“I have directed you in the ways of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.” – Proverbs 4:11 (NASB)

Moses was a great servant…of God who came to true knowledge and understanding of the Lord late in life.  It seemed as if he had it made growing up as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  As a young man, he found great favor in the eyes of the Egyptian ruler as a builder and one who knew how to get things done.  He was given great responsibility and he served Pharaoh faithfully.  Then one day he learned his true identity – he was not Egyptian royalty, he was the son of a Hebrew woman.  This news rocked his world.  Eventually, he was banished from Pharaoh’s family and kingdom, taken to the desert and left to die.  Quite a turn-a-round for anyone much less one who grew up in such stature and luxury in life.

Often times we ourselves enduring seasons of life that seem to take us out into the desert.  Sometimes it happens without notice, other times, perhaps we see it coming and just don’t want to admit that we are headed for the dryness of life.  The Hebrew word for desert (transliterated) is:  midbaar.  It comes from the root word dabbaar, meaning “to speak.”  Moses went searching for answers about his life.  That search took him to the desert.  Yet that is where he found his God.  That is where he finally heard the voice of God.  Sometimes we too have to go into the desert of life in order to hear clearly the voice of God.

Perhaps your desert involves caring for elderly loved ones with little or no help at all and no end in sight.  Perhaps your desert is found in an unexpected bill or a boss’s message that your job is being eliminated, or a doctor’s voice giving you unwanted news about your health.  It could be the deep soul-aching pain of an unfaithful spouse or a rebellious child.  Whatever your dry desert land looks like, I can assure you that God will be present.  “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you:  I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Joshua 1:5

Does God listen to our cry from the wilderness of life?  “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.” – Psalm 34:15  Does he know your situation?  Does he understand?  He understands very well my friend – after all, He’s the one who speaks in the desert.  His schooling for our life often times requires some wilderness wondering, some hunger and thirsting.  That’s where he gets our attention just like he did with Moses!

So next time you find yourself in a period of dryness in life, stop and take note.  Most likely God has a very important message designed just for you!

VBS day in the Park…will be on Sunday, July 9^th.  Volunteers are needed for all kinds of roles…please see Ruth Evans if you are willing to assist.  We need lots of loving hands to accomplish this community outreach.

This Week at MCoC…we have talked about baptism the last two weeks.  What is it?  How Jesus modeled and commanded it and how Paul and Peter taught about baptism.  Last week we looked at every situation in the New Testament where it is recorded that individuals who came to faith were baptized.  This week, I will shift from the “act of baptism” to the salvation and the role that baptism plays in that process.  I hope you will be able to join us, either in person, on-line via our website, or on MPW cable Channel 3 at 10:00am.

I hope you have had a great week…I’m looking forward to seeing you Sunday!

DJA