FOR MY OWN GOOD

I wonder how I would have reacted if I had been a disciple when Jesus broke the news that he was going to leave and return to the Father, but that he would return “in a little while” (John 16:16)? I’m embarrassed to admit that I probably would have made a scene. I probably would have grabbed onto Jesus’ garment hem and begged him not to leave. I would have sobbed hysterically and told him how much I would miss him in his absence, and that I couldn’t possibly live without him for any length of time. I would have pleaded with him to hurry back because my only comfort would be in looking forward to the day that I would see his face again.

Jesus came to earth to save us.

He died on the cross for our sins. 

He rose from the grave that we might have eternal life. 

And he promises that he will come back for his own (John 14: 28). 

Sometimes we focus so much on what Christ has done and what he will do, that we miss what he is doing right now in our lives, and in the world around us. Christ is not absent until he returns. We are not “orphans.” 

God promises to be with his children in the form of the Holy Spirit until He comes again. What a comfort, what peace! What an opportunity to learn!

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him....All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (vv. 23,25)

PEACE NOT OF THIS WORLD

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

John 14:27

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: REJOICE!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, and thanksgiving, present your request to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 4: 4 (NIV)

God is great, even when life is not good.

THE WAY YOU LIVE

“The way you live reflects your view of God.”

from Life’s Little Handbook of Wisdom

THE ART OF WAITING

They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength..

Isaiah 40: 31

“Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

What higher service could you for Him fill?

It’s hard! ah yes! But choicest things must cost!

For lack of losing all how much is lost!

It’s hard, it’s true! But then - - he gives you grace

To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.”

J. Danson Smith (excerpt)

FILL MY CUP, LORD

Have you ever watched a waiter in a restaurant pour water from an oversized pitcher, or fill a tall crystal flute with sparkling champagne? There is a certain skill to pouring. What could be a very messy activity is elevated to the level of performance art in many restaurants. Beer froths right at the rim of a glass without cresting its edges, wine droplets cling to the lip of a tilted bottle without spilling, condensation drips obediently down the side of a towel-wrapped water jug. 

So, what is the secret to pouring? It is very simple: the vessel being filled must be aligned with the vessel that’s pouring.

If I want to fill my glass at the kitchen tap, I must hold it under the running water.

If I want the Spirit of God to fill my life, I must align myself with my Savior.  

“Like the woman at the well I was seeking,

For things that could not satisfy;

But then I heard my Savior speaking:

“Draw from the well that never shall run dry.”

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;

Bread of Heaven, Feed me till I want no more--

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!”

Richard Eugene Blanchard, Sr.

MEET GOD EVERY DAY

I don’t know many people who are busier than the current President of the United States, Barack Obama, so I was encouraged to learn yesterday about Mr. Obama’s ritual of spending time each day with God in prayer. 

The President sets a good example for us all. 

In Psalm 46, we are reminded that even while the world is falling apart, when mountains quake and the tumultuous sea rises up and batters the earth, when nations tear each other apart with war, God stands like a fortress of peace in the chaos. He is “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (verse 1). 

Ever present. God never leaves us. We leave Him. That is why it is so important to have a plan to spend time with Him every day. Make it a ritual. In the busy-ness of our lives, sometimes we don’t even realize how far we have wandered from God, until we are completely lost. We get busy. Then we get too busy. Too busy to read the Bible. Too busy to pray. Too busy to say thanks. Too busy to go to bible study. Too busy to go to church. Too busy to spend time with our family. Too busy to take a vacation. 

The only thing that we have time for is busy-ness.

Busy-ness and death.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

God being God, He could have given us any command for knowing Him. He could have said, “Do jumping-jacks, and know that I am God.” He could have said, “Party on, and know that I am God.” And while I’m sure that God can be found in the most obscure of experiences, we can only KNOW God in STILLNESS. 

Be STILL, and KNOW that I am God.

WALKING IN THE SHADOW

In photography, the most important element of any image is light. The amount of light a photographer permits to pass through a camera lens determines what is revealed in an image. Very selectively, a photographer adjusts the aperture of a lens to control the amount of light that is allowed to pass through. If a camera lens is completely open in bright light, the exposure would be completely white, or ‘invisible’. It is the contrast of shadow and light that produces the image. In order to expose an image, there must be shadow, or areas of the composition that absorb light. This contrast of light and shadow exposes even the most intricate detail of an image. 

So it is with my life. God promises (in Psalm 199:105) to be “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (ESV). He doesn’t promise to be a mega-amped spotlight. He promises to be a lamp light. So instead of the harsh over-exposure of a high-powered beam, God offers the soft focus of a flickering flame. He reveals detail in the shadow as well as in the light. As I walk in the “shadow of his hand” (Isaiah 49:2), I am reminded that life is most beautiful and most revealing when I take the time to appreciate its contrasts.

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.