A Place of Strife or a Place of Rest?

 They were led by a cloud during the day and by a pillar of fire at night so it was not by chance they found themselves at Rephidim. But what they did not find was water, so they rebelled against God and tested the Lord by saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"

In the wilderness what the children of Israel believed about God was exposed. In the same way our own wilderness experience shows what we believe about God. When our control is stripped away do we murmur and complain or do we rest in God’s steadfast love and in His faithfulness?

Rephidim means "resting place" and yet because of the disbelief of the children of Israel the name was changed to Massah and Meribah. Massah mean "to test" and Meribah means "strife." Because of lack of faith the place that God had intended to be a place of rest became a place of strife. Rephidim was a place where the hardness of their hearts was exposed. 

There are things that God has allowed in my life that I would not have chosen. There are challenges that expose my weaknesses. Yet I hear an invitation in my struggle to know God in a more intimate way. 

Is it possible to rejoice always because God has promised to never leave me or forsake me? Is possible to pray without ceasing because I believe that I am His child and that He has given me access to His throne room? Can I give thanks in all things believing that He is sovereign over the details of my life? When I am faced with situations that break my heart and expose my lack of faith can I cry out to God to strengthen me through the power of His Holy Spirit?

These are wilderness questions. When we reach the end of our hoarded resources and our strength fails and the task we are facing exposes our weakness what we believe about God is also exposed. In times like this we will either enter into His rest or we will raise our fist to heaven in protest?

Oh Lord, I do not want to strive against You! I come to you, my rock and my redeemer. In You my thirst and the deepest longing of my heart is quenched. In you I find rest for my soul.

Living Water

 How should people who have put their trust in the unfailing, faithful love of God respond to uncertain times?

"These are My appointed times," God spoke of seven appointed times in the book of Leviticus the last one will take place this year in September, it is The Festival of Booths.  This is a time when God invites His people celebrate the truth God provides for those who put their trust in Him.

For seven days those who celebrate the Festival of Booths will live in temporary dwellings to commemorate the sheltering of the Israelites in the wilderness. During this time God also invites His people to rejoice as they remember how He not only lead them through the wilderness but also provided everything they needed.  Every morning He provided bread from Heaven and when they were thirsty He provided water from the rock. Neither thier shoes nor their clothes wore out. God has not changed and even though we face uncertain times one thing has not changed God offers us shelter beneath His faithful wing of protection.

This was a harvest celebration and on the last day of the festival they would have a water-drawing ceremony. In Egypt the Nile was the source of water but in the Promised Land they were dependant on rain from the heavens.  They prayed for rain but they didn't beg instead they praised God for His faithfulness; they praised Him for His unfailing love. This was a time of great joy.

They were not only thanking God for providing literal water they were looking forward to the days of messianic redemption when the waters of the Holy Spirit would be poured out. How did Jesus respond to this feast?  "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, "From his innermost being will flow rivers of living waters. '"(John 7:37-38)

So how should Christians respond to uncertain times?  I find the answer in Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

I Want to See Your Glory

 I remember clearly the year God drew me to the place of absolute surrender and humility. A season where I knew that I was not in control. A time when I was being challenged to open my hands and let go. Did I really believe that God was good and that I could trust Him?

Surender and humility are often required when God allows circumstances in our lives that expose the reality that we are not in control. I face these dificult situations with deep conviction that in God’s economy nothing is wasted.

“Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin, but dill is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod, Does one crush grain for bread? No, he does not thresh forever; when he drives his cart wheels over it with his horses, he does not crush it. This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom." (Isaiah 28: 23-29) 

What I see is that God does what is necessary to make me useful. We have walnut trees. I use the walnuts, but only if I remove the hull. In the same way I believe that I am only useful to God with a humble heart. Sometimes it's a painful process, but I trust God because he is,"wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom."

Somewhere during the  time of praying for a heart of absolute surrender and humility my focus shifted. I began to say, "Lord, glorify yourself." My prayer was a reflection of John the Baptist when he said, "He must increase and I must decrease."  

When I go outside on a dark starry night I can see the stars best if there is no artificial light shinning. This is what I am finding as I pray for humility. When the artificial light of my own pride is taken out of the way, others have a better opportunity of seeing Christ in me.

Lord Jesus, I want my life to be useful for Your Kingdom. I want to decrees and have You increase. I want to see Your glory!

Daily Burdens

 I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of sticks, far too large for us to lift. But God does not require us to carry the whole at once. He mercifully unties the bundle, and gives us first one stick, which we are to carry today, and then another, which we are to carry tomorrow and so on. This we might easily manage, if we would only take the burden appointed for each day – instead we choose to increase our troubles by carrying yesterday‘s stick over again today, and adding tomorrow’s burden to the load, before we are required to carry it.

John Newton

The Prayer of my Heart

 I started writing a blog in 2011. I am able to see which of my devotionals people are still reading. I can see a thread that is woven throughout the things I’ve written. It’s a prayer that keeps rhythm with the beating of my heart. “Lord, I want to know You. I want to honor You. I want to glorify You with my life.” The following was written in 2011.

It’s been about a year since I began praying daily that God would allow me to have a humble heart. Most people who hear about my prayer ask if I'm crazy. Humility isn't like a package found under the tree Christmas morning; instead it comes from choosing to put pride to death. I was talking to a friend of mine this weekend about the things that have happened this year and their effect on me. They were not pleasant things and yet God has used them in my life to humble me.

I woke up the next morning,after our conversation thinking about Isaiah 28: 23-29 "Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin, but dill is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod, Does one crush grain for bread? No, he does not thresh forever; when he drives his cart wheels over it with his horses, he does not crush it. This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom." What I see is that God does what is necessary to make me useful. 

We have walnut trees. I use the walnuts, but only if I remove the hull. In the same way I believe that I am only useful to God with a humble heart. Sometimes it's a painful process, but I trust God because he is,"wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom."

Somewhere during the year my prayer changed. My focus shifted. I began to say, "Lord, glorify yourself." My prayer was a reflection of John the Baptist when he said, "He must increase and I must decrease."  

When I go outside on a dark starry night I can see the stars best if there is no artificial light shinning. This is what I am finding as I pray for humility. When the artificial light of my own pride is taken out of the way, others have a better opportunity of seeing Christ in me.

Lord Jesus, I want my life to be useful for Your Kingdom. I want to decrees and have You increase. I want to see Your glory!

Glimmers of God’s Glory

Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to God. But what is revealed belongs to us and our children.”

I made a special snack for my grandchildren for when they came home from school. I shared Deuteronomy 29:29 with them and told them that I wanted to share some secret things that God had revealed. 

I paused and looked up to find my 10 year old autistic grandson standing on my kitchen counter!!! I got him settled and began again. I told them that God had shared a secret with us about heaven. 

I told them that it is beautiful because God is there. There is a wonderful river in heaven called the River of the Water of Life, with water clear as crystal. Suddenly, my 4 year old granddaughter interrupted. She said, “And when I get to heaven I’m going to be a mermaid and swim in that river.” I smiled and replied, “That’s not a secret God has revealed. But I promise you it will be wonderful.” And closed the book.

“Is that all Mimi? That was only 5 minutes.” I told Harde that I could only give them glimmers of God’s glory because he was the only one who would sit still. Harde is my grandson who is wheelchair bound.

Last week I told them why God had created them. I told them about the conversation that I had with their great grandfather the day before he died. His mother had taught him that he had been created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. During that last conversation we had talked about how glorifying God had brought him joy.

I told them that glorifying God was like shining a light on Him and discovering how wonderful He is. I will continue to share with my grandchildren the secret things that God has revealed even if it’s only 5 minutes at a time So that together we can enjoy Him forever. Hopefully one day they will meet their great grandfather in heaven, maybe even by the River of the Water of life.

Tzitzit

 I don’t know how many times I read this verse without really paying attention to it but recently it caught my eye. “The LORD said to Moses,”Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their  garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So that you shall remember to do all my commandments, and to be holy to your God.”(Numbers 15:37-40)

This tassel is known as a tzitzit. It was a physical reminder to Israelites, of who they were, who God was, and what He required of them. They were to wear these tassels on the corners of their garments so that wherever they went they would be reminded to be set apart, to be holy to their God. It reminds me of something Steve and I would tell our children when they left home, “Remember who you are, to whom you belong, and who you represent.”

I’m on chapter 31 of 2 Chronicles and I’m finding a lot of evidence that although they may have been wearing the tassel they struggled to not follow their own heart and their own eyes. I remember when I was a teenager and I saw a chart of the ups and downs of Israel obeying God that I was discussed. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with them. I’m older now and I understand.

When I was young I believed that I could follow all God’s commandments. I really didn’t believe that I needed a savior. I believed that if I were given enough time that I could be perfect. Life has taught me a different lesson. I think that’s why I was fascinated when I read Malachi 4:2 “But you who fear my name, the Son of Righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” The tassel was to be placed on each corner of the garment. In Hebrew the word corner is also referred to as fringes or wings.

In the Luke 8, there’s a beautiful picture of the Son of Righteousness who had healing in his wings. A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and was considered ceremonially unclean according to Jewish law was cured by touching the fringe of Jesus garment. She had done everything she could to be healed. She had suffered much at the hands of the physicians. This is such a picture of what it means to have a savior. After he healed her he called her daughter.

Jesus, thank you for giving me this picture of a tangible reminder of an intangible truth, that I too can find healing in your wings.