Let our lives confess His peace.

How good it is to belong to the One who can still a storm with a single command.

He still calls us to rest in the peace that He brings - are we?

Joy in Dry Places

From The Daily Spurgeon:

To be satisfied in times of plenty, why, any fool can be that! But to be satisfied in days of drought, this is the Christian’s privilege, for he can say,

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

This is just the mark of difference between the Christian and the worldling. The worldling blesses God while he gives him plenty, but the Christian blesses him when he smites him: he believes him to be too wise to err and too good to be unkind; he trusts him where he cannot trace him, looks up to him in the darkest hour, and believes that all is well. O Christian, if your heart is right, you will understand this spiritual satisfaction, and your soul will be satisfied in times of drought.

And some encouraging words from Radical Womanhood:

Maybe you are in a season of life where you feel passed over or put on a shelf. If you are not giving yourself to false idols or gods, I believe this thought is from the father of lies, your spiritual adversary. It certainly is not from Scripture. David gives us a prescription for doing battle against these lies...bowing down in worship, giving thanks for God's steadfast love and faithfulness, exalting His name and His word, and calling out to God for help. When our focus is on the magnificent character of our God and His steadfast love, we don't have as much time or space to think about ourselves. And it makes it easier to trust Him for the reasons He created us and gave us life in the first place. He alone is steadfast. His love alone endures forever. Therefore, we can trust Him not to forsake the work of His hands.

Solid Rock

I discovered a new treasure the other day - the words to the hymn, "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee". It was just what my soul needed to soak in - often the case when I flip through an old hymnbook during my devotional times. The language is archaic, which may or may not be your preference. (I love it!) Read and I hope you'll be encouraged, as I was:

If thou but suffer God to guide thee,

and hope in Him through all thy ways,

He'll give thee strength, what e'er betide thee,

and bear thee through the evil days;

Who trusts in God's unchanging love

builds on the Rock that naught can move.

Only be still, and wait His leisure

in cheerful hope, with heart content

To take what e'er Thy Father's pleasure

and all discerning love hath sent;

Nor doubt our inmost wants are known

to Him who chose us for His own.

Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving,

so do thine own part faithfully;

And trust His Word, though undeserving,

thou yet shall find it true for thee;

God never yet forsook at need

the soul that trusted Him indeed.

Pause, and seek this One...

" I know there is One keeping company with me who knows everything about me at this (and every) moment - my thoughts, my motives, my fears, my aspirations, my emotions, my anxieties, my mental and physical condition - and who loves me beyond my comprehension.

I know that the One whose presence surrounds me as the universe surrounds the earth has all power and is bringing all the world to His appointed conclusion. I perceive the presence of the One who has been an earthbound man like me and understands me thoroughly, and before whom I will stand in judgement.

I engage the One who gave His life - from His first breath in Bethlehem to His last heartbeat on Calvary - to atone for my sins and who rose again to bring me to His heavenly home."

- Donald S. Whitney

Good news, no matter what.

I was encouraged this morning by Spurgeon's devotional:

"Blessed is the fact that Christians can rejoice even in the deepest distress; although trouble may surround them, they still sing; and, like many birds, they sing best in their cages. The waves may roll over them, but their souls soon rise to the surface and see the light of God's countenance; they have a buoyancy about them which keeps their head always above the water, and helps them to sing amid the tempest, "God is with me still."

God is with me. In the mess and clutter of every-day life, my soul is often slow to acknowledge and embrace the earth-shaking truth of that simple statement. He is with me - comforting me with His presence, counseling me with wisdom, guiding me with unchanging faithfulness, correcting me in perfect love.

We can't always see the why or when or how, but we can say with confidence, My God is with me.

If You can calm the sea
Then You can comfort me
If winds obey Your voice
Why should I fear their noise
And though my eyes can’t see
I know You’re with me

- Peace, by Sovereign Grace music

All the Way...He Leads Me

Reading in Psalms this morning, the following verses from chapter 81 stood out to me:

"I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it...But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

These verses are in reference to Israel, but they still express the guidance and compassionate care that God gives all His children. "Open your mouth wide..." I love that! It expresses so well the expectant attitude we need to have before God - there is so much of Him to be discovered and enjoyed, if we would only turn to Him and receive it.

Thanking God for His guidance and provision in my own life, I was reminded of a hymn by Fanny Crosby, "All The Way My Savior Leads Me". I looked up the lyrics and was so blessed by the truth that they express, I thought I would share them. : )

All the way my Savior leads me,

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy,

Who through life has been my Guide?

Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,

Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know, whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well;

For I know, whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,

Cheers each winding path I tread,

Gives me grace for every trial,

Feeds me with the living Bread.

Though my weary steps may falter

And my soul athirst may be,

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! A spring of joy I see;

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me,

Oh, the fullness of His love!

Perfect rest to me is promised

In my Father’s house above.

When my spirit, clothed immortal,

Wings its flight to realms of day

This my song through endless ages:

Jesus led me all the way;

This my song through endless ages:

Jesus led me all the way.

Call Back

I found the following poem quoted in a Beth Moore book this morning. It expresses so well the need to be encouragers of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and it reminded me how thankful I am of those who have "called back" to me to encourage me to "keep climbing".

Life is a steep climb, and it does the heart good to have somebody "call back" and cheerily beckon us ono up the high hill. We are all climbers together, and we must help one another. This mountain climbing is serious business, but glorious. It takes strenngth and steady step to find the summits. The outlook widens with the altitude. If anyone among us has found anything wortwhile, we ought to "call back."

If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back—
‘twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track;
And, if perchance, faith’s light is dim, because the oil is low,
your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.

Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm;
call back, and say He kept you when the forest’s roots were torn;
that when the heavens thundered and the earthquake shook the hill,
He bore you up and held you where the very air was still.

O friend, call back and tell me, for I cannot see your face;
they say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race;
but there are mists between us, and my spirit eyes are dim,
and I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.

But if you’ll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,
and if you’ll say He saw you through the night’s sin-darkened sky,
if you have gone a little way ahead, O friend, call back—
twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.

Mrs. Charles E. Cowman,
Streams in the Desert

Thoughts on Rain

The rain falls in torrents outside my window this morning, and the sun is barely visible behind the deep grey of the sky. I have always loved the rain, though. To me, it's melodic and calming and peaceful, all at once.
Yes, the sky is dark, but there's the promise of a gleaming, rain washed world when the last drops fall and the sun comes out again.
Pausing to look out the window, I was reminded of a favorite verse found in Hosea 6:3...

"So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth."

What a picture of refreshment. Refreshment that can only be found in the Lord.
In a world that promises everything but only leaves us dry and longing for more, I'm so thankful for the One who told us, "he who believes in Me will never thirst."