Deserts and Starbucks Coffee.

told you little boogers i would give you a two-fer today :)

As i still sit in Starbucks, I am taking time to finally pour out all that the Lord has been impressing on my heart as of late.

I have been thinking about the children of Israel and their journey in the Desert.
They were complainers, and sadly, that is much of what our society has become.
It seems odd to us when we examine their journey and realize that they complained SHORTLY after being released from slavery.

"(on the fifteenth day of the second month) in the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, 'if only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! there we would sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve the entire assembly to death' " [Exodus 16:2-3]

Don't you think to yourself "how could they be so ungrateful? i would NEVER be that way" that was mighty brave of them to accuse the Lord God of setting them free only to let them die.
("You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord" vs.8)

But wait a minute, how often does the Lord provide for us and shortly after we find ourselves doubting Him  again.  Why is it that we doubt Him almost on a recurring basis?

We know in our mind that the Lord is faithful, but in the heat of the moment He is the first one we accuse or blame.
Do you think that maybe the Israelites lack of trust and obedience in the Lord paid a part in their EXTENDED stay in the desert? I don't know about you but I'm thinking that 40 years in a desert after being released from captivity wasn't His initial plan. (though He knew it would ultimately happen)

They grumbled about starving, and the Lord provided manna. All He asked was that they would gather only enough to feed them during a 5 day period and on the 6th day, gather enough for the following day. He called for their OBEDIENCE  & TRUST.

So how about these beans; even after being delivered from slavery AND being provided food by process of bread literally raining down. They STILL doubted the faithfulness and love of the Lord! (WHAT IN THE WORLD?!)

"They camped  at Rephidim, but there was no water to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, 'Give us water to drink'. Moses replied, 'Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?' But the people were thirsty for water there, an they grumbled against Moses, They said, ' why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?' " (17: 2-3)

I WANT TO SMACK THE DAY LIGHTS OUT OF THESE KIDS!
C'mon Israelites! Do you really think that he would deliver you from SLAVERY (remember the red sea?) and  RAIN BREAD from heaven, only to let you die from THIRST?

My goodness, how many times have I acted identical to the children of Israel! The Lord delivers me, only for my to wish or even put myself back into a situation of bondage. Simply because sometimes it IS easier to be in bondage, than to live free! Bondage is familiar and feels safe. Bondage is without choice, and sometimes it is making choices that can be so difficult and frustrating.

Take the time on this NEW YEARS EVE to examine your own life; do you feel like the Lord has promised you something and it isn't here? (getting impatient??)
Well what is KEEPING YOU in the desert? 
Don't make the mistake that the children of Israel (and well, even myself) have made and let your distrust and lack of obedience keep you in a stalling position!


What is it that you need to be learning in this season?
YOU could be the very thing holding you back!

Take a moment and write down times when the Lord has been faithful, and keep those in a place that you can reference back to in moments of frustration and doubt.

It's time to get out of the desert.

"God who answers prayer, sees me in my need. 

runs to my despair, Your promise I believe.

 That You are, You are, You are God...

I place all my hope in You, my Healer will see me through..

God who answers prayer, faithful You will be.

In my darkest hour, Your promise I believe."

["God Who Answers Prayer"-Elevation Worship]