesus Christ | Christianity

After the Storms Comes Joy
Lessons Learned in Our Rainy Season
In our area of the U. S. Southwest, the Four Corners states, June was a dry and hot month. It seemed to drag on, day after day, getting only drier and hotter. Wildfires sprang up near us after dry-lightening storms passed through, igniting the forest.
When would it end?
We knew from years of experience here that we would have to wait until July for the cooling rains.
Monsoon Migraine
And then, two Monday mornings ago, I woke up with vertigo so bad the bedroom was spinning. I knew immediately what was happening: A weather-caused migraine.
As the summer thunderstorms approach they can cause shifts in the barometric pressure and the dew point, causing me to sometimes suffer migraines, and sometimes they cause vertigo.
I don’t get migraines often so I don’t have medication. I use natural remedies and rest. I have a To Do List that’s 25 miles long, but I had to rest. The room was spinning wildly around me. I spent that Monday in bed in our darkened bedroom. As the week progressed and my symptoms slowly abated, one symptom persisted. During these migraine events, sometimes my brain feels swollen and it affects how I feel and how I think. Medical research shows the brain doesn’t swell but the tissues surrounding it do. The result? I felt crabby and cranky. I warned my darling hubs and asked for his forgiveness in advance for my “Woe is me, poor me!” attitude.
Power of the Two Ps
I don’t like those thoughts and my cranky feelings. I leaned into prayer and praise. One of my favorite YouTube channels is “Project of Love”, which is scripture set to praise music. The creator has an amazing testimony:
Project of Love is the Bible in Song. 100 % scripture put to music. Every Friday a new song! 🔥🙌 Project of Love is born out of a deep love for the Word of God. Words of Life, sung to life.
Project of Love is founded by Xander Stok, Dutch singer-songwriter. About 5 years ago, his life changed dramatically. "I was a singer/guitarist in a rockband. Suffered from severe depression for over 20 years. Lived a suicidal life-style. I never felt at home in this world. Had addictions to fill the hole in my soul. Then I had an encounter with my amazingly good Father. He took me out of the pit, gave me new life, new clothes, a mission, and here I am."
In January 2021, while he was reading the book of Isaiah, he heard a quiet voice say: "Grab your guitar and sing what you're reading." That's what he did - and still does. He started with the book of Isaiah and is currently working on 30 books and counting as we speak!
Check www.projectoflove.com for more info.
Open his Spotify link and enjoy the praise songs.
(Another amazing story of redemption through Jesus!!)
I opened one of “Project of Love’s” Playlists and set my phone on my pillow. I closed my eyes and rested as I listened to God’s encouraging word. I prayed and asked for His healing touch. In a few days, I returned to daily activities, and the anticipated rains came.
We stood outside on the first day of rain as the first drops fell, an annual tradition for us. As each new storm ended, we opened the doors and windows to enjoy the cool, fresh breezes. We walked outside between storms to admire the amazing cloud formations, the “mechanics” of how thunderstorms form, and we praised our Abba Father. Our entire region felt refreshed, and there’s more rain to come.
Reflection
I reflected on the very dry month of June and the rewards of July’s rain. Although we know that a hot and dry June is the “weather engine” to get the rainy season started, sometimes it feels intolerable. It’s thirty days (or more, if May was hot and dry) of miserable weather as we wait for the days of refreshing, life-sustaining rain.
This is our earthly life as we wait for God’s kingdom and for Jesus’ second coming. Some seasons in our life, and in the lives of our loved ones, feel intolerable. They last longer than we wish they would. In our suffering we long for heaven.
I was born and raised in an area prone to natural disasters, with seasons destined to devastate areas with either floods or fire. The hubs and I tell people who travel through the region that the desert Southwest can—and might—kill you, so be prepared. I’ve taken basic first aid and CPR courses over the years. I grew up with a heightened sense of situational awareness, and I keep my eyes and ears on world news as well as local news. Every single day there’s a disaster somewhere which causes great sadness and loss.
And yet…
It’s a Beautiful Day
Romans 8:18 (BSB)
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.
Emmanuel, God with us in Jesus Christ, gives us one thing no other religion, no other “faith experience” can give humanity: Hope. Real hope. Everlasting hope. Hope based in God’s amazing love, mercy, and grace. Hope given to us through God’s word. Hope despite our pain.
My Favorite Bible Verses about Finding Purpose in Pain - Nothing Is Wasted
Suffering with Chronic Pain while Clinging to Enduring Hope - Association of Certified Biblical Counselors
The Source of this Post’s Title
The video below is about two years old as of this post’s date. YouTube “suggested” it to me, I’ve played it over and over, and the song is now embedded in my brain. I love it so much and wanted to share it with you all.
Transcript:
[Bridge]
I don’t want to act too high and mighty
’Coz tomorrow I may fall down on my face
[Chorus]
Lord, I thank You for sunshine
Thank you for rain
Thank you for joy
Thank you for pain
It’s a beautiful day ya ya ya ya
It’s a beautiful day, aaay
[Verse]
Sometimes life is good
But then trouble comes my way
But whatever happens, Lord
I thank You for this day
And when I’m feeling troubled
I lift my hands and pray
That Your will be done
In the rain or sun
Oh, it’s a beautiful day
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
[Verse]
I give thanks when I’m feeling lonely
I give thanks when I’m feeling glad
I give thanks in the morning
And thanks in the evening
And thanks when I’m feeling sad
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
You can send Rushawn some “love” financially by watching this video as often as you want, and same with the song on Spotify—see this comment from @thekiffness:
Rushawn is already receiving his first royalty cheque for this song! Thanks to Jermaine Edwards and his team for giving me permission to remix this song. And thanks Jermaine for helping Rushawn get his performance royalties.
The song is now available on streaming platforms: https://bit.ly/ItsaBeautifulDay
Your Turn
As I write this on Saturday, July 5th, 2025, the news continues with updates from the tragic flooding of the Guadalupe River in the early morning hours of July 4th in Texas Hill Country. We lift our prayers to all who are affected.
The message of this post is still applicable. As you face tragedies or unbearable circumstances, you may wonder what God wants of you.
Take a moment this week and read (or re-read) my post:
Romans 8:35-39 (BSB)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:“For Your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Maranatha, come (soon) Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Thank you so much for Project of Love scripture music. It’s wonderful! I hope you ‘age out’ of your migraines, I did after years of terrible episodes & days in bed. What a blessing🙏
Thank you for the encouraging words!