desert Archives - Sherry Stahl

desert

Where You Are Is Preparing You For Where You’re Going

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
~Exodus 3:1 NKJV

Where You Are

Have you ever felt overlooked? Like you were living on the back side of the desert where no one noticed you? Wasting your life, squandering your potential? Do you question your life wondering, what am I doing here?

There are times in life when you don’t understand your circumstances. The difficulty doesn’t seem to have a purpose. I imagine this is what Moses might have thought when he was tending his father-in-law’s flocks “on the back side of the desert”.

Moses was born with a purpose and raised to rule. Miraculously drawn out of the water by Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses was the one boy under two years old spared from the genocide of Israeli baby boys sanctioned by her father. Then, Moses grew up in the Egyptian palace as Pharaoh’s grandson and we know he looked the part because when he ran away to the desert, the girls he protected said, “An Egyptian rescued us.”1

“As shepherd of his father-in-law’s flocks, Moses gained first-hand geographical knowledge of the territory surrounding the Gulf of Aqabah. Little did he realize that through this area he would one day lead the great nation of Israel.”2

The Desert Is a Place of Preparation That Produces Purpose

Moses ended up back on Mount Horeb when leading the Israelite’s towards The Promised Land. In this very spot God used him miraculously to strike the rock and water gushed out.3 Moses also encountered God on this very mountain in powerful ways and was used by God to bring the 10 Commandments to His people.4

Where Moses Went

Moses had no clue that this time at the back side of the desert was preparation for his purpose… you have no clue how God is preparing you for your purpose. Like Moses, the place you serve could one day be the area where you lead.

Where You’re Going

So, today, choose to see your circumstances as training grounds, not punishment or places of neglect. God hasn’t abandoned you in the desert. Know that where you are, is preparing you for where you’re going.

Prayer

Father… I thank You that the desert is a place of preparation that produces purpose. You don’t waste the struggles in our lives but instead, if we submit ourselves to You in the midst of them, You will bring about beautiful things in the desert. Produce Your purpose in me! In Jesus Name…Amen
1. Exodus 3:1
2. Philippians 1:6
3. Jeremiah 29:11
4. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women from our Legacy Works Online Store.

ENDNOTES
1. Exodus 2:16-19
2. NIV Archaeological Study Bible, New International Version. © 2005 Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI. Note on Exodus 3:1 pg. 88.
3. Exodus 17
4. Exodus 19-20, 34
WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED

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Get Ready for God to Amaze You!

“Consecrate yourselves
for tomorrow

the LORD will do AMAZING things among you.”
Joshua 3:5 (NIV)

Too many people don’t get to see the amazing things God has planned for them because they don’t
get ready in advance.

Sometimes we have a movie theatre attitude.
We want to just sit back, relax, and watch the show when God asks us to perform vital roles.

[tweetthis]Life is not a spectator sport.[/tweetthis]

God desires to partner with you to see His plans and purposes released in your life.

When the Israelites were crossing over the Jordan River into the Promised Land, God required that they consecrate themselves.

They had to do it, not God.

Their acts of consecration were a sign that they were dedicating their lives for a sacred purpose. God promised them that if they did this, He would follow up by doing amazing things among them—and He sure did stick to His Word! After they consecrated themselves, God parted the flood-stage waters of the Jordan River and let them walk across on dry ground. Then God caused the walls of Jericho to crumble as the Israelites marched and worshipped around them.

How amazing is that?

Why did all these miracles take place?

Because God’s people PREPARED themselves

in advance.

During the hard times,

while still IN the desert,

they lived out the words of Isaiah 40:3, which says,

In the wilderness,
get it ready!
Prepare the way;
make it a straight shot. The Eternal would have it so.
Straighten the way in the wandering desert to make
the crooked road wide and straight for our God.
(The Voice, emphasis added)

Get ready in your desert times and you’ll be preparing the way for God to amaze you!

PRAYER

Father, thank You for Your power to do amazing things in my life! Help me to prepare the way in my heart so You’ll have a roadway into my life for the miraculous! In Jesus’ name, amen.

[tweetthis]Get ready in your desert times and you’ll be preparing the way for God to amaze you![/tweetthis]

[tweetthis]Get Ready For God to AMAZE You![/tweetthis]
1. Joshua 3:5
2. Exodus 19:10–11
3. Isaiah 40:3
4. Matthew 3:3
#DARE2SHARE
POST IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW AND BOLSTER THE FAITH OF SOMEONE ELSE!

YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland ,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie ,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth , Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms , Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead , Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy , Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin
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This devotion ‘Get Ready For God To Amaze You’ 
was originally published on my blog (May 5, 2014)
It was later published as "Prepare The Way", 
Devo #27 in my book:
 Soul H2O: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions For Women
 (c) 2016 Word Alive Press Winnipeg, MB
I republished on September 11, 2017 with new graphics because I just felt like I should :)
Believing you will find refreshing as you read!
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Hungry in Turkana

On Monday I wrote a devotional called Hungry. I shared about how I was woken up by my grumbling tummy and one of the things that God spoke to me as I was up.

Feeding the Hungry

I think I could write about 12 devotionals from all God spoke to me that night! The message about our duty as Christians to help feed the Hungry has been a call that is very near and dear to my family. My grandmother instilled in us an eye to look for those in need and DO SOMETHING about it! Christmas makes me think of her and how she gave.

Christmas compels us to give.

Christmas is the time when we remember how God the Father gave His son to the world…when Jesus gave up His heavenly home for a lowly stable.

Christmas inspires us to give beyond ourselves.

For months now I have been partnering with Cheryl Weber, Dave Shelley and the crew at Crossroads Relief & Development on a project in Turkana, Kenya. If you’ve come to an event where I’ve spoken at you’ve heard this before and thankfully some of you have been compelled to join with us in helping the people of Turkana be able to feed themselves!

If I had millions of dollars, I would give Crossroads the money needed to finish this project and stop people from dying of starvation in Turkana! Since I’m not independently wealthy, I will give what I can and use what I can to help get the word out. If we all DO SOMETHING the project will reach completion and thousands of families will be saved!

I can’t express enough how much this project touches my heart! God is growing gardens in the desert!!! Take time to watch this short video clip that explains the project and lets you see for yourself how they are growing gardens in the desert of Turkana, Kenya!

Click below to read more on my Outreaches Page.

#musicpic song

As I’ve been thinking about writing this post for the past week, Matthew West‘s song keeps going through my head. I hope it inspires you to DO SOMETHING great and feed a Hungry soul!

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Waterfall

I am soooo pumped!!! I just saw on Twitter that Chris Tomlin had a new song. I love his music so I was interested…but…when I saw the name of the song…I was beyond excited! The name of his newest single is called “Waterfall”. It’s like it was written for my book and for my life!
So often life can be difficult. It is God’s Word, sometimes put to music, that gives me strength. The words of this song flood my mind with related scriptures.
Right now there are only 18, 626 views on the youtube clip, that’s how new it is! I listened to it once and had to buy it on itunes. You’re gonna want to buy it too! I can’t wait to sing it at church. I’ve listend to it so many times tonight. If it were a record I would have worn it out already, trying to get the words!
At the bottom there’s a link to the youtube clip and Chris Tomlin’s website. Make sure you click on it and then come back to read the words as you hear the song and let the waterfall of His mercy rain down on you!
Love,
~Sherry

WATERFALL
By Chris Tomlin

You’re an ocean to my soul…

CHORUS

Your love is like a waterfall, waterfall…
You hear my heart when I call, when I call

Youtube Clip of “Waterfall” Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Ks1o1gOWo
Click here for Chris Tomlin’s Website http://www.christomlin.com

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Happy Holiday!

Happy Presidents Day to all my American friends!

Happy Family Day to all my Canadian friends!

“There remains, then a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.”
Hebrews 4:10-11 NIV
Today is a holiday for Canadians and Americans alike. A day to kick back, relax and for most, take a day off of work! Could there be a better time in the calendar to have a holiday than in the dead of winter? I know you southerners can’t understand, but this year has been one of the harshest winter’s North America has ever experienced! It leaves you tired and worn out. Like bears in winter, we need a little extra time to rest.

Genesis 2:2 says “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” (NIV)

We live in such a fast-paced society that the work never seems to be done. It’s hard to let ourselves take the time to rest. The problem with not following God’s example and later His law to rest is that we go beyond the limitations God set in the human body. Without adequate rest our bodies get run-down and burn out.

Wikipedia gives a review of a report from the Journal of Health Psychology,8. It says that Burnout decreases your job performance, causes physical and mental health issues, along with cognitive impairments. The study found that “burned out workers reported as many depressive symptoms as clinically depressed patients”²

The writer of Hebrews encourages us that “anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work”. Allow yourself the blessing to enter into His rest and Have a Happy Holiday!

Prayer

Father… I thank-you that you have provided rest for my. Please help me to enter into your rest and allow you to renew my spirit today! In Jesus name, Amen

If you think you may be struggling with clinical depression or anxiety, check out my MENTAL HEALTH page for some guidance and links to great resources.
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¹Bianchi, R., Boffy, C., Hingray, C., Truchot, D., & Laurent, E. (2013). Comparative symptomatology of burnout and depression. Journal of Health Psychology, 18 (6), 782–787.
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2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_(psychology)
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Parkwood Event

I had such an amazing time on Monday Night with the women from Parkwood Gospel Temple in Windsor, ON for their

Event! This has to be the best job in the world–meeting amazing people wherever I go! It was such a treat to have Brenda and Marg Rice there to cheer me on! I so appreciated all of Brenda’s help at the book table. I never could have done it without you! Amy McKnight did an awesome job leading us into worship. She tried telling me she had a sore throat, but I couldn’t hear it 🙂 What a great voice, but even better was her sensitivity to the Holy Spirit: knowing when to play, when to sing and when to wait on the Lord! The sign of a truly great worship leader! It was an honour to hear the life stories of so many girls that night as they shared with me after the meeting. I spoke on “Lessons To Learn In The Desert”, encouraging the women that God would bring them water in every desert they face. This is one thing I am SURE of! We really do learn more in the hard times than in the good times. I used the illustrations from my book for the Power Point and it helped to solidify the message as many girls commented. I want to thank Debbie Sylvester for planning such a powerful night! Your team was great to work with! Beth Waddell I appreciate all your ‘technical’ support 🙂 Rosie Wagner, so great to finally meet you! Thanks for having me everyone! Hope we can do it again sometime!
If you’re looking for a church in the Windsor, ON area, Check out:

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Are You In The Dallas/Fort Worth Area?

2671 MacArthur Blvd
Lewisville, TX
http://www.victoriouslife.org

Hope to see you there!

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Finding Christ

“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 sweet.”
Exodus 15:25 NIV

Have you ever been going through a trying time and wondered where God was? Well, I have and so have the Israelites. This scripture comes in the middle of the story when the Israelites had just gone through the Red Sea. They had just broken free of bondage in Victory…only to wander for 3 days without water! They finally find water and run to drink it, but the water is bitter and undrinkable. That was enough suffering to make the people forget the miracle of the water parting and want to go back to their old life. They grumble and complain to Moses. Moses does the right thing and cries out to the Lord. Oh, if we always took the time to cry out to the Lord like Moses did—and—wait for Him to speak! Oh, how different our lives would be!
God showed Moses a piece of wood. Moses throws it into the water and it creates a chemical reaction to change the whole body of water. Seriously? A piece of wood? This doesn’t make sense, if you don’t see the cross symbolism. A piece of wood couldn’t change water in the natural. God supernaturally used a piece of wood to be a type or foreshadowing of the cross. Only Jesus can take the bitter sufferings that we face and bring something sweet out of them. We need God to open our spiritual eyes so we can see how Christ is there, just like the wood was, mighty to save.
Moses took the time to cry out to God and ask Him to be involved in his problem. He expected God to show up, and show up He did, providing water in the desert. Take time today to bring your needs before God. Open up your spiritual eyes to see Christ in your bitter circumstances and allow Him to give you water!

Prayer:
Father…You see the bitterness of life on this earth and you stand along the sidelines waiting for me to tag you in. Please open my eyes today to see you working on my behalf! May I never doubt that you are there, because you are! You are Mighty to Save! Thank-you! In Jesus name, Amen

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Destined To Worship

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed…and they bowed down and worshipped him.” Matthew 2:10-11

Have you ever been listening to the radio and a song just grabs you? This Christmas I was asked to make a short video introducing a trio in our church singing Kari Jobe’s song “Adore Him”. In the song, she writes about the story of the Magi who followed the star to find Jesus. Using the words and tune for the Christmas Carol “O Come All Ye Faithful” for the chorus, she compels us to join her in worship as she repeats the phrase “Come Let Us Adore Him” with such passion.

Music profoundly impacts my life. I am brought to tears more by songs than anything else. If only I could sing! Listening to Kari’s song led me to spend a great deal of time thinking and reading about these men who travelled so far searching for a King. Men who would have given up so much to make this journey, putting their lives at risk by not going back to King Herod after he sent them to find this King of the Jews. Herod falsely claimed that his motives were to worship the King, but the Magi, they were pursuing their destiny to worship the King.

Today my iTunes started playing Avalon’s song “Destined” and I was again moved by music. This song helped me to realize that Romans 14:11 is true and that we all have the same destiny as the Magi. We’re all Destined To Worship! So, be like the Magi and seek after Jesus the bright Morning Star! When you find Him, humble yourself and lavish Him with your praise!

Prayer:

Father…I praise you for who you are because, You are good! Almighty…Always There, and You Know Everything! I want my life to be an act of worship to you in the words I say and the meditations of my heart. Help me fulfill my destiny to worship you! In Jesus name, Amen

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Do you trust God with your Due Date?

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
—1 Peter 5:6

When I was pregnant with my son Brandon, the doctor made me stop working a month and a half before the due date because I was in danger of preterm labor. The doctor knew Brandon’s best chance at a healthy life lay in prolonging his birth.
I had to go in for weekly checkups, and every week they warned me about the situation. Days went by. Weeks went by. A month passed. Almost two months passed. By the time Brandon’s due date came and went, I felt like I had been pregnant for two years! All this talk of an early delivery for months on end kept me ready for the birth, but it didn’t happen. After the due date came and went, I wondered if he was ever coming out!
Finally, it happened. Labor pains began, and a baby was born!

Waiting for God’s due date often involves a lot of waiting. You hear God’s promise. Others confirm the promise and build your expectation of it. You see signs of it being fulfilled, and even a few false starts get your heart pumping!
Then it seems like it’s never going to happen. It’s taking too long. Will it ever happen?

The beginning of Proverbs 13:12 says,
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick…”

When we’ve been hoping for something to be birthed for a long time and we don’t see it happening, we get heartsick. We can lose hope and give in to discouragement.

The ending of Proverbs 13:12 explains that
“a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Just as surely as my son had a due date, so does your promise from God! Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
Your time will come. Your promise will come. God knows what’s best for you and those around you. He knows what needs to take place so you’ll be ready to take care of your promise.
Trust God with your due date!
PRAYER:
Father, today I humble myself before You. I put my life in Your mighty hand. Help me to trust You and believe that Your timing is best! May I know that You will bring to pass all that You have promised—on the perfect due date! In Jesus’ name, amen.
DRAWING FROM THE WELL
- 1 Peter 5:6
- Proverbs 13:12
- Ecclesiastes 3:11
- Galatians 6:9
This devotion is being shared on the SEE HOPE LOVE show website: March 8, 2017

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