The Straw That Broke the Camel's Back

This photo is from my recent trip to Israel – right at the foot of the Mount of Temptation. Having my photo taken on a camel was a “must” but little did I realize that the little boy (about 10 years old) that was leading the camel would say “let’s go” and that camel started to gallop. And he was holding the reins -- not me! I must say, “My life flashed before my eyes!” LOL! I yelled "Slow down!" and the boy quickly brought him to a slow trot! That memory will stay with me forever. The other photo is my bestie, Sheila, and I standing firmly on solid ground again!

I thought about that camel and the idiom, "the straw that broke the camel's back". Have you ever had one of those days when, in spite of all your good deeds, good thoughts, and good intentions, when -- out of nowhere -- you experience the final "straw that broke the camel's back"? That phrase describes an irritation that causes a large reaction, because of so many small actions that led up to it.. To put it plainly, it's like Popeye's famous words: "That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!"

Case in point. Coming to grips with living in a city that has tons of traffic in it, you have to be a defensive driver because of the drivers who think they are in the Indy 500. I experienced that yesterday, as I left Dallas in the early morning and later, drove into Austin. When I started to change lanes, a car that was a good distance back, pressed his accelerator to keep me from getting in front of him. He blared his horn so loudly and proudly gave me a “hand gesture”, and rather than taking it as a grain of salt, I put up my arms and yelled “REALLY?” I'm sure he's still beaming that he nearly scared the living daylights out of me and, obviously, I'm still thinking about that dude who seemed to define "road rage".

I typically say, "In the light of eternity, does it really matter?" But it does matter when we feel mistreated, betrayed, rejected, and disappointed. We can take it and take it and take it some more, and while we'd love to know we had attained the character of Jesus, sometimes, one time too often, we face that "final straw that broke the camel's back". As I type this post, I hear that still, small voice, clearly say "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A5s2feN6Yk

As long as we're in these earth suits, we have the ability to fail, make mistakes, and just "lose it". But the more we strive to be like Him who was without fault, the more of Him we'll possess. How thankful I am, that He who I desire to be like the most, so quickly forgives me when I falter, and is WHO I want to emulate when I need to forgive. How sweet this life is.....when each time we fall, we can get back up again and become better than before. Donnie McClurkin wrote a song that said, "We fall down, but we get up. We fall down, but we get up. For a Saint, is just a Sinner who fell down....and got up!" I love this song -- listen and feel what I feel -- when I fall down and get back up!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A5s2feN6Yk

Got Hunger? Get Filled!

Yesterday, I posted about the thirst for water AND God’s living water that will quench our thirst as we draw closer to Him. Today, it's hunger for natural food and the food of God’s Word and presence.

Our 13-day faith pilgrimage most certainly DIDN’T include a spiritual fast from food. We were literally filled with the finest food. We were well fed in each restaurant and hotel that we were in – as Psalm 81:16 says “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” And we were, including the honeycomb we were served while in Jerusalem (shown here).

At the Mount of Temptation (hot and dry desert), we not only saw where Jesus was tempted by the enemy and we related only somewhat to His thirst, but most certainly not his hunger because we had been fed so well. We heard Jesus' response to the enemy: "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' Matt 4:4

Indeed, “Man shall not live by bread alone because our Father has prepared a banquet for us -- a feast of His presence, but we won’t have the appetite for it if we’re satisfied with something or someone else. The desire Jesus was referring to is for Him, and it's not reserved for only a few over-the-top passionate believers, but for all of us.

Psalm 107:9 tells us that God "satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things", but there’s a requirement before satisfaction comes -- we must be thirsty and hungry.

When we are spiritually hungry, we naturally desire the richness of spending time with God -- praying, attending Bible and prayer meetings, listening to teaching tapes, reading books on spiritual topics, attending conferences and retreats because days are filled with pursuing God and feeding on Him.

Don’t we wish it stayed that way? But life happens. Marriage, careers and children happen. Distractions happen. Lots of distractions like anxiety, fear, discontentment, and over-commitment keep us from that sweet intimacy that we may only find in hungering for God.

Jesus always has a table set before us of His presence, yet because we’ve been snacking on lots of other things, we aren’t hungry for Him. We try to satisfy ourselves, instead of having an insatiable hunger that can only be satisfied by fellowship with our Lord.

Matthew 34:8 says “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Honestly, "tasting" has become the motivating force in my life. I long to know Him more, and the more I crave Him like I did for certain foods when I was expecting my babies, the more I receive assurances from heaven that remind me I am feasting on Him.

While on the Mount of the Beatitudes, we heard Christ’s words from Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:for they shall be filled.” Lord, please make us as hungry and thirsty for You and Your presence, as we are for the best meal and drink at a 5-star restaurant! Only you can satisfy the hunger and thirst that satisfies our souls!