Please Pray For Rain

I know we don't often broadcast prayer requests publicly here, but since the news media seems more concerned with Brittney Spears and the new television season than the severe to exceptional drought that has gripped the Southeast United States for months (note this subject is utterly absent from the major news networks on an ongoing basis), I feel it necessary to call folks attention to this subject. Please pray for rain and lots of it, and pray for the people living in this area. While those in the West have been flooded this year, we have been without.

1. The Southeastern US is terribly, terribly dry. My part of NC is in extreme drought. However, the county next to me and to the East is under exceptional conditions. That's as bad as it gets. The far western part of NC has been hit just as badly. Fortunately, I live in the Yadkin River basin, which is quite large, and we get our water from the river, which is probably, of the rivers in NC, the one in best condition. Those on the Catawba are having a harder time. Many cities, particularly Greensboro and Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill get their water from lakes, not rivers; and the lakes are desperately dry. There are also folks along, I believe, Lake Norman who, for whatever reason, don't seem to understand that their water consumption affects those downstream from that reservoir. The state, however, has no laws to mandate their townships restrict water use. Pray the Lord will bend the hearts of these people to do the right thing.

2. Rather than dusty conditions, the ground is hard like brick, since the soil here is composed of red clay. It has baked, literally, in the sun such that rain we do get washes away. We are in dire need of many days of steady rain, or, in the winter, snow and ice that will cover the ground and work its way into it.

3. Needless to say, the crops have been drastically affected. The local fair for NW NC this year showcased no Red Delicious apples.

4. Much of the produce that was feature was malformed.

5. This will, of course, affect the price of food and vegetables, meat in particular, at least locally.

6. In Athens, GA, they are talking about the possibility of rationing water. I've heard talk of water being shipped around some parts of the South. Athens is, of course, north of Atlanta, and Atlanta is being greatly affected too.

Psalm 65

God's Abundant Favor to Earth and Man.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David. A Song.

1There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, O God,
And to You the vow will be performed.
2O You who hear prayer,
To You all men come.
3Iniquities prevail against me;
As for our transgressions, You forgive them.
4How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You
To dwell in Your courts
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.
5By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation,
You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea;
6Who establishes the mountains by His strength,
Being girded with might;
7Who stills the roaring of the seas,
The roaring of their waves,
And the tumult of the peoples.
8They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;
You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.
9You visit the earth and cause it to overflow;
You greatly enrich it;
The stream of God is full of water;
You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.
10You water its furrows abundantly,
You settle its ridges,
You soften it with showers,
You bless its growth.
11You have crowned the year with Your bounty,
And Your paths drip with fatness.
12The pastures of the wilderness drip,
And the hills gird themselves with rejoicing.
13The meadows are clothed with flocks
And the valleys are covered with grain;
They shout for joy, yes, they sing.