I have not posted for a while. With all the noise being bantered about of late I didn’t want to add to the information overload. I’ve also been in a somewhat contemplative mood of late, sorting through many streams of thought. However, a recent morning meditation reading prompted the following consideration.
*********
Wandering around my backyard these days, things look rather bleak. The bright greens, colorful fruit and flowers have faded from sight, the leaves on several trees have fallen to earth. I have approached several bare trees with pruning shears, removing old growth to make room for new. I have done likewise to my precious berry vines and olive tree. You see, it is by design that fruit grows best and more abundant from new growth, not old. In the growing season of spring, new branches will form on stark branches, grow and conform in balance to roots beneath. This is the process; this is the way.
Standing amidst muted surroundings, the vibrant wings of a hummingbird can be heard, drawing my attention to nervous flight in the vain search for flowers’ nectar, finally alighting upon a nearby feeder for refreshment that will do for now. Be patient my little rainbowed friend. This season will pass and the blessings now hidden in the shadow of winter will return again for our delight, if we be but patient and wait. – As it is, so shall it be, amen.
So, with that picture in mind, I offer the mediation below from the devotional read, None But The Hungry Heart.
“It is always hard to see the purpose of the wilderness wanderings until after they are over.” – John Bunyan
In the wondrous blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10 Isa 30:15, Job 2:10; Gen. 50:20
****************
In Thy Hands – NBTHH #7-29.
“Thou art my God. My times are in Thy hands.” (Ps. 31:14, 15).
The environment necessary for one’s growth, and the enablement necessary for one’s service, are both in the hands of one’s Creator. “So, He fed them according to the integrity of His heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of His hands” (Ps. 78:72).
“What we have all to do is to walk closely and quietly with the Lord Jesus, and the blessing will come when He has established His work. There is a sifting government of God as well as a perfect redemption, and He is full of patience. His purpose is glory; His ways are the wilderness.”
“There are various ways in which as saints we are tried, but through all circumstances God is threading our way, occupying Himself with us, our particular characters, trials and suffering, all to instruct and develop us. What we want is to realize that our Father loves us so much that He has taken such pains to make us ‘partakers of His holiness’ (Heb. 12:10). We are apt not to believe the activity of His love. Some trouble comes on us; our Father has been watching us individually for weeks, months, years; watching us to bring this trouble which He sees is needed.” – H.H.S.
“How varied are the ways in which our Father brings down and lifts up! We have to learn the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in the bright day as well as in the sorrowful night. If He is everything to me in my brightest day there is no fear but He will be my chief joy in the deepest of sorrow.”
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6).
