Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

As I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God... and the hand of the Lord was there upon me (Ezekiel 1:1-3).

There is no commentator of the Scriptures half so valuable as a captivity. The old Psalms have quavered for us with a new pathos as we sat by our "Babel's stream," and have sounded for us with new joy as we found our captivity turned as the streams in the South.

The man who has seen much affliction will not readily part with his copy of the Word of God. Another book may seem to others to be identical with his own; but it is not the same to him, for over his old and tear-stained Bible he has written, in characters which are visible to no eyes but his own, the record of his experiences, and ever and anon he comes on Bethel pillars or Elim palms, which are to him the memorials of some critical chapter in his history.

If we are to receive benefit from our captivity we must accept the situation and turn it to the best possible account. Fretting over that from which we have been removed or which has been taken away from us, will not make things better, but it will prevent us from improving those which remain. The bond is only tightened by our stretching it to the uttermost.

The impatient horse which will not quietly endure his halter only strangles himself in his stall. The high-mettled animal that is restive in the yoke only galls his shoulders; and every one will understand the difference between the restless starling of which Sterne has written, breaking its wings against the bars of the cage, and crying, "I can't get out, I can't get out," and the docile canary that sits upon its perch and sings as if it would outrival the lark soaring to heaven's gate.

No calamity can be to us an unmixed evil if we carry it in direct and fervent prayer to God, for even as one in taking shelter from the rain beneath a tree may find on its branches fruit which he looked not for, so we in fleeing for refuge beneath the shadow of God's wing, will always find more in God than we had seen or known before.

It is thus through our trials and afflictions that God gives us fresh revelations of Himself; and the Jabbok ford leads to Peniel, where, as the result of our wrestling, we "see God face to face," and our lives are preserved.

Take this to thyself, O captive, and He will give thee "songs in the night," and turn for thee "the shadow of death into the morning."
--Nathaniel William Taylor

Submission to the divine will is the softest pillow on which to recline.

It filled the room, and it filled my life,
With a glory of source unseen;
It made me calm in the midst of strife,
And in winter my heart was green.
And the birds of promise sang on the tree
When the storm was breaking on land and sea.

Assurance in Trials..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 

Assurance in Trials

Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 8:32-39

 

We all experience hardship, and trials can shake us unless we cling to truth. Let me share three assurances to remember when troublesome circumstances arise.

 

First, God will always meet our needs. This doesn't mean He provides everything we want. Instead, the Lord will bless us with all that is necessary to fulfill His purpose for our lives. His goal is to sanctify us, not simply to satisfy each immediate desire.

 

Second, we're never alone. God promised to be with us always (Heb. 13:5). Loneliness often accompanies hardship, so we may feel deserted or opposed by family and friends. But our Father has sent His Spirit to be with us and in us, until the day He brings us to heaven (John 14:16-17). He is all we need--our advocate, guide, helper, and comforter. Recognizing His intimate presence gives us confidence in the midst of trials.

 

Third, God's love is eternal. Regardless of our circumstances or poor decisions, His care is unconditional--even when He reprimands us. Loving parents allow disobedient children to experience the consequences of wrong choices; they recognize the benefit of learning from mistakes. Of course, there are also times when we are negatively affected by others' wrong actions. Even then, God is sovereign and allows only what will bring good in His followers' lives.

 

In difficult times, we can remember that God will meet all of our needs, is always with us, and loves us forever. Though Jesus said we would face troubles in this life, He offered encouragement: The ultimate victory is His. So keep in mind that trials are fleeting, whereas our Father's love is forever.

Speaking Encouragement to a Weary Heart..... THE GINGHAM APRON

 Speaking Encouragement to a Weary Heart

THE GINGHAM APRON

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) 

For most of us, fall tends to be a busy time of the year, with kids getting back to school, changing routines and weekly schedules to fulfill. For us Gingham Apron ladies, fall is also an especially busy time for our husbands … who are all farmers.

Farmers work countless hours to get the harvest completed while the weather is favorable. There is great urgency to get the soybeans and corn picked from the fields before they get too dry and before the weather turns cold and snowy.

As farmers’ wives, there is a lot on our shoulders to sustain the family amid the harvest. The days are long for us too — having supper ready and then getting to homework and activities, shuttling kids, picking up the slack from a hardworking husband who’s in the fields and then preparing to do it all over the next day.

Since workers can’t easily leave the fields when harvest is full, one night we decided to go to them. We brought a feast to encourage our hardworking men: Sloppy Joe Sliders, Grandma Betty’s Potato Salad, Calico Beans and Cheesy Mac & Corn spread out on the tailgate of a truck.

This hearty meal hopefully spoke to the guys, “We are with you. We care about you, and we see you working hard.” We know that sometimes their work can go unnoticed by us or our children. One day is just like the next. Our prayer was to encourage them with our words and actions. That day, we hoped by rolling out their favorites, they would say in their hearts, “They see us.”

Our tailgating parties have caused us to reflect upon how we can encourage those in our lives. The story of Barnabas offers us a biblical example of what practical encouragement looks like. We are first introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4:36, where we discover the apostles giving him a new name. The close followers of Jesus saw something intriguing in their new brother, Joseph, and began calling him by the name Barnabas, which means “the son of encouragement.”

Barnabas’ love for Jesus led to many acts of encouragement. When he became a Christian, he was a landowner. He put his faith into action and sold his property, laying the money at the apostles’ feet to be used for spreading the gospel. (Acts 4:37) What an expression of solidarity that must have been for his newfound brothers and sisters in Christ.

Barnabas was willing to help, made himself available and jumped at the chance to serve obediently in whatever tasks were laid before him. The Bible says Barnabas was “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit,” and he did the Lord’s bidding wherever he went (Acts 11:24, NIV).

We all need encouragement in every season of life — a kind word, a hand that reaches out when we need to be seen. Encouraging others can be simple, or it might take planning, but either way, the Bible tells us there is the promise of a harvest: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9-10).

How might acting more like Barnabas in our marriages, families, homes, churches, communities and mission change our world? We encouraged with food that day in the field, but that’s not the only way. There are people everywhere who need to hear, “I am with you. I care about you, and I see you working hard.”

Dear heavenly Father, help me to encourage those around me. I know that You bring others into my life for a purpose. Guide me to love and help them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Acts 20:35, “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (NASB)

He Will Cover You with His Feathers..... By: Amanda Idleman

 He Will Cover You with His Feathers (Psalm 91:4)

By: Amanda Idleman

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. - Psalm 91:4

The imagery that David uses in this passage gives us believers a great sense of security and hope. God covering us with his feathers is just like a hen that covers her chicks under her wings to protect them from harm, the elements, and from predators. We can nestle in close to him for comfort and safety. God shields us from the threats we face and even emotional turmoil events of our lives can cause.

Thomas Watson explained this passage in this way: “Christ's wings are both for healing and for hiding, for curing and securing us; the devil and his instruments would soon devour the servants of God, if he did not set an invincible guard about them, and cover them with the golden feathers of his protection.”

Rather than running around wondering how we are going to make it when we face hurt, harm, or are in need of healing, we can instead run straight under the protective cover of God’s glorious wings! God is our safe place in a very unsafe world.

Our God is also a shield and strong defender against evil. Benson Commentary explains we can enjoy God’s affection under his wings, but his truth and faithfulness also makes it so we can rest in God’s promise be our “shield and rampart,” our strong and sure defense! God will take care of us no matter how precarious or challenging our circumstances may seem.

There's a Title for That
by John UpChurch

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” - Colossians 1:17-18

Sometimes, we just need to be reminded of who Jesus is:

The Word: He pitched His tent with us and put flesh on God’s promises (John 1)

Son of God: He’s got the whole world in His hands (Matthew 16:16)

Son of Man: He knows our sorrows up close and personal (Matthew 17:12)

Son of David: He loved His people, even if they didn’t recognize Him (Matthew 1:1; John 1)

Teacher: He tells us exactly what we need, even if it’s not what we want to hear (John 3:2)

Prophet: He told us what would and will happen (Deuteronomy 18:15; Matthew 13:57)

Provider: He can make a little go a long way (Mark 6:30-44)

Mediator: He’s right in the middle of our struggles and pleading our case (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15)

Suffering Servant: He got busted up for us (Isaiah 53)

Lamb of God: He put sin in a full-nelson and made death cry uncle (John 1:29)

Lion of Judah: He can take care of His enemies with just His roar (Revelation 5:5, 19:21)

Counselor: He’s the cure for our addictions and struggles (Isaiah 9:6)

Prince of Peace: He signed—in blood—the peace treaty between God and us (Isaiah 9:6)

Immanuel: He never gets tired of being with us (Isaiah 7:14)

King of Kings: He’s got the power (Revelation 17:14)

The Way: He ain’t got no time for wishy-washy “all roads” arguments; He’s it (John 14:6)

The Truth: He puts the lie in our “true for you” follies (John 14:6)

The Life: He resuscitates hearts that were hardened by sin (John 14:6, 20:31)

Good Shepherd: He patiently and lovingly tracks down His runaways (Luke 15:4; John 10:11)

True Vine: He nurtures us to fruitfulness (John 15:4-5; Romans 7:4)

Friend of Sinners: He offers grace to those stumbling around in darkness (Matthew 11:9)

Balm of Gilead: He binds up our wounds by the scars on His back (Jeremiah 8:22; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)

Giver of the Spirit: He sent the One who makes the journey alongside us and leads us into truth (John 14)

Light of the World: He sends photons to those who’ve been blinded by the god of this age (Luke 2:32; Acts 13:47; 2 Corinthians 4:4)

Intercessor: He never stops praying for us (Isaiah 53:12; John 17)

Great High Priest: He took care of all the Temple work (Hebrews 7)

The Bread/Water of Life: He’s our daily nutritional requirement for a spiritually balanced life (John 6; Revelation 21:6)

Alpha and Omega: He gets the first and last word… always (Revelation 22:13)

Lord of Glory: He makes angels belt out never-ending praises (Psalm 24, 103:20; James 2:1)

Firstborn among the Dead: He paved the path that leads to His place (Colossians 1:18)

Intersecting Faith and Life: Jesus has so many titles because He fulfills all our needs. Wherever you are in life, whatever you need, He’s got it covered. As my father-in-law sometimes says, “Jesus picked up His cross and said, ‘Hang on to Me. We’re going through.’”

With Him, you will make it out alive.

A Prayer to Not Borrow Trouble...... By Meg Bucher

 A Prayer to Not Borrow Trouble

By Meg Bucher

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8

Lately, this world has given us a plethora of fresh new reasons (and recycled old ones) to walk through our days in fear, confusion, worry, and shame. We can borrow trouble for hard days that haven’t hit us yet. Can you relate?

Recently, while running along the lakeshore, I wondered when the next injury will sideline me. If I’m not careful to take these thoughts captive, these blessed moments of respite become riddled with anxiety and paranoia about health. Ugly habits can begin to seep through the cracks in my armor. I begin to take credit for all I have and get to do, while worrying about when it will end, and things will get hard again. I forget to prioritize time with God the way I do when I desperately need Him to relieve some real-life pain.

Idols can seep in and swell up in my heart, pushing my Savior aside. Or worse yet, I can fail to stop and fully enjoy the blessing God has given to me! Remembering God only gives me one day to live at a time relieves my tension.

Today’s verse reminds me to let go and let God do what God does. “As regularly as generous giving depletes the resources of the cheerful giver, God’s grace replenishes what is needed,” the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible explains. “This gives such a person complete sufficiency that comes from depending on an all-sufficient God.”

The VOICE paraphrase of what Paul wrote to the Ephesians reads, “Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, to Him be all the glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

So today, I smile as I run down the road, especially when it’s hard and hurts. My eyes see my Creator’s hand as I cruise by the water, and I take intentional time to peacefully watch the world go by from my front porch. Because this day, God made. So I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Let’s Pray:

Father,

For the scenery you paint on the landscape of my life, and the breath you fill my lungs with, the friends you surround me with to share laughter, and the family to love and be loved by… all glory goes up to you. Your faithfulness is never-ending, your mercies new every morning. There is none like you, Abba Father.

Calm my anxiety, worry, and fear over when the calm water will kick up again. Help me not borrow trouble for hard days that aren’t here yet. Increase my confidence in you, my wisdom, and my ability to let your love flow freely through my everyday life.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Gratitude in Affliction..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Gratitude in Affliction

Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalms 119:65-72

At Thanksgiving, we typically express gratitude for God's blessings. But did you ever consider thanking Him for something that doesn't seem like a blessing—such as a trying circumstance you want Him to remove or change? A grateful heart is most precious to God when, humanly speaking, our situations don't warrant giving thanks. By making four foundational decisions, we can begin to see the value of our adversities and respond with appreciation.    

Believe and trust the Lord. Only by viewing life from a scriptural perspective can we understand His purposes in our trials and trust His wisdom in allowing them.

Accept the situation as coming from God—either directly sent or permissively allowed. If we truly believe He's working for our good (Rom 8:28-29), we can choose to receive each difficulty as coming from His loving hand. Then we can say "Thank You."

Submit to God in the circumstance. Although we may not like the situation, knowing that God "[is] good and does good" (v. 68) allows us to confidently place our lives under His authority.

Draw from Him the strength to endure. No one has the ability within himself to endure hardships with gratefulness. Only by relying on the Lord can believers go through adversity with an appreciative heart.

Now, think about that circumstance you would like changed, and with a new mindset, offer this prayer to God: "Lord, I accept this situation as coming from You. In faith and trust, I place myself under Your loving authority, and draw from You the strength I need to endure with gratitude."