Oasis

In all the "toiling and roiling" that seems to be surrounding us these days, what an oasis the Lord is! I read some of my favorite verses from Psalm 34 this morning. Join me in the green pasture He has provided.

"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. . . . Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"

He reigns

Here's some more encouragement from God's Word for "such a time as this".

The Lord reigns.

“Do you not fear me? declares the Lord; do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it.”—Not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.—“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed.”

If God is for us, who can be against us?—“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Ps. 99:1; Jer. 5:22; Ps. 75:6, 7; Dan. 2:21; Matt. 24:6; Rom. 8:31; Matt. 10:29-31

"He doeth according to HIS will"

Today's reading in Daily Light seemed so appropriate for this time in our country. Instead of fear or anxiety about an unknown future, we can have great confidence in the One Who holds that future securely in His hands.

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the

heavens; and his kingdom ruleth

over all.

HE lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.--Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?--If God be for us, who can be against us?

He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.--Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

PSA. 103. 19. Pr. 16. 33.--Am. 3. 6.
Is. 45. 5-7. Da. 4. 35.--Ro. 8. 31.
1 Co. 15. 25.--Lu. 12. 32.

"Greater Works"

"And greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father." John 14:12

"Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work. We think of prayer as a common-sense exercise of our higher powers in order to prepare us for God's work. In the teaching of Jesus Christ prayer is the working of the miracle of Redemption in me which produces the miracle of Redemption in others by the power of God. The way fruit remains is by prayer, but remember it is prayer based on the agony of Redemption, not on my agony. Only a child gets prayer answered; a wise man does not.

"Prayer is the battle; it is a matter of indifference where you are. Whichever way God engineers circumstances, the duty is to pray. Never allow the thought - "I am of no use where I am;" because you certainly can be of no use where you are not. Wherever God has dumped you down in circumstances pray, ejaculate to Him all the time. "Whatsoever ye ask in My name, that will I do." We won't pray unless we get thrills, that is the intensest form of spiritual selfishness. We have to labour along the line of God's direction, and He says pray. "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest."

"There is nothing thrilling about a labouring man's work, but it is the labouring man who makes the conceptions of the genius possible; and it is the labouring saint who makes the conceptions of his Master possible. You labour at prayer and results happen all the time from His standpoint. What an astonishment it will be to find, when the veil is lifted, the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you had been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ."

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

"Delight thyself also in the Lord..."

We sang a hymn last week at church that spoke my heart's cry in recent weeks. It is based on Psalm 37:4.

"O Lord, I would delight in thee,
And on thy care depend;
To thee in ev'ry trouble flee,
My best, my only Friend.

"When all created streams are dried,
Thy fulness is the same;
May I with this be satisfied,
And glory in thy Name.

"O that I had a stronger faith,
To look within the veil!
To credit what my Saviour saith,
Whose Word can never fail!

"He that has made my heav'n secure,
Will here all good provide;
While Christ is rich, can I be poor?
What can I want beside?

"O Lord, I cast my care on thee;
I triumph and adore;
Henceforth my great concern shall be
To love and please thee more."

- John Ryland, 1777

"Oh, give thanks"

"When you face what can't be solved immediately and you don't know how you are going to get through the next day or the next week, try thanking God in advance for His help. He is our helper." - Elisabeth Elliot

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! Because His mercy endures forever." Psalm 118:1

I'm Still Alive!

It has been awhile since I last posted. What an "interesting" two months! During that time I celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary by having surgery to remove a kidney stone! Let me just say, it was a memorable day.

I'm feeling much better now and things are moving full speed ahead. We have had relatives and friends visiting from Hong Kong, Alaska, Arkansas, Virginia, Washington, and Idaho. Our borrowed daughter for the past year has returned to Alaska and is working as a dental hygienist in Anchorage (we miss you Kimberly!). After a very cool summer, we had a week of 90 degree temperatures, in which all my tomatoes ripened at once and the fruit trees and garden burst forth. I've been canning, drying, and will be freezing the abundant harvest the Lord has given.

I hope to get back into gear again with posting on the blog. The Lord has been teaching me some wonderful lessons in many areas, but most especially to know and enjoy Him more.

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11