[分享]Streams In the Desert for Nov. 18

Li_ebo

 

Streams In the Desert for Nov. 18

Streams In the Desert for Nov. 18

“Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” (Luke 7:23.)

It is sometimes very difficult not to be offended in Jesus Christ. The offenses may be circumstantial. I find myself in a prison-house-a narrow sphere, a sick chamber, an unpopular position-when I had hoped for wide opportunities. Yes, but He knows what is best for me. My environment is of His determining. He means it to intensify my faith, to draw me into nearer communion with Himself, to ripen my power. In the dungeon my soul should prosper.

The offense may be mental. I am haunted by perplexities, questions, which I cannot solve. I had hoped that, when I gave myself to Him, my sky would always be clear; but often it is overspread by mist and cloud. 　Yet let me believe that, if difficulties remain, it is that I may learn to trust Him all the more implicitly-to trust and not be afraid. Yes, and by my intellectual conflicts, I am trained to be a tutor to other storm-driven men.

The offense may be spiritual. I had fancied that within His fold I should never feel the biting winds of temptation; but it is best as it is. His grace is magnified. My own character is matured. His Heaven is sweeter at the close of the day. There I shall look back on the turnings and trials of the way, and shall sing the praises of my Guide. So, let come what will come, His will is welcome; and I shall refuse to be offended in my loving Lord. --- Alexander Smellie.

Blessed is he whose faith is not offended, When all around his way The power of God is working out deliverance For others day by day;

Though in some prison drear his own soul languish, Till life itself be spent, Yet still can trust his Father’s love and purpose, And rest therein content.

Blessed is he, who through long years of suffering, Cut off from active toil, Still shares by prayer and praise the work of others, And thus “divided the spoil.”

Blessed are thou, O child of God, who sufferest, And canst not understand The reason for thy pain, yet gladly leavest Thy life in His blest Hand.

Yea, blessed art thou whose faith is “not offended” By trials unexplained, By mysteries unsolved, past understanding, Until the goal is gained.
--- Freda Hanbury allen.

Li_ebo

 

Streams In the Desert for Nov.20.

Streams In the Desert for Nov.20.

“Blessed is he that waitech.” (Dan. 12:12.)

It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God’s warriors than standing still.

There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption?

No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God and spread the case before Him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promise of aid.

Wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him. Believe that if He keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet He will come at the right time; the vision shall come, and shall not tarry.

Wait in quiet patience. Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses. Accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, “Now, Lord, not my will, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities; but I will wait until Thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day, fo: my heart is fixed upon Thee alone, O God, and my spirit waitech for Thee in full conviction that Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower.” --- Morning by Morning.

Wait, patiently wait, God never is late; Thy budding plans are in Thy Father’s holding, And only wait His grand divine unfolding. Then wait, wait, Patiently wait.

Trust, hopefully trust, That God will adjust Thy tangled life; and from its dark concealings, Will bring His will, in all its bright revealings. Then trust, trust, Hopefully trust.

Rest, peacefully rest On thy Saviour’s breast; Breathe in His ear thy sacred high ambition, And He will bring it forth in blest fruition. Then rest, rest, Peacefully rest!
--- Mercy A. Gladwin.

Li_ebo

 

Streams In the Desert for Nov. 21 

Streams In the Desert for Nov. 21 

Streams In the Desert for Nov. 21

   “Roll on Jehovah thy way.” (Psalm 37:6, margin.)

Whatever it is that presses thee, go tell the Father; put the whole matter over into His hand, and so shalt thou be freed from that dividing, perplexing care that the world is full of. When thou art either to do or suffer anything, when thou art about any purpose or business, go tell God of it, and acquaint Him with it; yes, burden Him with it, and thou hast done for matter of caring; no more care, but quiet, sweet, diligence in thy duty, and dependence on Him for the carriage of thy matters. Roll thy cares, and thyself with them, as one burden, all on thy God. --- R. Leighton.

Build a little fence of trust Around today; Fill the space with loving work And therein stay. Look not through the sheltering bars Upon tomorrow; God will help thee bear what comes Of joy or sorrow.
--- Mary Butts.

We shall find it impossible to commit our way unto the Lord, unless it be a way that He approves. It is only by faith that a man can commit his way unto the Lord; if there be the slightest doubt in the heart that “our way” is not a good one, faith will refuse to have anything to do with it. This committing of our way must be a continuous, not a single act. However extraordinary and unexpected may seem to be His guidance, however near the precipice He may take you, you are not to snatch the guiding reins out of His hands. Are we willing to have all our ways submitted to God, for Him to pronounce judgment on them? There is nothing a Christian needs to be more scrutinizing about than about his confirmed habits and views. He is too apt to take for granted the Divine approbation of them. Why are some Christians so anxious, so fearful? Evidently because they have not left their way with the Lord. They took it to Him, but brought it away with them again. --- Selected.

[此贴子已经被作者于2007-11-21 21:11:33编辑过]

Li_ebo

 

Streams In the Desert for Nov. 23

Streams In the Desert for Nov. 23

“Thou hast shewed thy people hard things.” (Psa. 60:3.)

Thave always been glad that the Psalmist said to God that some things were hard. There is no mistake about it; there are hard things in life. 　Some beautiful pink flowers were given me this summer, and as I took them I said, “What are they?” And the answer came, “They are rock flowers; they grow and bloom only on rocks where you can see no soil.” Then I thought of God’s flowers growing in hard places; and I feel, somehow, that He may have a peculiar tenderness for His “rock flowers” that He may not have for His lilies and roses. --- Margaret Bottome.

The tests of life are to make, not break us. Trouble may demolish a man’s business but build up his character. The blow at the outward man may be the greatest blessing to the inner man. If God, then, puts or permits anything hard in our lives, be sure that the real peril the real trouble, is what we shall lose if we flinch or rebel. --- Maltbie D. Babcock.

“Heroes are forged on anvils hot with pain, And splendid courage comes but with the test. Some nature ripen and some natures bloom Only on blood-wet soil, some souls prove great Only in moments dark with death or doom.

“God gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.”