If you read my blog at all, you know that I have become very discouraged lately and let a hard, hectic life take control of me. God got ahold of me regarding this very issue th is morning in my precious alone time with Him. And boy does He know how to get my attention!! lol.

The Bible story was about when the Isrealites were grumbling in the wilderness about how they should go back to Egypt and be slaves (much better, right? lol) because they were hungry and they didnt like the food that God had provided for them. I always look at those stories and think "man, what a bunch of babies!"  Its very quickly that God reminds me of how much I whine and complain about things and dont trust in His provision!!

So God hears them complaining and sends out poisoness snakes that bit the people and they died. SNAKES!!! Like Indiana Jones, I HATE SNAKES!!!! On with the story, sorry, had to shiver for a minute on my dislike of snakes.... So Moses prayed for the people and God told Moses to make a snake and put in on a pole and if the people would look at the pole (which they were really looking to God and trusting in Him!!) then they would live.

The story shows many things. The angle taken int he devotional, obvisouly, was dont get discouraged, but trust in God. He will take care of us no matter what. A (obviously fictional, for all the literally thinkers, like my husband :) story was added to the devotion. The story goes...

Satan was having a "going out of business sale" All of his tools were put on display and priced. envy, jealousy, lies, all of them. But one tool was very worn, obviously very used and priced much higher.
Satan was asked "what is this tool?"
"discouragement" he replied
"Why is it priced so much higher thank the others?"
"Becuase its more useful than any of the others!"

How true that is! Not that we can blame Satan for all our faults. But discouragement is so powerful against the will of God. Ive lived too long saying
i cant do this!"
im so frustrated.
So overwhelmed.
im too stupid to be a homeschool mom!
I cant teach my kids.
ive failed them so much!
but what about...

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THRU CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH!!!
DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING
GOD WORKS ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE
WHATEVER YOU DOIN WORD OR DEED, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

I could list many more. The Bible is full of encouragement. How could I live so long in discouragement? I guess I need to start listening more to the things Im teaching my kids!!