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![]() At 94 feet Ganoga Falls is the tallest in Ricketts Glen State Park "The Roar Of Your Waterfalls"
Message summary:
Today may a refreshing sense of God's love flood over your spirit like waterfall! Note: Due to getting home late Wednesday evening from Ricketts Glen and having an early chaplaincy visitation schedule on Thursday a Daily Encouragement message was not posted yesterday. ![]() "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life" (Psalm 42:5-8). Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall
Running wild and free You hear my heart when I call, when I call Deep calls, to deep Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall Raining down on me On Wednesday we visited Ricketts Glenn State Park about 90 miles north of our home (direct) which many consider the prime location for waterfalls in Pennsylvania. As PennLive states, "If you love waterfalls, there is no better destination in Pennsylvania than Ricketts Glen State Park." We walked a rigorous hike on "The Falls Trail" a 3.2 mile loop that showcases 18 of the 22 named falls in the park. ![]() To see the many falls which are not on a road but rather in a glen you must take the appropriately named "Falls Trail" of which the shortest route is over 3 miles, most of it down into the glen, and then back up with an elevation differential of 1,000 feet. We did it although we were quite tired when we got back up to the top where we for the first time saw the sign to the left! Most standard versions of the Bible commonly used, such as the ESV, NASV and NIV, only refer to a waterfall one time, our daily text, "the roar of Your waterfalls". The KJV uses the term "waterspouts". There are waterfalls in the Holy Land. The Shalom Holy Tours lists "5 Israeli Waterfalls That Will Take Your Breath Away" (link below). Perhaps it was one of these waterfalls that is alluded to in the Bible text. Waterfalls can be powerful and loud, they can "roar" as the Bible states. You can hear Niagara Falls long before you see it. But the Psalmist, who is not identified by name in this Psalm is making a point. He begins the selection with a description of his emotional state, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?" That's a description of discouragement, disappointment and despair which most of us have experienced. He forthrightly acknowledges his condition which leads to his perspective and determination as he says to himself and writes in the text for others to apply, "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." For some reason the Psalmist recalls a waterfall, perhaps one of the "5 Israeli Waterfalls That Will Take Your Breath Away" and considers it when he writes, "the roar of Your waterfalls". He seems to be experiencing a sweeping surge of assurance and encouragement even while acknowledging that the waterfall far exceeds our ability to control or calm its intended purpose, "Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me." We especially consider that phrase "swept over me." How spiritually enriching it is to feel the sweeping sensation of God's Spirit as described by the hymn writer, "Sweep over my spirit forever I pray in fathomless billows of love." The daily Scripture portion ends with a peaceful assurance, "By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life." "God’s love certainly is like a refreshing waterfall. It brings both joy and cleansing. His love is constant but we often experience it in unexpected ways. You never know where, how or through whom you might experience the love of God." * Today may a refreshing sense of God's love flood over your spirit like waterfall! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() Ricketts Glen State Park ![]() ![]() Brooksyne took a photo of me working my way down the trail. ![]() So here she is working her way back up on the other side of the glen. ![]() So many beautiful waterfalls. ![]() ![]() After leaving the park at the advice of another trail hiker we stopped by Ricketts Glen Hotel for a late lunch. It is "Conveniently Located In the Middle Of Nowhere" ![]() On the way home we drove through Centralia, a borough and near-ghost town. Its population has dwindled from more than 1,000 residents in 1980 to only 7 in 2013—a result of an underground coal mine fire which has been burning beneath the borough since 1962. This home stands alone and appears to still be occupied by one of the few residents who refused to leave. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Waterfall" Video Chris Tomlin (Is there any nature topic Chris Tomlin has not written a song on!) "Wonderful Peace" Video Don Moen Ricketts Glen State Park is located here (Google map) Hiking the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park A recent news report concerning the Falls Trail with video Photos of Ricketts Glen waterfalls "5 Israeli Waterfalls That Will Take Your Breath Away * Seeing Creation - Like a Waterfall Finally today: ![]() Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.) ![]() ![]() Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2017 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |