Echoes From the Campfire

Night closed down upon the canyon…  He saw the fading red embers of his fire, the great looming pines, the black shadowy wall; he smelled the smoke and the tang of the forest; he heard the sound of the wind, the brawl of the brook, the wail of the coyotes.”
              –Zane Grey (30,000 on the Hoof)

    “Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, For He is coming to judge the earth.  With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.”
              –Psalm 98:7-9 (NKJV)
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Do you check the weather?  What is forecast for tomorrow?  Rain, thunderstorms, tornadoes, sunny skies?  I have found that no matter the forecast there isn’t a thing I can do about it.  In fact, the forecast often changes due to changes in the atmosphere.  Let me ask:  Who is in control of the weather, the climate, tomorrow?  If God is in control, why do we then fret and wring our hands?

         “I care not today what the morrow may bring,
          If shadow or sunshine or rain,
          The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything,
          And all my worry is vain.”
                  –James Wells

Often we wonder why life seems so gloomy and dark.  Gray skies seem to loom continually over our heads.  Problem after problem arises and we just can’t seem to get over them.  There may be many reasons for the gloom and the problems that assail, but the most important thing is to realize and know for certain that Christ is there with us and He can make the storms be still and peace rule in our hearts.  Why then, be alarmed?

         “Tho’ tempests may blow and the storm-clouds arise,
          Obscuring the brightness of life,
          I’m never alarmed at the overcast skies,
          The Master looks on at the strife.”

There is that calm assurance when walking on our daily journey that the Lord is with us each step of the way.  When we look at the news it seems that evil is triumphing; that common sense and decency have fallen by the wayside.  Hope is diminished, dread overcomes us and we let fear loom over our hearts.  It seems that the devil is marching on and there is nothing that is seemingly happening.  To that I would say, get in the Word of God and have the Spirit of God open your spiritual eyes.

         “I know that He safely will carry me thro’,
          No matter what evils betide,
          Why should I then care, tho’ the tempest may blow,
          If Jesus walks close to my side.”

Where is His coming?  Do those thoughts ever run through your mind.  I saw recently where someone wrote, “I am no longer looking for the signs of His appearing, but I’m listening for the trumpet call.”  One day soon, our trouble will be completely be over and we will not be walking this earth by faith, but walking with Jesus in glory holding His hand.  Do not despair.  Do not lose hope.  There have been many definitions of hope and faith, but I like the one I read this week by Carlos Murphy.  “Hope is faith directed toward promised future things, giving us certainty they will be realized.  By faith, we perceive the invisible world about us and operate with confidence in this intangible dimension.”  Grasp hold of that word–“certainty”!

         “Our Lord will return to this earth some sweet day,
          Our troubles will then all be o’er,
          The Master so gently will lead us away,
          Beyond that blest heav’nly shore.”
                   –R.E. Winsett (composer of the 4th verse)

                    “Living by faith, in Jesus above,
                     Trusting, confiding in His great love;
                     From all harm safe, in His sheltering arm,
                     I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.”