Streams in the Desert: November 17

Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for h is chosen ones, who cry out to him by day and night?  Will he keep putting them off? I till you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.  (Luke 18:6-8)

      God's timing is not ours to command.  If we do not start the fire with the first strike f our match, we must try again.  God does hear our prayer, but He may not answer it at the precise time we have appointed in our own minds.  Instead, He will reveal Himself to our seeking hearts, though not necessarily when and where we may expect.  therefore we have a need for  preservance and steadfast determination in our life of power.
      In the old days of flint, steel, and brimstone matches, people had to strike the match again and again, perhaps even dozens of times, before they could get a spark to light their fire, and they were very thankful if they could get a spark to lift their fire, and they were very thankful they finally succeeded.  should we not exercise the same kind of perseverance and hope regarding heavenly things? When it comes to faith, we have more certainty of success than we could ever have had with flint and steel, for we have God's promises as a foundation.
      May we, therefore, never despair, God's time for mercy will come--in fact, it has already come, if our time for believing has arrived.  Ask in faith without wavering, but never cease to petition the King simply because He has delayed His reply.  Strike the match again and make the sparks fly.  Yet be sure to have your tinder ready, for you will get a fire before long.  Charles H. Spurgeon
       I do not believe there is such a thing in the history of God's eternal kingdom as  a right prayer, offered in the right spirit that remains forever unanswered.  Theodore L. Cuyler

Streams in the Desert: November 15

We were under great pressure. (2 Corinthians 1:8)   ...so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

     God allowed the crisis in Jacob's life at Peniel to totally surround him until he ultimately came to the point of making an earnest and humble appeal to God Himself.  That night, he wrestled with God and literally came to the place where he could take hold of Him as never before.  And through his narrow brush with danger Jacob's faith and knowledge of God was expanded, and his power to live a new and victorious life was born.
      The Lord had to force David, through the discipline of many long and painful years, to learn of the almighty power and faithfulness of his God.  through those difficult years, he also grew in his knowledge of faith and godliness, which were indispensable principles for his glorious career as the king of Israel.
      Nothing but the most dangerous circumstances in which Paul was constantly placed could ever have taught him, and thus the church through him, the full meaning of the great promise of God he learned to claim: "My graces is sufficient for you" (@ Cor. 12:9).  And nothing but the great trials and dangers we have experienced would ever have led some of us to  know Him as we do, to trust Him as we have, and to draw from Him the great measure of His grace so indispensable during our times of greatest need.
      Difficulties and obstacles are God's challenges to our faith.  When we are confronted with hindrances that block our path of service, we are to recognize them as vessels for faith and then to fill them with fullness and complete sufficiency of Jesus. As we move forward in faith, simply and fully trusting Him, we may be tested.  Sometimes we may have to wait and realize that "perseverance must finish its work" (James 1:4).  But ultimately we will surely find "the stone rolled away" (Luke 24:2) and the Lord Himself waiting to bestow a double blessing on us for our time of testing.  A. B. Simpson

Woe Is Me!

"So I said: 'Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.' "     Isaiah 6:5

      An exalted view of God brings a clear view of sin and a realistic view of self. A diminished view of God brings a reduced concern for sin and an inflated view of self.  Isaiah may have been satisfied with his personal holiness until he saw the Lord in His unspeakable glory.  Isaiah's encounter with holy God made him immediately and keenly aware of his own unholiness and the sinfulness of those around him.  It is impossible to worship God and remain unchanged.  the best indication that we have truly worshiped is a changed heart.

    Have we so conformed ourselves to a sinful world that we are satisfied with unholy living?  Have we sunk so far below God's standard that when someone does live as God intended, we consider that person "superspiritual"? If we only compare our personal holiness so those around us, we may be deceived into believing that we are living a consecrated life.  yet when we encounter holy God, our only response can be "Woe is me!"

     You will not see those around you trusting Jesus until they recognize a clear difference between you and the rest of the world.  God wants to sanctify you as He is holy.  When God deals with you there will be a radical degree of purity about your life that is absolutely different from what the world can produce.  The world, including those closest to you, will be convinced you serve a holy God by your consecrated life.

  This devotion is today's devotion in my Experiencing God Day-By-Day book by Henry and Richard Blackaby.  I have been using this book since October 2000.  I am on my second copy of the book.  I enjoy going back and rereading things I have written in the past and seeing if anything has changed.

Wait!

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."  Psalms 27:14

   Waiting is one of the hardest things to do in all the world! If you have to wait fro someone who is late, or if you're expecting something important in the mail, or if you've applied for a job and you're waiting for the phone to ring, waiting can almost drive you crazy!  Why is it so difficult to wait?  Waiting means you're not in control.  Someone else will determine what happens next.  Whether you're waiting on an inconsiderate friend, a slow postal system, or an indifferent employer, sitting helplessly can be excruciating.

    Waiting on the Lord is a different matter. God loves you more than you can even imagine.  Everything he does in your life shows his perfect love for you.  When God delays giving you something, he has a good reason.  It's not that he doesn't love you or that he wants to make you squirm.  it's a matter of timing.  Waiting on God reminds us of just how much our lives depend on him.  Every day we wait is another day to realize how helpless we are apart from his strength.  Waiting on God can be one of the most spiritually rewarding things we ever do.  Waiting on God is not sitting around doing nothing.  Waiting on God involves action on our part.  We should pray.  We should continue doing what God told us last.  We should watch for what he does next.  We should examine our hearts to see if any sin is hindering God's answer.

    if you are waiting on God for something right now, don't consider the time an idle, frustrating experience.  Trust that he loves you and that his answer will come.  in the meantime, get busy!

    This was yesterday's (December 29) devotion from the devotional:  The Experience a devotional and journal   by Henry and Richard Blackaby. 

Streams in the Desert: November 23

You have shown your people desperate times. (Psalms 60:3)

  I have always been glad that the psalmist said to God that certain times of life are desperate or difficult. Make no mistake about it, there are difficult in life.

   This summer someone gave me some beautiful pink flowers, and as I took them, I asked, "What kind are they?" My friend answered, "They are rock flowers. They grow and bloom only on rocks where you can see no soil."  then I thought of God's flowers growing in desperate times and hard places, and I somehow feel that He may have a certain tenderness for His "rock flowers" that He may not  have fro is lilies and roses.    Margaret Bottome 

  The trials of life are sent to make us, not to break us.  Financial troubles may destroy a person's business but build up his character.  and a direct blow to the outer person may be the greatest  blessing possible to the inner person.  So if God places or allows anything difficult in out lives, we can be sure that the real danger or trouble will be what we will lose if we run or rebel against it.  Maltbie D. Babcock   

          Heroes are forged on anvils hot with pain,
          And splendid courage comes but with the test.
          Some natures ripen and some natures bloom
         Only on blood-wet soil, some prove great
         Only in moments dark with death or doom.

  God finds His best soldiers on the mountain of affliction.

Jesus Calling-April 12

Here is today's devotional from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.

       "Trusting Me is a moment-by-moment choice.   My people have not always understood this truth.  After I performed miracles in the wilderness, My chosen children trusted Me intensely--but only temporarily.  Soon the grumbling began again, testing My patience to the utmost.

       Isn't it often the same way with you?  You trust Me when things go well, when you see Me working on your behalf.  This type of trust flows readily within you, requiring no exertion of your will.  When things go wrong, your trust-flow slows down and solidifies.  You are forced to choose between trusting Me intentionally or rebelling: resenting My ways with you.  This choice constitutes a fork in the road.  Stay on the path of life with Me, enjoying My Presence.  Choose to trust Me in all circumstances."

                                     Exodus 15:22-25; Psalms 31:14

Your Heavenly Father Knows You

"Therefor do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matthew 6:8

Even before we call on Him, the Father has already begun to provide all that we need (Isaiah 65:24). Jesus wanted His disciples to learn how intimately God knew and loved each of them. That is why He told them to pray. He assured them that even before they prayed, God knew all about their situation.

Prayer is not designed for us to inform God of our needs for He already knows them. Why, then, should we pray? Prayer enables us to experience God more intimately. The more a child experiences the loving provision of a parent, the more convinced he becomes of his parent's unrelenting love. Often a parent will anticipate a child's need before the child recognizes it and be prepared in advance to provide for that need. Our heavenly Father knows exactly what we will face today and next week. He is eager for us to experience Him as He provides for us.

To our surprise, we often discover that God knows far better than we do what is best fro us. At times we assume that we know what would benefit us. We can even be foolish enough to assume that we don't required anything of God. Yet God wants us to go to Him in our need (Matthew 7:7). He is ready to show His strength through our weakness. Our heavenly Father knows exactly what is best for us, and He is prepared to provide for every need, if we will but ask (Philippians 4:13).

The above is today's devotion from Experiencing God Day-By-Day. It is written by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby. It is both a devotional and journal. I have been using this book since October 2000.

Daily Walk

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise." Ephesians 5:15

As you walk with the Lord each day, you will face many crossroads. God will open the way before you, but He will not mandate your steps. He's given you a free will with which to choose the steps you take. He does admonish you to choose wisely, tough. The safest way to do that is to keep your hand in God's hand at all times. He will never let you wander off path. Reach out to Him and He'll be there.

This devotional comes from the book titled Everyday Blessings Spiritual Refreshment for Women.

The Divine Weaver

"The Divine Weaver"

My life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget that He seeth the upper,
And I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

The above poem was in the devotion I read today in the following book: Walking with the Women of the Bible A Devotional Journey Through God's Word by Elizabeth George. I liked the poem and thought that I would share it with all of you.

The Power of One

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Being a mom, Wyn knew that her attitude and emotional state determined what kind of fay she'd have with her family. If she was off, they were all off. What a terrible responsibility that is, to be a human barometer. Even with this knowledge, it tool Wyn a lot longer to recognize how she affected her students as well.

There were days that, for one reason or another, she just didn't want to be there. there were days that she never stopped complaining. There were days that she couldn't smile no matter how she tried. And on those days, her students' behavior mirrored her own. She believed their behavior was out of control.

One day, Wyn received notice that she'd gotten the grant she had worked all year on. It would supplement her classroom in a variety of ways. But most of all, it was an accomplishment that reenergized her attitude toward teaching.

In the weeks that followed she approached her job with a renewed sense of purpose and joy. Her students seemed to join in on her enthusiasm, and they too had a renewed sense of purpose. The funny thing is that Wyn had the power to change her students' behavior all along. The first step was to change her own.

Take away: Wondering why your class seems a little ho-hum? Try brightening your outlook and see if it is reflected in your students.

This was the devotional I read yesterday from Apples & Chalkdust. Written by Vicki Caruana. Actually, this book is the revised and updated 10th anniversary edition.

I wrote down on the page that "My students mirror my attitude. I now understand." That made me think.

Why Are You Weeping?

"Then they said to her 'Woman, why are you weeping?'" John 20:13

Mary Magdalene could vividly remember the day Jesus delivered her from her demonic bondage. She became His devoted follower that day (Luke 8:2). She watched Him heal the sick and teach people about God's love. Her life was transformed as she experienced the joy of being with Jesus.

Then her world seemed to fall apart! Her Lord was arrested and brutally murdered. The crowds that had shouted "Hosanna!" at he beginning of the week cried "Crucify him!" by week's end. A final blow came when she went to anoint Jesus' body at the tomb. She saw that His tomb was empty. Someone had apparently stolen His body. AS she sobbed in despair, angels asked the poignant question, "Why are you weeping?" She was standing before an empty tomb! Jesus had risen, just as He had promised! Knowing that Jesus was alive put everything back into perspective, and Mary joyfully raced to share the good news with others.

The Christian life is not always easy. There are joyful moments of walking with Jesus, but there are also times when nothing makes sense and when your world seems to be crumbling. The world will mock your Lord, and you may grow discouraged. AT those times, you need to peer into the empty tomb. It is the abandoned tomb that gives you hope, for it symbolizes the life that is yours from your risen Lord. The empty tomb promises that nothing not even death itself, can defeat the purposes of your Lord. Are you weeping beside an empty tomb?

This was today's devotional reading from Experiencing God Day-By-Day written by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby. They have written two devotional books and I use them both. This book, here, I have been using since October 2000. They have even written a Bible study based on this theme, Experiencing God. That was a good study.

Joy is Straight Ahead

"The genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:7 (NKJV)

Trials have a purpose in our lives. As a smith heats up gold to purify it, God heats up our lives to make spiritual impurities rise to the surface. If we cooperate with Him, sin is skimmed off our lives, purifying our faith. Cleansed lives bring glory to God and joy to us. If a trial lies before you today, envision the joy ahead.

The above comes from Everyday Encouragement by Pamela McQuade. I got this book in September 2007 at a women's retreat. I am in my second time through in reading this book. I read it as part of my devotions. I've been doing a study of Joy as part of my devotions as well, and it as been pretty good. The Beth Moore study on Esther is also really good.

God has been leading me down roads to work on my faith in Him, to work on my joy. I have had periods of doubt, but then I remember Jeremiah 29:11, "I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you." God has plans for my life. At the right time, He will reveal them to me. It is hard to wait for His timing. But His timing is way better than my timing. God knows what is best for me.

Faith Means Moving Forward

I bought a new devotional book last week, and started it on the first. (I love devotional books.) It is called Walking with the Women of the Bible A devotional Journey Through God's Word. It is by Elizabeth George. Today's devotional is called, "Faith Means Moving Forward"

"Abraham took Sarah his wife...to the land of Canaan." Genesis 12:5

"Oh, the heartache! Will it ever go away?" Perhaps these words darkened Sarah's thoughts the day she followed her full-of-faith husband out of Haran. Leaving Haran was bad enough, but going to the land of Canaan made it even worse! Canaan was 600 miles away from her family and friends. Abraham had announced they were going to Nowhere Land , as far as Sarah was concerned.

Just when Sarah was getting used to Nowhere Land, a famine struck. They had to move to Egypt-300 miles away! Oh, if only I were still in Haran, Sarah may have thought.

But backward gazes can be dangerous and impede spiritual growth. But how can we look forward and faithfully follow God when circumstances are bad? Here's a great acronym!

Face Forward. Real life happens in the present, and Gods blessings happen now and in the future.

Accept your circumstances. God uses the difficulties of life to help you mature and grow in Him.

If you're following God, you will find Him in all of your circumstances.

Trust in the Lord. God will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is focused on Him.

Hope for the future. God is a bright start who will light your path in the present darkness.

Dear God of Sarai, grant that such a one as I may see the good and bad and the faith to be bad...following Thee!

After I got done reading this, I knew I had to share it with others. It is hard to be content and have joy in your present circumstances, but it is something that we need to be. I am asking God to help me be content in being single as that is what He wants me to be right now, but it is not what I want. God's will is better than my will.

Prosperity Returns

"Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten." Joel 2:25

"Those of us who rejoice in God can trust that even though the consuming locusts of life destroy our blessing/ God will replace them. Though hardship makes us struggle awhile. God turns the situation around and pours out blessings on His faithful people. Prosperity returns to those who love Him well, if we determinedly love Him. In heaven or on earth, the blessing appears again."

I read the above this morning from Everyday Encouragement by, Pamela McQuade. I received this book in September 07 at a women's retreat. I am in the second time through reading this book. I like it a lot.

Victory One Step at a Time

"And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, least the beasts of the field become too numerous for you." Deuteronomy 7:22

When God led His people into the Promised Land, He did so step by step. If he had allowed them to annihilate their enemies at once, the land would be have been too difficult to manage. So He allowed some of the enemies to remain for a time in order to maintain the land and suppress the wildlife. In doing so, God taught His people to trust Him step by step. He gave them only as much responsibility as they could handle at one time.

As God leads you in your Christian growth, he will allow challenges that match your character and relationship to Him, God will not totally change your character at once when you become a Christian. Rather, He will lead you through a process to become more life His Son. He will keep working in an area in your life until it is controlled by the Holy Spirit. You may eagerly desire maturity in every area of your character, but steady, gradual growth is more lasting. God will not take shortcuts in His process of making you like Christ. He see your life from eternity and will take as long as necessary to produce lasting spiritual growth in you.

Do not become impatient while God is producing Christlikeness in you. Do not seek more responsibilities than those He has given you. Obey all that you know He has asked, and He will lead you at peace that fits your present character and His purposes for you.

This as today's devotional written by Henry T. and Richard Blackaby, from the following: Experiencing God Day-by Day, the devotional and journal. I have been using this book since October 2000 with my devotions.

Nothing is Wasted

Read: Mark 2:30-44

"They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish." Mark 6:42-43

In Mark 6 we read the heart-warming story of how Jesus took the loaves, broke them, multiplied the fish, and gave everybody lots to eat with lots left over. They gathered baskets full of leftover bread so nothing would be thrown away.

I think about that story when I watch a Christian go through tough times yet hang on to God's grade. Maybe you're such a person. Day-to-day heartache is your routine, and problems seem to have a permanent place in God's plan for your. What god is doing with you is like what he did with the barley loaves and fish. Jesus broke the bread. And out of the broken loaves of bread, he multiplied the blessing so thousands would be nourished. Yes, it hurts to be broken. But sometimes that's part of God's plan, especially if he wants you feed others. Out of your brokenness, the blessing can be bestowed on more people than you ever dreamed possible-and your can be certain nothing will be wasted. God will gather up and use all the hurt; not a bit of it will be discarded our cast aside.

Joni Eareckson Tada

Path to Prayer
Bread of Life, Lord of all, I pray that you take the hurt and the brokenness of my life and multiply it as you multiplied the loaves and fish. My suffering will be easier for me to bear if I know that you have used me to feed others and heal them. Thank you for blessing me and blessing others through me.

The above is today's devotional from the following book: 365 Days of Hope Encouragement for those facing loss, pain, and disappointment The authors of this book are as follows: Joni Eareckson Tada, Dave & Jan Dravecky.

He Breaks Us To Make Us

Read Genesis 32:22-32

THERE'S A GOOD REASON God calls his people sheep. Sometimes they act ba-a-a-ad and wander away from the paths he has mapped out for them.

A good shepherd will relentlessly search for a wayward sheep. Sometimes, if the sheep refuses to follow his master, the shepherd takes drastic action. He breaks the sheep's leg, places it upon his shoulders and carries the sheep until it learns total dependence. This is tough love-teh shepherd breaks the sheep to make sure the sheep always follow the shepherd.

Jacob had always been a wanderer. He fled his home in Beersheba to escape his brother's wrath and find a wife in Haran. On his journey, he encountered God at a place called Bethel and saw a stairway leading to heaven. Years later, Jacob left Haran along with his wives, children, and property. One night he found himself at Jabbok, utterly alone. At this solitary place God, in the form of "a man," sought out Jacob. God wanted to make Jacob into a different person, so he took drastic action. He initiated a wrestling match that lasted from dusk till dawn. Jacob's willfulness would not allow him to give up. So the man "broke" Jacob, touching his hip so that he walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Many people might become bitter and turn away from God for breaking them. But Jacob had just he opposite response. He clung to God saying, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

We may think that a God of love would never allow his children to feel any pain. But sometimes God breaks us to make us better. He may break our hearts so we will make room for him there. He may break our will so we can discover his will for us. He may break our physical strength so we discover that God's strength is make perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). Like Jacob, the best response to God's tough love is to cling to him and earnestly pray, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

If you've been acting like a ba-a-a-ad sheep and have wandered off the path, climb up on the shepherd's shoulders and let him carry you home to healing.

Genesis 32: 24-26 " So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man saw, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me.' "

Reflection

1. Describe the times you have wandered from God and how you sensed him relentlessly seeking you.

2. How has God broken you physically, emotionally or spiritually? What was the result?

3. God is a good shepherd; thank him for his care for you even when you don't always understand his methods.

Related Readings
Psalms 23; 51:15-17; James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 4:12-14

This was today's devotional from the New Woman's Devotional Bible NIV version. I recieved this for Christmas from my parents.

Trusting God's Will

"I know the plans I have fro you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NLT


Do you sometime wonder where all the pieces of your life fit together in God's plan for your life? You may get anxious or impatient in trying to see the whole picture. Ther will be times when a fragment of your life doesn't quite seem to fit what your'd envisioned or hoped it could be.

Learning to trust God's will for your life is a little like finding a plain brown box filled with pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. As you sort through countless pieces, you find yourself asking just what God's picture and will for you is. The answer doesn't always come immediately. It's only when you pick up each piece, hold it up to God, and ask Him toshow you where it fits that you finally catch a partial glimpse of His plans and will.

Don't lose heart if you don't see the whole picture. God is always working and conforming your will to His. His directions and confirmations will assure He is carefully placing each piece of your life's puzzle into place. He already knows the end result. Your job is to simply trust Him to complete the puzzle. He knows exactly where every piece of the puzzle fits.

There is no greater peace than being in the center of God's will. Give Him your dreams adn goals and let Him sort out all the pieces. Seeking Him and His direction places you in the very center of His perfect will. You can trust the mountainous view of God's perspective and plan for your life-a view of completeness and eternal glory that far surpasses the jagged pieces of your life's puzzle.

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GRACE FOR TODAY

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We can trust God's perspective and will for our lives even when what we see makes no sense.

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This was today's devotion from the following devotional book of mine: Daily Grace for Women Devotional reflections to nourish your soul.