Walking Through The Desert / Living in the "In Between"

     This week, HOPE fm is at a conference in Orlando.  It is a GREAT time of fellowship and worship with quite of a few of the artists you hear on our station performing LIVE for us.  However, today during one of the press conference, the lead singer from Big Daddy Weave made a statement about God and how He continually meets us where we are and as we are.  Nothing else is needed for us to be with Him other than to accept His invitation.  So why, then, is it so hard to do something that should be so easy?


     It seems, "For some reason", that as a Pastor, I can tell this message to people but over time, my ears have become deaf to it.  My stresses and struggles have overtaken me recently.  I've used the excuse that "there's no one to minister to the ministers."  I've hidden behind that excuse for too long because "Pastors are supposed to have it 'all together.'"


     These stresses and struggles have been nothing more than a disguise for which the evil one has used to hide in.  Hebrews 6:12 says For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age...against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.


     This summer has been the "driest" spiritual seasons of my life....  Dear Lord, thank You that while I have been wandering in the desert, You have been preparing for me an oasis.  Thank You that it didn't take me 40 years to find it...and that You prepared it for me in spite of myself.  Yes, You really do love me...anyways.

Signed,

The Prodigal Side of me...

the side that is desperate to make it home

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The following text is from the notes I took during an "educational session" by Pastor Jeff Marion...

20 minutes AFTER I wrote what you just read.

Check out his book "The Land Between"

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     Perhaps today you find yourself no longer where you were and not yet where you will be.  Today, you're finding yourself in the "in between."  The Israelites were no longer in Egypt but not yet in Canaan- they were in the desert and they were sick of it (Numbers 11:4-6).  You know, something grows AMAZINGLY well in the desert- complaint.  The Israelites needed patient endurance.  In Numbers 11:11-15, Moses speaks one of the most honest prayers in the entire Bible:

He asked the LORD, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’  I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.  If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

     The in-between is also fertile ground for emotional meltdown.  What if Moses' prayer isn't a sign of spiritual weakness but rather spiritual strength???  When we are at our breaking point, it is "legal" to come to God and "release!"  That's why the prayers of Moses, Elijah and others are even in the Bible!

     The in-between is also fertile ground for provision!  Numbers 11:16 - 17 says The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you.  I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

     Provision doesn't always take the pain and confusion away...but HE still provides and says "I AM HERE."  The in-between is fertile ground for trans-formational growth.  The desert for the Israelites was "trust school."  They had to trust for everything!  When you're "in between", you want out!  BUT, what does God want to do while you're there???  Tell God "I don't like it here....but I trust you here....and I trust you NOW!"

     Trust and complaint are incompatible.  One invariably pushes the other out...  WHICH ARE YOU GOING TO PUSH OUT???