where did the saying god willing and the creek don't rise come from
The creek don't rise The expression "...the creek don't rise" is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. It presumably evokes occasional and unpredictably extreme rainfall in Appalachia, that has historically isolated one rural neighborhood or another temporarily inaccessible on several or many occasions.
God helps those who help themselves The phrase is often mistaken as a scriptural quote, though it is not stated verbatim in the Bible.