Lately, I’ve been drawn to the story of the Israelites.  Mostly, their journey from Egypt, through the wilderness and into the Promised Land.  One of my favorite illustrations of this journey is from the book, “One in a Million” by Priscilla Shirer.  I read the book for the first time a few years ago.  I had heard Priscilla speak at a conference and was instantly engaged.  A friend had been reading the book and recommended it so I immediately went out and bought it.  Of course, then I got busy and didn’t read it for a few months.  But when I finally picked it up to read, I couldn’t put it down.

In all my years of attending Sunday school, youth group and church, I never fully picked up on the facts of this story.  Two million people left Egypt with Moses and out of the original two million, only two…T-W-O… actually entered into the Promised Land.  Not even Moses got to cross that final river and stand in the Promised Land.  Why? Lack of faith.  All of the original two million people, with the exception of the two, died in the wilderness during the 40-year journey.  The two million people that did cross into the Promised Land were the offspring of the original group.

It is such an amazing story…sad at times, frustrating at times and happy at times.  And there’s so much we can learn from them.  This has become one of my favorite bible stories!

So as I said earlier, I’ve been drawn to this story, so I decided to dig this book out and read it again.  I’m currently reading it and this will be the third time (yes, 3^rd). I’ve also been doing some other reading during my quiet time and each and every reading I’ve done lately…they’ve all referenced this one story about the Israelites and their wilderness journey.  It has just completely blown my mind how everything I’ve been reading or studying or scriptures I’ve found all lead back and tie into this story.  God is simply amazing!!  And obviously has something for me to learn! 🙂

When I read the story about the Israelites, my first instinct is to get frustrated with them for their lack of faith.  I mean, God was with them day and night; He had a visual presence they could see with the cloud and the fire.  He provided everything they needed, every time they needed something.  And when they complained, He provided. They even got to be a part of and witness one of the greatest miracles in the history of mankind…the parting of the Red Sea!  They got to see the water split down the middle and become a wall so they could walk on dry land right through it.  They got to see all two million of their traveling buddies walk through completely unscathed.  And then they got to watch Pharaoh’s army follow after them and get swept away as the walls of water came crashing down on them.

They saw it all!  And then they forgot.  And then they complained.  And this is where my frustration with them begins.  And then I remember that I am a flawed human just like they were.  And I remember how quickly I can forget the miracles God does in my life when things start to get hard again or busy or I stop seeking after the One I need.

I’ve been on many wilderness journeys of my own. And I’m sure you have too…we all have!  Sometimes God takes us on a wilderness journey to show us something new or to teach us something we’re too stubborn to learn the easy way.  Sometimes He takes us there to guide us away from something harmful that we don’t see ourselves.  And sometimes He takes us there to breathe new life into us and/or the dreams and visions He has for us.  That’s what my current wilderness journey has been…the rebirth of a dream.

I have always loved reading books.  When I was younger and still some now, good fiction books….you know, the feel-good story with the perfect people who say all the right things at the right time, with the always happy ending. I love to read mystery books and see if I can figure out where the author is taking me before I read it. And I love to read non-fiction books; books like “One in a Million” that teach me something I didn’t know before.

But the one thing I have always wanted to do is to write books.  I’ve had this dream of being a published author for as long as I can remember.  At first, it was to write fiction stories like the ones I get lost in and love.  But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself drawn to non-fiction…to write something that can help someone else.

I have a friend who is a published author and I have asked her countless times how she does it, how she knows what to write or how to start.  She tells me the same thing over and over, “You just sit down and start typing.  God will bring the words to you.”  And that is exactly what He has done!

As I said earlier, all the reading I have done lately has culminated to this story—the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness.  It was deep in the wilderness that I remembered my love for writing.  I realized my friend was right….I just need to sit down and start typing, so I did.  I have. I started keeping a journal a few weeks ago.  Is it profound and professional?  Of course not!  It’s just a way of making a habit to sit down and write something.

But I also felt there was something bigger stirring in me; a story to write; a story to share. And that brings me to this blog.  Although this is about this specific journey of discovery and rebirthing of a dream, I know there will be many more to share.  And as God brings those stories to my mind, I want to share them with you.

Maybe you already follow my blog or found it by happenstance.  Maybe you found this on my Facebook page as it came across your News Feed.  However you came across it, I’m happy you did!  I’ve always loved being an encourager to people around me…seeing the blue sky on a cloudy day.  And I want to continue to be an encourager through my writings and postings as the Lord leads.

Through the vision the Lord recently gave me, I have made some adjustments to my website where I blog and have also created a Facebook page to link future blogs and encouraging posts.

If you’re interested in seeing where God takes me on this writing journey, I ask you to come along with me on this ride. And if you’re not, that’s okay…we’ll still be friends in the blogosphere! J You can find my blogging website at http://kmhlivingbyfaith.com or find me on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/livingbyfaith.kmh.

Thanks for reading and hope to “see” you soon!! 🙂