Pressed--Streams in the Desert

A friend posted this on FB and I wanted to remember it and be able to find it...so, here it is...a post my heart needed from Streams in the Desert.

Pressing Forward
"I was crushed...so much so that I despaired even of life, but that was to make me rely not on myself, but on the God who raises the dead" (2 Cor. 1:8, 9).
***

"Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length;
Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond strength;
Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.
Pressure by foes, and a pressure from friends.
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.

"Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living a life in the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured."

***

The pressure of hard places makes us value life. Every time our life is given back to us from such a trial, it is like a new beginning, and we learn better how much it is worth, and make more of it for God and man. The pressure helps us to understand the trials of others, and fits us to help and sympathize with them.

There is a shallow, superficial nature, that gets hold of a theory or a promise lightly, and talks very glibly about the distrust of those who shrink from every trial; but the man or woman who has suffered much never does this, but is very tender and gentle, and knows what suffering really means. This is what Paul meant when he said, "Death worketh in you."

Trials and hard places are needed to press us forward, even as the furnace fires in the hold of that mighty ship give force that moves the piston, drives the engine, and propels that great vessel across the sea in the face of the winds and waves.  --A. B. Simpson

***

"Out of the presses of pain,
Cometh the soul's best wine;
And the eyes that have shed no rain,
Can shed but little shine."

The power of touch

Been thinking of the power of touch lately...displayed in the life of Jesus and the importance of it in my own life...both in giving and receiving. It is instrumental in showing love and compassion to those around us whether with patients and their families or with my friends and loved ones. A pat on the back. A gentle squeezing of a hand. A hug. We all need the touch of another human being.

When the team got back from Kenya in December, I remember Steve saying that the first thing they did with each patient was to lay a hand on them and to pray with them. Many may be afraid to touch someone who is sick for fear of catching their ilness. But when someone chooses to set aside their fear, to touch them and pray for them?? Those two acts together spoke the love of Christ to those people. A simple act of laying a hand on their knee, their shoulder, to hold their hand. There is power in the human touch.

"And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed." Matthew 14:35-36

I've been reminded that it is not just the physically ill that need our touch. It is the lonely. The single. The widowed. The orphaned. The grieving. The hurting. We find it easier to speak a word of advice from our wealth of knowledge and wisdom. But sometimes words don't do a situation justice. Sometimes we must reach outside of ourselves and touch the person. Hug them. Hold them. Love them. The power of touch. 

Here is a link to a blog post about touch-- Healing Touch. Its from a perspective of a single woman but I think we can all apply it to those around us, no matter their marital status because in my own experience we all need the loving touch of another human being from time to time! :)

Glory to You

I've been reading through a book, 30 Days with Wesley: a prayer book. I got it as a gift from a dear friend. So, over the next months, I'll randomly share items from this book with you. It gives psalms and various passages to read each day as I spend time in prayer. I'm really enjoying it and so I thought you might enjoy bits of it too!

Psalm 29:1-4, 10-11

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, 
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; 
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters; 
the God of glory thunders, 
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. 
The voice of the LORD is powerful; 
The voice of the LORD is majestic.

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; 
the LORD is enthroned as King forever. 
The LORD gives strength to his people; 
the LORD blesses his people with peace.

With hearts filled with gratitude, let us bless and adore our almighty and everlasting Father, praying,

Praise to you, O God, the Giver of all good gifts. 

Blessed be your love for giving your Son to die for our sins, for the means of grace and for the hope of glory.

Praise to you, O God, the Giver of all good gifts.

Make us every day more zealous and diligent to use every opportunity to build up our souls in your faith, love and obedience.

Praise to you, O God, the Giver of all good gifts. 

Make yourself always present to our minds, and let your love fill and rule our souls in all those places, associations, and activities to which you call us this day.

Praise to you, O God, the Giver of all good gifts.

 **From 30 days with wesley**

I pray that this year we would rest in our Savior, the Giver of all good gifts, trusting Him to guide our steps according to His plan, that we might not strive against Him to get our own ways and that we would keep our eyes open to His gifts and that we might have hearts of thankfulness for who He is.