When Thanksgiving Replaces Grumbling

“Why can’t we have meat? We ate fish in Egypt–and got it free!–to say nothing of the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic. But nothing tastes good out here; all we get is manna, manna, manna.”  (Numbers 11:5-6 TM)

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud yesterday during my quiet time as I read from God’s Word. The complaints of the Israelites actually sounded like a conversation Richard and I had this past week over the food we’ve been eating here at the YWAM cafeteria.  “Nothing tastes good out here” has come out of my mouth more than once since our arrival! So reading these words yesterday made me laugh. Yet, God wasn’t laughing when the Israelites said this. He heard their grumbling and was angered. God had rescued His people from slavery. He had been providing for their every need. He even made manna come forth from a barren land ~ a miracle indeed! The people were not lacking in any way. Yet all they could focus on was what they didn’t have instead of praising God for what they did have.

Needless to say, after my laughter a twinge of conviction settled into my heart. I too had fallen prey to negativity and lost sight of God’s goodness. It was a reminder from the Spirit to give thanks in all circumstances for this is His will for me.

During this past week, we’ve been prepping for our upcoming outreach to Houston, LA, and Alaska. We’ve learned dances and skits to perform. I definitely won’t be signing up for So You Think You Can Dance anytime soon, but I learned afresh this week that I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

We’ve learned more details of what we’ll be doing on our outreach. We are prepping messages and testimonies to share. We will have lots of hands-on evangelistic opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in all of these places. What a privilege to bring light into the darkness and hope to the hopeless.

Please continue to pray for us as we are preparing. Here are some prayer points:

• Unity within the team
• Open doors to minister in all the places we’re going
• Hearts to be open to the gospel and spiritual blinders to removed
• As ministers of the gospel, we would all share with confidence, boldness, and love
• Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading
• God’s provision (manna) for the cost of outreach

Thank you for partnering with us in so many ways. We’ve received love notes and packages recently from several, which have blessed us a lot. It is a joy knowing we have dear friends and family all around the world joining with us! Your prayers and support are making a difference dear friends.

This week I’m asking God to help me be thankful in all circumstances. When thanksgiving replaces grumbling, we will always taste and see God’s goodness.

“Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for the Lord is good! His faithful love endures forever!” (Jeremiah 33:11 NLT)

You are loved!

Amy

To partner with us click here.