Tag: christianity

Showers of Blessings

And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.  (Ezekiel 34:26 ESV)

No matter what you’re going through God desires to shower you with blessings. This is His promise to us, and He always keeps His promises. We may not see those blessings right off, but in God’s timing we will receive them.

Even singing that sweet old hymn, Showers of Blessings or other treasured hymns refreshes and strengthen me in my Christian walk. It will strengthen you in your journey as well.

The writer of that hymn, Major D. W. Whittler had been through some storms and hardships as well, yet he wrote many of our beloved hymns.

In 1861 he married Abbie Hanson. They both were active members of the Chicago Tabernacle. The day after their wedding he joined the Union Army and served under General Sherman.

During the siege on Vicksburg in 1863, he was shot in his right arm, which then had to be amputated. After that, the Army sent him back to Chicago but did not discharge him. By war’s end he had been promoted to the rank of Major by General Sherman. 

Upon returning home from the war, Whittler secured employment at the Elgin Clock Company. He and his wife Abbie become parents. Their family routine included them being active at the Chicago Tabernacle. Neither their separation, his arm amputation, nor any other trials they experienced weakened their faith in God.

The evangelist D. L. Moody, also a member of the Tabernacle, asked Whittler to join his evangelism team. Moody and his team traveled a lot, so they weren’t at home for weeks on end.

While traveling with Moody’s team, Whittler began writing hymns that were set to music by the pianist. Through the 1870’s—1890’s he wrote over two hundred beautiful hymns. He gave his time and talent for God to use, and we are still blessed by those hymns to this very day.

Take a few moments today to name some blessings that God has showered on you. Doing this will keep your joy renewed and refreshed.

A suggested prayer: Dear Lord, help me to use my time wisely and only pursue that which brings me closer to you. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Sheerah: The Woman Who Built Towns From Rubble

Sheerah

The Woman Who Built Towns From Rubble

Now his daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah.

1 Chronicles 7:24  NKJV

Why do issues requiring change, repair, or improvement, when resources are available for solving these needs, often remain undone by the experts?

Maybe God is calling you to accomplish a task that at first glance, seems to be beyond your knowledge and abilities. But when God has placed a calling on your life, get ready to do the improbable, even the impossible. That’s God’s way of getting you to change the vision and goals you have to what He wants you to do.

In Old Testament times God had placed a unique, improbable calling on a woman named Sheerah. She was a visionary who saw what could be, then made it happen. In her time most every endeavor was male dominated. Even so, she accomplished the rebuilding of not one but three towns.

After Joshua’s army conquered Canaan, he assigned areas for each of the tribes of Israel to settle in. Among the descendants that entered the promised land were Beriah, and his family, which included his daughter Sheerah.

In entering the new land Sheerah took on the task of repairing Upper and Lower Beth Horan and Uzzen Sheerah. All three towns were on trade routes so making them livable meant families who settled there would feel secure and the communities would thrive and prosper. They would, in turn, continue the building, and add needful services to their own towns.

Her compassion for her people had been stirred, motivating her to do what at first seemed impossible. Afterall, she was a young woman in a male–dominated society.

Equally important to the rebuilding the residents of these villages could grow spiritually in their worship of Yahweh. No longer would human sacrifices be placed on the pagan alters in the Canaanite towns.  

Sheerah chose a life of benevolence, compassion, and helping others whose needs were greater than her own.

A suggested prayer: Oh Lord, God. You knew me while I was in my mother’s womb. I pray that I will always seek to do Your will, not because I might be recognized, but so Your name will be lifted up and glorified. In Jesus’s name Amen.