Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

"I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then the Lord will give to Abraham what he promised him.” (Gen 18:19)

God wants people that He can depend upon. He could say of Abraham, “I know him, that he will command his children … that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken.” God can be depended upon; He wants us to be just as decided, as reliable, as stable. This is just what faith means.

God is looking for men on whom He can put the weight of all His love and power and faithful promises. God’s engines are strong enough to draw any weight we attach to them. Unfortunately the cable which we fasten to the engine is often too weak to hold the weight of our prayer; therefore God is drilling us, disciplining us to stability and certainty in the life of faith. Let us learn our lessons and stand fast.
—A. B. Simpson

God knows that you can stand that trial; He would not give it to you if you could not. It is His trust in you that explains the trials of life, however bitter they may be. God knows our strength, and He measures it to the last inch; and a trial was never given to any man that was greater than that man’s strength, through God, to bear it.

Victory Over Guilt..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Victory Over Guilt

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 3:16-17

At times, people are bound by guilt long after the feeling should have been resolved. Some rightly live with it because they refuse to give up the sin that brought it on. Meanwhile, others suffer the weight of false guilt because they harbor shame that doesn't belong to them. Whatever the root cause of your condemnation, the battle plan remains the same.

Victory over guilt begins with understanding that Jesus took our shame to the cross and paid our penalty. There is no way that we can pay for our own sin. But we do need to honestly identify the source of our guilt and confess before God. That means we agree with His perspective on what we've done. In other words, we admit when we're wrong. Repentance goes a step further: we turn away from the wrong and choose to do right.

Confronting guilt in this way replaces the weight of shame in our heart with peace and joy, which are far lighter and more freeing. And an amazing side effect is that we have wisdom to share. Openness about our past mistakes, resulting consequences, guilt burdens, and forgiveness can reveal the Lord to those in our sphere of influence. Through our witness, God may reach others who need their guilt chains broken.

The battle to overcome guilt is one that should not be delayed. The feeling won't just go away. Whether your condemnation is true or false, it needs to be dealt with quickly. Stop running, and face the source of your guilt. It's time to end your captivity and start walking in the joy of God's blessing.

Now I See Clearer Than Before ..... ANITHA ABRAHAM

 Now I See Clearer Than Before

ANITHA ABRAHAM

“Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.” Acts 9:18 (NIV)

In anticipation of 2020, there was a battle cry at many new year’s celebrations: vision. Not only was it a new year; it was a new decade! Most of us had a hopeful feeling about it.

For me, this year started out great. Some new opportunities were opening up. My nephews’ basketball team won the state championship in their division. Another nephew was making plans for graduation while enjoying all the typical senior year activities. My husband and I would be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary and had booked a long-awaited trip to the Holy Land. The year of vision was looking good.

Until it didn’t.

By mid-March, the world was understanding more about a quickly spreading virus. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing on the news … people of all ages were falling ill, universities were canceling classes, professional sports leagues suspended their seasons, travel was limited … what was happening?

Life around us felt like a movie. Then, it started getting personal.

One by one, our plans got canceled. No more driving into the office or going to school. Working from home and virtual classrooms were now the new normal.

No Israel trip. No big anniversary celebration. No graduation or prom for my nephews. Add racial and political tensions to the mix, and it just didn’t seem like this year could get any worse for my family.

Until it did.

In mid-summer, my nephew tested positive for COVID-19. Then, the following month, my mom had a health scare. (By God’s grace, both are doing well now.)

What a year it has been so far. The year of vision appeared to be a blurry mess.

There’s a man in the Bible whose physical (and spiritual) vision was also a blurry mess. In Acts, we read the story of a young Pharisee named Saul. He was a devout Jew with his own crystal-clear vision to punish anyone who proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. In a surprising turn of events, a voice from heaven confronted Saul while he was traveling to Damascus. A light flashed around him, and he fell to the ground. Then, “ … when he opened his eyes he could see nothing” (Acts 9:8a, NIV).

For three days, Saul was blind. During that time, there was no record that he heard from God again. A divinely appointed visit from Ananias changed that. “… Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized” (Acts 9:17b-18 NIV).

Not only was Saul’s physical sight restored; his spiritual eyes were opened too. What happened in the natural was a reflection of what was happening in the spiritual. This man named Saul, who persecuted the church, would soon be identified as Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes, we think we can see, but we’re actually blind.

The year of 2020 has blindsided many of us in more ways than we can count. But could it be, in these uncertain times, that God is also removing the scales from our eyes?

For me, my priorities have been revealed. Who were the people I stayed connected to during this year? What did I miss doing? What did I not miss doing?

Also, my faith has been exposed. Is my trust in God as strong as I thought it was? Have I wandered in worry when I should have walked in holy confidence?

Maybe this hasn’t been the year we envisioned it would be. Perhaps all the things we thought we would accomplish will have to wait until later. Here is something I do know: Just because our plans have shifted does not mean God’s plans have. He knew what this year would hold, and thankfully, He holds us in His hands.

This can still be the year of vision. One that brings to light how blind we actually are. This could also be the year the scales fall off our eyes, and we see God clearer than we ever did before.

Dear heavenly Father, I am thankful that nothing catches You by surprise. Help me to see You in every situation I encounter. Please strengthen my faith in the process. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Ephesians 1:18, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (NIV)

Being Thankful in “All” Things..... By Debbie McDaniel

 Being Thankful in “All” Things

By Debbie McDaniel

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I must be honest, sometimes it's the "all" in that verse that gets me. Most of us can be thankful, for lots of things, at lots of times, but in "all" circumstances? That can be tough.

What about when you find yourself suffering illness, or defeat, or you're walking through huge loss...what about when a loved one leaves this world too soon and you still can't see past your tears...or when you've been praying for your prodigal loved one to come home and it seems like the prayers are unanswered...what about when you're discouraged, disillusioned, and struggling with disbelief...or when you're overwhelmed, overextended, and just fighting being over-stressed...what about when the needs mount high and the way doesn't look clear...or when people are cruel, life seems unfair, and the enemy's breathing down your back...what about when the storms come, and the car breaks down, or the air conditioner stops working on a holiday weekend (true story)...

Yes, these are the "all" things that can be hard to find gratitude in, whether it's huge losses or just life irritations. But God's word never changes to fit our circumstances. His Truth rises above our circumstance, so that we can too. He doesn't say give thanks "for it", but "in it all," for He knows He's building more deeply into our lives and character than He could ever build without the hard times.

We're gaining strength. We're gaining perseverance. We're being reminded that true joy is never based on how we feel or our outside situations. We're understanding that God's ways are bigger, His thoughts are higher, and we can be assured that He holds us in His hands.

And He is with us.

Always.

No matter what you might be facing, the good news is this, you woke up. He's given us today. And if we're still here, living and breathing, may our every breath bring honor to Him.

Be assured my friend, you never fight the battles alone. Stay strong. Choose joy. Choose to be grateful in it "all." For He is building greatness. He's working things out for good. He hears our prayers, He sees all, and knows all. He has purpose for our pain, and brings hope for our tomorrows...

Grace to you this day.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Recognize today, that the most difficult challenge you’re facing right now, may actually be a greater blessing, as God is working in and through your life in powerful ways. No matter how hard, choose to give Him thanks, in “all” things.

Further Reading: Psalm 118:24, Ephesians 5:20, Psalm 100:1-5

Facing the Sorrow of Unfinished Business..... By Lynette Kittle

 Facing the Sorrow of Unfinished Business

By Lynette Kittle

Today’s Bible Verse: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” - John 20:23

Have you known someone who pass away, an individual with whom you had unsettled business? A person you had worked hard to forgive in life, even though as far as you know, they never felt sorry for how they had hurt you, and never sought your forgiveness?

Even though in your heart, you forgave them, you had hoped and prayed they would one day be truly sorry for what they had done to you. Yet they left this earth, and you, with unfinished business.

If so, you’ve most likely tossed and turned at night, experiencing a range of emotions including disappointment, anger, sorrow, regret, and more. Especially if the person knew their life was coming to an end, yet they still didn’t reach out to seek forgiveness in their final hours.

Sometimes we believe that if the person who hurt us passes away, like a parent or spouse, their death will bring peace to our lives. However, in reality, it usually brings more sorrow and regret because it leaves us with a sense of things being left unfinished.

So how do we face the sorrow of unfinished business? How do we deal with dashed hopes, the ending of our dreams for a sweet reconciliation, and the letdown of unanswered prayers?

Below are three ways to let go of the sorrow.

1. Believe in God’s Justice

Jeremiah 9:24, assures us of God exercising justice on the earth. Luke 18:7, explains, “And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off?

Because we can trust God to make things right (Romans 12:19), we don’t have to hold onto to feelings of unfinished business, or the sense of failure because we didn’t have the happy ending we wanted.

2. Examine Ourselves

2 Corinthians 13:5 urges us to, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”

We need to be willing to examine ourselves to see if we’ve really forgiven others or if in reality, our forgiveness was hinged on the hope of them coming to a point of asking for our forgiveness. Our sorrow may be a sign of lingering unforgiveness towards them in our lives.

3. Accept God’s Forgiveness as Enough

John 20:23 states, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

If we discover we haven’t really completed the process of forgiveness because we didn’t receive the result we were hoping for in the situation, we can turn to God for our happy ending. As Philippians 1:6 promises, He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion.

We can rest in knowing when God forgave us, and we extended His forgiveness to those who hurt us, the process is completed because Jesus finished it on the cross saying “It is finished" (John 19:30).

A Prayer for When Your Soul Is Downcast..... By Tiffany Thibault

 A Prayer for When Your Soul Is Downcast

By Tiffany Thibault

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. - Psalm 43:5

Life these days is like riding a rollercoaster! If you go to any theme park, you will see people who are willing to stand in a very long line for the thrill of riding a very short ride. However, that one short ride is filled with such incredible twists, turns and drops causing the rider to scream with terror and thrill at the unexpectedness of each new jerk of that ride. The incredible rush of emotions is probably the main reason people get in line in the first place, and most certainly why so many of them return to that same ride over and over again.

Every single person I know has been impacted in some way from the coronavirus. Some have lost jobs, some haven't been able to see their elderly parent buried, some haven't been able to graduate like “normal.” People are full of worry and stress, and most definitely fear and anger. Should schools reopen? To mask or not to mask? How to work at home? How to school at home? How to safely visit elderly parents? How to pay the bills when the job is gone? How to get peace and quiet when everyone is stuck in the same house? Every single day there is conflicting news, and even more difficult decisions to be processed.

As we journey through this weird world, we are most certainly going to experience many twists and turns in our well thought out plans. Accidents still happen, sickness still comes, jobs are still being lost and the list could continue forever. Our human minds and emotions can only handle so many stressful situations before we begin to reach our limit. Our brains get tired, our souls grow weary.

As the weeks and months continue with life continuing to bear down hard, sometimes we fail to see how heavy the weight of it has become as we have adjusted to this “new normal.” When we look at the words in Psalm 43:5, we see this question: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” The author who penned these words was journeying through an incredible season of stress. He had been so absorbed in the decision making, in the stress of living through each new problem that he suddenly realized that he had sunk into a depression and that had no peace in his heart.

He seriously asks himself the question why, even though his circumstances should have been proof enough. However, as he asks himself the question, he immediately turns around and answers the question himself. He says: “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

Regardless of our circumstances, regardless of the unknown, we can always find hope in God. He is at work in every single situation in your life. He will be right there with you through every single circumstance. There will come a point when you will be able to praise Him once again. He has never stopped being your salvation. He has never stopped being your God.

It is so important that when you are feeling discouraged and tired in your roller coaster life, that you remind yourself again and again that God is with you. Praise Him through these difficult times. We certainly cannot change the strange world happenings all around us, but we can choose to keep our eyes on Jesus and we can choose to share the hope that is only found in God.

Dear Lord,

Thank you that You have never left me alone to fight my battles. Thank you that even in the midst of all the uncertainty of my life and the world right now, that you are still God. Help me Lord, as I am dealing with so many different situations in my life, help my heart and mind stay focused on you. Help me to not grow downcast, but to remember that my hope is always in you.

Thank you that you are my God, that you are my salvation and that you will always provide a way for me. I am trusting you Lord for this.

In Your Name I Pray,

Amen.

Thanksgiving around the Father's Table..... Anne Graham Lotz

Thanksgiving around the Father's Table

Anne Graham Lotz

Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the lamb!
Revelation 19:9, niv

For years our family have celebrated Thanksgiving at my father's house. The meal was always abundant and delicious - turkey with dressing and gravy, ham, green beans... my mouth waters just thinking about it! But the highlight of Thanksgiving was not the food, or the televised football games, or the fun. The highlight was always the fellowship around the dining room table. As we sipped our coffee and gorged on one last piece of pie, my father presided at the head of the table as each person shared what he or she was most thankful for... We still celebrate this way today, although our family circle is so large we have our dinner at a conference center. But the highlight is sill the story of thanks.

One day, in My Father's House, the table will be set and supper will be ready. One day you and I and all of the Father's children will be seated around that table. One day our Father will preside as He gathers us to Himself, listening intently and lovingly as we share our love for each other and our love for Him. One day My Father's House will be filled with His family, and it won't get any better than that!