Thursday, November 04, 2010

First Thursday in November - Hope because there is a River

I love this picture because it speaks to me of hope

of new life,

of how God does not snuff out the smoldering wick

or destroy the bruised reed.

I love God because His ways are so much greater than mine

and He is strong

and is within the city of God -


4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
Psalm 46: 4-5 NKJV

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Psalm 46:1-5 NIV

I love the NKJV for

God shall help her, just at the break of dawn

for it reminds me of Elizabeth Goudge's book The Middle Window

which I read an old library copy of years ago

(wish I owned it!)

and the knight separated from his king who he loved

on a dark weary mountain

in a battle that he heard the king was losing

still kept going

even in the darkness

for his faith and love in his king.

"God will help her at the break of dawn"

*

I love this verse also in the NIV


"Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."

I vividly remember in a Geology class at Calvin years ago

my professor showed us an old film, on a film reel,

of earthquakes and mountains falling into the heart of the sea

and quoted these verses from Psalm 46.

I will never for get this professor's love and faith in God

and his understanding of Psalm 46.

God is strong
stronger than my favourite tree,
whose strong large trunk and roots you see.
*
I am recognizing in the midst of the stress I am currently in
dwindling savings
no job yet
no family who can lend me money
(but St. Nicholas has provided for me through his prayers to Christ before
and I asked God and St. Nicholas for a job for Christmas)
and the efforts I am making
and other non-bloggable stress in my life
that I am a bit burnt out right now.
When I say 'a bit' this can be translated as 'I truly am'
once a relative of mine emailed me that he was 'a bit sick'
and he was medically evacuated from where he was living.
So yes, I am a bit burnt out right now.
I can see the effects of stress in my life in various ways
and know that I must keep trying but
also try to keep myself afloat;
eat as well as I can
rest when I need it
and keep trying to do the things I need to do for getting a job.
*
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her, just at the break of dawn.

*

We are all in various inner battles that are difficult;

I know I am not alone in struggles,

no, we are all broken, weak and tired,

but we must hold out,

for there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.

7 comments:

. said...

Even though you are going through a difficult time now, you seem to have a really positive outlook. I admire you for that! Your pictures and Scripture verses are inspirational to me. Thank you for posting them!

Matushka Anna said...

I am still praying for you daily. God has lifted me out of some of the worst circumstances before. I would be a wretch not to remember that and keep trusting now. Glory to God for your peace!

Michelle M. said...

We will continue to pray for you. You give off such a sense of peace. I pray that God will grant you your "Christmas wish". :) The photos and verses are beautiful. They show so much of who you are. Thank you for sharing of yourself with us.

elizabeth said...

Thanks my dear friends for your prayers!

Trust me though, I am not always peaceful inside..... actually the idea makes me laugh a bit, as God knows how much I can feel un-peaceful!

But God, God has peace; God is the God of Psalm 46.

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

You are in my daily prayers, Elizabeth, and I will add an extra stasis of psalms for you each day for your job-hunting endeavours to be successful.
Love and hugs from across the Pond!

Andrea Elizabeth said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
sarahlaughed said...

Praying for you! You're in my thought and heart.