Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

But now, the sun cannot be looked at – it is bright in the skies – after a wind passed and swept the clouds away.—Job 37:21

The world owes much of its beauty to cloudland. The unchanging blue of the Italian sky hardly compensates for the changefulness and glory of the clouds. Earth would become a wilderness apart from their ministry. There are clouds in human life, shadowing, refreshing, and sometimes draping it in blackness of night; but there is never a cloud without its bright light. “I do set my bow in the cloud!”

If we could see the clouds from the other side where they lie in billowy glory, bathed in the light they intercept, like heaped ranges of Alps, we should be amazed at their splendid magnificence.

We look at their under side; but who shall describe the bright light that bathes their summits and searches their valleys and is reflected from every pinnacle of their expanse? Is not every drop drinking in health-giving qualities, which it will carry to the earth?

O child of God! If you could see your sorrows and troubles from the other side; if instead of looking up at them from earth, you would look down on them from the heavenly places where you sit with Christ; if you knew how they are reflecting in prismatic beauty before the gaze of Heaven, the bright light of Christ’s face, you would be content that they should cast their deep shadows over the mountain slopes of existence. Only remember that clouds are always moving and passing before God’s cleansing wind.
—Selected

A Faith Worth Passing Down.....Dr. Charles Stanley

A Faith Worth Passing Down

Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Timothy 1:3-5

The most precious thing we can pass down to children is our faith--the confident conviction that God is who He says and will do all He has promised. Timothy's strong relationship with Christ didn't materialize out of thin air; it grew as a result of his mother and grandmother's example.

Here are ways we, too, can hand down a rich legacy to the next generation:

1. Teach practical biblical principles. Kids need to know God's views on material wealth (Ps. 24:1), meeting needs (Phil. 4:19), and direction in life (Prov. 3:5-6).
2. Model character through lifestyle. How we live--whether with transparency, peace, and perseverance, or with fear, anxiety, and self-reliance--loudly communicates what we believe about God.
3. Serve God by serving others. Actions show that our faith is real (James 2:26). If we want kids not to develop a self-centered perspective, servanthood is key.
4. Intercede for them. Children won't forget hearing us pray regularly for them.
5. Communicate love. Young people need to know we love them the way God loves us--unconditionally rather than based on what they do or don't do. Spoken words of love breathe life into their hearts. And as we affirm them for trusting God, they see that we value their spiritual growth.

As parents, we must be intentional about leading and inspiring our sons and daughters to follow Christ. But even those without children of their own can leave a legacy. The example to follow is Paul: though neither married nor a natural parent, he was a spiritual father to many (1 Cor. 4:14-16).

The Battle for the Unseen

The Battle for the Unseen

NICKI KOZIARZ

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 (ESV)

The doorbell rang at 1 a.m. Instantly, I knew something was wrong. Panic rose in my body as I fumbled to find my glasses and get to the door.

There stood my friend with a look of worry and a command to hurry.

I grabbed my keys and drove as quickly as I could to the hospital where someone I deeply love was in an emergency room bed. Choices they’d made led to bad decisions and an outcome that almost cost them their life.

They would be OK. They would pull through. They would wake up again.

But the next few hours — and even the next few days — were going to be hard.

There were two unseen things fighting for my attention in those moments. One, faith. The other, fear.

But the battle to believe one or the other would be mine.

Having fear is not a sin. It’s what we allow fear to become that leads us to turn away from God.

In fact, throughout Scripture, we see how God fights for our faith in the midst of our fears. As King David wrote in today’s key verse, Psalm 56:3, God longs for us to trust Him: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

I love this verse because it’s not just a promise I can hold on to, but a prayer I can pray when I feel afraid.

This verse is a verse of resolve when fear fights for our focus.

But is it as simple as praying a prayer and asking God to help us have faith instead of fear? Yes and no.

We can silence fear by giving steady focus to faith.

And so, over the next few hours in that hospital room and when we left the hospital, I had to give my faith the attention it needed in a crisis. I repeatedly had to remind my thoughts not to give way to fear. And I know God heard my prayer, “I’m afraid … but I’m putting my trust in You.”

I don’t know what’s fighting for your attention that stirs up fear in your life, but I hope you find the confidence to break through the unseen and hold on to faith. Because God is fighting for you, too.

Start with this prayer: “I’m afraid … but I’m putting my trust in You.”  And then recognize the process.

You’re worthy of faith. And fear isn’t worth your attention.

Faith and fear both fight for you to believe in something you cannot see. Choose your battle wisely.

Dear God, You are a constant presence in our lives. You are the God who fights for our faith and empowers us to silence our fears. Thank You for Your love, which shows me how worthy You are of my trust, even when I’m afraid. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 41:10, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (NLT)

Genesis 15:1, “After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great.” (CSB)

Psalm 27:3, “Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.” (NLT)

I Hate You, But with Love

I Hate You, But with Love

by Ryan Duncan

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. – James 1:26 

I once heard a story of a certain churchwoman who loved to criticize others. Whether by gossiping, or by simply stating things up front, she had a reputation for being extremely hurtful. What made it worse though, was that she always disguised her remarks as helpful suggestions. She claimed to be speaking out of love, but all her words did were hurt and discourage. I bring this up because I feel that hurtful speech has become all too common in the Church.

Now that the internet has provided people with an easy way to speak while avoiding accountability, some Christians have taken the opportunity to post bitter messages and spiteful blogs online. Ironically, after spending an entire paragraph detailing why certain persons are going to Hell, many Christians finish up by saying “I’m just speaking the truth with love.” Popular writer Jon Acuff wrote an article about this two years ago on the CNN website, where he encouraged his Christian brothers and sisters to remember what Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 22,

“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” – Matthew 22:34-40

Jesus called these two “The Greatest Commandments”, and it seems like they should be pretty easy to follow since you can’t love God if you’re not loving other people. It doesn’t stop there however, the gospel is overflowing with verses telling us how the only way to know God is by loving others, even our enemies.

“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” – 1 John 4:19-21

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1

Even the famous verse John 3:16 speaks of God’s compassion for everyone,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Notice the verse says “the world” and not “certain Christians”. The wonderful, beautiful, message of the gospel is that God loves us and asks us to love in return. There is no room in the body of Christ for a cruel tongue, so guard your words, search your thoughts, and the truth really will be spoken with love.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Carefully examine your words (both online and off), are you truly speaking with love?

Further Reading

Matthew 5:43-48

Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

Do Not Let Your Hearts Be TroubledBy Becca Stevens

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

It was time to say good-bye.

Jesus looked into the eyes of his disciples and saw fear and heartbreak. The moment had come for him to return to the Father, and the disciples were “filled with grief” at the prospect of facing the future without Jesus physically beside them (16:6).

Perhaps, at first glance, it seems somewhat callous that Jesus would admonish his friends to "not let their hearts be troubled and to not be afraid," but his challenge rested on the beautiful promise he offered next. Jesus had already told them that even though he was leaving this world, he would always abide, live, in them (16:7). Now, he assured them that he would not leave them without comfort. He would send his Holy Spirit to sustain and guide them.

And he does the same for us.

Like the disciples we discover that in grieving, hearts can grow stronger, and in pain, there is comfort. Because God has given us his Spirit, his love abides. On long nights when worries sit by our beds, on gray days when we wonder how the clock ticks seamlessly as hours drag on, and on lonely roads when longing overshadows community, our desire for love does not cease.

Love moves mountains, it is filled with mercy and compassion, and it reaches across the world and through time. Love expands our hearts, it sits still with us, it grieves with us, and it heals us. Love gives us a glimpse of the glorious heavens and the fearful valley. Love gives us ears to hear the angel say once again to us, “Fear not, for God is with you.”

Our Father,

We make our prayer in silence, troubled by the fears in our hearts and anxieties in this world. Sometimes, we can be paralyzed by the thought of tomorrow and what awaits in the days ahead. We are but children stumbling in the darkness and groping for Your hand. Do not hide Your presence from us or reject us in our weaknesses and fear. Guide us in the darkness toward your loving light, and help us walk in peace. There are so many things to fear and so many fears that keep us lonely. Let us put our whole trust in you and come to wisdom and understanding - and all for love’s sake. Amen.

A Prayer for All Graduates Facing an Uncertain Future

A Prayer for All Graduates Facing an Uncertain FutureBy Debbie McDaniel

*Editor's Note - In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we've updated this prayer to especially reflect the challenges facing this year's graduating class.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

The season of Graduation and new beginnings can bring a mixed bag of emotions to many of us. Though it’s a time of celebration and fresh starts, the letting go process can bring some pain too. Yet parenting is often just about that – the letting go. And whether it’s letting go as they head to Kindergarten, or letting go as they head to college, or straight off into their first job, it can be difficult. No more so in these uncertain, fearful times we are currently in as a nation and as a world.

But there’s hope to remember.

Our children are His. No matter where they go, or how old they are, they are in His care. They are in His hands. And He has a great purpose for them in this life - and that's the very best place we can let them go. We're entrusting them, again, straight into the safe care of a powerful and loving God. And that’s the safest place they can be.

His hands are big. To carry. To hold. To protect. To cover. To lead. And He loves each one of them more than we could ever imagine.

This world is more uncertain than ever. But God is always Faithful and True.

Here is a special prayer of blessing for our graduates this year:

Dear God,

We pray for our graduates today and lift them before you. We thank you so much for these we love and for the work you are continuing to do in their lives. They are a gift to us and to many others. And during this season of new beginnings, we ask that you would make their way clear. We ask that you would keep their footsteps firm and remind them that you are with them, always. May they sense the freshness of your Spirit over their lives in amazing ways, may they be strengthened, instilled with hope, for the new roads you have in store.

And today, again, we release our children straight into your tender care. Because we know that’s the best place they could ever be. We thank you in advance for all you have in store, for this day, for this year, for their lives.

We pray for protection, for your covering, that you would surround their lives as with a shield. Protect their coming and going. We ask that you would help them to live aware in a dark world and keep harm or evil intent far away. We ask that you would hide them in the safety of your powerful presence.

Our world is currently anxious, fearful and uncertain. We pray our graduates are filled with your courage and strength, that they may be a light to their friends and neighbors in this uncertain time.

We ask for your wisdom and clear direction over their lives, that you would give them understanding beyond their years. Thank you that your timing is perfect. We pray that you would direct their steps, that your plans for them would prosper; that every place you have determined for them to walk would be paved clear. We ask for you to open doors that need to be opened and close every one that should be shut tight. Allow every gift and treasure you have placed inside their lives to grow, develop, and flourish, to bring you glory.

We ask that you would remind them every day how very much you love them, that they would find security and confidence fully in you, knowing that you are trustworthy and true.

We ask that you would teach them your ways and fill them with an unquenchable desire to learn your Word. Give them a compassionate spirit, and the wisdom to look beyond outward appearances to the heart within. We pray that you would surround them with friends and leaders who would challenge them to press closer to you.

We ask for your peace to cover them. We ask for laughter and joy to fill their days. We pray that you would give them boldness and courage to face challenges set before them, with the confidence and peace that can only come from your spirit.

We ask that you would raise up greatness in their lives, greatness in this generation, willing to stand strong and true, passionate for you, believing that you have designed them for purpose and good works, which you have planned and prepared in advance for them to do.

Be a lamp for their feet, and a light to their path. Shine over them. Fill them with your spirit. Bless them with your favor and peace.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

“The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26