AUGH or Awe?

Exodus 15:22-27: Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the LORD issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.




That was the text for this morning's chapel message. The Pastor had a great message. Sometimes when things don't go our way, or we find something bad or a flaw, we tend to go "AUGH!"  and grumble.


Just like the Israelites- they couldn't find water, so they grumbled and probably made their own "AUGH!" noises.


The same is true in our lives- if the weather isn't just perfect, if results from a test didn't come back the way we had hoped, if we get injured, if we get abandoned, if we get upset about anything, we tend to go "AUGH!" (or make a similar grumbling noise).


I found that happened to me- I made quite a bit of noise and "AUGH!"s when I fractured my foot. I grumbled (yes, just look back at my post 2 days ago for evidence).


But- the pastor pointed out- the Israelites had forgotten what God had just done for them- He just led them across the red sea! He saved their lives and blessed them! And days later, they grumble and say "AUGH!" 


And here I am- recovering from one illness, God was faithful and saw me through some other health problems, and when I endured this, I said "AUGH!"


But when Moses approached the Lord- He provided that piece of wood which made the water clean to drink.


And God provides for us. He throws that piece of wood at us, and gives us exactly what we need. He is faithful. He blesses us. 


And instead of saying "AUGH!", we should be filled with awe at the marvelous ways God is at work in our lives.


Because, ultimately, a piece of wood saved our lives too- the cross. And that's all we need.


Because our purpose in life is not to be happy, and we are not called to be grumblers mumbling "AUGH!" when things don't go the way our selfish desires want them to.


Rather, we are called to be God's servants- not perfect, but faithful. As He is faithful. And when we are able to sit back and look at the blessings we have each day, there is no reason not to be filled with awe. And like you say when you see something cute or nice, "Awww..." We can look at our blessings and replace those nasty "AUGHS!" with "Aww..." Thanks, God.




Blessings:
- I love reading e-mails with encouraging comments left on my blog! Thank you! X


-FINISHED MY PROJECT! 20 pages typed! Whew!


-My mentor professor asked to steal one of MY ideas for her future instruction! I was HONORED!


-Even though I'm in a lot of pain and discomfort, I still played the organ for my lesson today- and it went great!


-I received the Sacrament of Communion today in chapel


-Many conversations and e-mails which left me smiling.


-Feeling encouraged.