Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

Unto you it is given... to suffer (Philippians 1:29).

God keeps a costly school. Many of its lessons are spelled out through tears. Richard Baxter said, "O God, I thank Thee for a bodily discipline of eight and fifty years"; and he is not the only man who has turned a trouble into triumph.

This school of our Heavenly Father will soon close for us; the term time is shortening every day. Let us not shrink from a hard lesson or wince under any rod of chastisement. The richer will be the crown, and the sweeter will be Heaven, if we endure cheerfully to the end and graduate in glory.
--Theodore L. Cuyler

The finest china in the world is burned at least three times, some of it more than three times. Dresden china is always burned three times. Why does it go through that intense fire? Once ought to be enough; twice ought to be enough. No, three times are necessary to burn that china so that the gold and the crimson are brought out more beautiful and then fastened there to stay.

We are fashioned after the same principle in human life. Our trials are burned into us once, twice, thrice; and by God's grace these beautiful colors are there and they are there to stay forever.
--Cortland Myers

Earth's fairest flowers grow not on sunny plain,
But where some vast upheaval rent in twain
The smiling land.
After the whirlwinds devastating blast,
After the molten fire and ashen pall,
God's still small voice breathes healing over all. 
From riven rocks and fern-clad chasms deep,
Flow living waters as from hearts that weep,
There in the afterglow soft dews distill
And angels tend God's plants when night falls still,
And the Beloved passing by that way
Will gather lilies at the break of day.
--J.H.D.

Our Heavenly Home..... Dr. Charles Stanley

Our Heavenly Home

Dr. Charles Stanley

Revelation 21:22-27

As enjoyable as traveling may be, most of us would admit to having a sense of security and delight upon arriving back home. There's just something comforting about opening the door, seeing familiar things, and feeling we're where we belong.

The apostle John was given a vision that included glimpses inside our future home, the new Jerusalem. You may be surprised to know that some things from our old abode will be missing. But what replaces them will be infinitely better.

For one thing, there were no church buildings in John's vision, "for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Rev. 21:22). No longer will denominations divide up the body of Christ. Nor will the sun or moon shine on the city in that day, "for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb" (v. 23). Imagine--no need for electricity, flashlights, or candles.

One other difference is that the city gates will always be open. Since sin will not be a factor, locks will be unnecessary in our heavenly home. Death and decay will also be absent. In fact, nothing impure will ever enter that future residence--utter holiness will characterize the heavenly place, and suffering will be a thing of the past. What we have to look forward to is the abundant life in Christ, pure and unmarred.

Think about the comfortable feeling you have as you open your front door. That's but a hint of what we'll feel some day on arriving at the place our Father has lovingly and personally prepared for us in heaven. We will finally--and permanently--be "at home" in a way that defies description.

Fighting Fear With Faith and Laughter..... LAURA JENSEN WALKER

Fighting Fear With Faith and Laughter
LAURA JENSEN WALKER

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Cancer isn’t funny.

But humor is healing.

As someone who has gone through breast cancer — mastectomy, chemotherapy and reconstruction — and gratefully come out the other side (OK but a little lopsided), I’ve learned firsthand that laughter helps.

Big time.

From baldly going where I’d never gone before to losing 30 pounds in 30 days the chemo-diet way, humor has been an effective weapon in my fight against this disease that is no respecter of persons.

The cancer survivors I’ve talked to over the years say what helped them through their ordeal was faith and often humor. I agree completely. But this is not to say I laughed throughout my entire cancer experience. I certainly didn’t.

Yet, throughout most of my cancer ordeal, people kept marveling at my “good attitude” and wondered how I could stay so positive and upbeat during the experience.

The answer is God.

The other answer is they didn’t see me that lonely, terrifying night at 3 a.m. in the hospital following my second chemotherapy treatment, when I fearfully confronted the very real possibility that I might die.

Even though my husband, Michael, was asleep on a hospital cot right next to my bed, I didn’t want to wake him, because as much as he loves me, I knew he couldn’t prevent death from claiming me.

I’d never felt so alone. Or so scared.

Frantically, I grabbed my Bible from the nightstand and started paging through it as I inwardly cried out to God, help me, help me.

And He did, with the words of Psalm 18:6a, 16-17: “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help … He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me” (NIV).

Chemotherapy and death were my foes that were too strong for me, but God promised He would rescue me, and my terror subsided. As I continued to read His Word, the Psalms were echoing the cries of my heart to God: “I cry to you, LORD; I say, ‘You are my refuge … Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name” (Psalm 142:5-7a).

In that moment, my fear was replaced by a wonderful sense of absolute peace. I knew with a complete, unshakable assurance that my Lord would rescue me.

I didn’t know how, only that He would.

Whether that meant healing me or taking me home to be with Him, I was no longer afraid, for I belonged to the Lord.

I am His, and nothing can change that.

Not cancer.

Not chemo.

Not death.

Yes, death could claim my cancer-ravaged and chemo-riddled body, but it could never touch my cancer-free soul. In Deuteronomy 31:6, the Lord promised He would never leave me or forsake me: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

He has never left me, and I know He never will. For that, I’m eternally grateful.

Lord, Your faithfulness endures forever. Your lovingkindness is without end. You teach me to laugh when joy is hidden. You turn my sorrow into gladness. Thank You for using my life to help others and to heal what was intended to harm. I praise Your Holy Name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” (MSG)

Job 36:15, “But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.” (NIV)

The Doorman..... by Ryan Duncan

The Doorman
by Ryan Duncan

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

Once upon a time, there lived a wise and righteous king who cared deeply for his people. In order to ensure that his kingdom prospered, the king summoned one of his servants and gave him this decree,

"Go and stand at the door of the palace. If someone comes and asks to see me, open the door and allow them in so I may speak with them."

So the servant went and did as the king commanded. People came from far and wide to see the king. Some were rich men, some were great scholars, others were from noble families, and when they asked to see the king the doorman gave them entry. Then one day a poor beggar came to the palace door and asked to see the king. The doorman looked him over and frowned.

The beggar's clothes were dirty and torn, he wore no shoes and was unpleasant to look at.

"Surely my king would not wish to meet with such a man as this," the doorman said to himself, and turned the beggar away. Soon the doorman began turning others away; people he deemed too poor, or too sick, or too strange. When the king discovered what was being done he summoned the doorman to him.

"Why have you been turning people away from the palace?" the king demanded angrily. The doorman was surprised and replied meekly, "My king, I was only performing the duty you gave me."

"Your duty was to open the door for those who would see me," said the king, "not decide if they were worthy to do so."

It's unfortunate when we behave like the doorman in this story. We style ourselves the "Watchmen on the Wall," and if we see someone who doesn't quite fit our definition of worthy, we slam the door in his or her face. But God's grace is not ours to give away, and true forgiveness belongs to Christ alone. Our job is to open the door that leads to Christ, through prayer, through friendship, and through service. Remember, we all stand on equal footing at the door of Christ's mercy.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Have you been turning away people who are looking for God? Or lighting the way to the narrow path? Take some time to consider.

Further Reading
Luke 14:15-24

You Are Not Your Own..... By Lynette Kittle

You Are Not Your Own
By Lynette Kittle

When Adam rebelled against God in the garden, he didn’t understand it meant he would be giving up his power and authority over the earth to the devil (Genesis 3). His sin against God caused the whole world to come under the evil one’s dominion (1 John 5:19).

From that point on Adam became a sinner and passed his fallen legacy on to all future generations, placing mankind in opposition to God.

Romans 5:12 explains what happened stating, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”

However in today’s culture, countless individuals mistakenly believe if they don’t choose God, then they belong to themselves but it just isn’t true. There is no middle ground between good and evil. No third choice, no neutrality to choose from.

Jesus came to earth to pay a high price for your sin (1 Corinthians 6:20). But it’s still your decision whether or not you accept His payment and receive the “Paid in Full by Jesus Christ.”

In accepting God’s free gift of salvation, 1 Corinthians 6:19 explains how the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you, taking up residence within you. When He does, your life no longer belongs to you but to God.

Romans 5:12 explains what happened stating, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”

However in today’s culture, countless individuals mistakenly believe if they don’t choose God, then they belong to themselves but it just isn’t true. There is no middle ground between good and evil. No third choice, no neutrality to choose from.

Jesus came to earth to pay a high price for your sin (1 Corinthians 6:20). But it’s still your decision whether or not you accept His payment and receive the “Paid in Full by Jesus Christ.”

In accepting God’s free gift of salvation, 1 Corinthians 6:19 explains how the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you, taking up residence within you. When He does, your life no longer belongs to you but to God.

A Prayer to Love When The World Wants Us to Hate..... By Meg Bucher

A Prayer to Love When The World Wants Us to Hate
By Meg Bucher

“And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.’” - Acts 26:24 ESV

A bookworm’s delight is to disappear into wonderland. Imagination blooms in the pages of books. When my daughter was a baby, I could barely wait to pass on my love for worn out pages and musty library smells. We read piles of books and imagined great adventures. Always appreciative of the imaginative, both of my daughters love Alice in Wonderland. Their favorite quote is:

Alice: Do you think I’ve gone ’round the bend?
Alice’s Father: I’m afraid so… you’re mad. Bonkers. Off your head… but I’ll tell you a secret… all of the best people are.

Aside from all of the wonderful quips and puns in Alice in Wonderland, my daughters love that being “mad” is a good thing. I think they can relate. The hurt they witness, and experience, as the school grades get higher is confusing to them. Unnecessary. They feel a little Mad Hatterish…

I think the apostle Paul could relate. The Voice paraphrase of Acts 26:24 says, “You’ve gone crazy, Paul! You’ve read one book too many and have gone insane!”

Christianity does not flow with the world’s stream. We often forget the apostles underwent extreme scrutiny for believing in Christ! But Paul didn’t waiver under the pressure. How could he, after all he had seen? Perhaps the power of experiencing Christ personally was enough for him to embrace the notion of madness.

It’s easy to want to retreat from the madness, to get comfortable in our spot and sit back in the pocket we know best. But we can’t. Not when we are chasing after the flow of Christ’s blood, and our eyes are opened. In our families, communities, churches, and world… there is work to do!

Let’s pray now that God would help us take our ‘madness’ and use it for good – to strive to bring the gospel into everything we are and everything we do.

Father, I praise you for making us all a little mad! Thank you for diversity and difference, for it is a breeding ground for compassion and love. Forgive us for missing our chance to love on others in your name by allowing this world’s fit to consume our agenda. Bless our hearts to love you with abandon, in the way You uniquely gifted us too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.