kimBinAK
Registered: January 2008
Posts: 35
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One of seven 12x12 LOs I made several years ago during a weekly Scripture challenge at another website
Journaling reads: My verse is Isaiah 58:11 - ...And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (KJV)
Journaling on upper left reads: "Tsachtsachah: Hebrew; Strong's Concordance #6710 'A dry place; i.e. - drought' Have you ever seen photos of the wilderness where the Isralites wandered for those 40 years? It's not the same type of 'wilderness' we think of here in the US - not in Alaska, at least. Our image of such a place is a wild forest that goes on for hundreds or thousands of acres. In that wilderness, one would find tall tres, clusters of bushes, streams, lakes, rivers - and plenty of wildlife. You might be miles away from civilization, but most folks would enjoy spending time there - camping, hiking, fishing, hunting... In the wilderness of the Holy Land, however, it's altogether different. Mention the word to a Jew and the image that pops into his mind will be one of a dry, dusty, rocky, barren land. Devoid of all but the occasional scrubby bush, there won't be a source of fresh water for miles and miles around. It's not really a sandy desert, where you'll at least come across oases once in awhile - unless you're a reptile or an insect, there's not enough nourishment to keep one alive. This verse in Isaiah 58:11 reminds us that when we find ourselves in 'a dry place' spiritually or emotionally, the Lord will be our guide. He alone is able to keep us nourished and refreshed when our hearts feel desolate and barren. However, we must come to Him in humility, seeking His direction and His provision. When we do, that is when we shall be 'like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."
The other journaling reads: "What this verse means to me, is that when the struggles and trials which occur in my life leave me feeling used up and unproductive, God is always there. When I'm feeling parched spiritually - like a barren wilderness of nothing but dry, dusty earth - my hope is in the confidence that I will be renewed and refreshed by the infilling of His Holy Spirit. My useless desert will become a fruitful garden, when I turn to Christ and allow myself to be carried by Him. I have found that trying to live life on my own terms always results in failure, regret and disappointment - not to mention guilt and condemnation. But there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 12:1). When I place Him at the center of my life and allow the Holy Spirit to be my guide, even the mistakes and disappointments will be turned around for good, and for His glory (Romans 8:28). McHugh Creek, AK September 2003" Sorry for all the journaling...
TFL! Hugs, KimB
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