Streams In The Desert - October 9

"Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you." (Isaiah 30:18)

Where showers fall most, there the grass is greenest, I suppose the fogs and mists of Ireland make it "the Emerald Isle"; and whenever you find great fogs of trouble, and mists of sorrow, you always find emerald green hearts; full of the beautiful verdure of the comfort and love of God. O Christian, do not thou be saying, "Where are the swallows gone? They are gone; they are dead." They are not dead; they have skimmed the purple sea, and gone to a far-off land; but they will be back again by and by. Child of God, say not the flowers are dead; say not the winter has killed them and they are gone. Ah, no! though winter hath coated them with the ermine of it's snow; they will put up their heads again, and will be alive very soon. Say not, child of God, that the sun is quenched, because the cloud hath hidden it. Ah no; he is behind there, brewing summer for thee; for when he cometh out again, he will have made the clouds fit to drop in April showers, all of them mothers of the sweet May flowers. And oh! above all, when thy God hides His face, say not that He hath forgotten thee. He is but tarrying a little while to make thee love Him better; and when He cometh, thou shalt have joy in the Lord, and shalt rejoice with joy unspeakable. Waiting exersises our grace; waiting tries our faith; therefore, wait on in hope; for though the promise tarry, it can never come too late!
~ C. H. Spurgeon

Sunday Drive Home...blessings from the Lord!

For the past two and a half years, as we have traveled up north to church (the first year to Imlay City area, and then the switch to Lapeer) the majority of our Sunday morning and evening drives have consisted of traveling on major or semi busy roads. However, as the Lord has continued to bless and protect us on our long journey, He has also blessed our time together as a family by allowing us to see and enjoy some of the many different attributes of His beautiful creation!
A few weeks ago while heading home, Dad heeded the implorment of several young voices and turned faithful old Dina down an inviting dirt road called Wilder. That first exploratory drive was not forgotten and almost every Sunday since we have found ourselves traversing that same path over again! For all the country folks out there who live on such roads, you have no idea how heart warming and welcoming the scenery can be to us concrete tired-eyed city folk and the simple down to earth, God given beauty you can enjoy every day. Now thats not to say that we are jealous (at least we pray not to be) of your blessings, but only wait in anticipation and joy that perhaps some day soon God will bless us also with a place up there(maybe on a dirt road?!) and we will be able to even more fully enjoy the glory of our God in His glorious nature!

O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God! Psalm 68:35

Blessed be the Lord,
Who daily loads us with benefits,
The God of our salvation!
Psalm 68:19

“ For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."
Isaiah 55:12

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
Psalm 36:7-9

The Future Glory of Zion

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,
And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,
Even with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
The excellence of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
The excellency of our God.

Isaiah 35:1-2

Trust

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding,
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your path.
Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in yourself and you are doomed to disappointment;...
but trust in GOD, and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity."
- Dwight L. Moody