“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

I was looking at a picture of my grand-daughter from a family picnic.

Glimpse - hair braided with care by another's hand,
 fine dessert dish, 
best ice cream and cookies,
 hand reaching with confidence knowing the kindness and love of the one giving the treat,
a table that was used generations before her at the family farm. Generosity, trust and life preserving and giving back to us over and over again through the generations.

I thought about the table and the lavishness of God towards me despite my sin and unbelief at times.

Reading this morning in Psalm 78: 19

and noticed a verse I hadn't noticed before and it challenged me -

“Can God spread a table in the wilderness? 
Many times we think there is no hope or there is not a way out or through our circumstances. We cannot see getting to the other side of challenges. 

"We look to our own means at times. 
"God is not limited to means-to any means, much less to one of my choosing."(CHS).  We can limit God as is recorded in this Psalm vs 41 "They ...limited the Holy One of Israel"



































There is not always a clear view of the future and we can forget the many ways we have been cared for in the past or delivered and relieved of hard circumstances- we need grace to see the way.

"God did great things for his people Israel when he first incorporated them and formed them into a people: Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, and not only in their sight, but in their cause, and for their benefit, so strange, so kind, that one would think they should never be forgotten." (MHC)

The ESV Study Bible notes: God persevered with his people, they sinned and rebelled yet God was patient and will continue his purposes to the very end. The story is one of constant disbelief or the people in the face of God's unimaginable grace and provision, and even more grace being granted in the face of disbelief."

So God can spread a table in the wilderness!
The road ahead has twists and turns,
but we need to press on and pass on the recollection of God's great mercy and provision!

Psalm 78

"Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
 I will open my mouth in a parable;
    I will utter dark sayings from of old,
 things that we have heard and known,
    that our fathers have told us.
 We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
 and the wonders that he has done. (Psalm 78:1-4)

"..that the next generation might know them,

    the children yet unborn,

and arise and tell them to their children,

 so that they should set their hope in God

and not forget the works of God,

    but keep his commandments; (Ps. 78:6-7)

Yet he, being compassionate,
    atoned for their iniquity
    and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
    and did not stir up all his wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
    a wind that passes and comes not again.
 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
    and grieved him in the desert!(Psalm 78:38-40)

Psalm 23 - Keith Green

Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell  in the house of the Lord
    forever

" A smoldering wick he will not quench"

I was reading the evening devotion for July 19 by Charles Spurgeon. It was a glimpse of how God cares for us and loves us, and though times may be hard, or we may be depressed, or weary he has shown favor on us and will gives us hope even in the darkest of times. Some of us are timid and tempted to drift but there is a HOPE AND A PROMISE, "Yet, weak as they are, and because they are so weak, they have this promise made specially to them."

"... a bruised reed he will not break,

    and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick he will not quench,.." Matthew 12:20 (AMP)

Evening July 19 (CHS)

"A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench."

Matthew 12:20

What is weaker than the bruised reed or the smoking flax? A reed that groweth in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and it snaps; let but the foot of man brush against it, and it is bruised and broken; every wind that flits across the river moves it to and fro. You can conceive of nothing more frail or brittle, or whose existence is more in jeopardy, than a bruised reed. Then look at the smoking flax--what is it? It has a spark within it, it is true, but it is almost smothered; an infant's breath might blow it out; nothing has a more precarious existence than its flame. Weak things are here described, yet Jesus says of them, "The smoking flax I will not quench; the bruised reed I will not break." Some of God's children are made strong to do mighty works for him; God has his Samsons here and there who can pull up Gaza's gates, and carry them to the top of the hill; he has a few mighties who are lion-like men, but the majority of his people are a timid, trembling race. They are like starlings, frightened at every passer by; a little fearful flock. If temptation comes, they are taken like birds in a snare; if trial threatens, they are ready to faint; their frail skiff is tossed up and down by every wave, they are drifted along like a sea bird on the crest of the billows--weak things, without strength, without wisdom, without foresight. Yet, weak as they are, and because they are so weak, they have this promise made specially to them. Herein is grace and graciousness! Herein is love and lovingkindness! How it opens to us the compassion of Jesus--so gentle, tender, considerate! We need never shrink back from his touch. We need never fear a harsh word from him; though he might well chide us for our weakness, he rebuketh not. Bruised reeds shall have no blows from him, and the smoking flax no damping frowns.

Matthew Henry's commentary helps me understand this care and Love of the Lord:

"What is the compassion of our Lord Jesus toward them? He will not discourage them, much less reject them or cast them off; the reed that is bruised shall not be broken and trodden down, but shall be supported, and made as strong as a cedar or flourishing palm-tree. The candle newly lighted, though it only smokes and does not flame, shall not be blown out, but blown up. The day of small things is the day of precious things, and therefore he will not despise it, but make it the day of great things, Zech. 4:10. " (MHC)


"Who [with reason] despises the day of small things? ...the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro throughout the whole earth." Zech 4:10


Note, In God’s work the day of small things is not to be despised. Though the instruments be weak and unlikely, God often chooses such, by them to bring about great things. As a great mountain becomes a plain before him when he pleases, so a little stone, cut out of a mountain without hands, comes to fill the earth. Though the beginnings be small, God can make the latter end greatly to increase; a grain of mustard-seed may become a great tree. Let not the dawning light be despised, for it will shine more and more to the perfect day. The day of small things is the day of precious things, and will be the day of great things.(MHC on Zech 4:10)

Growth is not easy in this life. Some experience growth through trials and some through blessing but both means are covered by God's plan and care. He supplies the needed strength to enable "a day of small things to make it a day of great things." So have hope in the middle of a time of growth and stretching that all things will work for good.

"And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold"

 Nehemiah 8:10 (AMP)

Great promise and a love that never fails is our foundations.

Promise

Your Love Never Fails - by Jesus Culture

"Your Love Never Fails"

Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails

You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There maybe pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails

The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails

You make, all things, work together for my good.

"flight of thoughts"
 I am always amazed how God can impress thoughts into our minds when we see creation, flowers, mountains, read books, and it goes on and on....

So...... We can get through challenges that seem insurmountable by prayer and realizing God's grace and taking courage, initiative and making decisions that have a greater end in view.

I have been reading a book about World War II that is inspiring .


Achieving victory, seemed impossible when the odds were against the U.S Army in Northern Europe at the battle of the Ardenees - the Battle of the Bulge. They had to fight desperately for survival. Yet 'Remarkable achievements' were made against the enemy at a great cost.

And the story of the 110th Infantry- 2000 men vs. 10,000 -

 "That sentence encompasses hundreds of stories of heroism, most of which will never be known"

So many faithful people will make "Remarkable achievements" going through each day in common ways, confident of  God's perfect plan and care, and each day serving and pressing on in the midst of hard circumstances in faith. 

Many of these stories will never be known but are for God's glory and our good. From bruise and smoldering, to trust and hope, to joy in pain, to achieving great reward living our lives.

... a bruised reed he will not break,

    and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick he will not quench,.." 

Mt. Shuksan near Mt Baker

Like the Moon we borrow our light

I recently read a devotional that stated-  "like the moon we borrow our light", bright as we are when grace shines on us, we are darkness itself when the Sun of Righteousness withdraws himself."

Therefore lets cry to God never to leave us!
Keep us everywhere!
Lord keep when in the valley and when we are on the mountain . (CHS, Evening June 29)

I thought of a few pictures of the moon i had taken recently and a friend had taken.
The moon has no light of it's own but reflects the light of the sun.

Super-moon 7 11 14 photo by Maryann Drago

"Moonlight is the light that reaches Earth from the Moon, consisting mostly of sunlight, with some starlight and earth light reflected from those portions of its surface which the Sun's light strikes." (Wikipedia)

Even the Super moon of July 12 weekend, as big and bright as it is - " borrows it' light"

I thought of how I need God- everywhere in my life.

There has been many times in my life and my children's lives that I have gone to Psalm 121 to request help. I LIFT MY EYES  to my keeper and shade.

The Lord will keep- is Bedrock truth I HAVE BUILT MY LIFT ON and trust, no matter how shifting the ground may feel or my feelings or mental state may sway this truth. It is solid ground!

I ALSO thought how we grow in faith to trust God and obey like Abraham, in the hardest of circumstances.

 "God is able to guide me, We may not know the road ahead, but we know the guide. We may feel the journey is long but we sure the everlasting arms that carry us are strong enough." (CHS Sermon #261)

 "Abraham went on his way along alone and weary journey, and God did not desert him, but graciously provided for him."

The Call of Abraham

In a dry and weary land, God works all things for good. 

Why All things work for good is because-

The Lord has made a covenant with us." 

He said "They shall be my people and I WILL BE THEIR GOD" (Jeremiah 32:38).

Flowers in the midst of thistles. He cares for us and will turn all to the best.

"Some things are kept in sugar and some in brine "

"God does not deal alike with all."

Psalm 121 
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.