Exodus 16:1-2 4/8/2025

“They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.  And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron ...”

The “Wilderness of Sin” is a place I am familiar with… it is a place of selfishness in the midst of blessings … it is identified by grumbling about what I want, instead of being grateful for what I have.  

The Israelites have been miraculously delivered from slavery by the parting of the Red Sea, and are being given food and drink by the Creator of the universe…  yet, they are grumbling against the men that have led the way. 

Contentiousness comes naturally for man even when there is no reason for it.  We are seldom satisfied with the blessings we receive, usually needing just a little more.  In this case, God’s children just walked through an ocean on dry land, and they are grumbling about the lunch menu. 

The angels must shake their heads at our foolishness … We have been chosen and blessed. Heaven went to war to rescue us from eternal death. God gave His only begotten Son to redeem us …and instead of falling on our faces in humble adoration, we complain. 

We are worse than the Israelites because we have something they didn’t have… The Spirit of God living inside us.  ALL our needs are met in Christ, and we are offered freedom.  

But in our culture cynicism and condescension are prevalent.  We think it’s intellectual to be derisive and negative… It’s not.  It’s simply an attribute of the “wilderness of sin”. Our separation from God has permitted our self-centeredness to dominate us and make us egotistical and small.  Let’s leave the wilderness and head back towards the garden.  When we are reunited with our Heavenly Father, our gratitude will make us salt and light, instead of bitter and dark… 

Be grateful today and live out your joy and redemption for everyone to see. It’s your call… choose to be bitter or choose to be grateful… There are plenty of reasons to do either - but you can’t do both.   

“Be grateful and you won't grumble. Grumble and you won't be grateful.” - Billy Graham

 

Judges 5:1-2 4/1/2025

"On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: “When the princes in Israel take the lead,  when the people willingly offer themselves — praise the Lord!

Read chapter 5 of Judges, and you’ll see it is a song of praise, glorifying God for what He did in chapter 4. It is full of substance, and highlights God’s omnipotence. 

My Dad enjoyed songs like that… hymns that were full of theology. He referred to the songs that are popular today as “Seven – Eleven Songs” ….“You sing the same 7 words, 11 times and sit down”.  Instead, Dad liked songs with substance.

I have been trying to keep songs and thoughts like that in my head… Looking for ways to remain cognizant of God’s power. I have built monuments… memorized scripture… filtered what I see and listen to… and focused on gratitude in my prayers.

All of these are intentional acts intended to train my brain to look back gratefully - instead of looking forward anxiously.  It changes the complexion of my day and allows me to be productive instead of wasting time in negativity and anxiety.   Scripture says the joy of the Lord is my strength and a happy heart works like medicine. Songs, journals, and monuments are all ingredients that shape the soundtrack of my life and remind my heart that God is the provider of productivity, and joy.

What “songs” are stuck in your head today?  What information are you allowing to live rent free in your brain? Whatever it is, it will dictate your mood.  Have you allowed your mind to be oppressed by fear and negativity?  Have you invited social media to divide you from friends, waste your time, and ruin your day? How’s that working for you?... Those are choices you make… and they matter.

The soundtrack you choose will have a profound impact on your life… Choose the truth and let God’s love sing in your subconscious mind all day long.  Ditch the pessimistic, snarky attitude… and make songs of praise the background music of your life.  Get off the hamster wheel of grumbling and stop wasting your days … this is the day He has made… Rejoice and be glad in it.

You must take your own thoughts captive… not the other way around.

“Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears.”
- Laird Hamilton