Sin Desert

“We wish the Lord had killed us in Egypt. When we lived there, we could at least sit down and eat all the bread and meat we wanted. But you have brought us out here into this desert, where we are going to starve.” – Exodus 16:3 (CEV)

I’m going on my 5^th week since I hurt my knee. I saw my doctor the other day to make sure I have the clearance for me to return to work since I can’t work on modified duty being a Per Diem now in the prison. He gave me another note to give to work and have me off again for 2 weeks. The knee remains a little swollen. Without pain, I am just having a little hard time with its range of motion. 

Despite the lack of income on my part, I am grateful for God’s provisions. Daily. We have food to eat. Able to pay the monthly bills. This time, if I’m contented before, the more contentment I feel deep inside knowing that God’s promise to be there for us never falters. There are times that worries want to take a residence in my heart. But when the sWORD comes to mind, worries are replaced with His truth.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. - John 1:1 (NIV)

This morning, He led me to Exodus 16. Where the Israelites journeyed by Sin Desert. A vast and hostile environment of sand and stone. A place barren and perhaps, with nothing much to offer compared to the Land of Egypt, where the Israelites resided before. Egypt…The land of life’s comfort and pleasures. That barren place is surely the perfect spot for God to test and shape the character of His people.

Oh how they complained! When the Israelites met dangers, shortages and inconveniences. That such circumstances would make them want to go back to Egypt desperately, instead of trusting in God’s promises and provisions. 

I learned something new this morning as I continue to journey in this place, Earth…The Sin Desert…

Any difficult circumstances produce so much stress and a natural response is for me to complain and whine. But the question gnawing in my heart is…

“Do I really want to go back to Egypt?”

As I reflect on many stages that had come and gone in my life, I know much better now that because of God’s grace and mercy, any stress peeking at my heart’s door does not come from such difficult trials. It can arise from a heart not willing to trust God completely.

My answer then....is a big  No!!!

Because going back to Egypt is only a quick escape. In the long run, it will stop me completely on my tracks and will make me not to press on…

Whatever we are facing today, I pray that God’s power and wisdom will help us even more to trust in Him and make no room for any worries in our hearts.

May we “be strong in the Lord and His mighty power!!!”

Lord, I lift up our lives, Your children's lives to Your hands. Help us deal with difficult circumstances not with our own strength but by Yours. Help us remain joyful, always lifting our hands in prayers to You. Help us focus only on the Word...Jesus...Thank You for Your provisions. Your love. Your grace. Your mercy. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

Lift My Life Up (by Unspoken)

  

You brought me this far
So why would I question you now
You have provided
So why would I start to doubt
I’ve never been stranded
Abandoned or left here to fight alone
So I’m giving you control

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up
Have your way in me
Have your way in me

If peace is a river
Then let it sweep over me
I’m under fire
I know it’s refining me
When I hear you calling out
I follow now wherever the road may go
I know you’re leading me home

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up
Have your way in me
Have your way in me

Take my life and let it be all for you
Take my life and let it be all for you

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever

All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up
Have your way with me
Have your way with me

Take my life and let it be all for you

You brought me this far so why would I question You now
You have provided so why would I start to doubt
I've never been stranded, abandoned or left here to fight alone
So I'm giving You control

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in Your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up

Have Your way in me
Have Your way in me

If peace is a river then let it sweep over me
If I'm under fire I know it's refining me
When I hear You calling out I follow now wherever the road may go
I know You're leading me home

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in Your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up

Have Your way in me
Have Your way in me

Take my life and let it be all for You
Take my life and let it be all for You

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
(Take my life)

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
(Take my heart)
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in Your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up

Have Your way with me
Have Your way with me
Have Your way with me
Have Your way with me

Take my life and let it be all for You
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/unspoken/lift-my-life-up-lyrics/#gmvGs7ddCiGtlyz4.99

You brought me this far so why would I question You now
You have provided so why would I start to doubt
I've never been stranded, abandoned or left here to fight alone
So I'm giving You control

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in Your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up

Have Your way in me
Have Your way in me

If peace is a river then let it sweep over me
If I'm under fire I know it's refining me
When I hear You calling out I follow now wherever the road may go
I know You're leading me home

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in Your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up

Have Your way in me
Have Your way in me

Take my life and let it be all for You
Take my life and let it be all for You

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
(Take my life)

I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
(Take my heart)
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in Your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up

Have Your way with me
Have Your way with me
Have Your way with me
Have Your way with me

Take my life and let it be all for You
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/unspoken/lift-my-life-up-lyrics/#gmvGs7ddCiGtlyz4.99

The Stairway

It takes me longer now to go up and down our stairs as I continue to allow healing post my right knee injury. Going on for a month now. Well…even the chores I can finish in no time takes me longer to accomplish. But by God’s grace, I am grateful that I am able to finish each. Each day. Longer…But still completed. And despite the swelling on my right knee that is slowly going down, I am grateful that I am not having pain. I’m just limited to flexing more than straightening my right lower leg. The routine use of an anti-inflammatory medication and ice continues…as well as resting the affected leg here and there when I feel that a bag of cement seems to be wrapped around it. 

“Mom, it sounds like you need some oil there,” my son jokingly uttered as he walked right behind me as we both were descending on the steps the other day. He was just trying to be funny because he could see…I was slow going down the stairs. I turned around to see his eyes full of concern and his arms extended, ready to catch me in case I fell.

“Why are you there behind me?” 

“Mom, it’s okay. I’m gonna’ help you in case…”

“I’m fine. I’m not having pain. I just can’t bend my knee the way it’s supposed to be bent.” 

We both reached the bottom of the steps. With my big smile on my face for achieving this simple victory of not having a mishap. My son, behind me, his face also smiling as he took a deep sigh of relief. We both proceeded to the kitchen and made our breakfast together.

“Don’t forget to say ‘Thank You, Lord’ in any situation,” I reminded my son, as we both ate our meal.

“Trust me…There are always those “blessings in disguise” even in difficult circumstances.”

I knew…Because I just conquered those steps from our stairway. As my son gloried in his youth and strength, I gloried in the experiences I had gone through in my life. “Been there…Done that…” And as my heart by faith accepted His truth, I knew since…

Jesus is the stairway between heaven and earth…Because of Him, I learn so much about His providence. My prayers go up…His blessings come down…He is the ladder. The only way for anyone to reach heaven. And as I continue to journey down here in this place, despite the many circumstances I have encountered and are about to still face, I am confident that Jesus never leaves me. 

My steps might be a lot slower. But there is no stopping in continuing to press on because like my son, others are watching me. Not so much with the injury but how I react to it. And I will always boast…boast in the Name of Jesus that He is the One Who empowers me to accomplish anything… And I know…He is patiently waiting at the top of the stairway...

So…it’s okay to be slow sometimes….

Slow but surely able to finish…

To finish well…