Streams in the desert: the end of our strength

The End Of Our Strength

John 20:29 KJV - Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

How strong is the snare of the things that are seen, and how necessary for God to keep us in the things that are unseen! If Peter is to walk on the water he must walk; if he is going to swim, he must swim, but he cannot do both. If the bird is going to fly it must keep away from fences and the trees, and trust to its buoyant wings. But if it tries to keep within easy reach of the ground, it will make poor work of flying.

God had to bring Abraham to the end of his own strength, and to let him see that in his own body he could do nothing. He had to consider his own body as good as dead, and then take God for the whole work; and when he looked away from himself, and trusted God alone, then he became fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able to perform. That is what God is teaching us, and He has to keep away encouraging results until we learn to trust without them, and then He loves to make His Word real in fact as well as faith.—A. B. Simpson

I do not ask that He must prove  
His Word is true to me, 
And that before I can believe
He first must let me see.
It is enough for me to know
’Tis true because He says ’tis so;
On His unchanging Word I’ll stand
And trust till I can understand.
—E. M. Winter

Update and rambling =)

Wow! I haven't been on here in long time! This year has been CRAZY! I'm wanting to start writing again so hopefully I'll be able to do that.

So a lot has been going on, we've had a pretty good year. It's been a tough one but a good one.
The Lord has done so much for us this year, we have seen him answer so many prayers and seen him do wonderful things.

I'm gonna start with this week. I've been trying to get a job and I have applied at several different places and never heard back. Well someone mentioned I should submit an application at chick-fil-a on 83rd&bell so I did. On Monday I went in filled one one out and gave it to a girl there, then on Tuesday evening I got a call back to come in for an interview. I was so excited that I even got a call back! I've never heard back from any of the other places I've applied at, even other chick-fil-a locations. 
Anyway so I went in Thursday for the interview and it went really well, she went through several lines of questions and all that then asked if I could come back tomorrow (Friday) for another interview with the day manger. So I did and that went pretty well too, and I got the job!! I was so happy! I have to finish paperwork and everything else but I got it!! 
I'm just thanking the Lord for answering my prayer, I've been praying for one and I have been perfectly fine waiting for the one he had for me. 
And well this one is obviously the one he wants, because I've never heard of submitting an application and going for an interview twice! And getting hired all in one week! That just doesn't happen without God. 

So that happened.... This year has been rough with my dad's health. we've gone through a lot and at times it seemed uncertain as to what would happen but, we had to keep going and keep believing that God was going to see us through and he has. And you know through all that God gave us a peace that no one can explain, my dads been out of work since earlier this year and things were uncertain but God provided everything we needed, and gave us peace and we knew we were going to be alright.
Sure the devil came in plenty of times and tried to get us down, but we've had to choose in those moments to trust God and have faith in him.
I'll be honest it's been hard, but God seen us through.
He's certainly blessed us this year. He provided a way for the girls to be in teen pact, and for us to go to youth camp, he provided a way to got to the AFHE homeschool convention,and he provided this job for me.
He's done so much and more for our family and i just wanted to stop and take the time to give him the praise he deserves. 

No matter what your going through, and no matter how dark it gets if you choose to trust God and have a little faith he'll see you through. He said if we'll have the faith of a mustard seed we will se mountain be removed. I've seen some pretty big mountains be moved in my life in the last year.

Last year was a really bad year for me, I was still struggling with depression and trying to help take care of my parents and I was really struggling spiritually I'm not gonna lie. But I'm so thankful that God never gave up on me, and I had my parents and other people that God used in my life to help me through.  This year has been a much better year for me, I feel like God has helped me get past the depression and has really encouraged me spiritually, I feel like I'm beginning a new chapter in my life. 
And we have got a great church that has helped me grow, I'm so thankful for Bro.Brad& Mrs.Janae they have been great leaders for our church and just what I've needed for this season of my life. And I'm thankful for everyone else in the church they have been very encouraging and have shown their support for our family. 

Ok so enough of the rambling =) I'm hoping to post some picture and stuff of this year soon.
Thanks for listening to me ramble away, but hey I had a lot to catch up on ;) 
I hope everyone has a great weekend!!! 

Today's turning point by: Dr.David Jeremiah

Thursday, August 4

Cracked Pots 

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 
2 Corinthians 4:7 

Recommended Reading 2 Corinthians 4:1-9

Everyone knows what it’s like to be disappointed by someone we love or admire. Our husbands, wives, children, or parents sometimes let us down. Our heroes stumble. Our leaders falter. It can devastate us and damage our relationships because we place high expectations on those we love. Sometimes we forget they are broken people just like we are.

According to 2 Corinthians 4:7, we are all earthen vessels, jugs of clay, easily chipped. The Voice translates 2 Corinthians 4:7 like this: “But this beautiful treasure (the Gospel) is contained in us—cracked pots made of earth and clay—so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us.”

God blesses us cracked pots in spite of our sinful, undeserving nature; and high on His list of blessings is forgiveness. As we look to Him alone, He gives us grace (He imparts a million blessings we don’t deserve) and mercy (He withholds a million judgments we do deserve).

If He gives grace and mercy to cracked pots like us, perhaps we need to extend the same to those we love.

Let us make sure that we are not so hard on others because if the shoe were on the other foot, we would want someone to understand our circumstances and help us to redeem ourselves.
Jesse R. Watson, Jr., in Morning Coffee