Murmuring and Complaining

 From Be Still and Know...

"And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness." (Exodus 16:2)

In crossing the desert area of our country occasionally, I see oases with a few trees, a limited water supply, and a filling station.  These provide "rest stops" for the traveler on his journey.

As the Israelites started their march across the desert, they soon began to experience the rigors of wilderness travel.  After three days without water, they began to murmur and complain.  Suddenly their spirits rose as they discovered water, only to be disappointed when they found the water to be bitter.

Instead of trusting God, they began to murmur against Moses and Aaron.  Indirectly, they were murmuring against God, who was their real Leader.  However, in spite of their complaining and lack of trust, God sweetened the bitter water so they could drink it.

God may schedule a wilderness journey for our lives.  We may encounter bitter waters.  Possessions may be taken from us, dear ones forsake us, plans crumble in our hands.  Disappointments may come, confidences be betrayed, cherished ideals shattered.

We, too, may begin to murmur and complain.  Bitterness may creep into our lives.  It is easy to be sweet when everything is going our way, but when it becomes difficult, we begin to complain.  God's Word reminds us, "Neither murmur ye."

Murmuring and complaining can lead to self-pity and criticism.  They show a lack of faith in the Lord.

He can sweeten the "bitter waters" of our lives.  It is the Lord Jesus who sweetens them for us.  He doesn't always remove them, but He gives us the sweetness of His presence and blessing in the midst of them.

We can expect "bitter waters" on our wilderness journey, for God uses them as a "proving ground" to test us.  Through them we are brought to the end of ourselves and into a closer relationship of trust in the Lord.

May we not be like the children of Israel, guilty of ingratitude.  Instead, may our hearts and lips be filled with praise.  "I will praise Him with my whole being."

A bit of a catch up

 It's certainly looking very wintery at the river...

Even though, on a recent trip to Devonport, there was still plenty of blue sky around...

I did NOT test the water!

It's cold and grey today.  I went for my walk earlier and then made a Cold Tea Loaf...

Sorry it's a bit hard to read... 

 but if you click on the picture it will bring it up clearer

I'm still working on Marnie's birthday blanket so I can't post a picture.  I have 2 weeks to get it finished.  I ran into a bit of a problem as I needed more of two of the colors but they had been discontinued, so I had to change my original idea a bit.  But all is well...

When I can't work on the blanket, I have this, what I think will be a baby blanket using left over yarn from other projects, on the go...

I finished reading The Long Winter.  And now I'm living it! :))

It was so

 cold this morning, even Freya didn't want to get out of bed...

So I thought I'd warm up a bit and read Summer at Fairacre.

"Dolly Clare must be the best loved person for miles around.  For years she taught at Fairacre School ... 

Ill health forced her to retire to the little thatched cottage at Beech Green, some two or three miles away... 

I have always loved the cottage, and not so long ago Dolly staggered me by telling me that she had left it to me in her will...

On this fine spring afternoon, I took with me a posy of polyanthus and a pot of freshly-made lemon curd.  There was a scent of spring in the air, and the lane between Fairacre and Thrush Green wound between hedges hazy with young leaf...

Miss Clare looked as pretty as ever ... despite her great age.  

'Now sit down and tell me all the Fairacre news.'...

Me thinks it is time for a cup of tea and a slice of cold tea loaf :)

xx

The Summer Garden

 Even though it's winter here for us at the moment, it's good to remember summer is coming.  Or not remember if you are like me and don't like the heat and sun :))

From A Year's Journey with God...

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow ... For we are fellow workmen - laborers together with God; you are God's garden and vineyard ... under cultivation." - 1 Corinthians 3:6,9, AMP 

I never get over the miracle of July!  All the tiny seeds I planted in the greenhouse during winter are now filling my garden with vivid color.  'Isn't God clever,' remarked my three-year-old granddaughter.  She is right, but not yet old enough to realize how much human hard work is involved in making a garden beautiful!  I had certainly played my part in the miracle!

If we are God's garden, I suppose keeping our spiritual lives beautiful is also a partnership and often hard work on our part.  I remember once helping my son move into a 'student house'.  It was clean enough inside, but the garden had not been touched in years.  As I fought my way through the jungle of weeds I realized someone had once filled that garden with roses, but bindweed had wound itself around the bushes, strangling their beauty, while giant nettles stole their light.  I shuddered as I realized how easily my own garden could look like that.  I pounce on weeds as soon as they show their ugly heads because they are so easy to pull when they're small.  Surely it's the same with 'spiritual weeds'?  Those resentful thoughts, discontented grumbles and negative self-pity can be removed comparatively easily if we 'yank them out' quick!  If we ignore them or even 'water them' with encouragement they soon 'take over' and start spoiling everything that is beautiful and valuable in the rest of our lives.

Thank you, Lord, that I don't have to clear all these weeds from my life on my own.  I pull them out but you burn them at your cross.