When Streams and Dreams Disappear



Ludlow Falls by Dee Kamp

 



When Streams and Dreams Disappear

            Nearby where we live a delightful stream that tumbles over a pretty water fall deep in the woods. When I took my friend there this summer and we followed the well-marked trail along she called out to me, “Hey! I think we’ve taken a wrong turn! The stream has disappeared!”

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said,

rivers of living water will flow within them.”

John 7:38 NIV

 

            Faith looks up and keeps traveling along the path of life, even when we lose sight of the water- when we feel we have lost sight of God moving in our lives.

            Beloved, have you had a great disappointment, a sorrow, a feeling of loss and perhaps weary of waiting for answers to prayer?

            Have faith with great hope!  For God’s love for you is unfailing, never ending and His Rivers of Living Waters is still flowing within you.

             You may not see the Lord right now, but He always has His eye on you. In these times there will be blessings you could never otherwise experience, and many who witness this will have a greater light of understanding of God’s love and faithfulness too.

            We weren’t lost on the way to the falls that day, and the little stream hadn’t quit or dried up. I pointed out to my friend a marker on a stump that read:

“At this point this little stream goes under ground for a while but will soon appear again.”

            When streams and dreams may seem to disappear ―we can always be assured, God is ever near.

“I do not ask that He must prove

His Word is true to me,

And that before I can believe

He first must let me see.

It is enough for me to know

‘Tis true because He says ‘tis so’

On His unchanging Word I’ll stand

And trust till I can understand.―E.M. Winter,

                                                                       

 

“When Streams and Dreams Disappear” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© September 30, 2015

Just Around the Corner

Just around the corner by Dee Kamp
 

Just Around the Corner 

Bobby Stray was my first ever, very best friend beginning when we were just seven years old. And Bobby always had something new to share with me. Like what his wonderful prize was in the box of Cracker Jacks, and the time he was super excited about what he received in the mail after saving all those cereal box tops.

 On that sunny day one summer he ran up to my house knocking and shouting “It came! Hurry up come outside now!”

He held a long tube of card board tucked tightly under his arm as he began to run back to his house yelling over his shoulder again, “Hurry up! Follow me quick!”

“Where are you going?” I called out trying to catch up.

“To the chicken coop where my brother is collecting egg right now. I heard he talks to the chickens but no one has ever seen him before. This new invention can see around corners and no one can see us!”

“Faith is the confidence that we hope for will actually happen;

it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 NLT

 

We aren’t meant to see around the corner of our tomorrows, or see all the plans God has in store for us. But rather He delights in us when are as trusting in childlike faith what He has in store for us every day.

Even in the dreary times, we can recall all God has done for us and feel the sweet delight of anticipation that our Father has something new and fresh for us- just around the corner.  It’s those everyday surprises when you can honestly can say, “That was You God, wasn’t it?” For daily blessings are daily reminders of God.

That new invention didn’t work very well for us kids. We hid behind the chicken coop and put the tube with the little mirror inside up close to the coop and Bobby peeked inside to spy on Bobby’s big brother.  But we were found out before we could see around the corner because we were giggling too much in delightful anticipation!

Today my prayer is: “Lord, I don’t need to see around the corners, I trust in You. Please fill me great with faith so I am filled with childlike anticipation of what blessings you have in store for me that I may share with others how much you love us.”

There shall be showers of blessing”-

This is the promise of Love;

There shall be seasons refreshing

Sent from the Savior above.” ―Whittle

“Daily Blessings are Daily Reminders of God” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© September 21, 2015

Sweet Surprises from Never Dreamed of Places

Sweet Surprises from Never Dreamed of Places

In the morning when we wake and our hearts are full of thankfulness and not things we need to do, or the worries of the day, we can be certain, it’s yet another gift from God to help us on the way.  It’s those memories of sweet surprises from never dreamed of places or people that lift our hearts and give us hope.

"Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." Colossians 3:16-17 NIV

Bill and I were so happy to come home, finally, after a few days of his unexpected stay in the hospital. As we drove up our driveway we were surprised to find our lawn had been mowed, and on our porch a vase of flowers with a pretty plate filled with delicious cookies! The Lord sure has blessed us with wonderful neighbors. We still don’t know from which one this gift came from.

God’s blessings and sweet surprises remind us that our Loving God is in all the little things of our lives as well as the really big ones too. And oh, how we love His sweet surprises that come from never dreamed of places and from dear people when we least expect it.

Thank You, God, for the little things

That often come our way,

The things we take for granted

But don't mention when we pray,

 

The unexpected courtesy,

The thoughtful, kindly deed,

A hand reached out to help us

In the time of sudden need-

 

Oh make us more aware, dear God,

Of little daily graces

That come to us with "sweet surprise"

From never-dreamed-of places."

By: Helen Steiner Rice

 

 

“Sweet Surprises from Never Dreamed of Places” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© September 17, 2015

All the Way Home



This morning I share with you one of the Beaver Valley Store experiences I had many years ago but still is sweet on my heart. The Lord blesses me from time to time with these memories reminding me always how near He was to me and  also those wonderful divine appointments He arranged. Some day...perhaps the book will be written of all these stories. I want to thank so many of you for encouraging me to write up and share Life in Beaver Valley.  Blessings to you all, Dee

All the Way Home

               The sun hadn’t risen beyond the hillside yet, and the kitchen was warm and steamy as I was folding in fresh blueberries into the muffin batter in the little kitchen of our Beaver Valley Country store.  I was about to pour the batter into the muffin tins for baking when I heard the screech of a car out on the highway and a car door slam. I hurried up as I knew someone needed me to open the doors to store early today.

            I unlocked the door and I was surprised the car had driven away leaving a young woman standing there alone looking sleepy-eye lugging a heavy backpack. I invited her in and inquired about where she was headed today. I was stunned to hear her say―”France!”    

            She was in her early twenties and spoke English well. She told me she had been staying in student housing at the state park studying art on a special scholarship. But she received a call in the middle of the night from her mother that her brother was extremely ill and she needed to get back home to France right now! She had no car, no busses left this early in the morning and she needed to get to the airport soon where a ticket home was waiting for her!

            Did her family know what they asked of her? From this remote place on the west coast of Washington State to France looked to me like mission impossible. I felt sad I couldn’t help her out myself, at the least to get her onto the ferry to Seattle.

            Just then, another car pulled up and a woman rushed up to the door declaring how happy she was we were open! She needed to get gas for her car now for she was in hurry for her trip today! It was twenty miles to the next gas station, “Am I ever grateful to see you open this hour of the morning, I had no idea how little gas I had for this trip today,” she declared.

            Without hesitation the young woman from France, walked over to the new customer and asked if she could drive her as far down the highway as she could this morning. She explained her story of her brother and her urgent need to get to the airport as soon as possible. Could this woman help her in anyway?

                There was a pause as the woman studied this eager young woman. And then a miracle happened! This woman, who just now happened to nearly run out gas, said to our surprise,

            “Yes I can help you even more than you may think. I myself am on the way to the airport this morning to meet a relative there. I’ll be happy to drive you all the way to your destination.”

            “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love.”

 Romans 5:3-5 NLT

            Was this a coincidence? No, I knew it was God’s perfect timing. We saw tears of joy in the young woman’s eyes and heard her say, “Merci’! God has surely blessed me today!”

            Sometimes God requires us to make a choice to trust Him, believe in Him and stay steadfast to the journey we are called to go. No matter what it takes, no matter if it’s a trip to the airport and all the way home to France.

 “All the Way Home” Another Beaver Valley Tale: by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© September 8, 2015