GRUMBLING OR PRAISING And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you. —Numbers 17:5 And the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.” —Numbers 17:10 Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord. —Psalm 106:24-25 And do not grumble, as some of them did–and were killed…

BOAST IN OUR LORD GOD In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. —Psalm 44:8 “But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. —Jeremiah 9:24 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” —I Corinthians 1:21 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” —II Corinthians 10:17 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has…

GOD IS IN CONTROL! And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. —Numbers 11:1 And the LORD said to Moses, “Is the LORD’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.” —Numbers 11:23             Our Lord is not happy with us when we complain about our misfortunes. As a matter of fact we are told that He is angry when we complain. Why would this be so? It is because…

THIRST FOR GOD As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. —Psalm 42:1             Picture a dear panting and thirsting for water. You might even remember a time when you were panting and thirsting for water. Think of someone who had just finished a race in a day of burning heat. They sprinted with all their might, giving everything they had until they crossed the finish line. Then they collapsed, huffing, puffing, gasping… panting. They are in great need of water. Their body is screaming out for water. Is this how my soul longs for God?             Reflect on your life? How thirsty…

BLESSING The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. —Numbers 6:24-26             Today may our Lord bless you in a special way. On the one hand He has blessed us greatly already. Just being able to spend time with Him is a huge blessing.   He has blessed us in being able to get out of bed, to write this or to read this, to think this… Yes, He surely and definitely has already blessed us today. But I ask that He would bless you in a…

WAIT ON THE LORD! I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. —-Psalm 40:1             Do I wait patiently for the Lord or do I go on ahead on my own? Am I taking the time to understand He is hearing me and will respond or do I get impatient and do what I think is best? Is my impatience a sign of unbelief? Patience in waiting for the Lord to answer implies an expectation that He will answer!             What is it that you are crying out to the Lord for? Wait patiently… He will answer in His time according to His purposes…

MY HOPE! “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” —Psalm 39:4-7             How is it that I will soon be 66 years of age? How is it that I am already 4…

MY HELP AND SALVATION Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! —-Psalm 38:22             Who is there that is a better help than our Lord? So if we need help why is it that many times He is the last one we turn to? People get sick and who do they first turn to? People lose a job and who do they first turn to? People have a conflict of any kind and who do they first turn to? What do you need help with? Have you turned to the Lord for help? He is the first place we should be going? So go to Him for help.…

WAIT ON THE LORD… HE WILL DO IT! Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! —Psalm 37:4-7             Am I delighting in the Lord? Then He will guide my heart with the right desires.   Have I committed my way to the Lord and trust Him with…

OH, HOW HE LOVES US! How precious is your steadfast love, O God! —Psalm 36:7             God’s love for us can be counted on at all times. He does not give up on us and stop loving us. Now don’t take for a moment that God does not discipline His children because He does. Just take a look at, among other places, I Corinthians 11:23-34 where some followers of Jesus were sick and others died because of their disobedience. Love does not mean lack of discipline. Love includes discipline. Only a permissive parent will not set boundaries or keep them.   God is not like that. He knows what is…