Dec 31 - Hitherto

I was inspired to create some of the imagery in today's devotion. I remembered a photo my brother had taken of fall in his new home, Arkansas...so I snatched it and doodled it, added some clipart...enjoy.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

The last post mentioned that the passage in Streams wasn't very meaty and I kind of think this one is the same way, but I would like to comment about one thing. There is a line that says, "Let us not confound physical weariness with spiritual weariness." I think we are inclined to do this. Sometimes we feel like God is far away and all we need is a nap! It's more obvious with kids, isn't it? Your sweet child suddenly falls to the ground in heap saying that they hate their life. You know he/she is tired and hasn't eaten well. Your child thinks the world is coming to an end. Rub his/her back and lay down together and soon all is well. I am trying to recognize this in myself, trying to take better care of myself when I am weary. We are weak and we have to work with it, sometimes. First, I want to pray. Then maybe... eat a little protein, read a little Scripture, lie still before the Lord, have a coffee, take a little nap. Guess which one I am going to do now. Here's a hint: night, night.

December 18 - More than conquerors

I found the passage readings in Streams today to be...less meaty than other days...So, I pulled out a commentary and read about the verse. Here's what it says:

"There are passages of the Bible that are so familiar that we often pass over truths that would be startling if we were coming to them ofr the first time. Romans 8:37 is an example. We have just been reminded in the previous verse, by a quotation from the Old Testament, that the people of God "face death all day long" and are "considered as sheep to be slaughtered" (Ps. 44:22). But now, in verse 37, we are told that nevertheless, we are all "more than conquerors."

Sheep that conquer? We can think of lions that conquer, or wolves or polar bears or wild buffalo. Edgar Allan Poe even spoke of "the conqueroring worm," meaning that at last death comes to all. But sheep? The very idea of sheep as conquerors seems ludicrous.

This is a figurative language, of course. But the image is not meaningless, nor is it as ludicrous as it seems. In contrast tot eh world and its power, Christians are indeed weak and despised. They are as helpless as a flock of sheep. But they are in fact conquerors, because they have been loved by the Lord Jesus Christ and have been made conquerors "through him."

Yet even that is not the most startling thing about this verse, for the victory of Christians is described as being more than an ordinary victory. In the English words "we are more than conquerors."...But how can that be? How can those who are despised and rejected---troubled, persecuted, exposed to famine and nakedness, danger adn sword---how can such people be thought of as overcomers, super-overcomers at that?

It is a question worth pondering--and answering. Let me suggest a few reasons we may think like this.

Against Supernatural Forces - ...we are fighting against an enemy who is more than human...(Eph. 6:12)...The devil is the embodiment of these hostile spiritual forces, adn he is a cunning foe. I have often said that we must not overrate Satan's strength, as if he were the evil equivalent of God. Satan is a creature. Therefore he is not omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent. Only God is that. However, Satan is dangerous. And crafty? The devil devises more schemes in a minute than we can conceive in a lifetime, and all of them are directed toward our destruction. How can we stand against such an evil, crafty foe, let alone be a "super conqueror" of him and his forces? It is not in our own strength, of course. It is as the test says: "through him who loved us." Martin Luther stood against these spiritual forces, prevailed over them through Christ, and wrote about it in the hymn we know as "A Mighty Fortress"...None of us could stand against Satan's hostile forces even for a moment, but in Jesus Christ we can stand firm and fight on to victory.

Lifelong Battles - Second, Christians are "more than conquerors" because the warfare we are engaged in requires us to fight lifelong battles. In his excellent study of this verse, Donald Grey Barnhouse sharply contrasts our battles as Christians with the limited battles other soldiers fight: "In earthly battles soldiers are sometimes called upon to fight day and night. But there comes a moment when flesh and blood cannot take more and the struggle comes to an end through the utter exhaustion of the soldier. but in the spiritual warfare there is no armistice, no truce, no interval. The text is in the present tense...in the Greek: 'For thy sake we are being killed all the day long' (rsv). From the moment we are made partakers of the divine nature, we are the targets of the world, the flesh and the devil. There is never a moment's reprieve. It follows, then, that our conquest is more than a conquest, and thus we are more than conquerors."

Eternal Results - The third reason why Christians are more than conquerors is that the spiritual victories achieved by God's people are eternal. This is a very important point and one we need to remind ourselves of constantly. We are creatures of time, and we live in a perishing world. Apart from spiritual battles and spiritual victories, everything we accomplish will pass away, no matter how great an earthly "victory" may seem in the world's eyes or our own. How can it be otherwise when even "heaven and earth will pass away" (Matt. 24:35)? ...I am convinced that this is what our earthly struggles are about and that this how we are to view them...I am convined that in his supreme wisdom God has ordered history in such a way that fore every child of Satan who is suffering, a child of God is suffering in exactly the same circumstances. And for every child of Satan who enjoys the fullness of this world's pleasures, there is a child of God who is denied those pleasures. The unbeliever curses his or her lot if deprived and made to suffer. The believer trusts and praises God and looks to him for ultimate deliverance. Unbelievers boast of their superiority if they are forunate in securing this world's success and treasure. Believers acknowledge God as the source of whatever good fortune they enjoy, and if deprived of these things, as is frequently the case, they say, as Job did, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:21b)....when Christians are persecuted, they count it a privilege, for it shows that they are standing with Jesus, belong to his kingdom...Victories in such sufferings are eternal in the same way that the victory of our Lord upon the cross is eternal. Our sufferings endure for a moment, but they achieve an eternal victory. They point to the truth and grace of God forever. I am convinced that in the farthest reaches of heaven, in what we would call billions of years from now, there will be angels who will look on everyone who has been redeemed by Jesus Christ and thrust into spiritual warfare by him, and they will say, "Look, there is another of God's saints, one who triumphed over evil by the Lord's power!" Reverlation 12:11-12 describes how they will exclaim of our great victories over Satan: "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!" In achieving those eteranl victories, we who love the Lord Jesus Christ will have indeed been more than conquerors.

Eternal Rewards - the fourth reason why we are more than conquerors in the struggles of life is that the rewards of our victory will surpass anyuthing ever attained by earthly conquerors...The world's soldiers have thier rewards, but they are earthly rewards. The people of God look for rewards in heaven....(1 Cor 9:24-25). In this life, like our Master, we may wear nothing but a crown of thorns. But in heaven we will wear crowns that are incorruptible and will possess an inheritance that will never slip away.

No Greater Cause - The final reason why we are more than conquerors is that teh goal of our warfare is the glory of God, and that is an infinitely worthy and utterly superior thing....I wrote of our reward as being imperishable crowns, using the image the Bible itself gives us. With that in mind, I call your attention to a scene in Revelation 4:1-11. The setting is the throne room of heaven, and there, before the throne of Almighty God, are twenty-four elders who represent teh people of God saved from all nations and all ages. They too, are seated on thrones and wear crowns, because the saints reign with Jesus. in the center, immediately surrounding the throne, are four living creatures who cry out day and night, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." (v. 8). Whenever the four living creatures worship God with these words, the twenty-four elders rise from their thrones, fall before God, and worship him. Then--and this is the point for which I recall this picture--they lay their crowns before the throne saying, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (v. 11). This picture is extremely beautiful, for it shows that the crowns of victory won by God's people are won by God's grace and therefore rightly belong to him. They are our crowns, but they are laid at the Lord's feet to show that they were won for his honor and by his strength. In this, as well as in all the other things I mentioned, we are more than cnoquerors.

But there is one more thing to say: The way to victory is not by "going up" to any self-achieved glory but rather by "stooping down" in suffering.

Remember the picture of Satan given in Isaiah 14? Satan said, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. i will ascend above the tops of the couds; I will make myself like the Most Hight" (vv. 13-14). But God tells Satan, "you [will be] brought down to the grave, to teh depths of the pit" (v.15). Where Satan aimed to sit is in so me measure where the saints of all ages are raised, for the sit on teh "mount of assembly," higher than anything except the throne of God, as we have just seen. But notice how they get there. Not by trying to dislodge the Almighty from his throne. Rather, the are exalted because they have followed in the steps of their Master, who...did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:6-11)

Jesus was a prototype--the true sheep fit only "to be slaughtered." He was "the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). But he was also a super-conqueror, and we are more than conquerors through him.

Romans - Volume 2 - An Expositional Commentary by James Montgomery Boice

December 10 - Share Suffering; Share Comfort

I feel inclinded to post the poems of 12/10 and 12/11 (in next post) because they are so profound and have touched us all so deeply. Let's continue our discussion and application in the comments section of each!

once I heard a song of sweetness,

As it cleft the morning air,

Soudning in its blest completeness,

Like a tender, pleading prayer;

And I sought to find the singer,

Whence the wondrous song was borne;

And i found a bird, sore wounded,

Pinioned by a cruel thorn.

I have seen a soul in sadness,

While its wings with pain were furl'd,

Giving hope, and cheer and gladness

That should bless a weeping world

And I knew that life of sweetness,

Was of pain and sorrow borne,

And a stricken soul was singing,

With its heart against a thorn.

Ye are told of One who loved you,

Of a Saviour crucified,

Ye are told of nails that pinioned,

And a spear that pierced His side;

Ye are told of cruel scouring,

Of a Saviour bearing scorn,

And He died for your salvation,

With His brow against a thorn.

Ye "are not above the Master."

Will you breathe a sweet refrain?

And His grace will be sufficient,

When your heart is pierced with pain.

Will you live to bless His loved ones,

Tho' your life be bruised and torn,

Like the bird that sang so sweetly,

With its heart against a thorn?

--Anonymous

December 9 Joy Sometimes Needs Pain to Give it Birth

It is a curious thing that we sometimes need pain to give birth to joy. Labor pains bring a child and new joy. Illness brings empathy and new joy. Sin brings humility and new joy. After a storm (especially here in Southern California, where storms are few and far between), everything seems so clear and clean. Likewise, after a storm or a whole winter of storms in our lives, we have a sort of a heightened sense of reality. A greater appreciation of beauty, a greater compassion, a greater desire to come before our Lord. I'm thinking this needing of pain to give birth to joy is another result of the fall. It is the opposite of what I would think and it is definitely the opposite of what I often tell myself. After all, I need fun and money and entertainment to have joy, don't I? I guess these things can bring a certain kind of joy, but the joy of the Lord isn't at all dependent on these kinds of things. The joy of the Lord seems to flourish under difficult circumstances and these other "joys", though not wrong in themselves, can sometimes dull the joy of the Lord.

Near the end of the devotion, it says, "It is comforting to know that sorrow tarries only for the night; it takes its leave in the morning." Sometimes in deep sorrow and dark storms, it seems to me that it isn't going to clear. I'm praying and trying to learn to have a sense of hope in these times, to have a little part of me that knows the morning will come.

I was just thinking of a question, if anyone would care to answer. Throughout my life, I've had a few hard times, but virtually none of them had to do with individual people's sin. What I mean is there has been illness and death and stuff, but I didn't have much experience with people choosing gross sin that affects others (abuse, adultery, lying). In the last few years, I have experienced this other type of trial several times (not with my husband, just to be clear). This type of pain seems so much more overwhelming to me and hard to process in my mind. My question is, have any of you experienced this distinction? Do you have more peace and joy in trials that seem to be the direct hand of God and less peace and joy in trials that people choose to inflict? Just curious.

Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

julies5monkeys

December 7 - Nothing Impossible for God

I am running behind schedule this morning, so I cannot be wordy :) So, I will write down the portion that caused me pause:

"Our unbelief is always wanting some outward sign. The religion of many is laregly sensational, and they are not satisfied of its genuineness without manifestions, etc.; but the greatest triumph of faith is to be still and know that He is God."

To be still --- it always sounds so easy and yet...it is NOT. Especially today, we live in a society of go, go, go. I think back to the first time I went to Hawaii in 1996. It was so laid back...slow. Much easier to be still in a place like Hawaii isn't it? But the true test is to be still in the busy and bustling place. Mind you, I'm not in New York but...it's still not West Fork either .

After reading this devotion by A. B. Simpson, I thought, "Who is this man so often quoted by Mrs. Cowman?" So, I googled him. I only had time to read half but look forward to finishing it later. Perhaps you would also like to read of this man. Click on his picture to go the site I am reading.

I pray that you have a blessed day and take time to be still and know He is God.

December 6 - His Kingdom Comes

Today, these words reminded me of a poem I read yesterday:
"O you dead churches wake up! O Christ, descend! Scarred temple, take the crown! Bruised hand, take the sceptre! Wounded foot, step the throne! Thiin is the kingdom."
(Rev. DeWitt Talmage)

The poem:
No Scar?

hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as might in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?

Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?

No wound? no scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And pierced ar teh feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has nor wound nor scar?

Amy Carmichael wrote this poem. I love it as much today as I did ten years ago. She is one of my soul's mentors.

We are wounded but we still travail. As the tinman said to scarecorw, "Chin Up."
We must forge on. We can do this...together we can do this. We can and we must encourage each other and lean on the cross of Christ. He has done all the hard work ahead of us. We need only keep believing. As the father said to Jesus, "Lord, I believe, Help my unbelief." I love that he said these two statements back to back. Everything we say should be thus! "Lord, I suffer; Help my suffering" "Lord, I'm frustrated. Help my frustration" "Lord, I have hope; help my doubt"
I carry all of you in my heart today. I'm praying for you! Yes, YOU, E-bug, Mimi, Papa Smurf, Muggin, Moe, 5Monkeys, blue streaked hair, HanksMom, and so many more!!!
SWAK and VH!

December 4 - The Calm

"The lake must be calm if the heavens are to be reflected on its surface." At the end of the summer, we took a family vacation to Lake Arrowhead and to Arkansas. In both places, we visited lakes and marvelled at the beauty of the scenery reflected in the lake. I watched as a solitaire hawk glided along the tree-line. I thought of his view and the breathtaking sight it must be. We have such views from the 'skylines' of scripture. Do we plunge into the Word with that kind of anticipation? Do we look to see what God has waiting for us in the reflection of His thoughts. And then, do we walk out our front door with that Word hidden in our hearts to reflect that beauty to others?

As a child in Costa Rica, we lived in the capital city of San Jose. It was noise and bustling. But...once a month, we would drive up into the mountains for a church service in Zarcero. These are some of the fondest memories I have. The drive and its beauty. I remember a field that we would pass and it was filled with wild flowers (yellow-my favorite color). I would close my eyes and see myself running through those flowers. I could taste the flowers with my eyes closed. I could feel them brush my face. I could see the insects fluttering off of them as I burrowed through their resting spots. What a vivid imagination a child has.

When did I stop closing my eyes and imagining? Today, as we go into our duties and tasks, may we make time for our spirit to "yearn for the hilltop's air." Dwell in His presence.

(photo of lake in Arkansas; photo of fields in Zarcero)

December 3 - It is well

Today's devotion lingered. It permeated through my soul. I carried it with me everywhere I went. My soul was leaning today...leaning toward grief. Today is Pop Pop's birthday...or, would be his birthday. He would be 63 today. He would still be very young. I reflected today on how our lives have all changed since he went Home. Nothing is the same. Everything is different.

When reading the poem at the end of the devotion today, I thought of Pop Pop's beautiful rose garden. He cared so much for his garden. He was so diligent and he took such pride in tending to the needs of his plants and flowers. He cared for them with purpose. He knew that he could bring beauty from them.

And, that is how he took care of us. He could see our potential when we couldn't or we doubted. He encouraged us. He made us feel like we were capable of greatness. He made us feel loved and important. He tended to us and cared for us until we produced beautiful fruit. And then, he was the first to praise us. He was always waiting to commend us, to say, "Way to go! I knew you could do it. I believed in you."

So, that said, here is today's poem...and I dedicate it to Pop Pop...

E'en for the dead I will not bind my soul to grief;

Death cannot long divide.

For is it not as though the rose that climbed my garden wall

Has blossomed on the other side?

Death doth hide,

But not divide;

Thou art but on Christ's other side!

Thou art with Christ, and Christ with me;

In Christ united still are we.

December 2 - Perfect Through Sufferings

This post is from our new contributor: Jalamadreamer. Thanks for joining!!!

The book says that great characters are made by suffering. So many people agonize over the idea of why there is suffering and evil in this world. What if we were to tell them it is to God's glory and one way he manifests this glory is by refining us until we are people with Godly character? I don't think this is the answer we are looking for. But it is true, isn't it? Sadly, for many years of my own life, the deepest part of me felt like this life is a sort of cruel game. On some level, I knew it was to God's glory, but what could that possibly really mean? A few years ago, I realized that I don't see it this way anymore. I can't pinpoint why, but it has something to do with trust. Trusting God at his word. Not having to understand the whys of everything. He has pretty much taken away my desire to know more than He offers for us to know. The peace that has come with this has been most appreciated!

When people ask about my cancer situation this past year and have I figured out how God has used it for good, it is difficult to answer. Not because it hasn't been used for good in many obvious ways, but because it is difficult to put into words what surgery our most blessed Lord is doing deep within our very being. He changes us with a scalpel and it seems He often uses pain to bring healing.

In Spurgeon's devotions, he deals a lot with trials, pain and suffering. As you are reading, he almost makes you feel like you are God's most precious lamb if you are suffering much. He cares for us through our suffering, but I think it might go farther-- He gives us suffering because He cares for us.

For those of you who don't know me, I want to be clear that I don't think we should be the ones to bring on any additional suffering and we can rejoice in the deep breath we can take in times of ease. He gives us these times, also.

Let's pray that our character is built by suffering and that we will never turn to bitterness. Also that we will have compassion on others who are suffering.

Sunsets remind me of an ending - a grand finale of sorts! God gives us such a sweet glance of Heaven during the last few minutes of the day. It is a time to pause and reflect on GOD's glory and His presence. Each night the sunset is different and never quite looks the same. The desert has extremely colorful sunsets - such color in the sky amongst the barren land. I love the desert sunsets, they are some of the most beautiful sunsets ever! I think that is part of God's design to have a bit of beauty amongst the brownness and deadness of the desert. I also love the tropical sunsets- they are different from the desert. I really like the sun reflecting on the ocean. It gives such a sense of serenity.

I hope you guys don't mind my OFF topic from the Streams book. I just couldn't help myself.

November 28 - Morning/Evening Rejoice

Here is my Hawaii Sunrise...

EBug...I want to see yours up by the end of the day :)

Now, on to today's devotion...
Sometimes, when I read...I am moved to write down a prayer. This was today's


"God create in me a new heart. How I want to do Your will. How I desire to speak truth. Let me only be Christ-like. Train me up in the way I should go--for I am Your child and I want to grow old and not depart from You. Cradle me in Your loving and safe arms. Soothe my fears with Your promises.

God's will be done--use me
to build up Your kingdom, as a child builds with blocks, trying over and over again; be patient with my failures and sins; forgive me and let me start again."

Of course, as I read the passage I knew I was going to have to research this special little flower and see what it looks like...it is also called the Alpine Snowbell...you can see why from the photo.

I loved the imagery of today's passage. I love the idea of storing up water within the roots to draw on the nourishment later in drought. That is what we are to do. Those who do it well, year round, find a peace in the midst of toil. A peace that others marvel at and disbelieve. They say, "I could not deal with that kind of trouble" or "I would not be able to handle trials that well." And, they accept that. But why should we stop there? Shouldn't we take the example as a call to change. Should we not change our lives so that we could say, "yes, that is exactly how I would repsond." May we never be content to be less than Christ like. May we always strive to improve our actions, thoughts and words. "Cast away every shadow of hope on the human side as an absolute hindrance to the divine, heap up all the difficulties together recklessly, and pile as many more on as you can find; you cannot get beyond the blessed climax of impossibility. Let faith swing out to Him. He is the God of the impossible."

November 25 - Don't Stop Believing!

This passage in 2 Kings 13:18-19 is new to me. Here is Elisha on his death bed, ready and willing (through God) to deliver Syria into the kings hands, and the king demonstrates his faith for what it is...small faith. How embarrasing.

How often do I become proud in my faith? I think i am doing well--praying, reading the Bible, serving God, etc. How humbling to think that I am not even accomplishing half of what He could have me do. My faith is limited by my own doubt. I have faith that can move mountains...but I don't even attempt to climb the mountain, much less move it.

God, increase my faith! Use me and sharpen me as a tool wielded by Your hand. Do not let me stand in my way--Get me out of myself to believe and act in the fullness of faith. Use me exceedingly; use me abundantly, use me above all that I would impose as my "so called" ability. You are able to do!

November 23 - Hard Things

Rock flowers...flowers that grow on rocks where you can see no soil. The Psalmist says that some things are hard...some are confusing/staggering. In these "hard times" do we stand up and shine? I loved the comment Margaret Bottome made saying, "He may have a peculiar tenderness for His 'rock flowers' that He may not have for His lilies and roses."
I also paused to ponder this statement: "The blow at the outward man may be the greatest blessing to the inner man...the real peril, the real trouble, is what we shall lose if we flinch or rebel." -Maltbie D. Babcock
I like the word flinch because we have good intentions to stand up and glorify God in our trials but we flinch in our flesh...we buckle and fail...and try again. We flinch.

Patience

I read a lot about patience today in my devotion. James 5 says to be patient until the coming of the Lord. He talks about the farmer waiting for the precious fruit to ripen (that is us) and how the fruit needs the early rain and the latter rain. Verse 10 says that the prophets were an example of suffering and patience. This being the last chapter of James, I will move on to reading a book by a prophet so as to learn from the example. I want to hear from YOU, our blog watchers, Which prophet do you recommend and why?

Seriously? Waiting? Today's passage is about waiting! "I HhhhhhATE waiting!"in the words of Indigo Montoya/Princess Bride. I am always quick to say, "Never pray for patience!" It's a struggle for me. I am a 'man of action.' I like to DO, work, serve...but wait? It is hard for me. Does anyone else struggle with this?

The passage says it is a posture that the Christian soldier learns only from years of teaching. Marching and quick marching are easier for a soldier than standing still. But there are hours of perplexity, when we don't know what part to take and we must wait. Do not vex in despair (yep, I've done that); fly back in cowardice (nod, yes); turn in fear (sometimes); rush forward in presumption (what do you plead? GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY).

So, what do I do? Wait in prayer - plead His promise of aid. Wait in faith - Believe. Wait in quiet patience - without any self will.

Wait, patiently wait,

God never is late;

thy budding plans are in Thy Father's holding,

And only wait His grand divine unfolding.

Then wait, wait

Patiently wait.

Trust, hopefully trust,

That God will adjust

Thy tangled life; and from its dark concealings,

Will bring his will, in all its bright revealings.

Then trust, trust,

Hopefully trust.

Rest, peacefully rest

On they Saviour's breast;

Breathe in His ear thy sacred high ambition,

And He will bring it forth in blest fruition,

Then rest, rest,

Peacefully rest!

November 19 - Your Labor Is Not In Vain

God's plan is so strategic. I have always marvelled at those who play chess; those who can plan their moves so far in advance. It does not come easy to me. I react spontaneously...not with time and forethought. But GOD has planned out every move here on earth.

When I am downcast God knows exactly when He will bring me up from the depths. God knows and has planned what I am to learn from the dark hour(s). God never leaves my side even though my doubt and introspection (also known as weakness) can cause me forget this. God gently pulls and draws me back to remembering that "my labor is not in vain."

Just as Luther said, "The devil is God's devil," this world is God's world. He will see His will done.

November 17 - Persevereing Prayer

Prayer - such a powerful and misunderstood tool. I think of times in my life that have been without prayer, times in my life that have had "obligatory" prayers (such as those said before a meal, etc.), and times of fervent prayer. Sometimes prayer is a talk with God...to grow the relationship. Other times, it is a petition (asking for needs pertaining to one's self) and other times an intercession (praying on behalf of others). There are prayers of thanksgiving and praise. There are prayers of repentance and forgivness. With so many different ways to pray...how is it that I spent so little time praying in my lifetime?

But, this is not the case anymore. I have made a committment to pray without ceasing. I choose to live each day in a constant awareness of the needs and blessings around me. Because of this, I appreciated today's devotion regarding the perseverance of prayer. How important it is to continue to work at it. We ask in faith and we keep asking until we are answered. We ask and keep asking irregardless of how long delayed the answer is in coming. We pray with hope. God does not leave prayer unanswered.

The first paragraph says "He will reveal Himself to our seeking hearts, but not just when and where we have settled in our own expectations." This reminded me of an exercise Rob and I did for a homework assignment in a pre-adoption course. We were to wright down our expectations for the adoption, about the child, appearances, behaviors, difficulties, etc. The purpose was to evaluate how we would respond if our expectations were not met. For instance, if I expected a healthy child and was handed a sick, lethargic baby...how would I react. If we were expecting a baby/infant and were assigned a toddler...what then? This exercise was in many ways easier for Rob and I than the others in the class because of our faith and understanding of God's providence.

We must pray with God's expectations in mind and not our own. We must recognize His will and not our own. He must increase, we must decrease.

"Remember the former things of old, for I AM God, and there is no other; I AM God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, "My council shall stand, and I will do my pleasure." --Is. 46:9-10

November 16 - Difficult Paths

"Are we willing to compete for God's best, with the knowledge that the best things are always achieved by the most difficult paths?" This is a hard question to ask yourself - but I think it will show you right where your heart is spiritually. I know that before tragedy struck me, I wasn't quite so sure that I would be willing to go down that path - however, God doesn't always listen to my groanings. He took me down a path I had never wanted to trod - BUT I know Him more, trust Him more, and seen grace like no other time MORE. I have found Him to be so real on this path. Unfortunately for us - GROWTH doesn't come when things are going just the way we had planned - it comes when the situations are extreme and we don't know where else to turn but to HIM!

I choose God each and every time - no matter what path God chooses to take me down! He is my Comfort, my Grace, my Saviour and my GOD!

November 14 - Leaving Fruit Behind

It is true that some saints are taken from this world at such a young age and others at ripe ages. What is important to note is the effect that the saint left behind in this world. Sometimes, the impact of a long, aged life is no different than a saint who left this world early on. This is sad. We must always stive to leave our mark each day. Live today as if tomorow is not an option. My grandma had a plaque on her wall when I was a child. It was right above the table where each meal was eaten. I read it at breakfast, lunch and dinner. I would always ponder it and try and make sense of it. It read:

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life."

It means that we start fresh each day. A new opportunity to glorify Him. I like the thought but I believe it would be more potent if it read:

"LIVE today as if it is the last day of your life."

Click HERE to go to a page about David Brainerd, the missionary to the American Indians mentioned in today's devotion.

Click HERE to go to a page about Henry Martyn.

November 11 - Rain on mown grass

"O Soul, thou hast been mown!"

I like how Meyer compares our growth to cutting grass. It is a very visual passage and I could really see the picture of what he was talking about. I could almost smell the freshly cut grass...the rawness of it all.

In the poem, the stanza that stood out to me was:

"Who shall hush the weary spirit's chiding?

Who the aching void within shall fill?

Who shall whisper of a peace abiding,

and each surging biillow calmly still?"

I pondered the passage "who sall hush the weary spirit's chiding?" and thought of how easily I give in to ruminating; dwelling; obsessing. When I get weary...I ruminate. But then there is the contrast in the "whisper of a peace." I beleive that peace is often much more attainable than I ever grasp. If only I would listen more closely and hear the whisper more often.

Today, I told my daughter, "When I say, 'It's time to go,' you need to hurry." But why is that!? I wait until I must be hurried. I am training my child to hurry and not listen for the whisper either. If I do not change, she will carry on this bad habit and I will have failed to teach her how to BE STILL and know that HE IS GOD.

p.s. I am current in my reading but I am behind in posting...what's your excuse ? :)

Turns out I can't limit God

I'm totally with M. There really is nothing too hard for the Lord, including my unbelief. When I had almost decided that He just didn't exist, God held onto me. I was (and still am sometimes) the "double-minded" person that James is so hard on in James 1:5-8. James says I'm supposed to ask God for wisdom "in faith, without any doubting," and that the person who doubts ought not to expect anything from the Lord. This passage pretty much terrified me. But God is generous in my weakness. From my perspective, as a doubter I had no right to expect that God would bless me with wisdom or faith. But it wasn't about what I had a right to expect, it was about the power and love and tenacity of God. My serious leaning toward the idea that God didn't exist at all looked like a huge barrier from my side, but to God it was just a pebble on the sidewalk. He kicked it away. Sometimes I rebuild that unbelief-barrier like an idiot, and He kicks it away again. I believe now that He'll always hold onto me. I've tried, and I can't limit God.

Nov 5 UGH!

This is the first time in Streams that I have disagreed. So I had to say something...

I hate the word "let" when it comes to God. As if we have such pwer to "let God" ----Good Grief Charlie Brown, we really are 'block heads' if we believe this.

We cannot thwart His plans -- not even with our disbelief; after all, He uses even the acts of EVIL ment to do HIS glory. Think of it...
The most evil act of man is the same as the most Glorious act of GOD.

"Thwart Him" "Let Him" AS IF!

that said the first paragraph I loved. How many desires have we had or do we have that have gone so long unfullfilled that we have looked upon them as lost desires. I think of Lonny, Edie's brother-in-law, and I know that she has so long desired for him to walk again with God, casting away his bitterness. I think of my brother who for so long was the same way, but how now come back again to the Lord. I think of my lost cause of a relationship with my dad. I think of my deepest desire for the pain and suffering of my beloved friend and her children...how i long for it to subside. And to those I ask "Is anything too hard for the Lord?

October 31 The Spirit Helps Our Infirmities

Perfect Fellowship is such a beautiful concept. To have theheightened awareness that He is with me and He knows my every actionbefore it happens. Can you see the Father watching the moments andknowing that in 5 minutes you are going to break down and sob...andHe is looking forward to wrapping His love around you like a parka;He is going to use both hands to smooth your hair and wipe yourtears; He is waiting patiently to pick you back up and send you backon through your day, encouraged and loved. As you do this, he lovingpicks up the burdens that you left strewn at His feet (like crumpledtissues), and He casts them into outer darkness. Again, He thinksforward and knows our soul and how long it will be before it fills upand tips over, unable to bear more and the scene is repeated. He isour true Soul Mate.This is the true definition of Soul Mate. The Spirit that dwells inour soul and bears all that is there, both the prayers and thepraise; the thankfulness and the want. He presents it to Christ(minus the ignorance) and Christ wraps this package with His blood ofatonement. The package is then laid at the throne of God the Father,who is pleased to do His will. So many still seek a soul mate - Ohthat they would find and know the one and only True Soul Mate.

October 30 Running with Patience

Impatience is to worry as patience is to peace.Running with patience - it is a new concept to me to be busy withpatience. However, I look at Edie...I see her get out of bed and bebusy with her duites. She is active in her service; she is busythinking of how she can properly care for her children. The "joy ofothers (can) cure a heartache" ...can this be so? Can someone else'sjoy actually cure my heartache? Not just ease but actually CURE?There is a lot to ponder in today's devotion...suffice to say that Edieis a rainbow and has shone bright to many in the past three weeks. Shehas shone so brightly on her children that even they themselves havebecome rainbows in their own ways.