The past couple weeks have been interesting. As a mere human I do not always understand the ways of God, but I simply have to trust that they are for His glory and my good. In the midst of this the Lord shared some pretty incredible insight with me through one of Emily’s homeschooling books. The book is based Exodus and follows a young Israeli girl as she and her family escape Egypt and head towards the promised land. In our reading yesterday she was watching the events in Exodus 17 take place.

“And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst? (3)”

As some of you may know God finally directed Moses to strike a rock and water flowed from it providing water for His people. In the book we were reading there was a conversation between the main character and her brother. She was wondering why God, who could make water flow from a rock and provide meat, could not do that everyday. Why would he have the people go through thirst and hunger when He could provide it at a moments notice. After thinking a moment her brother responded saying that it is because God desires that the people stay dependant on Him and see Him as the One who provides. If they got water and meat everyday they would soon forget the One who provides it and would not seek Him.

As I read these words I was convicted. How many times do I take for granted the things God has given. Then, because of my comfort, I begin leaning on my understanding rather than His. I guess the saying is true, “when all you have left is God; you realize He’s all you need.”

As we head into three services aboard The Disciple Ship may we continue to lean on God and His wisdom and strength. May we not begin grumbling and complaining when we do not see immediate responses to our needs or when things don’t happen like we would see them happen. Even now we are impacting lives for all eternity.

In fact, just last week I was told about two incidents where parents had made decisions to come to CCOT because of The Disciple Ship. May God continue to use us to minister to these little ones as well as their parents.

Thank you all for your service. May the Lord bless you!