Trouble Teaches..... Streams in the Desert

Trouble Teaches 

Streams in the Desert

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46:1).

The question often comes, "Why didn't He help me sooner?" It is not His order. He must first adjust you to the trouble and cause you to learn your lesson from it. His promise is, "I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him." He must be with you in the trouble first all day and all night. Then He will take you out of it. This will not come till you have stopped being restless and fretful about it and become calm and quiet. Then He will say, "It is enough."

God uses trouble to teach His children precious lessons. They are intended to educate us. When their good work is done, a glorious recompense will come to us through them. There is a sweet joy and a real value in them. He does not regard them as difficulties but as opportunities.
--Selected.

Not always OUT of our troublous times,
And the struggles fierce and grim,
But IN--deeper IN--to our one sure rest,
The place of our peace, in Him.
--Annie Johnson Flint

We once heard a simple old  man say something that we have never forgotten: "When God tests you, it is a good time for you to test Him by putting His promises to the proof, and claiming from Him just as much as your trials have rendered necessary."

There are two ways of getting out of a trial. One is to simply try to get rid of the trial, and be thankful when it is over. The other is to recognize the trial as a challenge from God to claim a larger blessing than we have ever had, and to hail it with delight as an opportunity of obtaining a larger measure of Divine grace. Thus even the adversary becomes an auxiliary, and the things that seem to be against us turn out to be for the furtherance of our way. Surely, this is to be more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
--A. B. Simpson

Our Needs ..... Dr. Charles Stanley

Our Needs

Dr. Charles Stanley
Philippians 4:19

Jim saved for a long time to take an Alaskan cruise. At last he was on board with two carefully packed suitcases. The first evening, when he heard "Dinner is served" announced over the loudspeaker, he took peanut butter crackers from his suitcase and sat at the table in his small cabin. Every day at mealtime, he repeated the ritual. It wasn't that Jim didn't like the ship's tasty banquets. He simply didn't know that his meals were included in the price of the ticket. For two weeks he enjoyed beautiful scenery off the decks but ate dry, stale food in his cabin.

This sad story is a metaphor for how some believers live the Christian life. God has promised to meet every need of His children—His riches are included in the price Christ paid for their salvation (Eph. 1:18). Yet many folks are trying to live out of their own resources. They don't know that the wealth of God's love, power, and provision is on their menu.

A believer's relationship with the Lord is one of complete unity. Jesus is our life. His Spirit lives through us. Therefore, everything that is available to Him is also available to the brothers and sisters in Christ—all power, strength, and endurance, as well as whatever is required to fulfill physical and emotional needs.

Jim didn't know he had the right to satisfy his hunger in an extravagant way. Learn from this exaggerated example. Read your Bible to learn what riches you are entitled to through faith. God offers believers everything required for living well and wisely. Trust Him for all your needs.

But I’ve Never Been This Way Before!..... ALICIA BRUXVOORT

But I’ve Never Been This Way Before!
ALICIA BRUXVOORT

“… When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.” Joshua 3:3-4a (NIV)”

“I feel like I should say something really wise right now,” I murmured as I stood in the middle of my daughter’s dorm room and pulled her into a one-armed hug.

We’d spent the day moving our new college freshman into her home away from home. We’d unpacked boxes and organized drawers, stacked bunk beds and decorated the walls. But now there was nothing left to do but say good-bye.

“I’ve never known you to be short on words,” my girl quipped with a wobbly grin.

“I’m sure I’ll think of something brilliant to say on the ride home,” I promised with a wink.

My daughter giggled, and I swallowed the lump of tears swelling in my throat; then, I walked out the door.

Unfortunately, the drive home didn’t kindle a surge of wisdom. Instead, it stirred a wave of uncertainty. As I considered the new season of parenting stretching ahead of me, I felt overwhelmed by all I didn’t know.

As my daughter embraced her freshly found independence, I wanted to love her well, but I wasn’t sure how to turn intention into action. How could I best support her while giving her plenty of space to learn and grow?

“Lord, I’ve never done this before,” I admitted. “Please help me.”

This wasn’t the first time I’d stood on the edge of change and wondered how to navigate the uncharted path ahead.

I’d felt the same bewilderment when I’d left the hospital with wrinkly skinned babies in my arms … the same sort of uncertainty when I’d resigned from a job I loved to serve in a ministry where I’d been called … the same kind of disquiet when I’d left my comfortable hometown and moved to a new community.

No matter what the landscape of your life looks like right now, sooner or later, we all find ourselves navigating uncertain transitions. And, more often than not, change has a sneaky way of shaking our confidence and magnifying our doubts.

That’s why I’m thankful for God’s words in Joshua 3.

As the chapter begins, an entire generation is standing on the edge of a significant shift. After 40 years of desert dwelling, the Israelites are moving to the land God has promised them. But before they begin their journey, the Lord offers some invaluable instructions.

“… When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before” (Joshua 3:3-4a).

The ark of the covenant was a special, gold-plated wooden chest that housed the presence of God. By directing the Israelites to fix their gaze on the ark, God redirects the focus of their journey from their uncertainties to His constancy. “I know you haven’t done this before,” He acknowledges, “but if you keep your eyes on Me, I’ll show you the way.”

Thanks to Jesus, we no longer need a chest to carry God in our midst. When we accept the salvation Christ offers, the Holy Spirit moves into our lives and willingly guides our steps. (John 16:15) As we pay attention to His presence and heed His promptings, the Spirit directs us through the throes of change. Being near to God gives us wisdom even when we find ourselves on a journey we’ve never experienced before.

As I talked with God on the drive home, my swirling thoughts began to still. Life as I knew it was changing, but God had a plan — for both my daughter and for me. Best of all, when my questions quieted, I thought of three brilliant words to tell my daughter as we stepped into a new season of life together: I love you.

Dear Jesus, thank You for never changing even when my circumstances do. Help me to pay attention to Your presence and follow where You lead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
John 16:13, 15, “The Spirit of truth will come and guide you in all truth … The Spirit has unlimited access to Me, to all that I possess and know, just as everything the Father has is Mine. That is the reason I am confident He will care for My own and reveal the path to you.” (VOICE)

Hebrews 12:1b-2, “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (NIV)

3 Things I've Learned about Work..... by Debbie Holloway

3 Things I've Learned about Work
by Debbie Holloway

“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval” (John 6:27).

Since I've been old enough to babysit, I've always been working at something, whether a project for school, a part-time restaurant gig, or my current office job. And over the years I’ve come to learn many lessons about work. For example, work can become a joy and a passion if it’s something you truly love and you’re surrounded by like-minded partners. Or, on the other hand, even a job you like can become a drudge if you can’t see eye-to-eye with your co-workers.

As I prepare to celebrate a day off work this upcoming Labor Day, I've been pondering three things that God has been teaching me about work in the past year or so.

1. A Christian never clocks out

It's easy and refreshing to hop in the elevator at 5 p.m. and not worry about work until the next day. But as a follower of Christ, I recognize that I’m called to carry his banner 24/7. When I’m grumpy? Yep. When I’ve been out all day and come home to a messy house? Absolutely. When I'm on Facebook and somehow everything in my feed is making me frustrated and irritable? Even then. Perhaps that's why we call ourselves "soliders" in God's army. Everything's a battle… one we must remember to fight with love and peace!

2. God is the boss, not me

As easy as it is to judge another person's work (or seeming lack-therof) I've had to be reminded a lot lately that it's simply not my job to critique other people's lives. Just as my supervisor has given me tasks to complete, and that's between the two of us – so God has a personal relationship with every single one of us, and he hasn't asked us to poke our noses into each other’s to-do lists. And boy, don’t we all have plenty of thoughts on the matter?

Why do they go to THAT church? Why is that woman constantly panhandling on that same streetcorner? Why doesn't he just get a spine and break off that harmful relationship?

If only I ruled the world. But I don't – and thank God I don't. Someday we’ll all stand before The Boss and our choices will be evaluated. But for now, it’s my job to do MY job, to love people where they’re at, and to remember that life sometimes looks really different inside someone else's shoes.

3. Your work does make a difference

It’s common for me to feel small and powerless. Maybe you feel that way too. But when small people like us put our minds to something, amazing things truly do happen. Even something as small as a smile or a word of encouragement can make all the difference in someone’s day… maybe even in someone’s life. So whether you teach, write, or clean up trash; whether you sit in a cube crunching numbers or you bag groceries – God wants to use your work to not only bless others, but grow you closer to him.

Intersecting Faith and Life: This Labor Day, try reading a few passages about work in the Bible (I've linked to some below). What kind of worker does God want you to be?

Further Reading
Why Your Work Matters... and Why it Doesn't
1 Thessalonians 4:11
Luke 10
Deuteronomy 15:1-18
1 Corinthians 15:58
Matthew 25:14-30

Speak Up for Those Who Cannot (Proverbs 31:8-9)..... By: Amanda Idleman

Speak Up for Those Who Cannot (Proverbs 31:8-9)
By: Amanda Idleman

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” - Proverbs 31:8-9

In a world filled with injustice, what is the role of Christ-followers to help those who are in need? Is it our job to speak up and to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves? Is our inability to speak on these issues really a sin or just a harmless choice to side-step something that feels hard?

Thankfully, the Bible has a lot to say about justice, mercy, service, love, and our role in being a help to our fellow man. The Word of God can be our guide as we live through a time when our world is pushing conflicting messages at us that can feel impossible to navigate. The Bible is our rock and our solid ground; while a storm of uncertainty rages around us. God’s Word can be a lamp to our feet as we live through dark times.

Proverbs 31:8-9 is a clear mandate to be people who stand up for the defenseless and demand justice. This verse answers with a resounding “yes” to the question, should believers speak up when we see injustice being carried out around them. The wisdom of God’s word pushes us to move past our affiliations, comfort zones, and tells us each to be an advocate for those we come across in our lives that need help being heard.

Inaction is not something the Bible makes room for. What an uncomfortable truth, for me and for all of us who would rather live life blinded to the needs of others in our communities.

How then do we speak for those who are lacking a voice?

First, We start by listening.

Proverbs 1:5 says, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” If we want to be the voice for the voiceless we first have to be willing to hear what they are saying so we can speak up with wise words.

Next, we get on our knees and pray.

Begin by prayerfully examining your hearts and ask God to reveal ways that you have let apathy, comfort, or ignorance stop you from speaking up for those that need your voice. Take time to seek God to discover His heart for the “least of these” in our world. Ask God how He can use you as an agent of God’s healing power in our broken world.

Pray for God to show you how and when to speak. God wants to uniquely use each of us and the gifts he has given us as his vessels of love, justice, mercy, and grace. Isn’t this the picture of the body of Christ painted in the New Testament? Every believer uses their gifts so the whole body is able to work together in unity. When we all embrace this idea then our neighbor in need is taken care of.

Lastly, we take God-inspired action.

Micah 6:8 in the Message version says, “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.” Let’s take God seriously and begin to do what he tells us to do in the Bible. Live with compassion, love, and seek justice for those in need.

A Prayer of God’s Blessing Over Those You Love..... By Debbie McDaniel

A Prayer of God’s Blessing Over Those You Love
By Debbie McDaniel

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

As believers, we can know in our hearts that God is sovereign and strong. We can believe that His plans for us, for our loved ones, are for good and that He has blessing in store as we follow after Him.

Yet often, when life presses and things feel stressed, when problems overwhelm, and hardships come our way, our focus gets blurred. We somehow start to believe that it all depends on "us." Like maybe we blew it, messed up and got ourselves off the course from "the road to "success." We spin our wheels trying to find a fast way out of difficulty. We feel like it's up to us to make things happen. Stirring up action. Trying hard to get one foot into an open door, or wondering why a closed one shut. We start thinking that if we're not "able enough," "talented enough," "brave enough," that maybe God can't quite use us.

We forget, that the very God who created this entire universe, who holds the stars in place, and knows the exact number of hairs on our head, also knows our way. That His favor rests on us as we seek after Him first, and He holds the power to cause things to happen in just a moment, that would otherwise take us years to do. He can line up our pathways to cross with others He wants us to meet. He can open doors that leave us surprised at how they open. He can close doors that He knows are not the best for us. He has a plan, in the good, and in every hard thing we face.

And often the greatest blessings come after the greatest times of testing. Over and over through Scripture, we see story after story of when God turned around for good the difficult pathways of those He loved. And He still works the same today, for He never changes.

We are children of the King. He is Sovereign and He reigns Supreme, giving favor, guidance, and blessings to all those who seek after Him.  And our prayers are powerful on behalf of our families and friends. May His hand of mercy and grace, His presence of peace, be over every one of these who we love so much. We may not be able to be with them every hour of every day. But He is. We can’t see every struggle, every worry, every burden that may weigh them down. But He does. And He is always there, carrying them, and us, straight through. He is a safe place and He is Mighty.

Resting there today, hope you are too.

Dear God,

Thank you for your great love and blessing over our lives. Thank you that your favor has no end, but it lasts for our entire lifetime. Forgive us for sometimes forgetting that you are intimately acquainted with all of our ways, that you know what concerns us, and you cover us, as with a shield. We ask for your guidance so that we might walk fully in your blessing and goodness today. We ask that your face would shine on us. That you would open the right doors for our lives and for our loved ones, that you would close the wrong doors and protect us from those we need to walk away from. Establish the work of our hands and bring to fulfillment all that you have given us to do in these days. We pray that you would make our way purposeful and our footsteps firm out of your goodness and love. Give us a heart of wisdom to hear your voice, and make us strong by your huge favor and grace.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.