Spiritual Desert

I have been feeling like I'm in a desert lately.  I contnue to press in to God, but just don't feel the Lord pouring back out on me.  He's being rather silent.  Or so it seems.  Thin we have all had times that we felt that way... 

I was reading in "A Confident Heart" by Renee Swope (www.reneeswope.com)  (As a side note, Renee is our speaker for COMPEL 2013!)  Anyway... was reading our lesson for this week, and God just spoke so clearly about my desert. 



Renee writes...
"I was studying about Jesus being the bread of life.  Then I cross-referenced the Old Testament where God provided manna in the desert for the Israelites, which was their "bread of life."  I thought about spiritual deserts we go through and how God wants his Word to be the manna in our deserts and tough times." 

It was like she wrote this part just for me.... OK - so maybe it wasn't her...  God wrote it just for me.  He clearly spoke to me that during this desert he wants me in his word.  That will be my manna.  He has great things in store, and in order to be prepared for that, I need to be still and soak in Him.

Do you ever have those times.  When you know that you need to press in, and yet you feel dry.  You want to hear from the Lord, and you feel he is quiet.  You know the Holy Spirit is moving, but you're not sensing it.   I honestly was so frustrated that even though I knew that God loved me and was speaking to me, I was just frustrated. 

And then, just a nugget.  God blessed me with just a nugget.  Not just the words that Renee wrote, but how he spoke to me through them.  I still feel like I"m in the desert and that God has me in a season of preparation.  And most importantly, I know that it is ok.  It's not me.  I'm not doing anything wrong...  I just need to keep pressing on! 

From sea to shining sea.... glass!

He gathers the waters of the sea into jars^[;
he puts the deep into storehouses... Ps 33:7

So... I've fallen in love with Pinterest.  You see, I'm a common girl.  I grew up on a farm during the 80's.  (If you're not a farm girl... that means farm crisis and little money)  I shop for most of my clothes at second hand stores still, and I love DIY projects and repurposing things.  I feel like God has blessed me in so many ways, but he still asks me to be a good steward of what he has blessed me with. 

This is my latest project.  I have spent the last 2 days on the couch pretty sick, and my little ones were needing some attention and activity.  So... I pulled up this paint idea and got out the little glass bottles I have been saving, and put them to work.  They had a hay day!   

These little gems are going to sit on our front porch. Not only are they pretty cute, but each time I come in the front door, I will remember them sitting and painting and giggling.  Caleb and Emma had a blast.  (Carter opted out!)  I promise to post an "after" photo when my little springy decorating is done! 

Psalm 33:7 says he gathers the sea into jars....  and so much more.  I love the entire Psalm 33.....  read it for yourself! 

Psalm 33

¹ Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;

it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
² Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
³ Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
⁴ For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
⁵ The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
⁶ By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea into jars^[a];
he puts the deep into storehouses.
⁸ Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
⁹ For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
¹⁰ The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
¹¹ But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
¹³ From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all mankind;
¹⁴ from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth—
¹⁵ he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
¹⁶ No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
¹⁷ A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
¹⁸ But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
¹⁹ to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
²⁰ We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
²¹ In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
²² May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.