【STREAMS IN THE DESERT】

STREAMS IN THE DESERT

Mrs. Charles E.Cowman

Janualy

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge

will be pleasant to your soul.

Janualy 1

       Theland whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys and drinkethwater of the rain of heaven: a land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyesof the Lord are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the endof the year.

       Today,dear friends we stand upon the verge of the unknown. There lies before us the newyear and we are going forth to possess it. Who can tell what we shall find?What new experiences, What changes shall come, what new needs shall arise? Butthere is the cheering, comforting, gladdening message from our Heavenly Father,“The Lord thy God careth for it.” “His eyes are upon it away to the ending ofthe year.”

       Allour supply is to come from the Lord. Here are springs that shall never dry; hereare fountains and streams that shall never be cut off. Here, anxious one, isthe gracious pledge of the Heavenly Father. If He be the Source of our merciesthey can never fail us. No heat, no drought can parch that river,” the streamswhereof make glad the city of God.”

       Theland is a land of hills and valleys. It is not all smooth nor all down hill. Iflife were all one dead level the dull sameness would oppress us; we want thehills and the valleys. The hills collect the rain for a hundred fruitful valleys.Ah, so it is with us! It is the hill difficulty that drives us to the throne ofgrace and brings down the shower of blessing; the hills, the bleak hills oflife that we wonder at and perhaps grumble at, bring down the shower. How manyhave perished in the wilderness, buried under its golden sands, who would have livedand thriven in the hill-country; how many would have been killed by the frost,blighted with winds, swept desolate of tree and fruit but for the hill-stern,hard, rugged, so steep to climb. God’s hills are a gracious protection for Hispeople against their foes!

       Wecannot tell what loss and sorrow and trial are doing. Trust only. The Fathercomes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today. I shall be a good, a blessednew year!