Tuesday, July 25, 2006

"I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the Earth." Isa 58:14

Those who fly through the air in airships tell us that one of the first rules they learn is to turn their ship towards the wind, and fly against it. The wind lifts the ship up to higher heights. Where did they learn that? They learned it from the birds. If a bird is flying for pleasure, it goes with the wind. But if the bird meets danger, it turns right around and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher; and it flies away toward the very sun.

Sufferings are God's winds, His contrary winds, sometimes His strong winds. They are God's hurricanes, but they take human life and lift it to higher levels and towards God's heavens.

You have seen in the summer time a day when the atmosphere was so oppressive that you could hardly breathe? But a cloud appeared on the western horizon and that cloud grew larger and threw out a rich blessing for the world. The storm rose, lightening flashed and thunder pealed. The storm covered the world, and the atmosphere was cleansed, new life was in the air, and the world was changed.

Human life is worked out according to exactly the same principle. When the storm breaks the atmosphere is changed, clarified, filled with new life and a part of heaven is brought down to earth.

Obstacles ought to set us to singing. The wind finds voice, not when rushing across the open sea, but when hindered by the outstretched arms of pine trees, or broken by the fine strings of an aeolian harp. Then it has songs of power and beauty. Set your freed soul sweeping across the obstacles of life, through grim forests of pain, against even the tiny hindrances and frets that love uses and it, too will find its singing voice.

Be like a bird that, halting in its flight rests on a bough too slight and feeling it give way beneath him sings, knowing he hath wings.

- Streams in the Desert.

4 Comments:

At 8/16/06, 9:31 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just recently read an article stating that wind actually encourages small tree trunks to grow stronger. The wind causes the tree trunks to bend and flex. It is at these stress points that the trunk actually grows stronger and thicker (much like exercising your muscles makes them stronger and thicker). It is the resistance in our personal lives that makes us stronger Christians. God is faithful and He will not let us stumble - we will become stronger after each trial.

 
At 8/25/06, 10:31 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Date: August 25, 2006

Thank you for what you wrote in my xanga. I am so excited for those times which are to come-- thank you for your prayers-- and I can honestly say that I will NEVER be able to eat a whole box of Krispy Kreme donuts and not gain, like, 25 lbs.! They would rename the freshmen 15 to the freshmen 25... hahaha. I will miss you guys, but I'll be back eventually. :) I will be praying for your wedding-- you, like me, are starting a new area in your life and I am unspeakably excited for you.

-laura :)

 
At 9/22/06, 1:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

JORDAN. I kind of think you need to update about your wedding.


No, seriously now. Do it. Soon.
-laura

 
At 10/12/06, 9:56 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ok marrried man, it's time for an update! 9 groomsmen and 4 bridesmaids huh? Quite the wedding party! Update soon, please!

 

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