My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 46

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God may not give us an easy journey to the Promised Land,

but He will give us a safe one.

-Boner

O Lord, every time I assume that I know the direction that my life is taking, You change the direction. I believed that we would spend our retirement in our home on McKee Road but we moved a thousand miles away to a 42 acre farm on a gravel road in Missouri. There I settled in, planted a huge garden, made lots of new friends, and discovered my Shalom-Shalvah on Windmill Farm. Little did I know that You would move us back across the country to Delaware once again. We spent the pandemic with our family and waited 4 years for a home of our own once again. Now with less than a year in that home I find myself alone. Again, something that was never on my radar screen.

Lord, I’ve come this far by walking with You. I’m not turning back now.

Too many miles behind me

Too many trials are through

Too many tears help me remember

There’s just too much to gain to lose

Too many sunsets lie behind the mountain

Too many rivers my feet have walked through

Too many treasures are waiting over yonder

There’s just too much to gain to lose

I’ve crossed the hot burning desert

Struggling the right road to choose

But somewhere up ahead, there’s cool, clear water

And defeat is one word I don’t use

Too many sunsets lie behind the mountain

Too many rivers my feet have walked through

Too many treasures are waiting over yonder

There’s just too much to gain to lose

-Dottie Rambo

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 45

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Tuesday, June 11th Day 45

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me:

for my soul trusteth in Thee:

yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge,

until these calamities be overpast.

I will cry unto God most high;

unto God that performeth all things for me.

He shall send from heaven,

and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.

Selah

God shall send forth His mercy and His truth,

My soul is among lions:

And I lie even among them that are set on fire,

even the sons of men,

whose teeth are spears and arrows,

and their tongue a sharp sword.

Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let Thy glory be above all the earth.

They have prepared a net for my steps;

my soul is bowed down:

they have digged a pit before me,

into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves.

Selah

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed:

I will sing and give praise.

Awake up, my glory; awake psaltry and harp:

I myself will awake early.

I will praise Thee, O Lord, among the people:

I will sing unto Thee among the nations.

For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens,

and Thy truth unto the clouds.

Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens:

let Thy glory be above all the earth.

Psalm 57

The morning makes the entire day. To think of morning is to think of a bloom and fragrance which if missed, cannot be overtaken later in the day. The Lord stands upon the shore in the morning and reveals Himself to the weary, disillusioned men who had toiled all night and taken nothing. He ever stands upon life’s most dreary and time-worn shores, and as we gaze upon Him the shadows flee and it is morning. -Rev. Dr. Thomas Chalmers

Lord, how I love to see the dawning of a new day. Each one unique, as the darkness of the night recedes from the sky as the light gradually takes its place. Even on cloudy days the darkness is overcome by the light.

As the song says:

                                    Then came the morning

                                    Shadows vanished before the sun

Then Came The Morning written by Chris Christian and Bill & Gloria Gaither

Chris Christian and Bill & Gloria Gaither

My Journey Through The Dark Valley-Day 44

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Monday, June 10th

Day 44

Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth:

and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt;

and serve the Lord.

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord,

choose you this day whom you will serve;

whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

we will serve the Lord.

Joshus 24:14-15

Lord, I choose YOU – or rather – I respond positively to Your choosing me – almost 60 years ago.

I have never regretted that choice.

You have brought me through some difficult days’

I trust that You will bring me through this.

You can never give another person that which you have found,

but you can make him homesick for what you have.

-Oswald Chambers

Lord, my prayer is that others would see Jesus in me.

I pray that they would experience the Shalom – Shalvah of a relationship with You.

May they read the words I write and have a hunger to know You and to serve You.

Use me Father God, for Your glory.

I did not choose this path but I accept this path knowing that You walk it with me.

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 43

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Sunday June 9th

Day 43

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Lord,

Today has been difficult.

I spent yesterday working in the garden.

There was a nice breeze and I did not take into account the power of the sun.

I forgot the sunscreen and I am paying the price with a bad sunburn.

My body is feeling the pain.

My spirit is feeling low since I missed the worship service this morning.

BUT:

I am reminded that my joy does not depend on my circumstances.

My joy is in YOU.

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 42

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June 8th

Day 42

Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

and patience, experience;

and experience, hope;

and hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.

Romans 5:1-5

Life is a great mixture of happiness and tragic storm.

He who comes out of it rich in living,

is he who dares to accept it all,

face it all,

and let it blow its power, mystery and tragedy

into the inmost recesses of the soul.

A victory so won in this life will then be an eternal possession.

-Charles Lewis Stanley

Springs In The Valley

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:

And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

I John 5:4

Faith can change any situation.

No matter how dark it is,

no matter what the trouble may be,

a quick lifting of the heart to God in a moment of real, actual faith in Him,

will alter the situation in a moment.

God is still on His throne,

and He can turn defeat into victory in a second of time,

if we really trust Him.

-Streams In the Desert

Father God, I thank Thee for this day.

I thank You for the garden – for the opportunity to get my hands in the soil – to watch the plants grow and produce food for us to eat.

I thank You for the chickens – something to care for – a reason to get up and get on with the day.

I thank You for this job – it is from You – and it is what I need to make me leave the house and interact with people. When I’m reconciling a bank statement it takes all my concentration and I don’t think about my situation.

I thank You for friends and neighbors – people who care.

I thank You for this family that You gave me.

I am so blessed.

Yes – I hurt.

I opened myself up to the hurt when I chose to love.

It was worth it – for the good far outweighs the bad.

So I praise You, Lord!

Love is a risk I will take every time, for the rewards are great!

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 41

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June 7th

Day 41

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God:

for unto Thee will I pray.

My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord;

in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.

Psalm 5:1-3

Thank You Lord, for the psalms. I am learning to appreciate them more and more every day.

But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully.

I Corinthians 9:6

Lord, I have certainly “reaped bountifully” with all the love and support that I have received – BEYOND MEASURE!

I thank You for Your blessings on me – for Your continued presence in my life – for Your guidance every day – for Your abundant provision.

You are my Shalom  – Shalvah!

But none saith,

Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

Job 35:10

Lord, I can testify – You give songs in the night!

Just what I need.

Just when I need it.

You bring it to my mind and I awake with a song on my heart.

All those hours sitting at that old upright piano, picking out the notes of all the old hymns in that Methodist Hymnal, planting the words deep in my soul, to have them rise to the occasion when they were sorely needed.

Thank You, God!

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 40

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June 6th

Day 40

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing,

that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,

and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness;

but is long-suffering  to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,

but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;

in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,

and the elements shall melt with fervent heat,

the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,

what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,

wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,

and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to His promise,

look for new heavens and a new earth,

wherein dwelleth righteousness.

II Peter 3:8-13

I look to the day of Your returning, O Lord!

It has been 40 days learning to live on my own. Something I’ve never had to experience before. I graduated high school and we were married the following Saturday. I moved from my parents house into our home so living alone is new to me. I thank God for Ms. Pepper. She is a faithful companion.

The garden and the chickens also require my attention so I am required to get up and get moving everyday.

God Is Good!

All The Time!

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 39

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June 5th

Day 39

3 a.m. meltdown –

Lord, I fall apart at the strangest times.

I am weary with my groaning;

All the night I make my bed to swim;

I water my couch with my tears.

Psalm 6:6

I never know when it will come.

Something triggers a memory and I fall apart.

Thank You, O God, that You are with me.

I am not alone in my time of trouble.

My Song For This Day

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;

I cannot bear these burdens alone;

In my distress He kindly will help me;

He ever loves and cares for His own.

I must tell Jesus!

I must tell Jesus!

I cannot bear my burdens alone.

I must tell Jesus!

I must tell Jesus!

Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;

He is a kind, compassionate Friend;

If I but ask Him, He will deliver,

And in my griefs with me He will blend.

Tempted and tried I need a great Savior,

One who can help my burdens to bear;

I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;

He all my cares and sorrows will share.

O how the word to evil allures me!

O how my heart is tempted to sin!

I must tell Jesus; He will enable

Over the world the victory to win.

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 38

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June 4th

Day 38

Sow to yourselves in righteousness,

Reap in mercy;

Break up your fallow ground:

For it is time to seek the Lord,

Till He come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12

Now the parable is this:

The seed is the Word of God.

Those by the wayside are they that hear;

Then cometh the devil,

And taketh away the word out of their hearts,

Lest they should believe and be saved.

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear,

Receive the word with joy;

And these have no root,

Which for a while believe,

And in times of temptation fall away.

And that which fell among the thorns are they,

Which, when they have heard, go forth,

And are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life,

And bring no fruit to perfection.

But that on the good ground are they,

Which in an honest and good heart,

Having heard the word, keep it,

And bring forth fruit with patience.

Luke 8:11-15

At any time, the receptiveness of your heart will determine your response to God’s Word.

-Experiencing God Day By Day

Lord, I thank You for Your Word.

I thank You for the faithful men and women who preach Your Word and who teach Your Word.

Bless each one who reads Your Word, who meditates on Your Word, who studies to understand and to put into practice Your Word.

May they bear fruit.

Thy testimonies are wonderful:

Therefore doth my soul keep them.

The entrance of Thy words giveth light;

It giveth understanding unto the simple.

I opened my mouth, and panted;

For I longed for Thy commandments.

Look Thou upon me, and be merciful unto me,

As Thou used to do unto those that love Thy name.

Order my steps in Thy Word:

And let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Deliver me from the oppression of man:

So will I keep Thy precepts.

Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant;

And teach me Thy statutes.

Rivers of waters run down mine eyes,

Because they keep not Thy law.

Psalm 119:129-136

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 37

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Monday, June 3rd

Day 37

Out into this same old life you must go today as ever,

but down underneath you can be nourished by the everlasting streams of God.

-Springs In The Valley

Thank You Lord, for this new day.

Thank You for the rain showers overnight.

I won’t need to water the garden this morning.

Thank You for Dianne, and for this job opportunity.

Another step on this new path I am on.

I made fried chicken and potato salad for my Sunday dinner – not an easy task – this cooking for one – but I can learn.

Or else I can invite others to share my Sunday dinner!

Show me how to serve in this different role.

Lord, lead me through this dark valley.

I find myself bewildered, uncertain.

Do I continue with the plans we had made together or are You sending me in different direction?

I am trusting that You will guide me.

When we find ourselves deficient in wisdom,

it is not because the Word of God has pages missing,

but because we have not seen all there is on the pages we already have.

It is not another book we need,

but better attention to the book we have;

it is not more knowledge we require,

but better vision to see what is already been revealed in Jesus Christ.

-Eugene H. Petersen