I'll give you a Drink in your Desert

DO NOT DWELL ON THE PAST...

SEE, I AM GOING TO DO A NEW THING

Do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in your desert.

I'll provide the water.

I'll give you a drink in your desert, my chosen one.

For I formed you for MYSELF that you may

PROCLAIM MY PRAISE.

Isaiah 43: 19-21

Wow. I'm in a desert. I don't perceive what my good God is doing.

But I'll look for that drink.

Isn't it amazing He calls us chosen. Formed for HIMSELF.

There are ten of us who are reading the Bible "Cover to Cover" (see post below if you'd like to join us) and today we read Genesis 4-6. As I read the verses, my mind went to preschool days with my children. My oldest daughter, a tad-bit shy, was sandwiched between an older brother who was a "take charge" conquer-the-world person at three years old and her younger sister who never met a stranger and knows someone in every state in the US of A and a few other countries, too. Brooke never had a lot of opportunity to speak because the other two always were talking. We were out shopping and I prompted Brooke that I was going to ask her to say "goodbye" to a store owner at a shop we frequented. I told her I'd look straight at her and invite her to say goodbye. As we left the store, I turned to Brooke and said "Would you like to say something nice to Miss Shirley?" (I missed the cue card.) Older brother, never at a loss for words, chimed in immediately and quoted Genesis 4:7 to the shop owner. So, I leave you this freezing Texas night with the verse Barrett nicely said in his little preschooler tone to a lady we barely knew. It was in our reading today and it made me reminisce of precious preschool days when you never know what they'll do next. Barrett blurted: "Sin is crouching at your door. It desires to have you, but you must master it." Genesis 4:7.

Don't dwell on the past, Bev. That would be my sin tonight. Repent.

I formed you for MYSELF. That would be my sin thinking I was here to live for this world.

You are my chosen one. That would be my sin thinking someone else is better fit for the job than me. Such lack of confidence.

Sin is at our door. And we have the Holy Spirit to help us, another Counselor.

If you are in our area tomorrow night, drop by for a New Year's Open House (that's for you Michelle and Claire and Lauren and Hayley!!!!) in honor of shy Brooke who has become a beautiful young woman, serving as a missionary, in love with her beautiful God. She so honors Him.