Happy Tuesday!!

Today is Groundhog Day. We celebrate and study this famed little rodent on my classroom each year. I have a small stuffed groundhog that lives in a Gevalia coffee box and hibernates under my reading table most of the year. He makes his appearance to check for his shadow on each February 2. Today in Gobbler’s Knob, PA, Puxatawney Phil saw his shadow, but in Fort Worth, Texas this morning, our groundhog, Murray, did not. So, we will see if there will be an early spring.

Exodus 16:4 “I will cause a flood to fall like rain from the sky for all of you. Every day the people must go out and gather what they need for that day.”

God delivered the nation of Israel from slavery. He led them across the desert with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. He provided manna which they ate for forty years. God provided each of the House of Israel with what they needed to keep themselves fed and safe as they traveled across the desert to Mount Sinai. He gave them only one instruction concerning the manna, ”Only take what you need for the day.” Why did God tell the House of Israel to only take enough for the day? God wanted to teach the nation of Israel to trust Him.

We may not be the nation of Israel, but we are still held captive by our own lack of trust in God. God showed the Hebrews day after day and night after night that He was taking care of them in so many ways. Still there were those who did not trust God. They took more manna than they needed for one days worth of sustenance. When they went to use it the next day, they found it to be spoiled and unfit for consumption.

Just throwing this out there…How has God taken care of us? What has God done for us day after day and night after night without fail?

First, He has loved us unconditionally through Jesus and that will never change. Next, God has walked the deserts with us because He promised to never leave us or forsake us. God chooses to walk with us out of His love for us. God chooses to walk the journey with us and experience everything the journey holds. And when the path gets really rough and we are exhausted, He carries us. God gives us strength for the day. He gives us strength for the day because He wants to take care of tomorrow.

So my dear friends, walk in joy with the Father this day and gather the strength He offers. The strength of God will walk us safely across any desert.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, count your blessings and say your prayers. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.