Complaining, complaining and more complaining

Complaining...complaining...

Seriously, who wanted to hear it and who does today?

God must get so tired of our complaints.  After all, just the last 3 days in our reading the Israelites have done nothing else.  They act like they just left the palace instead of slavery.  We were told in Numbers 11 that the people began to crave the good things of Egypt. Seriously?  

God provides and gave them freedom, yet nothing is right.  Imagine the miracle of God providing just the right amount of manna everyday?  Quail 50 bushels each? 

Yet, all that keeps rolling through my head is well, isn't that how we all are?  Watch tv, listen in restaurants, listen in crowds, how many people are sharing their blessings?  How many people are sharing good things?  No, everybody seems to latch on to whatever is happening that they view as bad.  Yes, two sides to every story so both sides latch on to the opposite side and absolutely drag it from here to yon and never let it go.  

Tiresome.  It is all so tiresome.  I am not without my own complaining.  I am working on it.  I try to get out in nature without the noise, or I paint, or I cross-stitch, go to a ballgame, or I watch hallmark movies.  I am trying so hard to get myself out of this tit for tat world.  Whose winning?  Nobody.  Everyone of us are in trouble and we need more Jesus!

I wish each of us would try to not be a contributing factor.  We may all want to point fingers at the other side, whether it is young and old, male or female, black or white, democrat or republican it is all of us!  Admit it!  Let's not continue down this path.  I know I am tired of it and God truly must be after all these years of listening to complaining humans who are truly blessed!  He provides all we need and He loves us beyond measure.

Today I want to close with a very well known blessing that many of us have shared over the years.  It was found a couple of days ago in Numbers 6: 22-27

'May the LORD bless you and protect you.

May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.

May the LORD show you his favor and give you peace.'

Do what you have to do to get out and about into nature or wherever you spend time with God!  I promise it changes your attitude.  He changes your attitude.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Detail after detail

Okay, are you still reading?  I know it is some pretty tough reading, but it is a wonderful reminder of God is in every detail!

I mean seriously, He gives very detailed instructions.  Which I believe means He thinks it is really important stuff.  Enough said.

Are you a detailed person?  Do things have to be just right?  Are you a list maker?  I love to keep a list of my to do's and get to draw a line through them, seriously I do the happy dance with each line!  I think that we might take a little comfort that some of our lists  might be of God.  Notice I did say might be.  Details are important to Him and they are important to us so maybe we get a little bit of that from Him.

What phrases have been really sticking out to you through this reading?  One that I have read and is in today's reading is the wonderful reminder of who it is that is giving these instructions.  

I am the LORD.

another is,

Then the Lord said, Give the following instructions to the people... who?  

God cares enough to being very detailed, because we need details.  We tend to take a word here or there and make it fit our needs.  Nothing surprises God. so He tries to take care of every detail for us, the problem is we have to read His Words.  We have to pick up the book to see what He instructs us to do.  I know we would like to believe that we know it all, but well nope even the smartest of us...DON'T.  None of us know it all and we need help.  Yes, even the strongest of us also need help.

Go ahead make your list.  Go ahead take care of every detail.  But relax in the end, knowing that God is in every detail...yours and mine, but also in His!  He loves us and He provided the way for each of us.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

As clear as the sky itself

The prettiest blue with the eagle in the tree, it was a wonderful photography day.  Sky so blue and beautiful.  The words that captured me today are found in Exodus 24:10 ~ 

There they saw the God of Israel.  Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.  And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them.  In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!  Wow, what an amazing image.

Place yourself in this scene.  In God's presence and eating a meal.  How could you even eat?  Google the blue lapis stone it is beautiful.  I just felt the power in this moment and I don't know that I ever noticed that this moment included more than Moses.  I think before I stayed in the verses above where God said only Moses was allowed to come near.  So I don't know that I grasp that all these other people (over 70) shared this time in God's presence.

I don't know, but this spoke to me that God allowed these people to come and share Him.  I know that God's creation wow's me and this just gets me.  I don't know how you were even able to breathe much less eat.

God is so good!

Please take a moment and give thanks for God's amazing love for each of us.  Praise Him for all that He is and always will be.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Glory of God

Daily I am reminded of God's glory through nature whether it is the sunset, sunrise, critters or a baby's cry, we are reminded of God's glory!  Do we take notice?

I had lunch with my sweet friend Frankie yesterday and we both talked about over the reading this year that one of the statements from God's word that is getting our attention is seeing the glory of God.  Several times these words are mentioned and they are mentioned from God not from someone else.  Let that sink in for a moment these are important words to grasp.

  Exodus 16: 7 ~ You will see the glory of God.

Today in the reading it was about manna from heaven in the morning.  Yesterday, it was about the hardening of Pharaoh's heart and God said, "I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army.  After this the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!"

Folks it's important!  Don't take my word for it read God's Word.  He is telling us it is important for us to realize who He is today, tomorrow and yesterday.  I believe that this is one of the most important things I've learned from reading the Bible is who God truly is and it takes reading some difficult things to beautiful things and being reminded of all that He truly is.  

Daily we hear people take a part of something and make it fit their own desires and when you truly take the time in God's Word and develop the relationship with Him ~ He will show you who He is.  Bible studies offered by wonderful people are wonderful.  I've learned and grown so very much through these studies, but I've learned the most by spending time in His Words.  His Word will live forever and He will teach you and I make you this promise He will change you in the process.  I  make this promise, because He changed me and others when they took this same challenge.  Allow Him to show you His glory.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie