In The Desert

Peace and Grace be abound upon all the saints;

My dear brothers and sisters and all those who are reading this word. I would like to share some things that are happening with me and my husband during this time and encourage each one of you NOT to stop in the middle of the way for every trial and test have an end!

Let me first share some of the things that happened in the desert, wilderness or remote place through the Scriptures:
Matthew 3: 1-3 : In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'

Exodus 14:11, 15-17 -They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.

Matthew 4:1-2 : Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Matthew 15:33-39 : His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place ( desert, wilderness) to feed such a crowd?" "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish." He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

Exodus 33:11 - The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.

Luke 5:16 - But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Acts 16: 13 -14: On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.

Acts 7:38 - He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us.

Luke 1:80 - And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

A desert, spiritually speaking is a place where you are tested, tempted, tried and refined, a place where the Lord brings the provision, even though you cannot plant in it and there is not water, a desert does not display much beauty, but the hands of God are constantly at work! A desert does not have much comfort, but there is miracle! A desert is a place of preparation for the servant of God to be able and enabled to do God's work according to His will and not the servant's! A desert is a place that the discomfort takes you closer to God and you talk to Him and He speaks to you! A desert is a place where we pray to God, we run to His presence and seek His face! A desert is even a place where the chosen ones can preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! And also a desert is a place where you are taken by God and you can also choose to complain like the Israelites did ( But I must advise you that if you choose to complain, your time in the desert can be longer and harder)!

In conclusion, the desert is NOT a place for you to die, but for you to get closer to God and put your trust in Him that everything that you are passing through is under His will and His control and all the things cooperate for the good of those who trust Him!

I would like to encourage you that is passing through the desert of loneliness, hardships, preparation, difficulties, suffering, ect... This desert is to bring you closer to God, so embrace what God is doing in you and for you and know that His will is good, perfect and pleasant and all this will turn to your good and after that, when you see the purpose clearly, you will know that all He did was to have you approved for a good work ahead and make you grow and be complete in Him!

Much love in Christ,

Cynthia R. Palmer

The Waiting Room

Romans 5:2-5 - By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Tribulation – Greek Transliteration: thlipsis - pressure , affliction, anguish, burden, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

Worketh - Greek Transliteration: katergazomai - to work fully, i.e. accomplish; by implication to finish, fashion :- cause, do (deed), perform, work (out).

Patience - Greek Transliteration: hypomonē - cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy :- enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

Experience - Greek Transliteration: dokimē - test (abstract or concrete); by implication trustiness :- experience (-riment), proof, trial.

Hope - Greek Transliteration: elpis - from a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence :- faith, hope.

Ashamed - Greek Transliteration: kataischynō - to shame down, i.e. disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush :- confound, dishonour, (be a-, make a-) shame.

Psalm 31:24 - Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psalm 37:39 - But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Romans 8:24-26 - For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8:35-37 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Distress - narrowness of room,calamity :- anguish.

Famine - scarcity of food:- dearth, hunger

Nakedness - nudity (absolute or comparative)

Peril - danger

Do not get mad during this process of waiting, God is working in your negative emotions, hold on, keep the synchrony with the Lord, because God will reward you. Patience keeps you synchronized with God, makes you rest in Him and makes God turn towards you. When you start getting quiet waiting, when you keep your integrity, your soul right, He sees and answers you. Patience will allow you to possess the Land, the promise God made you, the full inheritance. Just God can bring you into the Land, into the place of blessing. But can God do it instantaneously? Yes, He can, but most of all promises in the Bible happened within a process of waiting. The majority had to pass through a process because God is working with you, be gracious, do not be harsh with your parents, with your children, spouse, people you love, it just damages, it does not motivate anybody! God wants you to go and reach the promise but progressively, not overnight because if He puts you there overnight and you are not able to receive everything He has prepared, it will damage your soul and mess you up. Do not insist with God in some things for right now if He is refining you, giving you experience before you inherit it.

Romans 12:12 - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

2 Corinthians 1: 2-4; 6 - Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.

We may pass through many things in order to minister to people who are suffering as we suffered one day or as we are suffering right now. We do not have the same authority to minister people about patience if we have never waited patiently for anything, if we always made things our way! We pass through these waiting moments, we are comforted and strengthened by God and after that we are able to help people and also comfort them.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 - In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 7 We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

2 Timothy 2:24 - A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

These are amazing verses talking about how great is to suffer to preach the Gospel, how wonderful is to pass all this but yet having God on your side and fighting the fight with you! Every time you think that all you do is not enough, all you do is not bringing you riches, all you do is not being recognized, all you do is right but yet people call you an impostor, a liar, a dreamer, all you do is denying yourself and you are despised, even in the midst of all these things you faced one day or have been facing lately, know that God is looking at you and is smiling at you and very proud of having you as His son/daughter. He loves you unconditionally and He will give you the reward. Your work was never in vain, is never in vain and will never be in vain!!!!

WAITING GIVES US OPPORTUNITY TO WORK OUT OUR FAITH. Some people in the Thessalonia church were falsely teaching that because Christ would return any day, people should set aside their responsibilities, quit work, do no future planning, and just wait for the Lord. But their lack of activity only led them into sin. They became a burden to the church, which was supporting them; they wasted time that could have been used for helping others; and they became busybodies. These church members may have thought that they were being more spiritual by not working, but Paul tells them to be responsible and get back to work. Being ready for Christ means obeying Him in every area of life. Because we know that Christ is coming, we must live in such a way that our faith and our daily practice will please Him when He arrives.

Hebrews 6:11-15 - Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent . Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.13 For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:14“I will certainly bless you ,and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”*15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

James 5:7-11 - Dear brothers and sisters ,be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door! 10 For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

You can wait upon the Lord in many ways but keep on spreading the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

You can wait in Christ - Ephesians 1:12-14 - That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

You can wait in God - Psalm 42:5 - Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

You can wait in His Word - Psalm 119:74,81,114,147 - 74They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. 81My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. 114Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. 147I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

You can wait ministering unto the Lord – Acts 13:1-4 - Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

You can wait in Jerusalem until you receive power to go to other cities, countries or nations– Luke 24:49 – And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Tarry - to seat down, i.e. set (figurative appoint); intransitive to sit (down); figurative to settle (hover, dwell):- continue, set, sit (down). Be endued - in the sense of sinking into a garment; to invest with clothing (literal or figurative) :- array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.

Patience is the quality of who waits quietly, calmly.

James 3:17 - But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

Galatians 5:22 - But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

Proverbs 12:25 -Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Luke 12:29-31 - “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

Philippians 4:6 -Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

2 Corinthians 4:17 - For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

1 Peter 5:7; 10 - Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

A Poem : “Wait” by Russell Kelfer


Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate.
and the Master so gently said, Wait.



Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
Lord, I need answers , I need to know why !
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.



My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign.



You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.



Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied again, Wait.
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?



He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine.
and He tenderly said, I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.



I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.



You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence are all you can see.



You'd never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.



The glow of My comfort late into the night,
the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.



You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
but oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.



So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though of My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT"

May God in His infinite mercies help us to wait, teach us what He wants us to learn in this process, that our faith may be approved and that our hope may be achieved, that our testimonies may glorify His name and bring salvation to many who are walking hopelessly, may this waiting room be a powerful weapon of teaching others what to do, and how to wait even when crying but yet having a joyful heart towards the Lord and His promises. I pray that some of my waiting room experience can bless you through these words which are alive and true.

With much love in Christ;
Cynthia R. Palmer