~*~*~*~*~*~*Welcome 2008~*~*~*~*~*~*

I, like many of you take time towards the end of each year to reflect, and ponder the things the Lord has done in my life, and in the life of my family. I'm not one for making New Year's resolutions....as I rather look at areas in my life that I feel need improvement and I set goals that with the grace and help of God, he can work in my life transforming me in his image.

As the new year of 2008 begins, I wanted to share a few devotional books that I'll be working my way through this year.
First is, *Streams in the Desert*! This by far is one of the most amazing devotional book I'e received written by L.B. Cowman. A few years ago when our family was going through a desert so to speak, a friend gave me this book and each morning as my dh drove me 25 minutes to the park and ride for me to catch my bus to work we'd read....or rather shall I say we HELD onto each devotional...as if our life depended upon it.

This devotional isn't just for those going through a desert period in their lives, but rather, for anyone who desires God to touch them, right where they are at.



Here is an insert from today's devotional:

January, 1
MARCH FORWARD

"Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward" (Exod. 14:15).

Imagine, O child of God, if you can, that triumphal march! The excited children restrained from ejaculations of wonder by the perpetual hush of their parents; the most uncontrollable excitement of the women as they found themselves suddenly saved from a fate worse than death; while the men followed or accompanied them ashamed or confounded that they had ever mistrusted God or murmured against Moses; and as you see those mighty walls of water piled by the outstretched hand of the Eternal, in response to the faith of a single man, learn what God will do for His own.

Dread not any result of implicit obedience to His command; fear not the angry waters which, in their proud insolence, forbid your progress. Above the voices of many waters, the mighty breakers of the sea, "the Lord sitteth King for ever."

A storm is only as the outskirts of His robe, the symptom of His advent, the environment of His presence.

Dare to trust Him; dare to follow Him! And discover that the very forces which barred your progress and threatened your life, at His bidding become the materials of which an avenue is made to liberty. --F. B. Meyer

Have you come to the Red Sea place in your life,
Where, in spite of all you can do,
There is no way out, there is no way back,
There is no other way but through?
Then wait on the Lord with a trust serene
Till the night of your fear is gone;
He will send the wind,
He will heap the floods,
When He says to your soul, "Go on."

And His hand will lead you through—clear through--
Ere the watery walls roll down,
No foe can reach you, no wave can touch,
No mightiest sea can drown;
The tossing billows may rear their crests,
Their foam at your feet may break,
But over their bed you shall walk dry shod
In the path that your Lord will make.

In the morning watch, 'beneath the lifted cloud,
You shall see but the Lord alone,
When He leads you on from the place of the sea To a land that you have not known;
And your fears shall pass as your foes have passed,
You shall be no more afraid;
You shall sing His praise in a better place,
A place that His hand has made.--Annie Johnson Flint


I've also bought the 90 day devotional book from Nany McGuirk called: Rest Assured. Today we live in such a fast paced world and it's SO easy to fall into the trap of business. God's been speaking to my heart that in 2008, his desire for me is to find rest.....HIS true rest.




Here's a look into Nancy McGuirk's devotional book:

"WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY"

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. " - PSALM 23:4

Death always throws us into the valley ... the place we least desire to go and when we least expect to go. It comes as a thief in the night, and steals away those we love, leaving us to mourn and grieve. Where before we stood on the mountaintop where the light in our lives had shined so brightly, now a cloud is cast over all that we do.
Whether you have lost someone you loved, or you are faced with your own mortality, death can be devastating. When we walk through death's valley, we come face-to-face with fear, and life seems suddenly to stop. Our soul is overwhelmed, our heart is broken, and we can barely walk, talk, or listen ... much less carry on the routine of life.
Yet in that valley we can choose to respond with a steadfast determination that shouts to the Lord, "I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Ps. 23:4). "There is nothing that can separate me from your love" (see Rom. 8:38-39). "You have promised always to be with me" (see Heb. 13:5). The claim of God's promises brings light into a valley where all has grown dim.
For life is not what it seems. We may think we are alone, but God is with us. Loss is terrible but not forever. Death seems permanent but is only temporary. Jesus died but was raised again. The power of the resurrection takes on a new meaning when we face our own crucifixions.
Saying good-bye to loved ones is excruciatingly painful. But slowly and most assuredly, God provides comfort and brings light back into our lives. He leads us out of the valley and back onto the mountaintop where the view becomes crystal clear again.
We need not fear death, for Christ has conquered' death in His resurrection. Death may separate us for a time, but Christ will reunite us forever.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the promise that death has been overcome in Christ.
May I never again fear the prospect or the fact of death, but view it
as a doorway to eternity with You. Amen.

For the rest of your life…

view death as the last enemy conquered by Christ.

This has been a sneak peek into a few journey's I'll be taking this year, and my prayer for you is that in 2008 God stir's your heart to desire quiet time with him, as he IS our only source that will help you, heal you, lead you and guide you.

Praying that you have a BLESSED New Year!!!

Kim~