The one thing I really wish someone would have told me when I was younger was to “learn from the mistakes of others, because you cannot make all the mistakes of the world yourself.” There was a time in my life and the lives of others that I have known where God had released each of us from a bad situation. It may have been a relationship, drugs, alcohol, pornography, whatever it was, and we were marching boldly towards the promised land and then thoughts about the “good times” and what we had in our past came back to our minds. The fond memories clouded the lies and deception, the nightmares were played out as marvelous fantasies, some of us reentered a way of life that was that of bondage and slavery, destructive to the point of taking us to the very gates of hell. Does this sound familiar to anyone? 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 endless amounts of work, the pain and suffering, the torture and death. When they cried out for what they wanted, God gave them more than they wanted, to a point that they didn’t contemplate, as 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, the Bread of Life, Jesus. At one point after coming to Jesus I cried out for something that I knew God did not want for me, something to satisfy my flesh but was abhorred by the Spirit, and God gave it to me and I choked on it. As for the church today, I believe that it needs to look at this as a cautionary narrative and how it is more about consumerism, spiritual discontent, and the dangers of pursuing selfish desires over divine provision, protection, and direction. God’s promise of sustenance served as a judgment on their ingratitude. In today’s society we have developed a style of “Consumer” Christianity where many affluent churches prioritize entertainment, comfort, and “more” over spiritual growth, leading to dissatisfaction and many leaving unsatisfied. As a culture we have forgotten about the consequences of Unbridled Desire where the “mixed multitude” (those not fully committed) instigated this craving, influencing the broader community to have a superficial or lukewarm faith that still longs for the comforts of the world (“Egypt”) while being on a spiritual journey and seeking Jesus to fulfill their earthly desire and not the spiritual. The biblical call to repentance—defined as a radical turning from sin—is being substituted for superficial, comfortable alternatives. This includes replacing genuine conviction with a hollow, emotional, or intellectual, “easy-believism” that emphasizes affirmation, self-help, and personal prosperity over a life set apart to serving the Lord Jesus. Billy Graham said, “The cult of self has become an addiction – feeding off the ego of self-glorification.” I pray for a  Call for Contentment where our true satisfaction is found in God’s provision, not in excessive indulgence. I fervently pray that the modern church focuses on gratitude and to trust in God rather than seeking the “leeks and onions” of the world. This section of scripture serves as a warning to the modern church that a complaining heart and a desire to return to worldly comforts can lead to spiritual stagnation and divine judgment. Brethren, keep your eyes on Jesus, and keep marching toward the promised land, not looking for what is behind because you are not going that way, but looking ahead for what He has in front of you is so much better. I heard it said, “The only reason people hold onto memories so tight is because memories are the only things that don’t change when everything else does.” May the Peace and Joy of the Lord Jesus overflow you my Friends and may we all stay focused on the promises of God Almighty.

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, 5202720387last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.