From Slavery To Independence

SCRIPTURE

“When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

~Exodus 13:17, NLT

QUOTE

Independence toward God has in it the seed of real tragedy. Be dependence upon Him has in it the possibility of real independence.

~Clovis Chappell

God could have lead the Israelites up the coast through Philistia which would have been a 10-14 day trip but He intentionally lead them into the wilderness. He wanted to separate them from the world and unto Himself for a time of instruction, training and worship. He wanted to teach them to live by faith so He carried them to a place where He was the only means of survival. Of course He came through with water from the Rock and Manna from heaven. His purpose was to teach them to be totally dependent upon Him. True independence comes when we learn to be totally dependent upon Christ our Savior and Lord. In Egypt [A type of the world] the Israelites were slaves but by rebelling against God they slipped back into a slavery of a different sort; they became slaves to sin. Eventually it cost them their freedom and their land.

• TODAY WE PRAY FOR TEACHERS.
• Winter Bible Study going good: great crowd last night {Only at Sardis Springs}. Bro. Charles and I talked about it last night, they had over 100 in the adult bible study on a Monday Night. I don’t know of one other SBC that does Winter Bible Study, do you? They had a death in their church family {related}: a forty year old mother. She had a bad heart attack. There are people hurting everywhere. We did get some good news from Grand Bay, Bernard’s daughter came through surgery well and they pronounced her cancer free, PTL.
• I am going to do a TOP TEN some day on why Mothers refuse to spell their children’s name correctly and then get ticked when you misspell it. Thank goodness there is only one way to spell Jack is American English: No Jaque is for the Frenchies and Jax is wax with a J, not Jack. A mother told me once that her child’s name was Bailey. I said good, it is about time some one named a kid after me. She said, “No really, her name is spelled Baleigh.” Give me a break!
• Paste from Keri Callahan FACEBOOK PAGE. “Thank you so much to everyone who is still praying and texting and messaging and everyone who has visited and sent stuff. I am extremely blessed to have such wonderful people surround me during this hard time. With that said, yes it’s still hard. I am home, but it hasn’t gotten much better or easier. I’m just honestly ready for all this to be over. I don’t understand why this is happening but it is. I don’t believe I am bein…g punished by God for anything I’ve done; He just sees it in my best interest and his glory for me to go through this, as hard as it may be. People keep telling me I am strong, but I can guarantee you I’m not. I am so weak, but my God is strong. I can’t focus on the WHY bc that won’t get me anywhere; I have to focus on the WHO and the HOPE, which is Jesus Christ. He is literally the only thing getting me through this. I pray God’s light shines through me as much as possible for his glory in the end. It’s not about me.”

  “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” -2 Corinthians 12:9