Thirsty?

•March 21, 2011 • Leave a Comment

We know that drinking enough water is important to the proper functioning of our bodies.  Walking around in the heat makes you thirsty.  Water is an essential for life.

Numbers 17:1-7

1The Israelites left the desert and moved from one place to another each time the LORD ordered them to. Once they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for them to drink. 2The people started complaining to Moses, ” Give us some water!”

Moses replied, ” Why are you complaining to me and trying to put the LORD to the test?”

3But the people were thirsty and kept on complaining, ” Moses, did you bring us out of Egypt just to let us and our families and our animals die of thirst?”

4Then Moses prayed to the LORD, ” What am I going to do with these people? They are about to stone me to death!”

5The LORD answered, ” Take some of the leaders with you and go ahead of the rest of the people. Also take along the walking stick you used to strike the Nile River, 6and when you get to the rock at Mount Sinai,I will be there with you. Strike the rock with the stick, and water will pour out for the people to drink.” Moses did this while the leaders watched. 7The people had complained and tested the LORD by asking, ” Is the LORD really with us?” So Moses named that place Massah, which means ” testing” and Meribah, which means ” complaining.”

The Israelites are in the desert, and they are thirsty.  The reality of this journey is that it is hard.  It is using up their resources.  They are having to rely on God – and they are not finding it easy.  They are a very moany people – they are not giving Moses an easy time of it!

Moses knows that the Lord will provide, but the people are not sure.  They want their thirst quenching and they want it now!

“Is God really with us?” they ask.  It doesn’t feel like it to them.

“Is God really with me?”  Is that a question you are tempted to ask?  Are you weary, thirsty, worn out?  Do you want to sit down, have a rest, let someone else have the struggle?  Are you crying out to God in the wilderness?

“I will be there”.  “Water will pour out”.  Those are God’s promises.   But God didn’t give them the water there and then, it was a little further on in the journey – but they could make it that far.  God has gone ahead and prepared what they need.
The water to quench your thirst may not be here in the Desert, but it is just a little way ahead.  It will be there, waiting.  God supplies what is needed, but it may be a few steps further along.

Lord,

give me patience

and strength.

All I need,

you provide –

at the right time

not my time.

When the journey through the desert is tough

keep me strong

in the knowledge

that you will be there.

When we wonder if you really will be

may we be assured

that you are,

and equip us

to be able to carry on

Posted in God, Lectionary, lent
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Giving it up

•March 20, 2011 • Leave a Comment

Luke 14:27-33

27You cannot be my disciple unless you carry your own cross and come with me.

28Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. What is the first thing you will do? Won’t you sit down and figure out how much it will cost and if you have enough money to pay for it? 29Otherwise, you will start building the tower, but not be able to finish. Then everyone who sees what is happening will laugh at you. 30They will say, “You started building, but could not finish the job.”

31What will a king do if he has only ten thousand soldiers to defend himself against a king who is about to attack him with twenty thousand soldiers? Before he goes out to battle, won’t he first sit down and decide if he can win? 32If he thinks he won’t be able to defend himself, he will send messengers and ask for peace while the other king is still a long way off. 33So then, you cannot be my disciple unless you give away everything you own.

 

Do you ever start tasks and never finish them?  One of our son’s newly decorated nursery waited 3 years for the last piece of wallpaper to go over the doorway.  We sorted it out the next time we decorated in there!

How is this Lent journey going?  Is it getting tough?  Have you missed some bits out?  Taken some short cuts?  Or you getting tired, distracted, or dare I even say it bored?

Are you going to finish the course?

Being a disciple of Jesus is about being in it for the long haul.  It’s not just about giving something up for Lent, or taking something on; it’s not starting off keenly, it’s going all the way; it’s not being willing to make small adjustments, it’s giving your all.  It’s about carrying your cross. Doing the thing that is asked of you.

The focus of the Christian journey is on God – follow him.  When you’re on a rough sea crossing, the advice is to look at the horizon and keep your eyes focussed on that.  Jesus words are not, take up your cross – and your on your own mate; but take up your cross and follow me.  Put your footsteps in mine.

Giving things up for God is tough.  But God knows that.  Giving up is necessary to be able to make the journey.  We would not make it weighed down.

If you are losing heart, finding the going tough, or wondering if you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, if you feel your resources are not enough – take heart – God hears your cry for help, and for those who come they can journey with him.  We might have a cross to carry – but Jesus has carried one too.  Whatever we have given up will be replaced by something way more valuable in the lessons we learn and the love we receive along the way.

 

Via Dolorosa - The Way of Suffering

 

‘Take up your cross’

That’s what you did for me Lord.

So however tough the journey.

we are doing it with you.

As we journey onwards

and come to new realisations,

give us the courage and the strength we need

to give away,

take up

and follow you

 

 

Posted in follow, Jesus, Lectionary, lent
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Praise God!

•March 19, 2011 • Leave a Comment

How often do we stop and praise God?  He has given so much for us, loved us, cared for us, protected us, walked with us…

As part of our Lenten journey, we can take time…

Perhaps this Psalm gives us the opportunity to reflect on what God has done in our lives, and to thank him.

Let’s take some time to praise God:

Psalm 135:1-14

1Shout praises to the LORD!

You are his servants,

so praise his name.

2All who serve in the temple

of the LORD our God,

3come and shout praises.

Praise the name of the LORD!

He is kind and good.

4He chose the family of Jacob

and the people of Israel

for his very own.

5The LORD is much greater

than any other god.

6He does as he chooses

in heaven and on earth

and deep in the sea.

7The LORD makes the clouds rise

from far across the earth,

and he makes lightning

to go with the rain.

Then from his secret place

he sends out the wind.

8The LORD killed the first-born

of people and animals

in the land of Egypt.

9God used miracles and wonders

to fight the king of Egypt

and all of his officials.

10He destroyed many nations

and killed powerful kings,

11including King Sihon

of the Amorites

and King Og of Bashan.

He conquered every kingdom

in the land of Canaan

12and gave their property

to his people Israel.

13The name of the LORD

will be remembered forever,

and he will be famous

for all time to come.

14The LORD will bring justice

and show mercy

to all

who serve him.

What about you?

Thank you Lord!

Posted in God, Lectionary, lent, Thanksgiving
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