February 20 - Streams in the Desert

“Nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matt. 17:20).

It is possible, for those who really are willing to reckon on the power of the Lord for keeping and victory, to lead a life in which His promises are taken as they stand and are found to be true.
It is possible to cast all our care upon Him daily and to enjoy deep peace in doing it.
It is possible to have the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts purified, in the deepest meaning of the word.
It is possible to see the will of God in everything, and to receive it, not with sighing, but with singing.
It is possible by taking complete refuge in Divine power to become strong through and through; and, where previously our greatest weakness lay, to find that things which formerly upset all our resolves to be patient, or pure, or humble, furnish today an opportunity–through Him who loved us, and works in us an agreement with His will and a blessed sense of His presence and His power–to make sin powerless over us.
These things are DIVINE POSSIBILITIES, and because they are His work, the true experience of them will always cause us to bow lower at His feet and to learn to thirst and long for more.
We cannot possibly be satisfied with anything less–each day, each hour, each moment, in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit–than to WALK WITH GOD.

 

–H. C. G. Moule

We may have as much of God as we will. Christ puts the key of the treasure-chamber into our hand, and bids us take all that we want. If a man is admitted into the bullion vault of a bank, and told to help himself, and comes out with one cent, whose fault is it that he is poor? Whose fault is it that Christian people generally have such scanty portions of the free riches of God? –McLaren.

God our Caretaker

So I've taken up gardening. The kitchen window is cluttered with little anthropologie coffee cups all containing little seedlings. My hope is that these plants that are barely peeking out of the soil will grow and be of use for my family and whoever else I can give these vegetables to. I woke up this morning to get my coffee and do my usual routine of seeing if there is any sign of life besides seeing only dirt every morning for the past week. everyday...no sign. But then today came..LIFE. in just about every cup. finally something. I feel like one of the most gratifying things is to start from sratch, planting seeds, and seeing them grow. Slowly but surely they do grow. Of course, forgetful as I am, I forgot to water a small tomato plant I had outside on the porch, so it shriveled up and I thought it was a gonner. I haven't seen a plant look more dead before. In denial I brought it in, watered it anyway and stuck in it the sun again. I left to go to church and a concert with Colin, and we came back and low and behold my plant wasn't only alive but it grew even taller. I basically know nothing about gardening and am in excitement that there is life happening before my eyes. As I looked at them today, I got an immediate parrallel of how God gets so much pleasure out of giving us life, looking after us, and seeing us grow to be fruitful for His glory. These plants have come to life with my lack of gardening know-how, and I just think of how much better of a gardener God is in our lives. He gives us living water and relationship with his Son brings us into eternity with Him and allows us to live with the blessing of constant communication with Him in every moment of our lives. He doesn't let us go through this life alone, and he has a contant eye on us through our triumphs and our struggles. Even when when we are facing things to where we think we could never get through or rise back up again, He does it and gives us hope. Colin was telling me how he believes God allows trials and suffering to happen for us to learn - that they are actually blessings- to allow us to become stronger and to build our charater. I know that's true. Just like that tomato plant that was nearly dead God not only brings us back to life but makes us grow even more and brings our souls to new heights. The things God allows are not purposless. They are full of purpose and actually life-giving in the end. We have a God who is the most excellent caretaker and we have all the reason to trust in him.

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

 

I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-9

Restless Hearts

I love the Lord. I pray that I don't just believe in him but BELIEVE him and his truths spoken through his entire word and it's proof of His undeniable love shown through the life of Jesus.

 

 

Dear restless heart, be still; don’t fret and worry so;

God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;

Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know.

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God’s own smile,

His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;

Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.

Dear restless heart, be brave; don’t moan and sorrow so,

He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;

Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.

Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour,

His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;

Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.

Dear restless heart, be still! Don’t struggle to be free;

God’s life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;

Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.

by Edith Willis Linn