Streams in the desert: Degrees of faith

Degrees of Faith

Judg 6:39 NET - Gideon said to God, “Please do not get angry at me, when I ask for just one more sign. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make only the fleece dry, while the ground around it is covered with dew.”

There are degrees to faith. At one stage of Christian experience we cannot believe unless we have some sign or some great manifestation of feeling. We feel our fleece, like Gideon, and if it is wet we are willing to trust God. This may be true faith, but it is imperfect. It always looks for feeling or some token besides the Word of God. It marks quite an advance in faith when we trust God without feelings. It is blessed to believe without having any emotion.

There is a third stage of faith which even transcends that of Gideon and his fleece. The first phase of faith believes when there are favorable emotions, the second believes when there is the absence of feeling, but this third form of faith believes God and His Word when circumstances, emotions, appearances, people, and human reason all urge to the contrary. Paul exercised this faith in Acts 27:20, 25, “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.” Notwithstanding all this Paul said, “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

May God give us faith to fully trust His Word though everything else witness the other way. —C. H. P.

When is the time to trust? 
Is it when all is calm, 
When waves the victor’s palm, 
And life is one glad psalm 
Of joy and praise?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is when the waves beat high,
When storm clouds fill the sky,
And prayer is one long cry,
O help and save!

When is the time to trust? 
Is it when friends are true? 
Is it when comforts woo, 
And in all we say and do 
We meet but praise?
Nay! but the time to trust 
Is when we stand alone, 
And summer birds have flown, 
And every prop is gone, 
All else but God.

What is the time to trust? 
Is it some future day, 
When you have tried your way, 
And learned to trust and pray 
By bitter woe?
Nay! but the time to trust 
Is in this moment’s need, 
Poor, broken, bruised reed! 
Poor, troubled soul, make speed 
To trust thy God.

What is the time to trust? 
Is it when hopes beat high, 
When sunshine gilds the sky, 
And joy and ecstasy 
Fill all the heart?
Nay! but the time to trust 
Is when our joy is fled, 
When sorrow bows the head, 
And all is cold and dead, 
All else but God.
—Selected

Wednesday Night Bible Study

So last Wednesday It was my turn again to speak for our Wednesday night bible study.

The last time I spoke it was a total of 5 minutes =)  The first time I spoke it was a total of 3 minutes.

I think I did a bit better this time. I forgot how long the girls said I spoke but it was somewhere around 10 maybe 15 minutes, but that's only because I played a song...and it was like 5 minutes long so.... =)

So I was having devotions one night and also praying about what God wanted me to speak about, and I felt him lead me to Ezekiel 22:30  

So I turned there and read it... then I felt like he wanted me to go listen to a message by Bro. Bryan samms from a youth conference a couple years ago. So I did, and this is what the Lord gave me.

As I was preparing for tonight, and praying about what God wanted me to speak on. I felt him direct me towards a very serious subject. It's one that's been on my Heart since 2011, when I heard Bro.Bryan Samms  preach on "God looking for a man."

Ever since then I've not been able to get away from it. God spoke to me very deeply in that message. 

My Text is: Ezekiel 22:30

"And I sought for a man among them , that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: But I Found None.

I'll never forget the first time I read that verse. God sought for a man, But he found none.

Bro. Samms said that in all the word of God those are the four saddest words you'll see." But I Found None."

Bro Bryan Samms brought out three characteristics of a man God is looking for.

1.A Man of Separation

"And I sought for a man among them."

-God is look for and individual to stand out in a corrupt crowd.

 Now days so many teenagers, ( even in the church world) are going with the crowd... they are to afraid to stand up for whats right.

God was not only looking for an individual, but he was looking for an individual within his own group of people. 

But he found none.

Think about that... he didn't  even find one person in his entire group of people who would stand in the gap.

God is looking for someone to stand. Someone who will stand up for what's right, Someone who's not afraid of standing out, and going against the grain.

As I was studying and Praying. I looked across our churches as a whole. our movement. And some Questions started coming to my mind.

-Do We Even Care Anymore??

It seems somewhere along the way we lost our burden for people, and the ability to care. We lost our zeal.. Our vision.

We live in a world that has a motto, and that motto is: "take care of ourselves, look out for #1, don't worry about anyone else."

And I wonder if that's not creeped into the church world a little bit??

I'm talking to myself here. There are somethings the Lord has been dealing with me on. I know I'm young, but I've seen somethings in the church  that's made theses questions come to my mind. And again I'm not talking about any church in particular.. but a movement as a whole.

But as a movement, I'm wondering if we have gotten cold... fallen asleep... gotten a little to comfortable.

I've been encouraged by some of the preachers I've heard lately at camps or revivals, that God has been rising to wake us up. To have revival again.

Some of the things that they have preached about maybe painful, hard to grasp and take. But I'm grateful for that. I'd rather be raked raw, then fall asleep.

We need revival, I believe we are starting to see a little bit of it, because God is working, and speaking to people.

But if we as a church, as a movement don't wake up, and pick up our lanterns....

I wonder if we realize how many people will go to hell?  

And I also wonder if that even bothers us anymore?

another characteristic Bro. Samms brought out was:

2. A Man of Service 

He said God was looking for someone to make the decision to follow him. 

When we decide to serve God, he said it starts with a :

-Decision 

we must make the choice to follow God.

Then a - Desire

A decision is not enough you also need a desire to follow God after you've made the choice.

Then he brought out  another interesting point..

He told the story of  a young lady that went to the San Francisco Music Conservatory.

She studied, and practiced. 

One day a Preacher asked her about her practice habits. She replied that on a average, since 8th grade, she practiced 8-10 HOURS! a day.

She worked so hard on the piano that she has carpal tunnels disease, and joint problems in her knees and elbows.

Bro.Samms said, that if a young lady is willing to commit to play the piano 8-10 hours a day, and get carpal tunnels disease in her wrists. Then WHY are we not willing to surrender to the cause of Christ?

That spoke to me. It's a very interesting point!

I've felt like God has been calling me, to what and where I don't know yet. But I told him whatever it is, I'm willing to answer the call.

My calling right now is #1 my family, then to finish my education, and get my nursing degree, then to be here in the ministry.... and help this church Grow.

After that... well that's up to him.

The last point he brought out was:

3: A Man of Surrender

 "why should you surrender?"

He said, " one reason... GOD."

 He said go back two thousand years ago, to Golgotha hill. Where Jesus Gave his Life for ours.

 

Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe.

He left off with: Will you surrender to God?

"But I Found None."

Will You be the one??

There is a song by a preacher named:" Kenny Baldwin."

This is the chorus;

"Will you be the one? To answer to his call? Will you stand when those around you fall? 

Will you be the to take his light into a darkened world? Tell me will you be the one?

This is what God laid on my heart, and what i spoke on.

Lord help me to have a greater burden for the lost..... to pick up my lantern and follow him.

May you all have a good weekend!! =)

  

 

 

Kaitlyn's Graduation !!

This past Friday was Kaity's 8th grade Graduation. 
It was a beautiful ceremony!!! We really like the Man who spoke, he really put an emphasis on God and encouraged the graduates there to serve him. 
Her outfit I think was the prettiest one there!!=) she looked so beautiful!

There were  62 graduates... her class was bigger than Kelsey's! We had a very relaxing evening!
The Stinnetts & Kruse family came.... they sat with us. It was so good to see them all again! =)  

The LORD helped me to take kaity's 8th Grade Picture's... they turned out very nice! here are a few of my favorites! 



              I loved this one!! Kelsey got her to laughing =)

                                      She's learning how to play the violin!
                                 

                                     This one turned out very pretty too!

   

This one I took in black&white and then I edited it online and colored in her watch, and barrette 

She came up with this idea her self. She wanted one going up the steps  

                                   I also edited this one and colored in the purse

                 
Some of these were on her Poster.... which turned out very nice!
Hopefully soon I'll be able to do another post of her ceremony... Her party is next Friday the 25th 
We have been busy getting ready for that. We are very excited!!

I can't believe she's heading into high school!! she's growing up fast =)

Streams in the dessert: God works in the dark

God Works in the Dark

Exod 14:21 KJV - And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

In this verse there is a comforting message showing how God works in the dark. The real work of God for the children of Israel, was not when they awakened and found that they could get over the Red Sea; but it was “all that night.”

So there may be a great working in your life when it all seems dark and you cannot see or trace, but yet God is working. Just as truly did He work “all that night,” as all the next day. The next day simply manifested what God had done during the night. Is there anyone reading these lines who may have gotten to a place where it seems dark? You believe to see, but you are not seeing. In your life-progress there is not constant victory; the daily, undisturbed communion is not there, and all seems dark.

“The Lord caused the sea to go back…all that night.” Do not forget that it was “all that night.” God works all the night, until the light comes. You may not see it, but all that “night” in your life, as you believe God, He works. —C. H. P.

“All that night” the Lord was working,
Working in the tempest blast,
Working with the swelling current,
Flooding, flowing, free and fast.

“All that night” God’s children waited—
Hearts, perhaps in agony
With the enemy behind them,
And, in front, the cruel sea.

“All that night” seemed blacker darkness
Than they ever saw before,
Though the light of God’s own presence
Near them was, and sheltered o’er.

“All that night” that weary vigil
Passed; the day at last did break,
And they saw that God was working
“All that night” a path to make.

“All that night,” O child of sorrow,
Canst thou not thy heartbreak stay?
Know thy God in darkest midnight
Works, as well as in the day.

—L. S. P.

Streams in the dessert: Christ in the vessel

Christ in the Vessel

Mark 4:35 KJV - And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

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

Kelsey posted this on her blog, and I thought it was really good!!

Kelsey posted this on her blog, and I thought it was really good!!

  

Don't Stop Praying!

Don't stop praying! The Lord is nigh;

Don't stop praying! He'll hear your cry;

God has promised, and he is true;

Don't stop praying! He'll answer you.

'Don't stop praying, but have more trust;

Don't stop praying, for pray we must; 

Faith will banish a mount of care:

Don't stop praying! God answers prayer.'

Have you proved this?

Mrs. G.R Hardingwood

The Fatigue Factor: by Dr.David Jeremiah

The Fatigue Factor

I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
Job 42:2

Recommended Reading Isaiah 40:27-31

The word "fatigue" frequently shows up in the headlines, preceded by a host of adjectives. Congress suffers budget fatigue. Sports teams lose because of travel fatigue. Trains derail because of driver fatigue. Soldiers face battle fatigue. Ministries go unfunded because of donor fatigue. There was even a report recently about young people suffering Facebook fatigue. All these reports -- and more -- are accurate. We are a society of tired people in a tired world. 

But God isn't tired. "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary" (Isaiah 40:28). Since God possesses all the power in the universe, He can do anything He chooses. He can do everything as easily as He does anything. Nothing is more difficult for God than anything else; He does all things with the same amount of ease. Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing is remotely hard for Him. He never grows tired.

The Bible repeatedly reassures us of God's strengthening grace. So take care of yourself, avoid unnecessary weariness, rest in Him, and draw from His strength. 

The same God who built a 100,000-mile ring around Saturn also made the tiny feather of a humming bird. He can do anything; His power is unlimited.
David Jeremiah