Have you ever seen the cartoons where people drag themselves across the sands of the desert looking for water? They come to a crystal clear pool with a single palm tree only to discover it’s a mirage. Oh, my friends. I know how they feel. I’ve just returned from my trip to New Mexico to the Glorieta Christian Writer’s Conference, and it was dry. Sandpaper, scratchy throat, eyelids sticking to your eyeballs kind of dry.
This Georgia girl needed some humidity. Amy went so far as to purchase a humidifier for our room. Parched by day. “Mist”-i-fied by night. But seriously, we had a great time. The air may have been dry, but y’all we were drenched in the Spirit. God moved last week. He is doing some mighty things in a lot of lives – one of them mine.
I can’t even express how amazing it is to meet people who are passionate about the same things you are. For me, that is writing and Jesus. I was inspired and encouraged. I made lots of new friends. The kind you want to hug and squeeze and pack them away in your suitcase to bring home with you.
The week before I left, God gave me this verse in my quiet time.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
It’s so easy to get caught up in all the doors that shut and concentrate on what could have been. To stare at the knob and wonder why. But friends, the Lord tells us to forget those doors. He’s preparing a something new. He is making streams in the wasteland. You just heard me talk about how the desert was completely dried up, but God can create beautiful bubbling brooks. Better yet, He can create gushing gurgling rivers that lap up the dry land.
I may have just returned from the desert, but my ears are still wet from the river He provided.
Are you hung on the knob of a locked door? Look up my friend. He will do a new thing for you, too. Do you not perceive it? Listen carefully, you may hear the water rushing your way.
I love those pictures and I am so glad you guys had a wonderful time!!! You are so right, it is easy for us to stay in the past (I know from experience) and forget that God has something exciting ahead for us.
Praise God for the new things He is doing and will do in your life, Carol!
This is a very encouraging word! I am so glad He has been encouraging you!
Wow! What a great time and what a Word from the Lord! Isn’t it fun and exciting to see where He will take us next??
Blessings,
Susan
praying you are right…
So that’s what that roaring in my ear is…a raging river coming out of its bank! 🙂
Glad to hear you all had a meeting with Jesus. No better place to be, right?
Verily! Verily!
Those pictures are great, thanks for sharing with us.
It’s wonderful to hear how God is working in your life.
Many sweet blessings!
Hi! I just ran across your blog. “Forget the former things…” is one of my all-time favorite verses, and is extremely timely for me!
I absolutely love your blog title and picture of the sheep. I just read the “sheep to the right, and goats to the left” scripture out of Matthew 25 to my kids last night, which is how your blog caught my eye.
Oh – and I’m glad it was the weather, and not the writer’s conference that was “sandpaper dry”… I was a little concerned until I read the second paragraph!
God bless you!
I love that verse. It has been on my mirror several times in the last few years. 🙂
I just know that as much as you were blessed, you WERE a blessing to everyone you encountered!
Hugs,
steph.
Sounds like a great time! Can’t wait to hear what He is doing in your life!
Thanks for the encouragement!
Darlene