There is a song that I have been putting on replay recently by MercyMe entitled “Dear younger me.” The lyrics hit me deep. “Dear younger me/Where do I start/If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far/Then you could be One step ahead Of all the painful memories still running thru my head/I wonder how much different things would be/Dear younger me.” Most of the song causes me to reflect on where I am today and what brought me here. A little farther along in the lyrics are the words that brings tears to me eyes as well as comfort to my heart, “ Dear younger me/It’s not your fault/You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross/Dear younger me.” As I get older I implore the younger generations to learn from the mistakes of others, because you cannot make all the mistakes in the world yourself. There was a time in my life, and the lives of others that I have known, where God had released a person from a situation, may have been a relationship, drugs, alcohol, whatever it was, and these people were marching towards the promised land and then thought about the “good times” with what they had in their past. The fond memories were clouded with lies and deceit, some reentered a way of life that was destructive, a life of bondage leading to death. I reflect on the time when the people of Israel were out of Egypt, out of bondage by the hand of God and yet craved the provision of the Egyptians. It is written in *Numbers 11:4 Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”* They complained, crying out for the pots of meat and eating the bread till they were full, forgetting about the other parts of their situation, the pain and suffering. When they cried out for what they had, God gave them more as it is written in Numbers 11:19 You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20 but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?”* God had something better for them, bread from heaven, and today, He has something better for each of His children, His Holy Spirit. I remember when I cried out for something that God did not want for me, like the pots of meat from Egypt, and God gave it to me and I choked on it, it caused me to have two years of misery and regret that still lingers today. My friends, keep your eyes on Jesus and keep marching toward the promised land, not focusing on what He does not want for you, but what He desires you to have, purpose in Him. I like what Charles Spurgeon said, “Purposes, plans, and achievements of men may all disappear like yon cloud upon the mountain’s summit; but, like the mountain itself, the things which are of God shall stand fast for ever and ever.” 

My BeLoved, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to support the ministry God has entrusted to me either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.