Discovery

"Be patient - wait God's time. He knows the best. 

Though plans are crossed, unanswered your requests.

Even when you suffer from the stunning blow,

When He to your petition answers, "no."

When all is dark around, just kneel in prayer.

Tell Him you're trusting. He will bless you there."

By Mrs Clara Simpson

" Make every day a walk with Thee.

New glory shall the sunshine gain.

And all the clouds shall lightened be

Go with me on life's dusty road

And help me bear the weary load.

Talk with me, Master, by the way.

The voices of the world recede

The shadows darken o'er the land.

How poor am I, how great my need.

Speak to my heart disquieted.

Till it shall lose it's fear and dread.

Bide with me, Master, all the way.

Though to my blinded eyes unknown.

So shall I feel a presence near

Where I had thought I walked alone.

And when, far spent, the day decline

Break Thou the bread, dear Guest of mine."

(the Sunday companion April 1959)

What a treat to find this book that used to belong to my great Grandma (who I never knew). There are some poems in its pages which I found quite moving. 

Hope you're blessed when I share them. 

Every good gift

Yet again, this verse reminds me of the Lord's great faithfulness.

What a blessed reassurance that our God never varies in the slightest. 

He always gives good, perfect gifts, and He is light, in Whom is no darkness at all. 

We can and should trust Him completely, and we should never stop thanking Him for His marvellous loving-kindness to us.

What a privilege to be called His own dear children!

Excerpt from today's Tozer

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8
The people of God ought to be the happiest people in all the wide world!
People should be coming to us constantly and asking the source of our joy and delight -- redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, our yesterdays behind us, our sin under the blood forever and a day, to be remembered against us no more forever. God is our Father, Christ is our Brother, the Holy Spirit our Advocate and Comforter. Our Brother has gone to the Father's house to prepare a place for us, leaving us with the promise that He will come again!"

Quite a challenge.
Hopefully you find it encouraging too.

O troubled soul, Be Still. A hymn written by A. B. Simpson

O troubled soul, beneath the rod
Thy Father speaks — be still, be still;
Learn to be silent unto God,
And let Him mold thee to His will.

Chorus: Be still, O troubled soul, be still;
Fear not, thy Father's arms enfold thee.
Take up thy cross, lay down thy will;
Be silent unto God, and let Him mold thee.

  
O anxious soul, lay down thy load,
Oh, hear His voice, He speaks to thee,
"Be still and know that I am God,
And cast thy every care on Me."


O fearful soul, be still, be still,
Be of good cheer; has He not said,
"I will be with you, fear no ill,
'Tis I, 'tis I, be not afraid"?


O praying soul, be still, be still,
He cannot break His plighted word;
Sink down into His blessed will,
And wait in patience on the Lord.


O waiting soul, be still, be strong,
And though He tarry, trust and wait;
Doubt not, He will not wait too long,
Fear not, He will not come too late.

I found it very encouraging. How about you?

Excerpt from Streams in the Desert for 8th February, & something I've been thinking about recently

"Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear. Rather look at them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He has kept you hitherto; do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand, He will bear you in His arms.

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. —Frances de Sales

“The Lord is my shepherd.”

Not was, not may be, nor will be. “The Lord is my shepherd,” is on Sunday, is on Monday, and is through every day of the week; is in January, is in December, and every month of the year; is at home, and is in China; is in peace, and, is in war; in abundance, and in penury. —J. Hudson Taylor"




The other day, I was feeling somewhat unsettled so I went through a few Scriptures to remind myself :
"When tempted to be anxious, remember this:
"You are my hiding place, You shall preserve me from trouble." Psalm 32:8

"The Angel of the LORD (pre-incarnate Jesus Himself!!!!) encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them." Psalm 34:7

"Do not fret because of evildoers." Psalm 37:1

"Rest in the LORD." Psalm 37:4

"Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust." Psalm 40:4

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is." Jeremiah 17:7

"Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD... the LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." Exodus 14:13+14

"Blessed be the LORD because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him." Psalm 28:6+7

"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, I will praise His Word, In God, I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?" Psalm 56:3+4

and these Scriptures strengthened me. Hope you're blessed and encouraged too.

Excerpt from 23rd January's Streams in the Desert devotional

Streams in the Desert for 23rd January
Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? (Psalms 10:1)

God is "a very present help in trouble." But He permits trouble to pursue us, as though He were indifferent to its overwhelming pressure, that we may be brought to the end of ourselves, and led to discover the treasure of darkness, the unmeasurable gains of tribulation.
We may be sure that He who permits the suffering is with us in it. It may be that we shall see Him only when the trial is passing; but we must dare to believe that He never leaves the crucible. Our eyes are holden; and we cannot behold Him whom our soul loveth. It is dark--the bandages blind us so that we cannot see the form of our High Priest; but He is there, deeply touched. Let us not rely on feeling, but on faith in His unswerving fidelity; and though we see Him not, let us talk to Him. Directly we begin to speak to Jesus, as being literally present, though His presence is veiled, there comes an answering voice which shows that He is in the shadow, keeping watch upon His own. Your Father is as near when you journey through the dark tunnel as when under the open heaven!
--Daily Devotional Commentary


The phrase "His unswerving fidelity" was what really caught my attention. Yes, our God is unswervingly faithful. Aren't you glad about that!?

I found today's Streams in the Desert particularly lovely, so here it is.

He putteth forth his own sheep (John 10:4).

Oh, this is bitter work for Him and us -- bitter for us to go, but equally bitter for Him to cause us pain; yet it must be done. It would not be conducive to our true welfare to stay always in one happy and comfortable lot. He therefore puts us forth. The fold is deserted, that the sheep may wander over the bracing mountain slope. The labourers must be thrust out into the harvest, else the golden grain would spoil.

Take heart! it could not be better to stay when He determines otherwise; and if the loving hand of our Lord puts us forth, it must be well. On, in His name, to green pastures and still waters and mountain heights! He goeth before thee. Whatever awaits us is encountered first by Him. Faith's eye can always discern His majestic presence in front; and when that cannot be seen, it is dangerous to move forward. Bind this comfort to your heart, that the Saviour has tried for Himself all the experiences through which He asks you to pass; and He would not ask you to pass through them unless He was sure that they were not too difficult for your feet, or too trying for your strength.

This is the Blessed Life -- not anxious to see far in front, nor careful about the next step, not eager to choose the path, nor weighted with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following behind the Shepherd, one step at a time.

Dark is the sky! and veiled the unknown morrow
Dark is life's way, for night is not yet o'er;
The longed-for glimpse I may not meanwhile borrow;
But, this I know, HE GOETH ON BEFORE.

Dangers are nigh! and fears my mind are shaking;
Heart seems to dread what life may hold in store;
But I am His--He knows the way I'm taking,
More blessed still--HE GOETH ON BEFORE.

Doubts cast their weird, unwelcome shadows o'er me,
Doubts that life's best--life's choicest things are o'er;
What but His Word can strengthen, can restore me,
And this blest fact; that still HE GOES BEFORE.

HE GOES BEFORE! Be this my consolation!
He goes before! On this my heart would dwell!
He goes before! This guarantees salvation!
HE GOES BEFORE! And therefore all is well. 
--J. D. Smith

The Oriental shepherd was always ahead of his sheep. He was down in front. Any attack upon them had to take him into account. Now God is down in front. He is in the tomorrows. It is tomorrow that fills men with dread. God is there already. All the tomorrows of our life have to pass Him before they can get to us.
--F. B. M.

God is in every tomorrow,
Therefore I live for today,
Certain of finding at sunrise,
Guidance and strength for the way;
Power for each moment of weakness,
Hope for each moment of pain,
Comfort for every sorrow,
Sunshine and joy after rain.

found here:

 http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/streams-in-the-desert/streams-in-the-desert-january-14th.html