Sometimes you just need to trust and go with the flow.
Through God we shall do valiantly,
And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.
(Psalm 60:12)
“Live in the excellency of (His) expectancy.
Don’t just wait on the Lord,
wait in expectancy… Selah”
-Apostle Gabriel Cross (Pure Glory)
http://pureglory.net/2013/01/15/wait-in-expectancy/
My little granddaughter and I were watching the snowstorm out the big front window yesterday when I noticed how the bright colours of the flowers a friend sent mommy contrasted with the harshness of the weather outside. Inside the house is a warmth that shelters the delicate blooms sent from some place where the sun shines kindly.
The storms may rage, but close to the heart of God, in His shelter, tender hearts are safe.
I run continually to the shelter of Psalm 91, and there I find delight in the precious colours of Love.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.”
Standing at the portal
Of the opening year,
Words of comfort meet us,
Hushing every fear;
Spoken thru the silence
By our Savior’s voice,
Tender, strong and faithful,
Making us rejoice.
Onward, then, and fear not,
Children of the day;
For His Word shall never,
Never pass away.
“I, the Lord, am with thee,
Be thou not afraid;
I will help and strengthen
Be thou not dismayed.
Yea, I will uphold thee
With My own right hand;
Thou art called and chosen
In My sight to stand.”
For the year before us,
O what rich supplies!
For the poor and needy
Living streams shall rise;
For the sad and sinful
Shall His grace abound;
For the faint and feeble
Perfect strength be found.
He will never fail us,
He will not forsake;
For His eternal covenant
He will never break.
Resting on the promise,
What have we to fear?
God is all sufficient
For the coming year.
-Frances Havergal, 1873
Everything hasty
gone to seed
Bedside prayers
rise silent
from hearts in despair
Glory gone but
hope rises like tomorrow’s dawn
Joy smiles wisely
under confetti skies
Gentle snow
clings diligently to
frost-blown pane
Greater still the glory
dying like evening sun
bringing glory
to glory
Promise in wilderness rest
product of grace fulfilled
in time
Shalom –
nothing missing
everything in place
Travel is always iffy this time of year, in this part of the world. We live in the Rocky Mountains, but our adult children have all followed the jobs to prairie cities. It is understood that estimated times of arrival are followed with a “weather permitting” in most of Canada in the winter. We will be there by a certain time if –if the passes are open, if the roads have been plowed, if no trucks have jack-knifed on the icy curves, if the winds don’t whip up white-out conditions, if the car starts again after we stop for lunch…
One year the nine hour trip to our grandchildren’s house for Christmas took two days. We had to stop half way and wait for the plows and sanding trucks. It was nearly minus 40 Celsius when we reached Northern Alberta and in spite of a good heater our feet were freezing. Icicles actually formed inside the car from our breath. We were frankly a little stressed and rather grumpy when we pulled up in front of the house.
As we trudged up the walk on crunchy, squeaky snow (very cold snow is loud), necks retreating into our parkas like frazzled turtles, our little grandson flung open the front door and yelled, “Did you KNOW about canny canes?”
“What, honey?”
“DID YOU KNOW ABOUT CANNY CANES? Why nobody tell me about canny canes afore?”
He pulled us into the house and before we had time to take our fogged-up glasses off or share hugs all around, he shoved green and red striped candy canes into our mitted hands. “You lick them like this! But first you should take off the plastic. Did you KNOW about canny canes? Wow! They so good!”
He spun around the room doing a hilarious canny cane dance. “Why you didn’t tell me?”
The strain of the previous two days disappeared entirely as we experienced joy through a three-year old’s taste buds.
Sometimes I feel like that about Jesus Christ. I want to fling open the door and shout, “Did you KNOW about Jesus? Did you KNOW how good He is? Why nobody tell me about this good Jesus afore? Wow! He’s so good!!” Then I do my funny little God-is-so-good dance. You should see it.
Joy comes with the morning.
Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
(Psalm 30:4,5)
Charis: Subject to Change 