"Ministry of Loss"

Journal entry for Cindy Langford October 6, 2011:
Excerpt from Streams in the Desert: I Kings 17:7 "it came to pass.. the brook dried up."

"The Education of our faith is incomplete if we have not learned that there is a providence of loss, a ministry of failing and of fading things, a gift of emptiness... The dwindling stream by which Elijah sat and mused is a true picture of the life of each of us...that is the history of our yesterday, and a prophecy of our morrow."

"In one way or another, we will have to learn the difference between trusting in the gift and trusting the Giver!"

"God's hard words are never His last words. The woe and the waste and the tears of life belong to the interlude and not to the finale."

"Whensoever in you life and mine some spring of earthly and outward resource has dried up--it has been that we might learn that our hope and help are in God who made Heaven & Earth." FB Meyer

..." If thus, ah soul, the brook thy heart hath cherished doth fail thee now no more thy thirst assuage--If it's once glad refreshing streams have perished, Let Him thy heart engage."

"He will not fail, nor mock, nor disappoint thee, His consolations change not with the years, with oil of joy, He surely will anoint thee, And wipe away thy tears." J. D. Smith

(For free online subscription to Streams in the Desert, click on title of this blog.)
****************************************************************************
Psalm 5:1 Give ear to my words O Lord. Consider my groaning, Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King & my God. For to You I pray in the morning O LORD, You will hear my voice, in the morning I will order my prayer to you and eagerly watch. (12) For it is You who bless the righteous man O LORD. You surround him with favor as with a shield.
****************************************************************************
In the past year and a half walking with a brother with cancer, now with Jesus, and currently my mother with cancer, I have learned that the Lord is indeed close to those who cry out to Him in times of grief. He continues to speak through His word comfort and courage. He is indeed doing eternal things in those He calls to walk through the valley of the shadow of death fearing no evil, because He indeed is with us. His grace is so sufficient and His power is perfected in those who are weak.

Are you weak? Are you broken hearted. Cry out to Jesus. He will never fail you nor forsake you!