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!