The Wilderness

By: Steve & Marilyn

Friends, some thoughts sit in my draft file for extended periods of time before being sent out.  This little piece has been sitting in draft for a while and we thought it might be an encouragement to some.  If you follow our writings you will understand that few are intended as complete, balanced teachings but rather as short jabs to challenge you to think, question and engage with the Holy Spirit.  He cannot lead us into all truth if we never ask Him questions.  Question everything!  We have the greatest teacher and the wisest leader!

We will be in Europe and Central Asia from May 27 through July 15.  Our hope is to go to Tajikistan for the first time.  That is one of the poorest places on the planet but the team there is doing very well.  Would you consider helping us help them?  A little multiplied makes a lot!    They run a small discipleship, rehabilitation community  for ten to twenty and that requires some four hundred dollars a month for food and necessities.  That need would be covered if any 15 of you gave $30 per month.   Why not? 

As always your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.  

Every blessing

Steve & Marilyn

The Wilderness

Many feel that a lack of trusted leadership to relate to, a lack of any community or movement to identify with, a lack of miracle in provision or healing would be evidence of their being in a wilderness.  

The children of Israel had an anointed, powerful leader and they were still in the wilderness.  They were part of a great movement and still in the wilderness.  They lived by supernatural provision and miracle but were still in the wilderness.

Star leadership, miracles and multitudes are not proof that you are in the promised land.  

They may be  proof that you are still in the wilderness of immaturity and codependency.

Jesus went into the wilderness alone to fast and pray.  Maybe the true purpose of the wilderness is to wean us from our addiction to the approval of others, our addiction to the sensational, our addiction to equating numbers with success?  Maybe the true purpose is for us to connect with Jesus alone?  To settle our needs in God so that we can freely give to others?

When the children of Israel reached the promised land they dispersed to their own portion and each had to begin to take responsibility for their own lives, to manage their own affairs and to provide for themselves.  They could no longer live by Moses and miracle.  

You may feel alone and isolated..

That may be your promised land...

That may be the place you fully engage with Jesus.

Although it may feel like a wilderness, it is not only a good place.

It is the best of places!

 

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