Path to the Waterfall

Job 38 ~ The Great Works of God

"Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder:  To cause it to rain on the earth where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man.  To satisfy the desolation and waste ground;  and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

Job 38:25-27

 Trickling water nourishes the lush vegetation along the pathway to Akaka Falls on the Big Island of Hawaii.

 A small pool of water has formed collecting rain water from the tropical hills above.
Quite sure there was a turtle nearby ready to take a swim.

Akaka Falls - near Honomu on the Big Island of Hawaii

Akaka Falls National Park Marker

Walking through the rain forest, winding down, curving up, beholding the lush tropical greens ... one can only marvel at Akaka Falls and the beauty of its flowing waters. The God of Heaven and Earth created this amazing world by His pleasure ... and it was good.

His Handiwork ~ "My Meditation of Him shall be Sweet" Psalm 104

Oh Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Psalm 104:24

"The waters go down by the valleys unto the place which thou has founded for them." 

Psalm 109:8

"Thou has set a bound that they may not pass over." 

Psalm 104:9

"Who laid the foundatoins of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever."  

Psalm 104:5

"Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains." 

Psalm 104:6

"The sun knoweth his going down." 

Psalm 104:19

"The Earth Shall Tremble" Jeremiah 10:10

Trembling Earth

Devastation and Life

Hawaii's Volcano National Park

Once the trembling subsides from volcanic activity, earth's surface is clearly left with devastation, evident for years to come.  Jeremiah 10:10 proves to us that God's wrath is able to affect earth in a mighty way.  Our Scripture also provides a picture of God's mercy -- He has promised love and blessing for our feeble attempts at obedience to His plan. The phrase "land flowing with milk and honey" is that very beautiful portrayal of sweetness and abundance.  The prophet Jeremiah is instrumental in presenting the contrast of wrath/judgement with love/provision.  "Obey my voice, and do, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God.  ... to give ... a Land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day." Jeremiah 11: 4,5.  

This is the Lava Lake which resulted from the trembling eruption of  Kilauea 1959 on the southern portion of the Big Island of Hawaii.  Near the Kilauea Caldera is a 38 mile round trip drive which descends 3700 feet to the Hawaiian coast; it ends where lava has covered the main road since 1986 from this still active Kilauea Volcano. Interestingly enough, the path leading to the crater walk edges a tropical rainforest.  The entire area is called, The Chain of Craters with evidence of eruptions 500 years and prior.  Today lava is flowing near the sea, visible by a red glow, while a fume cloud can often be seen near the Kalapana site, Pu'u Huluhulu, and at the Jaggar Museum overlook just after sunset.

 Vegetation returns to the area, showing God's regenerating power of life, shades of green among the bleak grays of the hardened lava.  "But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king ... He hath made the earth by His power, he hath established the world by His wisdom" (Jeremiah 10:10,12).

Upon closer examination of the young Ohi'a lehua tree, the brightly petaled flower is cheerfully stating, "I'm here. I've made it back. Out of from the darkness and cinder."  Just after ferns start to push through rocky wasteland, the Lehua plant makes its entrance.  Wouldn't you agree that our Heavenly Father has designed this plant so uniquely that even the petals of the Ohi'a flower look like bursting flames from a volcano?
Just a hundred feet from the Lehua and its brilliant reddish,orange buds, active Steam Vents exhale from the deep crevasses beneath.

Psalm 104:32 "He looketh upon the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke."

Look to the Lord

Therefore I will look unto the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my Salvation:
My God will hear me.   ...

When I fall,
I shall arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The Lord shall be a light unto me.

Micah 7:7,8

"The Lord hath prepare His throne in the heavens: and His kindgom ruleth over all.

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.  Bless ye the Lord.  

Psalm 103:19

The Rainbow

This is Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii, all 80 feet of it drop into a pool then the water chanels out.  Notice the faint but colorful rainbow seen in the right half of the image.  Such a picture of God's everlasting covenant that he will not destroy the earth with water. 

"And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations; I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.  And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud; And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.  And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth."  Genesis 9:12-16 

"Beloved"

"Greatly Beloved, fear not:  peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong."  And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let me Lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.  From Daniel 10:19

Daniel chapter nine gives us a beautiful prayer for the nation of Israel.  His prayer is so earnest and with such amazing appeal to our Lord that a heavenly messenger is sent.  The angel Gabriel came to Daniel and touched him then gave Daniel a vision calling and stating, "for thou art Greatly Beloved" in verse 9:23. 


Moving into chapter ten of Daniel, another visitor comes after Daniel had been mourning for three weeks.  Mourning most likely over the state of the children of Israel and wanting these same children to return to Jerusalem, their homeland, from the Babylon captives.  Written at a time when Daniel was weak and sick, this heavenly visitor is not named as a champion angel like Gabriel or Michael.  However, he is clothed in linen and girded in gold.  The description is similar to Revelation 1:15,16.  Could this be Jesus Christ, the Messiah who has come to Daniel, his Beloved servant?  Daniel saw a great vision and heard the words of this heavenly guest.   Daniel's prayers were heard, God sent an answer to one he calls again "Greatly Beloved" (10:11).  He encourages Daniel by affirming, "thy words were heard" (verse 12).  The mission was for Daniel to "understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days ...(10:14)"

Daniel's response to all of this leaves him in a physically weakened state, trembling, fallen upon the ground, unable to speak.  He is described as being severely depressed:  "my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength" (verse 16b).  Daniel had poured his heart out to His Lord and King expressing concern for the nation of Israel and imploring God for mercy, forgiveness, intervention.  He pleaded in chapter 9:19  "Oh Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for they city and thy people are called by thy name."  Urgency is in his every word.  

The words of a heavenly messenger, one with the appearance of a man, are recorded "... Greatly Beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea be strong ..." 
"Beloved"  a beautiful name to calm, caress a desperate Daniel  
"Beloved"  the voice of a Sovereign God comforting his Failing Servant
"Beloved"  assuaging all fear and weakness
"Beloved"  offering peace and strength
"Beloved"

"Behold ... Who Created these Things"

Look around you to see the majesty of God's creation.  Observe the beginning bud, tightly wrapped, protecting the beauty inside.  Quietly this miracle is awaiting sunshine and dewdrops before spreading its petals.

Just a few hours pass, the petals began to push outside of their previous confinement... with enough sunlight, the unfolding continues.

With flair, this perennial hibiscus proudly exhibits its tropical color and gently takes a bow among the neighboring foliage.

"Lift up your eyes on high and
behold Who created these things...

Hast thou not known?
Hast thou not heard,
  that the everlasting God,
  the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
     fainteth not, neither is weary?
He giveth power to the faint:
And to them that have no might he increaseth strength...
But they that wait upon the Lord shall  renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
They shall run and not be weary;
And, they shall walk, and not faint."

Isaiah 40:26, 28, 29, 31

Dear friends ~ Meditate on these precious promises.

"Hope in the Lord"

Be of Good Courage
Strengthen Your Heart
All ye that Hope in the Lord
Psalm 31:24

Hope occurs 130 times in the Bible.

"Gratitude"

Psalm 145:9 "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."

The last few months I've been able to meditate on God's Goodness in relation to our home, our family, our children. It is overwhelming to think of what I deserve, my husband deserves and my children deserve, which is is God's wrath and judgement for the sin in our lives. Because of our blackened hearts, we deserve a life of misery or turmoil and eternal judgement... Yet, God has allowed His Goodness and tender Mercy to permeate our lives.

As Jonathan Edwards writes in his treatise, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," I can only but agree that we are truly wicked, deserving of hell. We are inclined to slip and fall toward evil. We delude ourselves to believe we are too good for eternal damnation. In our unregenerate state, we are self-serving, desiring lusts of the flesh, seeking temporal peace and security. All of these show the corrupt nature of mankind.

Yet, the Bible portrays our God is a God of mercy. He has restrained the evil because of His Goodness. Only by His design has mankind escaped the judgement that we well deserve. J. Edwards states it this way: "it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up."

Joel 2:13 "Turn unto the Lord your God, he is gracious and merciful ..." That very grace and mercy has provided an escape route to keep us from being engulfed by the flames of hell, which we so much deserve. Ephesians chapter two explains it all: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:4-6). The ultimate gift of Jesus Christ and sacrifice of our Heavenly Father's only son is the proof of the "exceeding riches of His grace and His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (verse 7).

It is that grace and mercy which is extended to His people when they love Him with their heart, fear him with their soul, keep his commands, walk in his ways, follow his path, teach their children diligently. And, it is "the sovereign pleasure of God, for the present, which stays his rough wind..." J. Edwards, July 8 1741.

For this I am grateful!

"Be Ye Thankful" Colossians 3:15.

"Then shall the Earth yield her Increase"

It is only God, God alone who causes the earth to produce. The increase of the earth comes from the good hands of our loving, giving Heavenly Father. This summer (2011) we have experienced many extra hot days - weather from mid 90s to 100 degrees. Add the humidity index to that and the number increases. Just when it seems unbearable, with crackling grass underfoot and wilting plants to the right and left, the storm clouds gather and there's a downpour. The results: everything is fresh and green. That cloud is evidence of God's tender mercy, causing the dew and the rain to make our "earth yield her increase."

Looking at Psalm 67, we see how the blessings He gives affect so many areas of our lives! This very short Psalm has wonderful lessons for us to lean upon. Take a moment to read and meditate.

God be merciful unto us, and bless us
And cause His face to shine upon us;

That thy way may be known upon the earth,
Thy saving health among all nations.

Let the people praise thee, O God;
Let all the people praise thee.

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy:
For thou shalt judge the people righteously,
And govern the nations upon the earth.

Let the people praise the, O God;
Let all the people praise thee.

Then shall the earth yield her increase,
And God, even our own God, shall bless us

God shall bless us;
And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

"I will give thee for a covenant of the people" Isaiah 49:8

Covenant: A binding and solemn agreement made by two or more individuals, parties. An agreement among members of a church to hold to points of doctrine, faith, practice. In theology, the promises made by God to man, as recorded in the Bible.

Ultimately, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God's covenant that he made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Our heavenly Father gave us a perfect Christ as the foremost expression of His love to worthless and fallen man. Jesus Christ through His spotless, sinless life redeemed us by His death on Calvary's cross.

God's promise was spoken as early as Genesis 3:15 "her seed shall bruise" the serpent who is seeking to destroy God's creation - man - Adam and Eve. His promise to overcome the worldly kingdom where Satan dwells is true. That happened when Jesus was given as the sacrificial lamb on the cross. Jesus kept the law perfectly, something man cannot do. Jesus, only Jesus, could be an acceptable gift to appease God's wrath and satisfy God's judgement. For this we can only be grateful for He keeps His covenant with His people.

"Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him" Job 22:27

Have you ever been preoccupied with a concern for a friend, family member or a future occasion so much so that you find yourself committing it to prayer constantly during your day? Does it seem to become an obsession? Our lips and thoughts are directed upward to heaven with our request ... "Please Lord, in earnest, I implore You..." Possibly we state: "Dear God may I ask that You ..." If those words have ever come from your mouth, hundreds of times, you are not alone.

The amazing fact is "He shall hear thee" Job 22:27.

More often than not, we are in a state of uncertainty, anxiety when this happens. Yet, in the midst of our personal turmoil, God hears us. When we feel abandoned or cast down, God is there to hear our voice and send comfort. It may be that direction is given. "the light shall shine upon thy ways" Job 22:28. Or maybe God will fortify us, provide support "thou shalt be built up" vs 23.

We can most certainly identify with these verses in Job. "There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble" Job 22:29.

"The Earth be Moved, The Moutains be Carried, The Waters Roar "

Psalm 46 pronounces an incredibly strong declaration: "God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present Help in trouble." These comforting words are exactly what we can cling to amidst the crisis in an uncertain world. March 11 brought the strongest earthquake ever to hit Japan, 9.0. The triple devastation of the earthquake, the subsequent tsunami then the nuclear turmoil has been unprecedented for that tiny island country in the Pacific. In such a small amount of time comparatively, Japan experienced the trembling movement of the earth; mountains falling through mudslides leveling communities; and the rushing, waves roaring upon the coastline, pulling villages out to sea. Yet, God speaks "The Lord of hosts is with us" Psalm 46:7.

The Sovereign Lord has all power over the elements of Nature. He uses them as He will whether He chooses to move kingdoms to desolation or mend them. Although many would not acknowledge God as Lord over the wind and the waters, surely Psalm 46 declare it to be true. It is solely God's choice to bring judgement or healing to the nations of this earth.

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

The Cold of Snow and the Servant

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. Proverbs 25:13

Proverbs 25:13 seems like an appropriate verse in the middle of winter. We Midwesterners don't think of snow as refreshing this time of year for its companions are freezing temperatures, heavy winds, sleet and slush, icy coatings all about! Yet, our Bible gives a different perspective. The analogy of the cold of snow to refreshing the soul is a good one and definitely deserves a bit more study. Those living in hotter locations, would so welcome an occasional cooling wind, chilling air and touch of snow, particularly if it should occur at harvest. It is simply refreshing to outdoor laborers after working through many days of heat, prevalent in sub tropical climates. Israel is on the Mediterranean and accustomed to the long, hot summers; warm, dry harvests; and shorter, rainy winters. It must be rare to have that light snowfall, totally unexpected; yet, this scene provides a picture of renewed energy.

A highlight of the verse would be to point us to a dependable messenger, not so much the weather. This faithful servant will carry the message -- fully trustworthy, completely reliable -- the master will have satisfaction that the information will come to its final destination. Could we be that messenger for our Lord and Savior. Could we carry the message of the sacrifice of Christ and His offering for our redemption from sin? Certainly that is an awesome responsibility: to live as though we carry the message and our lives show the work of Christ in that He gives us peace and hope for the future. May our Master say to us, "well done thou good and faithful servant" Matthew 25:23.

"Her Seed"

In the book of Beginnings - Genesis - we are given an account of the entire 7 Day Creation. Life is Revealed: Sea life, Plant life, Animal life culminating in Human Life. Very shortly after the miraculous description of Everything Good, we are given a frightening lesson on Man's Fall from a perfect fellowship with the Creator and the beauty of Eden's Garden. Yet, hidden in the despair of sin, God provided Eve with an amazing Promise: Redemption through God's Son would come from "the seed of the woman" Genesis 3:15.

Adam who enjoyed a pure communion with the Lord from his very creation felt alienation and fear after tasting of the forbidden fruit when God called for him: "I was afraid ... I hid myself" Gen 3:10. Then Eve, feeling the pain of blame and guilt responded that she was beguiled or deceived into her actions. We can all identify with these emotions of fear, shame, and the disappointment or anger stemming from betrayal. Yet, none of us have fallen from such a holy companionship with our Lord and King.

God set out his punishment clearly, quickly and without further reprimands. First the serpent was cursed to crawl on the belly, eat dust, feel enmity, be crushed. Then the Woman's punishment would be two fold: pain, sorrow in childbearing; and the desire to her husband who should be caring for her, not as the partner, as was the woman in Eden. Both of these are relational for her. She devotes much of her time to child rearing with hurt and tears being integral to the process. Her relationship with her husband is now cursed; there's the struggle to earnestly heed his direction. Adam's curse was applied to him personally as well as the human race. The garden now becomes a burden requiring toil, sweat with thorns and thistles. He is to get his sustenance from the cursed ground. Death would be a reality resulting from the fall - dust thou art and shall return.

Yet, it was the Woman who was given the message of Hope: her Seed would bruise the head of the deceiver. The promise that Eve would be the mother of all living, provided that HOPE for Victory. Through her offspring, a Savior would come to be the Deliverer from the beguiling serpent. This is how the darkness and the evil from sin would be overthrown. Notice the prophet Isaiah's statements in 14:12 when Lucifer is addressed as fallen, cut down to the ground, brought down. This very promise concealed in the curse was a treasure that she pondered in her heart: the serpent would be defeated most certainly by her Seed!

God's perfect plan was presented to us very early in the Scripture. The Hope of Christ is given to us in such a simple phrase as "her seed." Let us look forward to the future when Christ shall appear gloriously a second time as "the blessed Hope" Titus 2:13. As the book of Revelation concludes, let us join with its author who states: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

"We Give Thanks To God Always" I Thes. 1:2

Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

"... whose Leaf shall not fade ..." Ezekiel 47:12

This time of year in the midwest, we look about to see leaves fading, falling, blowing all about and everywhere. Yet, the Bible has a passage which states the "leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit." Ezekiel 47 gives a glimpse of an amazing tree that is growing by a river, unaffected by seasons or harsh weather. Does it seem possible? It is possible if taken as a Biblical promise meant solely to encourage God's people that He cares for them; He has a plan for them; He protects and preserves them. The key to these blessings comes just a little farther in Ezekiel 47:12 "...because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary ..." The very source of nourishment for that tree, which is strong enough to withstand the seasons and aging time, comes from the strength gathered through the purity of God's holiness. God's sanctuary is one that offers life, abundant life. It will prevent the fading, the falling, the tossing and crumbling which results from tainted waters that are polluted with the world's offerings.

Psalm 1 is a parallel passage showing a tree planted by the river: "His leaf also shall not wither" verse 3. However, verse 1 provides the true subject "Blessed is the man." God is using a similie, comparing a blessed man to a strong, stable tree: "He shall be like a tree." What is our nourishment giving us strength to withstand trials that would blow us, bend us, cause us to become uprooted? Simply this: the Law of the Lord. From the heavenly sanctuary of our Lord, has come His Law delivered to us through the many writers starting with Moses and the Ten Commandments to the Apostle John as he penned the prophetic words in the book of Revelation. By wrapping the Word of God around us, drinking in the passages, allowing it soak into our soul, we can possess that very power that only our Lord offers.

Take a moment to enjoy the beauty of the Autumn season. When you see the vibrant leaves which have changed from their shades of green, remember that God has given each of us a promise: we can be strong, with unfading leaves, strong in Him and through Him, as we walk in His counsel.

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace,

As I have seen in one autumnal face." John Donne

"...It Was Good."

God in His grace and love for us created this beautiful earth. He said, "Let the earth bring forth ..." and it was done. Soon after the words were spoken, this world was filled with plants - herbs, grasses, bushes, trees with buds then flowers and fruit -- in abundance! God planned every type of vegetation that we would need and put it on this earth, fully available to everyone of us! We have not even begun to determine all of the wonderful uses for our natural resources. The colonists, Native Americans and pioneers all used roots, stems, leaves for a variety of purposes. Some of that knowledge has been hidden from us today. Pharmaceudical companies are continuing to find remedies for all types of ailments through testing on many types of plantlife. Yet, when the process of Creation was complete, in God's eyes, "it was good." That phrase is used four times in Genesis chapter one. Something totally incomprehensible to me is that it is not only good, It Is GREAT! It is unbelievably incredible. If God sees His creative work in this earth, as being "good," what more can we expect when we enter into the gates of Heaven. Revelation 22:1-6 give us just a little glimpse of what that will be. In the meantime, we have representations of the the Genesis Creation in our own gardens; the very flowering plants, herbs that we tend to give us pleasure. Let's thank Him for those bright spots which draw us to meditate on His Goodness. PS Photo Coming

"The Lord hear Thee ..."

Psalm 20:1 declares a promise and with confidence; we can most certainly believe that The Lord hear Thee. King David wrote many of the Psalms; these will be found from Psalm 3 through Psalm 72 as concluding verse 20 states, "The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended." His life with many details is unfolded before us from I Samuel chapter 16 as a young man possessed of strength to slay both a lion and a bear until I Kings chapter 2 which depicts his death after reigning 40 years, sovereign king of Israel. David's words declare that God indeed will listen to our voice, our whispered prayer of uncertainty, our earnest plea for deliverance, our angry cry in troubled times. He will hear our gratitude which can hardly be uttered through tears of joy; when voices are lifted in songs of praise to declare His goodness. King David harbored and shared all of these emotions.

The Lord will hear you. That is a fact. So much so that David had to write it many times: Psalm 4:3 "The Lord will hear when I call." He hears us anytime and all the time "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning(Ps 5:3). God heard David in distress "I am troubled, mourning, groaning, diseased, feeble, broken, failing, without friends, deaf, dumb, ...Thou Wilt Hear" (Ps 38:15). "God shall hear"(Ps 55:19).

Such a precious promise which is reinforced by so many verses in the Psalms. And the beauty is that we can depend on God to listen, provide an answer, grant strength to move forward. "Blessed be the Lord, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore, my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him" (Psalm 28:6,7).

"I would seek unto God ... who giveth rain upon the Earth"

We've just come through a very rainy few weeks. Many could think it a depressing month with the dark skies and thick cloud cover. Despondency could have overcome many who were normally of a sanguine nature. Yet, farmers and gardeners would agree the rainfall provided amazing nourishment to the seedlings for an exceptional growing season! My own perennials seem to be two weeks ahead of schedule; they are thriving.

The book of Job has given us five beautiful words: "I would seek unto God." This is the very best advice; but, only because Job lived through the very worst times. The storms literally encompassed him and tore everything away. In a very short time Job received reports of total loss and destruction. He learned that his animals had been stolen, his servants slain, his sheep consumed, home destroyed, his children lifeless from a great wind. Shocked and saddened by this devastation the Bible says, "Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:22). What did Job do? He sought God. He sought God immediately and said, "Blessed be the name of the Lord." Can we find a better example of one who walked by faith and retained integrity amidst the very worst calamity?

Reflect for a few moments on the words of Job 5:8-11 and let these words be a source of encouragement when days may seem cloudy or dreary. "I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: to set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety."