Streams In The Desert

On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” — Mark 4:35

Even when we go forth at Christ’s command, we need not expect to escape storms; for these disciples were going forth at Christ’s command, yet they encountered the fiercest storm and were in great danger of being overwhelmed, so that they cried out in their distress for Christ’s assistance.

Though Christ may delay His coming in our time of distress, it is only that our faith may be tried and strengthened, and that our prayers may be more intense, and that our desires for deliverance may be increased, so that when the deliverance does come we will appreciate it more fully.

Christ gave them a gentle rebuke, saying, “Where is your faith?” Why did you not shout victory in the very face of the storm, and say to the raging winds and rolling waves, “You can do no harm, for Christ, the mighty Savior is on board”?

It is much easier to trust when the sun is shining than when the storm is raging.

We never know how much real faith we have until it is put to the test in some fierce storm; and that is the reason why the Savior is on board.

If you are ever to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might, your strength will be born in some storm.
–Selected

“With Christ in the vessel,
I smile at the storm.”

Christ said, “Let us go to the other side”—not to the middle of the lake to be drowned.
–Dan Crawford

From:  Streams In The Desert  (Cowman)  June 3  (devotional)

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HOPE – Poetry

Hope, hope
What lies in that name
There’s something so powerful
It crushes souls pain

Hope, hope
It reaches beyond
This time that we live in
Makes our emotions respond

Hope, hope
A much better place
See into tomorrow
With faith of beauties grace

Hope, hope
Pulls us out of despair
Knowing our reality
Will change and take us there

Hope, hope
Food for our soul
Sets us free from what is now
A promise to make us whole

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

SILVER LINING – Poetry

There is a silver lining
To the crisis we are in
It takes a perfect stranger
And it makes of them a friend

Lots of great destruction
May be coming fast our way
But how we choose to deal with it
Is in our power today

Crisis can produce a fruit
That’s sweetest to the taste
It breaks down many barriers
That are standing in the way

It puts us all into a boat
We share in all the land
When crisis hits a neighborhood
We lend a helping hand

Now we can let it take us down
Or rise up to the cause
It’s all on how you deal with it
Will you rise or fall

Trouble seems to peel away
All the false fronts there
It puts us in the human race
A chance to really care

So when the rain starts falling down
No matter what form it takes
Remember let the love come forth
And live for goodness sake

copyright Jean Chamblee 2011

YOU ARE NOT A FAIR WEATHER FRIEND – Poetry

When all hope is lost
There You are
Shining on me like a beautiful star

Though I scream
With angers rage
Not understanding the current page

It doesn’t deter You
You can handle my pain
You never leave me, You remain the same

When my broken heart
Is bleeding mad
You stay with me, Lord, just like You said

You are not fickle
Don’t run away
Like so many others, yet You choose to stay

How can you love me
When there’s ugliness there
You look right past it, see my heart laid bare

You’d rather have an honest spit
Than a fakeness that comes
From lying lips

It’s with You Jesus
That I can get real
And not be afraid that You’ll leave me still

You’re promise is
That You will stay
And see me through another day

Your love so deep
We’ve never seen
Even when we’ve been so mean

You are not a fair weather friend
Your love so deep
That it never ends

Beyond the veil
We must go
And not be afraid our truth to show

Be it bad or be it good
You will still love us
That must be understood

Our problems seem great
But to You it’s not so
Because Your commitment is more than we know

In the morning You will be there
The price You have paid
Our sins to erase

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

Hebrews 13:5  “For Jesus has said, ‘I will NEVER leave you or forsake you.”

MY COCOON – Poetry

You are my cocoon
No matter what’s around
You are wrapped about me
Your presence peace surrounds

Loud the voices shouting
Wanting us to fear
But our place is next to you
Always drawing near

Focused on Your majesty
Your kingdom it will come
No matter what happens here and now
My thoughts are on Your throne

But sometimes I’m a weakling
It’s then my heart does know
I reach out my hand to You
Instead You help me grow

Crazy things may happen
But the end of it You’ve told
We can trust what’s in Your book
You’ve known from times of old

You are my cocoon
No matter what’s around
I know that I can trust You
Your love for me is sound

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

CLAY – God’s Artwork

The “Potter and clay” relationship is not always pleasant….but when He is finished…..even after the heat of the kiln….we will be a shining piece of original pottery, with the fingerprint of God as the signature Artist!

#worthit #nogreaterlove #surrendertotheprocess

 

Isaiah 64:8   “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – Good News (It’s All On Purpose)

It’s all on purpose! Here’s the scripture showing that we were all appointed and chosen to live in this time and in the places that we live:

Acts 17:26,27 ” And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;”

If you’ve ever thought that you were a mistake or born at the wrong time in the wrong place…..here is your peace.  You were born in the exact place and time you were created for.  Some of us have much to overcome, but as we find Christ and overcome, our reward will be great in heaven.

Let the Word set you free…..you were pre appointed to live in this time and place and God has a destiny just created for you!!!    Hope you have a great day!!

A KIND WORD FOR ANYONE DEALING WITH SELF CONDEMNATION:

The devil is really good about bringing up our past and rubbing our noses in it and he is even better at spinning the lie that you can’t turn things around in your life. BUT God is good at helping us get back up on our feet and He delights to see us come through things and reach the other side. Check out these great scriptures:

Psalm 25:6,7 “Remember, O lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses, For they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions, according to Your mercy remember me. For Your goodness sake, Oh Lord.”

Isaiah 54:8
“With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer.”

There is always a fresh start with Jesus…His mercies are new every morning. Never buy into the lie that you have gone too far or that God could not forgive you, or that you have gone too far into darkness to be set free. That’s a lie. God is not that way. But don’t wait…..call on Him while He may be found. Let Him nourish your broken heart back into sweet fellowship with Him. “He is near to the broken hearted” Stop being so hard on yourself too. Forgiving yourself can be really hard…..but God wants you to do just that and remember that He casts our sins away as far as the east is to the west. I pray that you will allow Him to love you…..allow Him back in to that tender place with you and let Him heal your wounds, because that is exactly what He wants to do. Rom. 8:31 “If God is FOR US, who can be against us?”  Take what He is offering! Forgiveness!!

Your are greatly loved by Him!!

AGAIN, YOU WILL SHINE LIKE A SUMMER’S DAY – POETRY

Empty, empty your heart of it’s pain
Let the tears fall down like rain
They are a tool so long ago
Created with knowledge of how things would go

Again, you will shine like summer’s day
Your heart will light up, your smile like a ray
As your heart returns to where it belongs
To God’s arms alone where in Him there’s no harm

Come again, come again I’ll take you away
Again, we shall experience a brand new day
You know what that means, Yet this time a new
Cherished so rightly from a place made for you

I am yours and you are mine
We will be together til the end of time
Always there for you in our hiding place
That we have built while running this race

Come to me, come to me quickly you’ll see
How sadness eclipsed by life’s melody
You will sing greatly, your voice has it’s might
No longer to dwell in mistakes dark, dark night

copyright 2016 Jean Chamblee

The Beauty In The Struggle

Why, oh why Lord
Do we struggle so?
I asked Him one day
When I was feeling quite low

His answer surprised me
As He said with a smile
Come and I’ll tell you child,
Sit with me awhile

Look at the caterpillar crawling about
It goes into hiding before it comes out
It makes a cocoon as I’ve taught it to do
And waits until spring when formation is through

Now when it is ready
It struggles about
To get free from it’s prison
To finally come out

It’s there in the struggle
It’s wings find their strength
It would not be ready
This process it brings

Brings about forming
All of it’s parts
Like muscles get stronger
With the beating of the heart

If the process was shortened
On the ground it would lie
Free from it’s prison
Yet there it would die

The wings must be ready
To catch on the breeze
Strengthened by struggle
And now that it’s free

Flying in beauty
Above all the earth
Fulfilling it’s purpose
It’s reason for birth

So it is with my children
They’re growing inside
Their struggle for freedom
Prepares them to fly

So don’t be discouraged
You will overcome
Despise not the small things
My will’s being done

Trust me in all things
My leading is right
I know what you need child
So you can take flight

copyright 2012 Jean Chamblee