Land of Abundance

Blessed be the Name of the Lord. It is good to be home. One of my many homes, but home nonetheless. Thank you Lord, for this sojourn in a place where streams of abundance flow. Thank you for the joy of corporate worship through song led by Walt. Thank you for encouragement and exhortation in the Word from Dave. Thank you for times of earnest prayer, seeking your face together with good friends. Thank you for opportunities to catch up with all whose lives have continued while I've been gone. Blessed be Your Name.

The time may come when I walk through the wilderness...or am found in the desert place. Perhaps the road may be marked with pain and suffering; make me faithful then, Lord, to cry out, blessed be Your Name. Even as I sang those words this morning, I looked around and saw or thought of those who have already been led through the wilderness, or even now find themselves in the dryness of a spiritual desert. Lift them up Lord. Fill them with joy again, greater joy, deeper joy than what they experienced before. You give, you take away...you give again. Our hearts do choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your Name.

Walt wrote a song to encourage believers to persevere in this race of faith. I write the words here to hopefully encourage whoever might read this, and to remind myself of the Lord who leads us.

Have Faith
In trust, believe, take hold, receive
Be bold, be strong, have faith
Let go of doubt, with hope, step out
Be bold, be strong, have faith.

Have faith, when the test is long
Have faith, right will conquer wrong
Have faith, God's working out his plan.
Have faith in His sovereignty, have faith, though you cannot see
Have faith, stay the course, persevere.

Have faith, God will vindicate
Have faith, through the endless wait
Have faith, God's timing is the best.
Have faith, God is very near, have faith don't give in to fear
Have faith, stay the course, persevere.

In trust, believe, take hold, receive
Be bold, be strong, have faith
Let go of doubt, with hope, step out
Be bold, be strong, have faith.