The Good Ole Days

I sometimes wish I could go back in time to the younger version of me and teach him lots of things that I’ve learned in the years since. The 14-year-old me was self-centered and a bit of a “smart aleck” to my teachers.  I was also a bit demanding of my parents and grandparents. I took for granted so many blessings. I think life would look a whole lot different knowing what I know now.

Don’t misunderstand – I don’t want to go back and live there; I just want to go back and teach myself some things that life and experience have taught me.

My journey through the book of Numbers in the Old Testament brought me to a spot where the Israelites started complaining about everything. I remember a song that I heard in 1980 called: “So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt” – it was funny then and it’s funny now.  It was written and performed by Keith Green.

So you wanna go back to Egypt
Where it’s warm and secure
Are sorry you bought the one way ticket
When you thought you were sure
You wanted to live in the land of promise
But now it’s getting so hard
Are you sorry you’re out here in the desert
Instead of your own back yard……

Oh, manna waffles
Manna burgers
Manna bagels
Fillet of manna
Manna patty
BaManna bread!

Moses had a lot on him and even went to the Lord out of frustration of hearing the people complain. He asked the Lord for help leading this obstinate & stubborn people. Check this out…

¹⁶ The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. ¹⁷ I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone. (Numbers 11:16-17 NLT)

I need to stop looking back to where I’ve been and focus more on who God is calling me to be and where God is calling me to go. The Lord will provide the resources to go where He’s calling me to go.

Sometimes the “good ole days” weren’t all that good. The people or Israel seem to have forgotten that they were slaves in Egypt. I sometimes forgot how hard life was in the past.  I believe my memory is selective about what I remember from the past. I usually remember the good and not the bad or the hard stuff.

I’m so thankful for the spiritual leaders in my life who are helping me in my journey of seeking the Lord and running after Him without complaining. I want to start every day with gratitude in my heart for all that He has done and is doing in my life.

Pressing On!

Dwayne