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 5th 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.


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

5 comments:

  1. I am praying for complete healing for your knee right now. I am reading through on my YouVersion Bible app and completed the part about the Israelites wandering in the desert for forty years. Why do they not trust God? And yet, there are times when I see some of those same traits in my own life. I don't want that. Hang in there my friend.

    Blessings and love sis,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Praying for total healing of your knee sis, love you. Enjoyed the video.

    ReplyDelete
  3. A dear, young (he's 44) friend of ours is slowly dying from a hideous disease similar to Lou Gehrig's. He often tells us: "There's value in the struggle". It's a powerful sentiment, especially when we're asked to leave the confines of the comfortable (or complacent) & head off into parts scary, painful or unknown. It's a lesson worth learning over-and-over: He is faithful! Great reminder here today.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear friend, I read this post and the one before it, and am thanking God for your attitude in the midst of your lingering knee ailment. The healing is taking long, and I heartily agree with the comment above this one part of which reads, "There's value in the struggle." Lack of income, lack of mobility, lots of missed opportunities to serve... and yet nothing will hinder your forward journey to the Promised Land. The healing may be slow, but I am praying it will be complete. The song your posted is beautiful, I have never heard it before. You've got great support in your family, but above all from your heavenly Father, Creator, Redeemer, Healer, and Provider.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I don't want to return either. Comforts tempt sometimes, but God keeps telling me that this trial or test is opening a door that I will thank Him for someday. I'm enjoying everyday life today with you, precious Rosel. And I'm asking God for your knee to be restored greater than before!
    Hugs,
    Mary

    ReplyDelete

"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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