TRUDGING INTO JOY
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
A rock formation in the wilderness located in the Jordan Vally near the Dead Sea in Israel. During the desert wilderness wandering of the Children of Israel, the landscape would have looked much like this.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 2:7
For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.
“Trudging”…a word that describes most of the days of our lives. When God brought His people through the Red Sea, there was dancing. They started off toward the Promised Land with excitement, then came the trudge. Our key verse was spoken to people who repeatedly failed the Lord. God had provided for them to move within a short time into the Promised Land. They refused to go in. God provided food and water in the wilderness. They grumbled. While there were some awful consequences along the way, God continued to care for them and to guide them. His presence remained among them. God was ready to restore them and give them success whenever they were ready to believe His promises and move into His plan for their lives. Guidance from Scripture is important for us moving forward! Did you know that Deuteronomy is quoted at least eighty times in 17 of the New Testament books?
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I seem to be trudging a lot. In these times, please help me to keep putting one foot in front of the other, moving forward and not backward. Thank You for those times when I walk with a determined stride, and even run and dance. I ask for grace from Your Spirit in the trudging times. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Norma-Jean and I are 77 & 80. So…while we may trudge sometimes, we also plan to dance a bit this evening, whether I feel like it physically or not! (try it when you’re alone if it embarrasses you). I am so blessed! I’m already dancing in my spirit this morning!!! In the story Jesus told of the son who returned home, He said there was, “music and dancing.” God’s Son has returned home to His Father, having completed His work for our salvation. Surely we have the greatest of all reasons to celebrate.
I suggest a New Testament reading which I have just read, Luke 15:11-32. Let’s pray for all our loved ones to come home to Father God. Christmas would be a great time for that to happen. Also, here’s a great rendition of “Joy to the World” (click here).
Yours for joy in the journey and for grace in those trudging times,
David
P.S. Below is a photo of my son Ron and his wife Ann (Ann checks my blog for punctuation, etc. and Ron makes sure it’s posted properly daily at 6 a.m.). They visited Petra in Jordan a couple years ago, leading a Crossroads tour group. The city is carved into the solid rock! This was the area inhabited by “The descendants of Esau who live in Seir,” as mentioned in today’s reading (Deut. 2:4). You can click on the picture to enlarge it.
Good Morning fellow bloggers. Kelly had her transplant and all is going well. She has to visit everyday for the next 2 weeks to make sure she stays hydrated and her blood count is up. Thanks for your prayers. Still keep her in your prayers.
Edward and Eleanor you are in my prayers,The Lord will take us through this.
Have a nice day everyone.
Glad to hear, Thelma.
Dear Thelma
Praise and Thanks to the Lord for Kelly’s successful transplant, Lord help her with her visits and the instructions to stay hydrated and have her blood count stay up, thank You again dear Lord for this wonderful miracle, we love You Lord, we Thank You over and over, in Jesus name we Pray amen
was looking on my calendar, did write down about Kelly’s surgery on the 13th! LET US CELEBRATE THE GOODNESS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST…TY Lord, TY amen amen amen
God is soooo faithful, He hears and answers our prayers/
God bless us all this wintry day.
Found a poem I can relate to, easily:-).
I remember the Bologna of my childhood,
And the bread that we cut with a knife,
When the children helped with the housework,
And the men went to work, not the wife.
The cheese never needed a fridge,
And the bread was so crusty and hot,
The children were seldom unhappy,
And the wife was content with her lot.
I remember the milk from the bottle,
With the yummy cream on the top,
Our dinner came hot from the oven,
And not from a freezer; or shop.
The kids were a lot more contented,
They didn’t need money for kicks,
Just a game with their friends in the road,
And sometimes the Saturday flicks.
I remember the shop on the corner,
Where cookies for pennies were sold
Do you think I’m a bit too nostalgic?
Or is it…I’m just getting Old?
Bathing was done in a wash tub,
With plenty of rich foamy suds,
But the ironing seemed never ending
As Mama pressed everyone’s ‘duds’.
I remember the slap on my backside,
And the taste of soap if I swore.
Anorexia and diets weren’t heard of,
And we hadn’t much choice what we wore.
Do you think that bruised our ego?
Or our initiative was destroyed?
We ate what was put on the table,
And I think life was better enjoyed.
Author, Unknown.
Lovely! Amen!
Right on Lynda…all so true!!
Remember all those things Lynda.
Egypt had a pharoah who forgot Joseph. We have a PM who forgets God.
Lord God, please help us Canadians to wake up and turn back to You. Please forgive us and help us to humble ourselves and stop thinking we are so much better than others when, in fact, we are dependent on You for every single thing.
Thank You for always being faithful.
In Jesus’s name, amen
Amen, Rob. Amen.
God has not forgotten Canada or any other country, He is everywhere and I am sure He feels deep sadness when idols are worshiped!
Lord God You know what exactly is going on in this world! We are sorry that we do not worship the One Triune God, the Father, The Son, the Holy Spirit! Forgive us Lord, Help us to be bold to worship You and to share Your unconditional love with all mankind throughout the world
In Jesus name we Pray amen
Amen Sah!
Yes, Amen Rob!
Jesus Christ is our Rock.. Rock of Ages, cleft in me let me hide myself in Thee!
Thank you Reynold for the picture!
Thank you Thelma for the update on Kelly. Thank you Lord for seeing her through the surgery. May her health continue to improve with each passing day!
Praying for you, dear Eleanor and for your husband.
God bless you all!
Thelma praising the Lord that everything is going well with Kelly’s transplant and thank you so much for your prayers for Edward and I.
Thank you Luisa for your prayers.
Good morning blessed saints in the Lord! May we sing praises to His Holy Name for the gift of life and God’s amazing grace. Let us rejoice in Him and give thanks for the blessings of forgiveness and salvation. Our God is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. He is the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings and the Great I Am. We are nothing without Him but everything with Him. We shout to Him with hearts of thanksgiving! Wishing all a blessed day!
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
Carols and Hymns for Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxz4GNY_AYc