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Passing Through Baca


There’s a place between point A and point B, point B being where you arrive, that I saw in scripture this week. It is a valley and you weep there. Psalm 84 talks about this place. Starting with verse 5 the psalm says:

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in You,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

Baca is a place. It is described in the Bible dictionary as meaning “Balsam tree” or “weeping”. It describes a person forced to go through a time of weeping and found that God turned tears into a well, providing water! Just think of that.

When I drive to California from Arizona to visit my kids, I have to pass through hours and hours of desolate desert. In this arid place, I make it through to the other side by listening to encouraging sermons or playing my favorite praise songs in my CD player. Another thing that strengthens me is imagining my daughter’s lovely face or my granddaughter’s giggles. I am determined to get to the other side!

God knows of those times when we are in that spiritual place of Baca. It is His strength we need in order to endure. We’re just passing through like on my desert highway. Eventually we are going to get to the other side. What we learn in this valley strengthens us in the Lord and then we can be poured out for others.



As we enter into the holiday season, it is a great time to nourish our souls in the things of our Savior, Jesus. We can do that amply at Spiritual Sundays, hosted by Ginger and Charlotte. Click here.

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 27, 2010 at 12:07 PM

    Amen! I take your words to heart. Thank you for the wise reminder!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AndreaNovember 27, 2010 at 12:28 PM

    This is another of my favorite places in the Bible. GOD has certainly turned many of my tears in to wells of blessings for HIM!
    Big hugs, lots of love, and prayers,
    andrea

    ReplyDelete
  3. MTJNovember 27, 2010 at 12:57 PM

    Hi Saleslady371,

    I found refreshing words of comfort in your post. Particularly the words, "God knows of those times when we are in that spiritual place of Baca. It is His strength we need in order to endure...What we learn in this valley strengthens us in the Lord and then we can be poured out for others."

    Yes! We are just passing through.

    Blessings and peace.

    MTJ

    ReplyDelete
  4. DeborahNovember 27, 2010 at 5:15 PM

    This was a word in due season...
    thank you so much..

    Deborah xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beth E.November 27, 2010 at 5:46 PM

    Thanks for such encouraging words. Our family certainly has been through a time of weeping over the past several months. God has been faithful to provide His Living Water to nourish our souls!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mevely317November 27, 2010 at 7:14 PM

    How encouraging ... reminding us to look forward, to image!
    Thank you, Mary!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mevely317November 27, 2010 at 7:14 PM

    ...Sorry, I meant to say "imagine." Fat finger syndrome strikes again!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Joan HallNovember 27, 2010 at 7:29 PM

    This is a great post! There are so many comforting verses in the Psalms. Thank you for sharing this today.

    Blessings,
    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nikki (Sarah)November 27, 2010 at 7:30 PM

    this is so encouraging and the way you put it....comparing to driving to see you dgt. and granddgt makes it easy to understand.

    ReplyDelete
  10. LorenNovember 27, 2010 at 9:31 PM

    Oh Mary! I LOVE this! A Rhema Word for sure! Isn't it awesome how the LORD shares this in such a tangible way! Oh how I love HIM for this and Love you for sharing it!!

    Sending hugs all the way from OK and back!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ginger~~Enchanting CottageNovember 27, 2010 at 10:27 PM

    What a great post. I travel this long road when we go to visit Charlotte and Clif, I am always blessed to see them.
    God Bless,
    Ginger

    ReplyDelete
  12. RuthNovember 28, 2010 at 7:11 AM

    oh thank you for this encouraging post... i needed to run this messages through my head over and over again.

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Musings of A MinisterNovember 28, 2010 at 2:40 PM

    Great post. Great title for a sermon. Yours is a needed message and you illustrated and told it well. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  14. SueNovember 28, 2010 at 3:55 PM

    My what a powerful word for me today, and a great reminder too, thank you so much for sharing.
    Blessings, Sue

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageNovember 28, 2010 at 4:02 PM

    Hi Mary,
    Baca is not a fun place to be and it is where I find myself right now. I am thankful that He is with me and someday soon, I hope, He will lead me to the other side. Thank you for sharing this good word and I hope you have a wonderful week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    ReplyDelete
  16. DonnieNovember 28, 2010 at 4:49 PM

    That was lovely. Have a blessed day.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Kaye Swain - SandwichINKNovember 28, 2010 at 8:29 PM

    Great analogy to go with these encouraging Bible verses. Aren't praise and worship hymn songs and music wonderful for long trips! I love those and good sermons on long drives as well. :) Such great encouragement!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anita JohnsonNovember 28, 2010 at 10:04 PM

    What a great post...I love how you picture their faces as you drive!

    ReplyDelete
  19. CathyNovember 28, 2010 at 11:31 PM

    A beautiful picture and post, sweet friend ~ Praying for you ~

    ReplyDelete
  20. SilverNovember 28, 2010 at 11:51 PM

    I read of this place before of course! Yes, and the next time when i come across this in the passage, i am going to remember it in a new way of looking at tears and sadness.

    Thanks Mary.

    love,
    Silver

    ReplyDelete
  21. lioneagleNovember 30, 2010 at 4:31 PM

    Hi Mary -

    Thank you for writing and sharing this piece. It deeply ministered to me because it reminds that there is a purpose for Baca. Nothing that our Lord allows is in vain. He is the Master of it all.

    It is so wonderful to know that GOD is the pilot and that we are secured on board the Gospel plane. It is the best flight with the BEST NAVIGATOR!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Crown of BeautyDecember 6, 2010 at 2:44 AM

    I just love the passage you shared...and did enjoy reading your words. God turns our tears around and uses them to water the dry places of our hearts.

    Am so glad you got your recipe too for the Potato "Pa"...

    Love
    Lidj

    ReplyDelete

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