The River IS!
There is a River whose streams make glad the city of God.
~Psalm 46:4, LSB
All world contentments are day comforts, but not night comforts.
~William Spurstowe
Have you noticed that in a time of stress, distress or affliction, the nights seem longer than the days. They say there is a river in Peru that flows swiftly in the day and goes dry at night. The river is called the Diurnal or “Day River”. What is the reason for this strange phenomenon? The sun melts the snow on the Andes mountain sides during the day and this creates the day river but when the sun goes down, the snow refreezes and the river dries up during the night. William Spurstowe compares the river Diurnal to worldly amusements which are only day comforts. In prosperity and plenty the river flows but when the night of affliction comes, the river dries up.
Cyprian, a third century theologian, said, “A rich man lies restless on a bed of down, and fetches deep groans though he drinks pearls and sapphires.” In other words, a rich or prosperous man can lay on a soft bed of comfort and still not rest because there is no peace in his soul. You can have a comfortable bed and a discomfortable soul. Pearls and Sapphires represent extravagant wealth and luxury, but there are troubles that wealth cannot touch. The most comfortable bed money can buy cannot give rest to the soul and all the wealth in the world cannot buy one moment of peace.
We need a River that flows during the darkness of the night and Jesus IS that River. The world goes to great expense to keep us comfortable but God in His infinite wisdom allows us to suffer in spite of all the world remedies and medications. The seasons of dryness make us appreciate the rain. The darkness makes us appreciate the light. We don’t think so much of shelter on a beautiful spring day but when the storms come, we place a high value on shelter. In the same way, affliction deepens are appreciation and adoration for Jesus and His word.
Some lessons or principles to guide us:
- There are things that God can teach us in times of affliction that we can learn in no other way.
- Earthly pleasures, comforts and amusements can fail us; they are not reliable, we cannot put our trust in them.
- We discover the value of God’s word during the times of affliction.
- Trials and affliction make us more aware of our need for shelter, sustenance and grace {Jesus}.
- Money can make the bed softer, but it cannot make the heart peaceful. God’s promises may not soften the bed, but they can give rest to the soul lying upon it.
- Sometimes God allows our earthly streams to dry up so we will search for the RIVER IS {Jesus}.
- JESUS IS: He always has been IS and He always will be IS.
Memory Verse
“My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
—Psalm 73:26
- I do want to give praise and thanks for two wonderful services yesterday and for the Holy Spirit moving in the invitation at the POINT. I thought for a moment, it was going to break wide open. It was encouraging to see. It was a hallelujah moment. Got carried away last night: hopefully by the Holy Spirit and not Jack’s spirit.
- Outdoor Church Sunday September 6 @ 8:00. We are sticking with 8:00 due to the extreme heat. I have vowed personally to do two things: talk less about myself and complain less about the weather. Needless to say, extreme heat depresses my spirit. Some good news: chance of T-storms today and tomorrow with slightly cooler temps. It was a bit cooler this morning coming to the office.
- Slidder and Hotdog supper Wednesday night September 16. Originally had this for the 9th but we decided to use the pavilion and so maybe the weather will be cooler by the 16th. We did change the menu slightly. Slidders are tiny hamburgers, more like a Krystal than a Whopper.
- October 28 is our Bill Smith Jambalaya Supper and our November Wednesday night meal falls on Veterans Day and we are having a stew and Joe is going to have us a video of our veterans at the round table.