Feast

"And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."
(Deuteronomy 8:3).

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God's Faithfulness

"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! . . . God is faithful . . . He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Cor. 10:12-13).
Not my faith but God's faithfulness!


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My Shepherd is Near

Our pastor preached on Psalm 23 today. All our fears are dispelled by the assurance that we have a God who cares for us. David writes from the perspective of a sheep who is in the loving care and protection of a good shepherd. In fact, he says, "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life." As I read the words of this comforting Psalm, I was reminded of an observation I'd read in another book some years ago. David begins his song by talking about his shepherd and then in verse four he transitions to talking to his shepherd. It's almost as if the shepherd shows up part way through the song. When does the shepherd make his presence know, or better, when does the sheep recognize the presence of his shepherd? As he walks through the valley of the shadow of death. I believe he was always there. But like me, David never felt the need for his comforting protection until in the midst of adversity. The fear of evil flees in his presence.

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Location:The Snuggery, Douglas, ON

The Deeps

Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach. Help me chastely to flee it and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be yours alone.

Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in you, the ground of my rest, the spring of my being. Give me a deeper knowledge of yourself as saviour, master, lord, and king. Give me deeper power in private prayer, more sweetness in your word, more steadfast grip on its truth. Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from you. Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly husbandman, that my being may be a tilled field, the roots of grace spreading far and wide, until you alone are seen in me, your beauty golden like summer harvest, your fruitfulness as autumn plenty.

I have no master but you, no law but your will, no delight but yourself, no wealth but that you give me, no good but that you bless me, no peace but that you bestow. I am nothing but that you make me, I have nothing but that I receive from you. I can be nothing but that grace adorns me. Quarry me deep, dear Lord, and then fill me to overflowing with living water. Amen

(a Puritan prayer)


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Location:Lougheed hwy, Port Coquitlam, BC

Childlike Faith

These are my two little faithful pray-ers! Last week both Denise and I had near misses with large wildlife on the road. Thank God it didn't happen. Every night in their bedtime prayers Elijah and Grace ask God to keep us safe on the road. Grace prays, "Help Nanna and Pappa not to hit a moose again." We have often envisioned an angel dispatched on a mission to shoe a moose off the road, or one time holding the muzzle of an elk as we drive by. Thank God for the prayers of our family.

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Location:Thessalon, ON, heading east on hwy 17.

There is a River

We have a vacation wish list of places that we've driven by in our truck. Some day we'd like to return to take some time to really relish the scenery and sights. I84 heading east out of Portland, Oregon, is one of these. This route is also called the Oregon Trail. It follows the Columbia River. The scene transforms from rainforest and waterfalls to desertlike landscape.

Traveling along this route we passed through many cities using the mighty river as their source of life and commerce. I was reminded of Psalm 46:4-5
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
God is the source and constant supply of all life. Every moment our sovereign Lord is providentially sustaining life on this broken planet. If He were to remove His gracious hand even for a moment we would all dry up and perish.

Further, He has mercifully provided for our life beyond our existence on this planet. In the final words God's message to us, we read these words of hope in Revelation 22,
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Dive deep into God's unending flow of love and experience His grace for whatever challenges that you are facing. He alone is the source of our life.


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Location:I84 eastbound in Oregon

M2MS

God is Lord of our journey; His purposes and His presence often come disguised detours, disasters and delays (2 Corinthians 1:8-11).

A Picture of the Faithfulness of God

A full rainbow in Whitecourt, Alberta.

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the everlasting covenant between me and the earth. . . . Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." Genesis 9:13, 16.

M2MS

Every crisis in your life can make you stronger.

I believe this happens by increasing our capacity for trusting God. True strength must come from God. Recently we experienced a crisis in which we had very little control, but God was in total control of our lives! While driving south on Interstate 39 in Wisconson on Thursday, we encountered a terrible thunderstorm. Suddenly we were hit by lightning. We lost all power in the truck and Denise pulled safely to the shoulder. All the electrical was burned up except the emergency flashers! So we have been in Madison since waiting for repairs. The truck shop cannot check out our truck until Monday, so I guess we'll be here till at least Tuesday. God is in control!!! I don't understand his plan, but I do know that He is good and great, and so I trust Him do what is best for His glory in our lives. That's all that matters and that's where true lastly joy is. This morning I read in Romans 5:4, "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

M2MS

Faith is resting in the faithfulness of God. Your faith will falter but His faithfulness will never fail.

This photo of a Canadian Prairie sunrise reminded me of the assuring words of the prophet Jeremiah: "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." (Lamentations 3:21-26)