... and carry a big stick.

God never ceases to amaze me. As His plan for my life slowly unfolds, more and more I see my always loving, all-knowing Creator at work. There are times when His blessings engulf me like the downpour of a waterfall. But more often than not, it is the drip-drip of a slow and steady refreshing. It is in those times when I feel each droplet touch my heart that reminds me where my courage and my strength lie.

The past few days, have been a learning moment for me. A slow and steady process of Him opening the eyes of my heart. Even though these learning moments are a blessing, part of me gets frustrated with how long it takes me to understand.

Everyone walks their own path with Jesus. And even though many of us share the same comfort in Him, each of us has our own struggles. And our personal burdens make our relationship with Jesus unique. And once again, God reminds me to trust. Trust, not only the process that He puts me through but trust Him with EVERYTHING!

Trust is a big word. I think we use it casually not knowing the depth of its power. And to trust God, and God alone, is almost beyond my comprehension. It is too easy to give Him my burdens but then pick them back up again because my trust lies in myself and not in Him.

Can you imagine the trust it took for Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt? I keep thinking of Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush. Moses was raised an Egyptian. Egypt worshipped many gods. And even though Moses had fled for murdering an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite, he didn't really understand why.

Part of me just assumes that as God is speaking to Moses in the burning bush, Moses must be TOTALLY confused! God had to explain to Moses that He was the God of his fathers - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. But Moses didn't even know THAT "god." Yet, somehow Moses continued to take the steps God told him to take.

Step one was to go to the elders of Israel and tell them that GOD had sent him to free them from Egypt. Moses, an Egyptian in their eyes, telling them to not only trust God but to trust him! Why would God trust HIM? Why would THEY trust him? “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.” (Exodus 4:1) But they listened! That is God at work!

Moses questioned his abilities all while God was giving him instructions. God had to prove to Moses that it was possible... that anything was possible with God. Sometimes we forget that the miracles involving Moses didn't start with the ten plagues upon Egypt, they started with Moses questioning his own worthiness. To prove to Moses that He would use him, God performed miracles on Moses. Exodus 4:2-7 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied. The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.” Then the Lord said, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow. “Now put it back into your cloak,” he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.

My first thoughts are - Well, God made that easy for him. Anyone could trust in God after seeing those miracles. But it takes only moments for me to realize how false that thought is. God has shown me miracle after miracle, yet I still doubt my worthiness. Why would God use ME? Who is going to listen to ME?

I hear this voice inside my head saying, "Here's the deal... God could have done all those miracles in Egypt WITHOUT Moses, but God wanted to strengthen Moses' faith. God wanted people to see that He could use ANYONE! God was asking for Moses' obedience, not his ability." Even when Moses had a difficult assignment, he obeyed. He might have questioned HIS ability, but he didn't question God's ability. And every time he obeyed God, he witnessed a mighty display of His power.

Can you imagine the mighty power God could display if we just obeyed! Trust and obey. Two simple little words that could change the world! God doesn't need our help to change the world, but think of all the people who would see our obedience and know there is a God in heaven!

Gal. 2:20

I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.