Mountain Breezes

Greetings, dear friends! We just returned from the Christian bookstore in Ottawa, Shiloh Storehouse, where I picked up a copy of Amy Carmichael's "Mountain Breezes", a volume of her collected poems.

Her work entitled Thy Way Is Perfect caught my attention. The accompanying scripture passages is
2 Samuel 22:31.

Amy writes:

Long is the way and very steep the slope;
Strengthen me once again, O God of Hope.

Far, very far, the summit doth appear;
But Thou art near, my God, but Thou art near.

And Thou wilt give me with my daily food,
Powers of endurance, courage, fortitude.

Thy way is perfect, only let that way
Be clear before my feet from day to day.

Thou art my Portion, saith my soul to Thee,
Oh, what a Portion is my God to me!

Emmanuel Has Come!

Today we celebrate the birthday of the King! Aren't you glad He came? He's coming back again! What a day that will be!

"But until then, with joy I'll go on singing, Until then, with joy I'll carry on; Until the day my eyes behold that city, Until the day, God calls me home."

Have a blessed Christmas dear friends! Be encouraged today! We have eternal life, hope for the future and peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the King!

Much love in Christ, David

God's Plans

GOD'S PLANS

Cloudy skies and
Barren trees
Sleepless nights
Upon my knees
Skies like brass and
Losing hope
Where's the help
Throw me a rope
Nothing's working
All's gone wrong
No more singing
No more song
Then a friend
Offers a prayer
Extends a hand
With loving care
God gives the rain
As well as sun
He'll walk with us
'Til day is done
God's plan's involves
Some trials...a test
But this I know
He does what's best.

- David W. Fisher, December 17th, 2006

Disquieted?

My friend have you ever been "disquieted within you"? I'm convinced that you have! We all have! We don't use the "King James Version" terminology though. As I write this post I'm sensing a measure of "disquiet" in my own spirit. Why, you ask? I'm not sure!

Two days ago at our Chaplain's Roundtable, one of the other speakers quoted from the 42nd Psalm. When he came to the word "disquieted" he asked the audience to "fill in the blank"...to give him the next word. I spoke up with our "word for today", disquieted. Perhaps I've been in that state enough over these 61 years that I've come to understand what the psalmist was trying to convey.

Regardless, let's not stop there. Let's take heart in the psalmist's response. His solution. "Hope thou in God."

Trust Him today! He is our Hope! A Living Hope! An anchor for the soul! Praise Him today!

Trust Him today!
Praise Him today!
Then your "disquiet"
Will soon fade away!

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." - Psalm 42:11 (KJV)

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." - Psalm 43:5 (KJV)

Be encouraged today, dear friend!

GOD Himself...Our Encouragement

Friends, it's been a busy but profitable weekend. I've been preparing for a chaplain's conference in Lansing, MI where I will be presenting a workshop on ENCOURAGEMENT. Please pray for me as I leave Monday morning. The conference runs throughout the day on Tuesday. Thank you!

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through (His) grace (unmerited favor), comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them (make them steadfast and keep them unswerving) in every good work and word.”
– 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17 (The Amplified Bible)

Be encouraged, my friends!