REST AND RENEWAL

I will be like dew to Israel.

Hosea 14:5

As darkness falls and the night air cools and becomes still, tiny droplets of water form like crystal beads on the leaves outside. Without a sound, a plant drinks to quench its thirst. So it is with my soul. When I linger before God in quiet stillness, my soul opens like the pores on a leaf, and I am spiritually refreshed by the God’s grace.

HOPE

“My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

Hymn: Edward Mote (lyrics)/ William B. Bradbury (music)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  (Hebrews 11:1)

Hope. What a curious word. We use it so liberally and so casually in every day conversation: “I hope she’s okay.” “I hope everything works out for you.” But what does that mean, to HOPE? I don’t know why I never thought of it before, but today I decided to look up the meaning of hope in the dictionary. Here’s what I found: Hope can be both a noun and a verb. It is possible to hope (a verb) for hope (a noun). That’s a lot of hope! In fact, it’s even possible to hope against hope that what we are hoping for, hopefully, happens. I guess that’s the whole point: it’s impossible to have too much hope. Bigger than a wish, better than a possibility, more enduring than a desire, hope is a conviction, a belief, a trusting. It feeds our souls. What’s your hope?

I SERVE A LIVING SAVIOR

I serve a living Savior.

CALM IN THE HARBOR

When the seas roar and the wave toss, seek calm in the harbor of God.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

Psalm 46:5

GROWING IN CHARACTER

“For rapture of love is linked with the pain of fear or loss,

And the hand that takes the crown, must ache with many a cross;

Yet he who has never a conflict, wins never a victor’s palm,

And only the toilers know the sweetness of rest and calm.”

-from Streams in the Desert

More than that, we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

WORDS TO COMFORT

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

Psalm 23

JOY WILL COME IN THE MORNING

Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5


Count it all joy , my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.


James 1:2-4

EVERLASTING LOVE

I have loved thee with an EVERLASTING love.

Jeremiah 31:3 (emphasis added)

As I contemplate God’s love for me, I am humbled that I might know a love so huge and unending. As I stare at a beautiful flower and marvel at its breathtaking intricacy -- how each petal folds neatly into the next in a perfect expression of architectural design and creativity -- I realize that even as my mind wants to define its beauty, what is really best said about the flower is that it touches my soul deeply. So is it with God’s love. Words cannot define its perfection or its beauty or its peace, yet it touches my soul to its deepest depth.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalm 90:2

MORE THAN CONQUERORS

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:37

“How can we be “more than conquerors”? We can receive from the conflict a spiritual discipline that will greatly strengthen our faith and establish our spiritual character.”

from Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman (edited by James Reimann)

THE BLESSED LIFE

“This is the blessed life - not anxious to see far down the road nor overly concerned about the next step, not eager to choose the path nor weighted down with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following the Shepherd, one step at a time.”

from Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH

Remain alert. Keep standing firm in your faith. Keep on being courageous and strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

A FUTURE OF HOPE

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

HOLD DESIRE WITH AN OPEN HAND

Hold desire with an open hand, lest it control you.

GRACE IS GORGEOUS

SEE THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES

Reckon it nothing but joy...whenever you find yourself hedged in by various trials, be assured that the testing of your faith leads to power of endurance.

(James 1:2-3 Weymouth)