September 22, 2010

Through Stormy Seas!

Hey ya'll.......

Yesterday as I was reading through my "Streams in the Desert" devotional, a particular poem  by Annie Johnson Flint caught my eye and spoke to my heart.  The main theme of the poem is the word "through".....as in "through the waters", "you will not go down but through", "safely through", "you will pass through"!

It seems that so many of us are being battered by the billowing sea's of life in greater degrees lately.  The raging seas of discouragement and emotional stress, sickness and disease, financial set-back, unemployment and unrest appear to be the prevailing wind of late.  And for some, weariness in the storm and battle fatigue has dimmed our vision and dampened our hopes of ever sailing  peaceful waters and into calm harbor again! BUT, His Word  assures us that.....

When you pass through the waters,
I will be with YOU.....they shall not overflow you.
Isaiah 43:2 

This same scripture in the Message translation reads:

When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
Isaiah 43:2 MSG

Let us steadfastly anchor our heart upon His sure promises and faithfulness, precious friends, and trust  the wind of the Holy Spirit to blow afresh upon the sails of our heart, this day!  We must hold our course  with faithfilled expectation and set our gaze upon the horizon looking for our Rescuer.....He's closer than we think!  It is He that quiets our wearied hearts, dries our tears, hushes our storm  and brings us through to His safe haven of deliverance, healing, restoration, peace and joy!  He will do it!!

I share the poem with you below and added some images that buoyed  my heart.  I pray that it blesses and encourages your heart as it has mine.....

"WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS"



Deep the waves may be and cold,
But Jehova is our refuge,
And His promise is our hold;
For the Lord Himself has said it,
He, the faithful God and true:
"When you come to the waters
You will not go down,
BUT THROUGH."


Seas of sorrow, seas of trial,
Bitter anguish, fiercest pain,
Rolling surges of Temptation Sweeping over 
Heart and brain -
They will never over flow us
For we know His word is true;
All His waves and all His billows
He will lead us safely 
THROUGH.


Threatening breakers of destruction,
Doubt's insidious undertow,
Will not sink us,
will not drag us out 
to ocean depths of woe;
For His promise will sustain us,
Praise the Lord, whose Word is true!
We will not go down, or under,
For He says,
"You will pass THROUGH."

Annie Johnson Flint, author


And lastly, I leave you with this image and a scripture that the Lord ministered to me many years ago in the midst of a raging storm in my life and He brought me through!!!  Hallelujah! ~ He is Faithful!!  I pray that it ministers encouragement to you as well, dear friends....



Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble and He brings them out of their distresses.
He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, 
so that the waves of the sea are still.
Then the men are glad because of the calm and He brings them to their desired haven.
Psalm 107:28-30 amp

HE IS FAITHFUL!!  HE WILL DO IT!!  HE WILL BRING US THROUGH!!   


Sailing THROUGH life with the Him!

Photobucket

Photo credits:
image one
image two
image three
image four     
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26 comments:

Sandy said...

Hey Jackie,
I loved these words today, very
encouraging. He really will
bring us through, no doubt. If
we keep our eyes on Him and not
on the storms we're going through,
He will bring us to the other side.
Jesus is in our boat! Right?
Love & Prayers,
Sandy

Unknown said...

Jackie,

I needed this today. During my lunch fresh tears fell on my face due to so many trials in my life.

Thank you for reminding me that HE will see me through.

Sheryl

Cathy said...

Jackie this was just what I needed to hear. Thank you so much for sharing it. Still praying for you.

Beth Herring said...

jackie - thank you for this today. i love those scriptures in Isaiah so much! I needed this today in a BIG way.

Nana Jul said...

Through, through, through...Thank God he is with us Through it all!!
Great post Jackie...and so timely!!
Love,
Julie

Beth E. said...

A perfect message for today...exactly what I needed! Thank you, sweet Jackie.

Hugs...

Andrea said...

AMEN...AMEN...AMEN!!!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. You are an amazing friend and prayer warrior.

Hugs,
andrea

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing such an amazing poem and encouragement. My church is going through a storm right now. This really helped.

Blessings,
Tammy

Debra said...

Speaking of battered and worn, I have a very battered and worn copy of Streams in the Desert. It is my favorite devotional.

Loved the photos of the water and seas!

Psalm 107 is also one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I've turn to it each time I feel I'm at my "Wits End".

Blessings,
Debra

Anonymous said...

I love those little neglected words in Scripture. So often we focus on the storms or the waters or the trials and struggles - when we need to focus on the 'through'.
Hallelujah - just as He took the Israelites THROUGH the Red Sea on dry land and just as He promises us we won't go down in the rough waters - He will get us THROUGH anything we face.
Loved this one Jackie! Amen & Amen!!!

Deborah Ann said...

This is just absolutely beautiful!!! The poems, and those pictures - wow! In the second one, I can almost see Jesus rising in the waves.

What a thrill to my soul to come here today! God's most beautiful blessings on you, Jackie...

Grace on the Narrow Path said...

Jackie,
What a powerful post!!! HE is faithful!!!
Also wanted to tell you I love the new blog look.
God bless you my friend.
Blessings,
Bren

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Such a great reminder, I will pass through these stormy waters! Thanks
kim

Linda said...

Hi Jackie,
I LOVED your post and your wonderful encouraging words. I needed to read this today. Thank you for sharing. He will indeed bring us through that storm and I am so thankful that many times He has done just this in my life!
Have a great weekend.
Hugs.

Crown of Beauty said...

Oh dearest Jackie,
How I needed to read these words today. I absolutely loved this post. The Lord has brought me back to your blog just a week ago and I have been reading the precious posts I have missed. You do minister beautifully to me with your words of life, filled with so much joy and faith!

Thank God for you dear Jackie.

Love
Lidj

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Beautiful... the pictures are breathtaking as are the promises of our God to see us "through."

Through and through... all the way through to heaven... to home!

Thanks for the encouragement.

peace~elaine

Just Be Real said...

Jackie, appreciate this message. Blessings.

Denise said...

Awesomely beautiful.

Denise said...

I so needed to hear that tonight. I am in the storm and with every breath I question HIM..... HE listens, of that I am sure.. BUT in this storm I so need for HIM to make Himself known to me in a greater measure.... Please pray for me.. Losing both Mom and Dad in the past two month has taken its toll on me.. I know HE is near...... but in my storm it is hard to feel Him....

Tammi said...

This was just what I needed! He will not only help us in our storms, but also see us THROUGH them as well. These pictures were just an added visual BONUS to the wonderfully encouraging words! Thanks for taking the time to put this all together for us! Hugs! :)

Saleslady371 said...

I'm feeling very fortunate, my friend, that I'm sailing through this life with encouraging friends like you. He calms every storm. Pics tell a beautiful story.

Amrita said...

God bless you Jackie

Alleluiabelle said...

My Dear Friend,

I stopped by here a couple of days ago and read through this post and today I'm reading through it again. Oh how you touched me so through this post...it reached right in and grabbed hold of my mind and heart.

You are such an encouragement and inspiration to me and I thank you with all of my heart for that as I thank Him abundantly for you too. Your friendship and prayers for me and my family bless me more than you know my friend...more than you know.

Love you so much Jackie. May an abundance of peace be with you this day.

Hugs,
Alleluiabelle

Terri Tiffany said...

Jackie,
How right you are! You were thinking that same way as me this week! When it hit me again to look through the storms and not at them, what relief I felt. Thank you for some beautiful pictures and words:) Blessings Friend!

myletterstoemily said...

this is a wonderful post and resounded
in my heart. it also reminded me of
the song i am singing at a dear friend's
funeral on saturday.

"when sorrows, like sea billows roll . . .
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me
to say, it is well, it is well with my soul!"

Debbie Petras said...

Jackie, I've been reciting those Isaiah verses daily. Such a comfort when moments of fear at times envelope me. A good reminder that He is with us through the storms.

So glad to read that He brought you out of your storm. I am in the midst of a mighty storm now but keeping my eyes on Jesus; my deliverer.

Did you know that Bible Study Fellowship is doing Isaiah verse by verse this year? I'm in the Peoria evening women's class and loving this timely study.

Blessings and love,
Debbie

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