Streams in Desert

                                                              August 17

              I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. (Acts 27:25)

A number of years ago I went to America with a steamship captain who was a very devoted Christian. When we were off the coast of Newfoundland, he said to me,”The last time I sailed here, which was five weeks ago, something happened that revolutionized my entire Christian life. I had been on the bridge for twenty-four straight hours when George Mueller of Bristol, England, who was a passenger on board, came to me and said, ‘Captain, I need to tell you that I must be in Quebec on Saturday afternoon.’ ‘That is impossible,’ I replied.’Very well,’ Mueller responded, ‘if your ship cannot take me, God will find some other way, for I have never missed an engagement in fifty-seven years. Let’s go down to the chartroom to pray.’

” I looked at this man of God and thought to myself, ‘What lunatic asylum did he escape from?’ I had never encountered someone like this. ‘Mr. Mueller,’ I said, ‘do you realize how dense the fog is?’ ‘No’, he replied. ‘My eye is not on the dense fog but on the living God, who controls every circumstance of my life.’

“He then knelt down and prayed one of the most simple prayers I’ve ever heard. When he had finished, I started to pray, but he put his hand on my shoulder and told me not to pray. He said, ‘First you do not believe God will answer, and second, I BELIEVE HE HAS. Consequently, there is no need whatsoever for you to pray about it.’

“As I looked as him, he said, ‘Captain, I have known my Lord for fifty-seven years, and there has never been even a single day that I have failed to get an audience with the King. Get up, Captain, and open the door, and you will see that the fog is gone,’ I got up, and indeed the fog was gone. And on Saturday afternoon George Mueller was in Quebec for his meeting.”

Dear soul, what fog is in your life that makes it impossible to navigate through? Trust and believe that the Lord will get you through.

Healer

Proverbs 12:18

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Do you find yourself with a “wise” tongue today?

Ravens

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Ravens

Pastors David & Kristy Calhoun

Life Builders Fellowship – Nashville, TN

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According to PBS online ravens are scavengers that do not discriminate between humans and animals. They take advantage of other animals to help them cadge a meal they couldn’t otherwise reach. They also have been seen following wild wolf packs to a kill; some stories even have ravens flying ahead of the wolves to lead them to prey.  Think about it, ravens are mean, they love be around things that are dead, stinky, and disgusting and will help other mean animals hurt other animals (sounds like some people you know huh?).

 

This could explain why God called the raven an unclean and detestable animal and commanded the Israelites to detest them as well in Leviticus 11:13-15.  Isaiah 52:11 proclaimed “do not to touch an unclean thing”.  That is what makes 1 Kings 17:4 so interesting.  God told Elijah: “You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.”  Think about it, God tells Elijah to eat food handled by nasty, treacherous ravens. 

 

There are two things you I think you should notice in this passage. One, God will sometimes asks us to do things that do not make sense.  It would not have made sense for Elijah to eat meat that had been touched by such a filthy, forbidden animal.  God is the God of change and risk taking.  Don’t be surprised when he asks you to go somewhere you don’t want to go (like Jonah) or take on responsibility you do not feel capable of (like Moses) or to accept blessings you do not feel worthy of (like Peter).  God is the God of the unusual, one who makes something out of nothing.  Remember where there is no risk involved, no faith is involved either.

 

The second thing I think you should notice is how God changed the nature of a vile animal.  It was in the nature of that raven to devour the meat intended for Elijah.  But God changed their nature and caused them to be a provider instead of a predator, a servant rather than a scavenger.  God is a master at changing hearts.  Don’t be surprised if some of the human ravens you know that only seem to want to hurt and take advantage of you suddenly become your source of blessing.  That relative or friend that you think is too hard hearted or stubborn to ever accept Christ, simply needs God to transform their raven heart and it can happen in an instant. 

 

So don’t be surprised when God puts you in the midst of ravens because He is probably using you to change their heart.  And when you see the ravens of life circling over you expect them to bring blessings instead of problems.

 

*All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.  Zondervan Publishing House

Proverbs 27:19

As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

What does your heart reflect about you?

Surfing

I’ve been convicted of it… I surf but not on any beach, it’s on the internet. I find myself surfing blogs, sermons, songs….

The Lord just told me to surf His Word. And to encourage whomever surfs this blog to do the same.

He loves you and desires to reveal Himself to you.

Thank you

Just wanted to say thank you so much for your prayers and sweet words of encouragement. I love and adore you all. I count it an absolute blessing to have you in my life. Just think, we get to spend all of eternity together! Now that is friendship!

LOVE YA!!!

Matriarch

What a word….Matriarch! It just sounded perfect when it was spoken that day in hospice. The nurses had come in to turn Mom and with all her children gathered around making sure the nurses did their job correctly….the nurse said, “I know who the Matriarch of this family is.”

I took that word and tucked away into my heart. Yes, it described her perfectly, I thought. I want to take time to share some things I’ve learned about my Mom. The things I have learned, point me straight to a living, loving, forgiving Redeemer. Oh how I give Him all the praise!

Mom was our rock growing up. You know that strength like steel, that lies quietly in the stillness of one’s heart? Mom was also a nurse. Not just a nurse, but an “old school nurse.” She was very protective of the patients that were placed in her care. No one was to be on the bed with them…if found there, they were quickly shewed off! She had her rules. But one thing for sure, they were loved on. My Mom’s mission field was in the halls and rooms of the hospitals that she worked in. My brother, Jerry and I would get the morning breakdown at breakfast of what would take place on night duty. It was Mom’s release as I look back. Sometimes I wondered why she thought she should discuss such things while we were eating! Oh, I miss those days. I treasure that time spent with my Mom and my brother. No one could make scrambled eggs and toast like Mom. Did I mention sweet tea?

As I grew I was like most teenagers, well not really, I think I was worse. But there was Mom loving me inspite of myself….only like a mother can do! She always seem to forgive me before I asked..how does that work? I know now it was because of God’s forgivness in her own life. Once you’ve been forgiven like that, how can you not bestow it on others?

When I got married and started having children Mom was there for us daily. One thing is for sure about Mom, she was one of the selfless persons I’ve ever known. Always putting others first. If she saw or heard of a need she was there to respond to it. Mom was awesome at teaching me how to be a Mom.

Love without expecting love in return

Give without ever expecting repayment

Serve with all the heart not just half

Sacrifice not just once but over and over and over again

After Mom retired, she was able to do some things that she had longed to do. TRAVEL! She went on two mission trips. One to Brazil and Romania. She also got to travel to the soil that her dear Savior walked on, beloved Israel. She was never the same after her visit there. But really, how could you be?  My sisters also took Mom on some great vacations. Stephanie took her to Hawaii and Dawn took Mom to Bermuda. Mom almost came home with a man half her age…well not really, but she had several pictures taken with him! Precious Hawaiin young man! She was so proud to show her grandkids that picture…

I use to pray years ago that when it was God’s time to take Mom, that her suffering would be little to none. I just pleaded with the Lord that she had suffered enough in the earlier years of her life. And if He could see fit to answering such a request, I would forever praise Him for it. I’m here to tell you a year later of Momma taking her last breath of this earth, GOD ANSWERED that prayer!

He was so good to her while she lingered in the valley. Why? Because He is the Lily of the valley! She smelled Him there with her. Momma’s vision started changing. Her earthly 20/20 became a heavenly focus. She grabbed both my hands one day and asked me, “do you see him?”  I’m like… NO! She spoke of the radiance that was reflecting in the room. I told my brother and SIL that day, to take your shoes off because we are standing on holy ground! I was in awe that the Lord was revealing some of His glory to us through our precious Momma.

As we entered hospice care, at the Hospice house in Bristol, Mom spoke and said,” this is the nicest church I have ever been to.” No doubt there were angels flying all around the place. The nurses could barely get in and out of the door for the wings that were on their backs. They were just all around us!

We each took turns shedding tears at Mom’s bedside….In fact, we were all gathered there one day and she looked up and asked,”why are all of ya’ll crying, do you think I’m going somewhere?” My sisters, brother, SIL and I broke out into laughter through the tears. That was Mom…. cracking a good joke to try and lighten the sullen mood. Afterall a mothers work is never done, is it? Even on her deathbed Mom never shed a tear. She was composed and she even knew how to nurse herself. But the strength ran out and the nurses that were there, were chosen to give Mom what she had faithfully given to others. And I must say, they did it well. They honored her.

Mom knew exactly where she was going. She clearly said to me to buy the cheapest casket they made. Not to waste money on it. She knew that casket was not needed for the place where she was going. Her next destination was unlike any other. Her way there had been bought and paid for in advance. Jesus nailed to a wooden cross, laid down His life, for you and me and my Mother. He rose on the third day and praise God, Jesus is seated at the right hand of his Father!

Mom used to hum at night in the last days of her life, Shall We Gather at the River. I know she saw her loved ones gathered on that riverside awaiting her to join them. One day when I am in the same valley as my mother and the ones that have gone before me, I will join in the same song. What a glorious day it will be!

I’ve enclosed a picture of Mom’s headstone…. The headstone does not define my Mother, but the words on it do.  

  

 

 

 

 

 

Exposed Roots

At literally 2:00 this morning, the Lord awakens me through a dream no less. But even as I awoke from it I knew one thing that was very evident, I was scared! I was tossing and turning trying to go back to sleep, but the Lord wouldn’t let me. He began to talk to me about FEAR.

As you can see from the new picture I have posted, there is a tree that has grown, looks like most of it’s life, with it’s roots exposed. How is that possible? It looks like it has hung on for dear life on the side of that hill.

As some of you well know the Lord has been speaking to me about “roots.”  I’am a hairdresser after all so roots is a pretty common theme at my job! But as I think and ponder about the roots of this tree and the roots of my clients hair… both are exposed. That’s why we keep trying to cover them up!

The application? I have a root of FEAR. It was planted long ago when I was a child. When one lives with a raging alcoholic, fear becomes a part of your everyday life. I can remember lying in bed at night, and you hear the car pull up and if the radio was blaring that was like an alarm going off, all hell was getting ready to break loose!  So I would lay there waiting, in fear, for it to happen.

Fear in the hebrew text means: to ensnare, trap: to be snared, caught. Isn’t that exactly what fear can do to you? It can entrap you in a moments notice and you are squirmming to be released. Can you think of anything in your life that has taken a root of fear?

I do fear the normal things in life, like nasty snakes, big spiders, and sometimes heights. But the fears that nobody likes to talk about are there also. The fear of rejection. The fear of abandonment. Satan tries to tell me everyday, “you are going to die today.” One of my biggest fears is that alcoholism will some how affect my life again. You see we are scared mostly of the things that have hurt us. We take that fear and impart it on our families especially.

The good news to this story is this. In 1 John 4:18 it says, There is no fear in love. But perfect loves drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.

The word punishment here, it’s meaning in the greek…. torment! Fear has to do with torment! I just have to ask, what have you been tormented over in your past? Let the Lord expose that root and let Him drive the thing out of your life with His perfect love! His perfect love drives out fear! Hallalujah!

I can’t tell you how renewed I feel today. He has exposed that very unhealthy root in my life. It’s quite a relief. It had no buisness there and the enemy knew I had it and he kept feeding it. Fear is the opposite of trust. And if I’m in fear, I know I’m not trusting my God.

I end with this verse today… but first I encourage you to let God get a hold of the unhealthy roots in your life and let Him yank the suckers out. For if they stay there, they will become entangled with the healthy ones and you will not be able to tell which one is which.

Psalm 116:4-6:

Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, save me! The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.

April 1, 2008

Streams in the Desert, April 1

Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him. (Job 13:15)

Because I know whom I have believed. (2 Timothy 1:12)

An old seaman once said, “In fierce storms we must do one thing, for there is only one way to survive; we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.” And this dear Christian, is what you must do.

Sometimes, like Paul, you cannot see the sun or the stars to help you navigate when the storm is bearing down on you. This is when you can only do one thing, for there is only one way. Reason cannot help you, past experiences will shed no light, and even prayer will bring no consolation. Only one course remains: you must put your soul in one position and keep it there.

You must anchor yourself steadfastly upon the Lord. And then, come what may-whether wind, waves, rough seas, thunder, lightening, jagged rocks, or roaring breakers-you must lash yourself to the helm, firmly holding your confidence in God’s faithfulness, His covenant promises, and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus. Richard Fuller

How are your souls doing my friends? Mine is anchored right now. I’m at a time in my life where I have to hold on like a baby monkey holding on to it’s momma. I hold on to His faithfulness, His promises, and His everlasting love. May God reveal Himself to you this day in a way that you’ve never seen Him before. May we never get used to the awesomeness of God. May today be different……