Bitter Dam

Jesus has removed everything that hinders and blocks my relationship to Him. He came and lived and died. He proclaimed it is finished, and then He came back to life! 

I have realized that when I feel the distance in my communication with Jesus, it isn't His end of the line that is being cut off. Its mine.

When Moses led the people out of Egypt, they people often grumbled. I grumble. They were thirsty. I get thirsty. At many points in their weakness, they became greatly swayed by their discomfort. I get weak and get stuck. They openly admitted that it would have been better if they had never left Egypt. Egypt, where they were enslaved and mistreated! Moses, their chosen leader, turned to God and prayed. The flock of God's people were a burden for Him to lead. I have been chosen as a leader and I feel the burden, too.

God then provided water, but it was too bitter for the people to drink.

I think about my own circumstances. I look at the life God has provided me with the eyes of my flesh, and I think that it is not very good. My thoughts turn sour in the routine. I think that maybe this is not what God has because it isn't easy or fun most of the time. I don't see purpose, but a lot of daily menial tasks that run the corse of my day until the sun goes down. Some days turn right into night.

Then God turned Moses. The great Shepard told Moses to take a log that was within reach. God opened Moses eyes to see it, and instructed moses throw it into the water. Moses obeyed and the water was made sweet.

My marriage, my home, my community, it is the perfect training ground for my pilgrimage to Heaven. I need only to look to my Shepard to show me the tools that He has laden about me that will bring the sweetness to my life and the lives around me. To take the bitter in my life and turn it sweet. He used a tree... roots and hardwood, twigs and green leaves. hmmm....a normal, nothing exciting, nothing out of the ordinary, thing.

It is at the place where God made the water sweet for His people, that He warned them, and blessed them. 

" 'If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in His eyes, and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR HEALER. '

Then they came to Elim and their were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm trees."

Exodus 15:16-27 (emphasis mine)

The couldn't see one tree until they looked with God's blessed, wisdom filled eyes. But when they saw, they obeyed. And when they obeyed, they were blessed exponentially.

God's blessings do come through pain and uncertainty. We see who he is when we are out of options and He is all there is left. His voice and His visions are clearer when we lean in close out of desperation. When panic drives us to Jesus, He becomes the calm and canceled the crazy.

Ask Jesus to give you vision for His purpose in your circumstances. Ask him to give you God goggles to see what He has provided for you from His perspective.

I have made many wonderful friends over the years. I would meet people think, "this isn't going anywhere." Then it wold come to fruition to be a meaningful lasting friendship. Other times, people I thought I would be so close to...those relationships seemed to fizzle. I want to be a friend who trusts God. With my marriages, my homes, my children, my friends.  I have learned my job in a relationship is to always be patient and loving. Never manipulating and controlling. What freedom!

I am stepping back again today and I am looking. 

Jesus, I ask you to come and make the bitter waters of my heart sweet. Let your aroma fill my thoughts, communication, and actions. Let the debris of my discontent and lack of closeness with you be freed so that the currents of your living water can come and wash my life clean. All for your glory*