Just before 3 p.m. on a relatively warm, sunny Sunday afternoon. For my walk this afternoon, I went to one of my normal areas, but I did not walk through it in my normal way. Typically, when I go to the former State Hospital grounds, I either go all the way to the stream, or straight through from the first walkway. Either one of these routes provides me with a view of water, as the stream toward the far end flows into the marsh area I usually go by. They also keep me on grass most of the time. Today, however, I was wearing my sneakers due to the fact that my boots have started seeping water through the toe. (Just the right one) Therefore, I was keeping to the pavement. That being the case, I took a different way than I've ever done before while not really taking much, if any more time.

As you may have guessed by now, I have nothing new to report on other things. Continued prayers appreciated for all of us.

In keeping with our theme of provision for this afternoon, I'm going to tell you two brief stories from my past, at least one of which I've mentioned before.

First of all, when I was 2 yrs. old, my parents didn't have money for Christmas presents. In light of this, some of my mother's co-workers chipped in to buy me things. (See picture below for 2 of them.)

Secondly, when my kids were little, and I had at least 2 of them, (I don't remember the exact timing) it was almost Thanksgiving. I had a Gift Card for groceries and ended up overspending it by double the amount. I couldn't pay the balance, but still needed everything I had brought to the counter. The kind gentleman in line behind me paid for it.

The Advent Lantern lit on December 14, was done by the current leader of His Mansion. This is a campus in Deering, NH that hosts people in addictive patterns for a one year, Christ-Centered approach to recovery. They take adults from 18-40, generally speaking. Anyway, on this particular day, he spoke about the original location of the program, which was in Connecticut. I don't remember the details now, but they were going to have to relocate. When my "adopted" Grandfather, Rev. Dr. Daniel K. Poling*, heard about it, he stepped up. "Grandpa Poling" was an Associate Minister of Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, and had a summer home in Deering with land to spare, near Clark's Summit. He offered some for their use.* God provided for their need by bringing it to the attention of someone able (and willing) to help.

Turn with me to Deuteronomy 8:-18 to see how God provided for the Israelites -

Deuteronomy 8:1-18

New International Version

Do Not Forget the Lord

8 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. ² Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴ Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. ⁵ Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

⁶ Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. ⁷ For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; ⁸ a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; ⁹ a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

¹⁰ When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. ¹¹ Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. ¹² Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, ¹³ and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, ¹⁴ then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ¹⁵ He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. ¹⁶ He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. ¹⁷ You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” ¹⁸ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

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In his opening remarks, Pastor Joe shared a story of provision from early on in his and his wife's relationship/marriage.* There was a day when they were taking a road trip in the area of Pennsylvania where Joe grew up. At one point, he realized that they had no acceleration as they were going up a hill!! Thankfully, they were near enough to town where one of his friends from HS spotted them and gathered others to help push the car off to the side. If I remember correctly, he mentioned that one of them even offered a tow to a nearby garage (or dealership), free of charge. When they looked at it, the driveshaft had broken. They also said this was actually on a recall list and replaced it for free!! God is good, Amen!!??

Out of His love, God provides in surprising ways at unexpected times. This was the message to the generation heading into the Promised Land, but it is equally valuable for us today, as the stories above evidence. Our passage above reflects on past provision God had brought to them.

As Pastor Joe started into the Scriptures, he first brought out the fact that God's Covenant with Abraham, back in Genesis 12, was the beginning of Israel's story of God's faithfulness as Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, but God provided the ram at the last moment. In this, God was inviting Abraham into an opportunity for rescue.

Likewise, we see that snakes are listed in verse 15 of our passage above. This is a reminder of Genesis 3 where the serpent tempted Eve.

In covering Deut. 8, Pastor Joe broke down the aspects of God's purposes in the ways in which He had provided for them in the desert --

• God was shaping them -- Verses 4-5 reminded them that, in the course of 40 yrs., NONE OF THEIR CLOTHING WORE OUT!! Nor did their sandals!! Even their feet didn't swell!!* Just before this, in verse 3, Moses mentions about the manna in the desert. He brought out the fact that, in Exodus 16:15, it is described as "frost covering the ground". The "recipe" for manna is found in Numbers 11:7 where it speaks of a substance that was like coriander and looked like resin. It could be ground into a paste or baked like bread. (I think it sounds delicious!!) Pastor Joe then brought out an amazing connection: the fact that resin was involved here would have put them in mind of the Garden of Eden!! If you look at Genesis 2:12, it tells us that the river led to "resin and onyx". This meant that manna was essentially "Eden Bread", which indicated abundance. Now, to be clear, as Pastor Joe pointed out, this was NOT a RETURN to Eden, it only meant that God's presence was with them, just as with Adam and Eve. After 400 yrs. of slavery, God was ready to rescue them.

• God was building their reliance on Him. This involved gaining their trust, along with giving them a new Identity. Only then could they be prepared to serve in their role as priests to God's faithfulness and love. The patterns of seeing, taking, and eating were replaced by listening, receiving, and resting in Him.

• Preparing hearts to follow Him vs being self-reliant. He was encouraging them to remember the tests in their lack so they would react well to the abundance He was bringing them into. This required them to develop humility and obedience to every word God spoke to them. This discipline would then form their hearts to adhere to, and rely only on Him. The desert provided a safe environment to learn, try, and fail in order to prepare them for the autonomy He was leading them into. His loving guidance and protections helped them to distinguish between their needs and desires.

  
  

Pastor Joe then went on to talk about how the wilderness in our own lives may feel like abandonment. This may lead us to question God's methods of helping us through a tough time. The truth is that life's burdens can be overwhelming and make us uncertain of the future.

He posed the question to us, "What is the 'Egypt' that calls out to you??" When we truly listen, and have eyes to see, we find that God is always there. He shared that in his own times of struggle, there have always been people who helped. This has shaped his heart and enabled him to let go of places within himself that needed to be released. He told us that, even the night before preaching that morning, he was struggling with self-doubt and anxiety. His wife leaned in to support him in this. That morning, he woke up to find his oldest of 4 boys offering to help shovel the driveway. This was God's provision in Joe's life during that time. Because God loves him, as He does each of us.

Finally, we can see in this how God provides for both immediate needs, like the manna, as well as deeper needs of the heart. Pastor Joe compared us today as being like God's caravan in the wilderness. As God leads and we follow, we are not alone.

In closing, Pastor Joe called our attention to the Lord's Prayer, found in Matt. 6:9-13. The final request here is that we are not led into temptation, but delivered from evil. He brought out that the word "temptation" is really about testing. He ended by encouraging us to share our stories with those who may be struggling. Not with the goal of fixing anything, but just to be with them and let them know they are not alone. (Be sure to tune into the podcast, "Diving in with Matt and Joe" for more. You can find it anywhere you choose.)

-- God Bless!!

Footnotes:

1. My parents met Dr. Poling when my mother was invited to play the organ at South Weare Union Church, where he preached during the Summer. He and Evangeline became like extra grandparents to me.

2. A brief search tells me that the campus sits on a 316 acre piece of land that was originally a local farm. The site was next used, starting in 1930, as a Christian Conference Center. (This has since moved down to Deering Center.) While some newer buildings have been added, the original farm house, and outbuildings still remain an integral part of the facility.

3. As to Pastor Joe's wife's name, I think I've only heard it once or twice in the 7 yrs. they've been here. I honestly don't remember what it is.

4. In being reminded that their feet didn't even swell, it just occurred to me that some of the women would have been pregnant in this time. This makes the miracle even more impressive in my book!! (That being said, my own feet only actually swelled during my 3rd pregnancy. Which, honestly makes some sense being that she was my biggest at birth.)

5. Just a note of my own, verse 18, which reminded them that it is God that gives them the ability to produce wealth is one of several that prove to us that God doesn't mind if we're rich. It's our hearts toward Him in humility and thankfulness of it that matter.

Music -- Never any rights, I promise!!

These are Theodore (Teddy) and Big Bear. As you can see, they have been well-loved. At the same time, I was actually aware of Theodore long before I knew of Big Bear. For whatever reason, when we moved in with my grandfather when I was almost 4, he got packed away in the barn while Theodore stayed with me. I didn't discover him until I was 15 yrs old., but he has been a constant companion ever since. 🥰🥰