Joshua 12
There is only one list of defeated enemies that we all need to be aware of. The list is simply one name of an enemy who was defeated...his name - Satan! Jesus defeated him on the Cross and out of the grave. The battle belongs to Jesus. May we sit, walk, and stand with Jesus. He wants to take care of our battles while we just rest in His wings. Satan is defeated. The birth of Jesus was a threat to Satan, check out Revelaton 12. Jesus is victorious...let's trust Him more and more. Amen!
"a faith that is afraid of other people is not faith at all." - Thomas Merton
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Joshua 11
Joshua 11
And Israel had rest from war. Oh my gosh, won't that be great. I am tired of this war on earth. I am tired of this war in my flesh. Come Lord Jesus, come. In the meantime, the God that was with Moses is with us...so let's trust Him and keep seeking Him above all else. He is our fortress, strength, and His mighty right arm is able to save. There will be a day when we will rest from war, but let's keep marching for the Glory of Jesus.
"if we are sensible and honest, we shall be little in our own eyes" - Spurgeon
And Israel had rest from war. Oh my gosh, won't that be great. I am tired of this war on earth. I am tired of this war in my flesh. Come Lord Jesus, come. In the meantime, the God that was with Moses is with us...so let's trust Him and keep seeking Him above all else. He is our fortress, strength, and His mighty right arm is able to save. There will be a day when we will rest from war, but let's keep marching for the Glory of Jesus.
"if we are sensible and honest, we shall be little in our own eyes" - Spurgeon
Friday, December 16, 2016
Joshua 10
Joshua 10
After this amazing moment of the sun standing still for about a full day, the Israelites were able to say, "surely the Lord is fighting for us (v.14)" So cool! Do you know what I feel...the Cross is our way of saying, "surely the Lord is fighting for us." I am so wrong. I am a sinner. I think the closer I get to Jesus the more I am feeling the depth of my depravity. Geez, He really is so holy that He can't look on sin and I am sin. And yet, Jesus. When God looks at me, He sees Jesus. When God looks at you, He sees Jesus. Jesus is standing right now, in our place. Jesus is praying over us, right now! The Cross says it all. So Joshua told the Israelites and Jesus now tells us today, "do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous...The Lord is for us! The sun stood in place and it makes me think of how the sun disappeared when Jesus was the on Cross. The darkness had to come, but it didn't stay long. And there will be no night in heaven (Rev. 22:5). Jesus!
"But Jesus all our guilt foresaw, And shed His precious blood, To satisfy the holy law, And make our peace with God" - John Newton
After this amazing moment of the sun standing still for about a full day, the Israelites were able to say, "surely the Lord is fighting for us (v.14)" So cool! Do you know what I feel...the Cross is our way of saying, "surely the Lord is fighting for us." I am so wrong. I am a sinner. I think the closer I get to Jesus the more I am feeling the depth of my depravity. Geez, He really is so holy that He can't look on sin and I am sin. And yet, Jesus. When God looks at me, He sees Jesus. When God looks at you, He sees Jesus. Jesus is standing right now, in our place. Jesus is praying over us, right now! The Cross says it all. So Joshua told the Israelites and Jesus now tells us today, "do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous...The Lord is for us! The sun stood in place and it makes me think of how the sun disappeared when Jesus was the on Cross. The darkness had to come, but it didn't stay long. And there will be no night in heaven (Rev. 22:5). Jesus!
"But Jesus all our guilt foresaw, And shed His precious blood, To satisfy the holy law, And make our peace with God" - John Newton
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Joshua 9
Joshua 9
The Gibeonites are just simply wanting to save their own lives. They had heard about the power of Israel and their God and they didn't want to get involved in this war...so they had to use a bit of creativity. The main problem is that Joshua and his men did not consult the Lord over the issue...we saw the outcome in Joshua 7. So Joshua set a treaty with the Gibeonites. They found out later they had been tricked...but they didn't consult the Lord. But Joshua made a treaty and thus honored the Lord by sticking to it and simply turned the Gibeonites into slaves and all was well. I think there is valuable lesson here for us. One, may we always consult the Lord on everything. That is a discipline and a habit and I have a ways to go on that. But seek the Lord first. Then, like the Gibeonites, may we recognize that before a Holy God, we don't stand a chance at all. May we seek peace with God today and not let our sin ruin us. May we become servants of Jesus and serve Him faithfully. To God be the Glory.
"To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that Love is the reason for my existence, for God is love." - Thomas Merton
The Gibeonites are just simply wanting to save their own lives. They had heard about the power of Israel and their God and they didn't want to get involved in this war...so they had to use a bit of creativity. The main problem is that Joshua and his men did not consult the Lord over the issue...we saw the outcome in Joshua 7. So Joshua set a treaty with the Gibeonites. They found out later they had been tricked...but they didn't consult the Lord. But Joshua made a treaty and thus honored the Lord by sticking to it and simply turned the Gibeonites into slaves and all was well. I think there is valuable lesson here for us. One, may we always consult the Lord on everything. That is a discipline and a habit and I have a ways to go on that. But seek the Lord first. Then, like the Gibeonites, may we recognize that before a Holy God, we don't stand a chance at all. May we seek peace with God today and not let our sin ruin us. May we become servants of Jesus and serve Him faithfully. To God be the Glory.
"To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that Love is the reason for my existence, for God is love." - Thomas Merton
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Joshua 8
Joshua 8 -
So in chapter 7, Joshua sent out some spies to check on Ai, to see what they were up against. You can almost cringe when you hear the men say to Joshua, "not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Just send two or three thousand..." First mistake, they didn't seek God...second mistake, it doesn't matter, because from here on everything was a mistake; if God isn't the first one, we are in trouble. They felt confident within their own skins and they LOST. Anytime, and I mean anytime, I have ever felt so confident in my skin about something...i lost. So they have to deal with this situation, plus the Achan trial, which I talked about yesterday. But let's look at chapter 8
This time Joshua, as well as the men, have God on their minds and not themselves...and the outcome, much better. Not only do they win, but they realize that it was God that HANDED the enemies over to them...lesson learned, right? Yes, until the next time. What is it about us...uggh...we learn, repent, and then do it again. And yet God knows that about us and yet EVERYTIME, He opens His Arms to us. His love is really just too amazing. And the men built an altar to worship God. So you ready for this revelation I just had at this moment...oh my gosh.
We close chapter 7 with a pile of rocks and death underneath the rocks...because of mankind's own confidence and not listening to God.
We close chapter 8 with a pile of rocks honoring a living God, who, when we are focused on Him, will remind us that our confidence is in HIM and not in ourselves.
So tonight/tomorrow - we all have a choice to make...what will we do with the pile of rocks in our hands? Cast them or build an altar to our Faithful God.
"Ah! dear friend, wherever we journey, union to Jesus and holiness from His Spirit flowing into us, is our chief and only happiness" - My dear friend Robert Murray McCheyne
So in chapter 7, Joshua sent out some spies to check on Ai, to see what they were up against. You can almost cringe when you hear the men say to Joshua, "not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Just send two or three thousand..." First mistake, they didn't seek God...second mistake, it doesn't matter, because from here on everything was a mistake; if God isn't the first one, we are in trouble. They felt confident within their own skins and they LOST. Anytime, and I mean anytime, I have ever felt so confident in my skin about something...i lost. So they have to deal with this situation, plus the Achan trial, which I talked about yesterday. But let's look at chapter 8
This time Joshua, as well as the men, have God on their minds and not themselves...and the outcome, much better. Not only do they win, but they realize that it was God that HANDED the enemies over to them...lesson learned, right? Yes, until the next time. What is it about us...uggh...we learn, repent, and then do it again. And yet God knows that about us and yet EVERYTIME, He opens His Arms to us. His love is really just too amazing. And the men built an altar to worship God. So you ready for this revelation I just had at this moment...oh my gosh.
We close chapter 7 with a pile of rocks and death underneath the rocks...because of mankind's own confidence and not listening to God.
We close chapter 8 with a pile of rocks honoring a living God, who, when we are focused on Him, will remind us that our confidence is in HIM and not in ourselves.
So tonight/tomorrow - we all have a choice to make...what will we do with the pile of rocks in our hands? Cast them or build an altar to our Faithful God.
"Ah! dear friend, wherever we journey, union to Jesus and holiness from His Spirit flowing into us, is our chief and only happiness" - My dear friend Robert Murray McCheyne
Monday, December 12, 2016
Joshua 7
Joshua 7
Joshua 7 is one of the biggest chapters in the Bible that really baffles me deeply. I can understand why he gets stoned to death, but why his family? I have struggled with that for years. A few weeks ago I discovered something that brought some insight into this, but hasn't fully brought me peace yet.
Go back to chapter 1 of Joshua. After God has spoken to Joshua about how God would be faithful to him and his people, then Joshua spoke words to his people. Start with me at v.16 - Then they (Joshua's people...better yet, God's people) answered Joshua, whatever you have commanded us with, we will do and wherever you send us, we will go. Just as we fully obeyed the Lord with Moses (really?) we will do so with you. WHOEVER REBELS against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Ummm, it is quite possible that standing in the crowd that day was Achan, with a hearty "yes and amen." His family is probably with him, but he disobeyed the Lord and Joshua. So death is commanded and death is followed out. So I get why it happened, but I still don't get the family. So I have to leave it there and realize that God has a desire for us to get it right. We continued to struggle from then on and so God had to give us something amazing, beautiful, and holy and so He gave us Jesus. Jesus is our answer. Jesus is Achan's answer. Jesus is mankind's answer. Jesus is the answer! I am no different than Achan...i am a sinner who deserves to be taken out to Trail of Tears, pushed off the cliff and stoned to death (morbid I know) but it is the TRUTH. It is the truth for all of us and yet there is MERCY. Mercy is Jesus withholding what we deserve and taking it Himself. Be thankful today friends...we are loved beyond anything that we could ever imagine.
"O blessed Jesus...show Yourself to us. Let us now see Your blessings. O let us now taste Your grace and see Your mighty arm that saves us." - George Whitefield
Joshua 7 is one of the biggest chapters in the Bible that really baffles me deeply. I can understand why he gets stoned to death, but why his family? I have struggled with that for years. A few weeks ago I discovered something that brought some insight into this, but hasn't fully brought me peace yet.
Go back to chapter 1 of Joshua. After God has spoken to Joshua about how God would be faithful to him and his people, then Joshua spoke words to his people. Start with me at v.16 - Then they (Joshua's people...better yet, God's people) answered Joshua, whatever you have commanded us with, we will do and wherever you send us, we will go. Just as we fully obeyed the Lord with Moses (really?) we will do so with you. WHOEVER REBELS against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Ummm, it is quite possible that standing in the crowd that day was Achan, with a hearty "yes and amen." His family is probably with him, but he disobeyed the Lord and Joshua. So death is commanded and death is followed out. So I get why it happened, but I still don't get the family. So I have to leave it there and realize that God has a desire for us to get it right. We continued to struggle from then on and so God had to give us something amazing, beautiful, and holy and so He gave us Jesus. Jesus is our answer. Jesus is Achan's answer. Jesus is mankind's answer. Jesus is the answer! I am no different than Achan...i am a sinner who deserves to be taken out to Trail of Tears, pushed off the cliff and stoned to death (morbid I know) but it is the TRUTH. It is the truth for all of us and yet there is MERCY. Mercy is Jesus withholding what we deserve and taking it Himself. Be thankful today friends...we are loved beyond anything that we could ever imagine.
"O blessed Jesus...show Yourself to us. Let us now see Your blessings. O let us now taste Your grace and see Your mighty arm that saves us." - George Whitefield
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Joshua 6
Joshua 6
I love when the Lord shows up and does something amazing and people experience it full-on. There are so many details in this chapter and yet, the people do exactly what they are told to do...love it. Then as the marched around the city with the Ark of the Covenant and went around it 7 times, then they blew the trumpets and the walls came down...only God. It reminds me of Gideon in Judges 7 with the 300 people, clay pots, fire, and trumpets and they defeated the enemies...only God. The finished up what God wanted them to do and on top of that, they brought Rahab and her family out just like they said they would...I love this chapter. I love that God keeps His promises. I love that the people listened to God and they experienced victory. It is still the same today for us. May we march tomorrow with confidence in our steps that God is for us and not against us. He will be victorious in our day as we seek to honor Him.
"Christ is the only way, and the one access, by which it is granted us to come to God." - John Calvin (Thank you Jesus)
I love when the Lord shows up and does something amazing and people experience it full-on. There are so many details in this chapter and yet, the people do exactly what they are told to do...love it. Then as the marched around the city with the Ark of the Covenant and went around it 7 times, then they blew the trumpets and the walls came down...only God. It reminds me of Gideon in Judges 7 with the 300 people, clay pots, fire, and trumpets and they defeated the enemies...only God. The finished up what God wanted them to do and on top of that, they brought Rahab and her family out just like they said they would...I love this chapter. I love that God keeps His promises. I love that the people listened to God and they experienced victory. It is still the same today for us. May we march tomorrow with confidence in our steps that God is for us and not against us. He will be victorious in our day as we seek to honor Him.
"Christ is the only way, and the one access, by which it is granted us to come to God." - John Calvin (Thank you Jesus)
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Joshua 5
Joshua 5
Two things that stand out to me in this chapter. 1. The Lord caused, not Joshua...not the Israelites, but the Lord caused the Amorite and Canaanite kings to hear about HOW the LORD did something, and it caused their hearts to melt. This is the second time in Joshua this statement has been used. The opposite of a melted heart is a hard heart, which is what Pharoah had. How is our hearts? When we read Scripture, are our hearts moved? If so, even if it is a bit, we are moving toward and not away from the Lord. May we continue to have hearts that our willing to melt and be moved by God. 2. Joshua has a facedown moment with the Lord and He tells him to take off His shoes, for this is a holy place. I love that God had that moment with Joshua. I mean, following Moses cannot be that easy! Joshua watched as God worked mightily through Moses and probably thought there is no way that I could lead or do like that...but what Joshua had to learn just LIKE THE REST OF US...it is all about God. We are just puzzle pieces toward a full picture of God. So take heart that we have a place in the puzzle and it is significant, because God makes it significant through Jesus!!!
"Jesus Christ knows the worst about you. Nonetheless, He is the one who loves you most." AW Tozer
Two things that stand out to me in this chapter. 1. The Lord caused, not Joshua...not the Israelites, but the Lord caused the Amorite and Canaanite kings to hear about HOW the LORD did something, and it caused their hearts to melt. This is the second time in Joshua this statement has been used. The opposite of a melted heart is a hard heart, which is what Pharoah had. How is our hearts? When we read Scripture, are our hearts moved? If so, even if it is a bit, we are moving toward and not away from the Lord. May we continue to have hearts that our willing to melt and be moved by God. 2. Joshua has a facedown moment with the Lord and He tells him to take off His shoes, for this is a holy place. I love that God had that moment with Joshua. I mean, following Moses cannot be that easy! Joshua watched as God worked mightily through Moses and probably thought there is no way that I could lead or do like that...but what Joshua had to learn just LIKE THE REST OF US...it is all about God. We are just puzzle pieces toward a full picture of God. So take heart that we have a place in the puzzle and it is significant, because God makes it significant through Jesus!!!
"Jesus Christ knows the worst about you. Nonetheless, He is the one who loves you most." AW Tozer
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Golden Nuggets (Dec 7)
Psalm 23 - surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. In the Message it says He is chasing after me. How about that, God is chasing after me because He wants me. And He chases after me with goodness and love...shew, I am thankful for that. He even prepares a meal for me and He anoints my head and He fills my cup to overflowing. I have never and will never do anything good enough to deserve that kindness, but it isn't about me at all, it is who He is...it is His character to give, to serve, and to love. He is way too much and because of His goodness and love, I shall need nothing as I continue to follow Him as My Shepherd
Psalm 24 - We have a relationship with the King of Glory. We have no right to stand before Him so He gave us Jesus to fix that major separation problem. He is strong and mighty and we are His, so may we just lift up our heads...for we are worshiping the King of Glory.
Psalm 25 - Teach me your paths!!! There is nothing that delights the Lord more than for us to bow before Him asking Him to teach us His ways. I love being a dad and I love when my kids ask me how to do something...i love being in that moment...so how much more is God moved when we come before Him seeking His heart and understanding!
1 Samuel 10 - So when it came time for Saul to be anointed King by Samuel, they couldn't find him...why? He was hiding among the baggage. Ummm, what? It is much like Gideon who was hiding out in the winepress when the angel called him a mighty warrior. Isn't it funny that God uses the most unlikely characters to lead His people. Because it isn't about them ever...it is always about God and this is God's idea and this is God's story...so God will do what He wants to do. I smile as I write this because I almost failed speech class in both high school and college. I spent many many years in speech therapy because I had hearing problems. I never dreamed that I would get up front of people and declare the Gospel of Jesus but as God said to Moses and Jeremiah, didn't I form the mouth...so go speak and I will take care of the rest. This is about God. You and I are nobodies, but isn't it like God to do something unique with nobodies. You are not a mistake and you are not living a purposeless life...you are His and He is on the move...be ready.
1 Samuel 11 - I am actually impressed with Saul at first. He starts off great with being King of Israel...but it doesn't last long, especially when we take our eyes off of God and onto ourselves. But in this moment when some people didn't want him to be king and he was already made king, he could have had them removed for life...but he chose to spare them because He was focused on God. When people get on our nerves, as they will, it is a moment when we can choose one of two things: focus on God quickly and deeply so that the situation doesn't consume us or we allow the moment to force us to remove our eyes off of Him and onto ourselves, causing us to want to do something about it. Trust me, I did not like the fact that God brought that to my mind as I was typing this out. Uggh. But that is the answer isn't it. Saul was focused on God and thus, it didn't phase him. I want to be so consumed with God that nothing phases me, but I still have stupid flaky flesh...oh Spirit, help us to be submissive to your Power and Leading.
Romans 8 - Ummm, yay right, like I am going to comment on this...forget it. Just read it and be blown away. But while you are reading, just remember that Christ is praying for you and the Holy Spirit is praying for you. Shew. That is powerful.
Romans 9 - Do we want people to come to know Christ that we would be willing to be cut-off so that they could be ushered into God's Presence (v.3)? Do we have the heart of Jesus who laid down His life for the sake of His friends? He is so in love with us that He gave us His best to bring us to His feast. Are we willing to give our best to invite others to His feast? Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
Psalm 24 - We have a relationship with the King of Glory. We have no right to stand before Him so He gave us Jesus to fix that major separation problem. He is strong and mighty and we are His, so may we just lift up our heads...for we are worshiping the King of Glory.
Psalm 25 - Teach me your paths!!! There is nothing that delights the Lord more than for us to bow before Him asking Him to teach us His ways. I love being a dad and I love when my kids ask me how to do something...i love being in that moment...so how much more is God moved when we come before Him seeking His heart and understanding!
1 Samuel 10 - So when it came time for Saul to be anointed King by Samuel, they couldn't find him...why? He was hiding among the baggage. Ummm, what? It is much like Gideon who was hiding out in the winepress when the angel called him a mighty warrior. Isn't it funny that God uses the most unlikely characters to lead His people. Because it isn't about them ever...it is always about God and this is God's idea and this is God's story...so God will do what He wants to do. I smile as I write this because I almost failed speech class in both high school and college. I spent many many years in speech therapy because I had hearing problems. I never dreamed that I would get up front of people and declare the Gospel of Jesus but as God said to Moses and Jeremiah, didn't I form the mouth...so go speak and I will take care of the rest. This is about God. You and I are nobodies, but isn't it like God to do something unique with nobodies. You are not a mistake and you are not living a purposeless life...you are His and He is on the move...be ready.
1 Samuel 11 - I am actually impressed with Saul at first. He starts off great with being King of Israel...but it doesn't last long, especially when we take our eyes off of God and onto ourselves. But in this moment when some people didn't want him to be king and he was already made king, he could have had them removed for life...but he chose to spare them because He was focused on God. When people get on our nerves, as they will, it is a moment when we can choose one of two things: focus on God quickly and deeply so that the situation doesn't consume us or we allow the moment to force us to remove our eyes off of Him and onto ourselves, causing us to want to do something about it. Trust me, I did not like the fact that God brought that to my mind as I was typing this out. Uggh. But that is the answer isn't it. Saul was focused on God and thus, it didn't phase him. I want to be so consumed with God that nothing phases me, but I still have stupid flaky flesh...oh Spirit, help us to be submissive to your Power and Leading.
Romans 8 - Ummm, yay right, like I am going to comment on this...forget it. Just read it and be blown away. But while you are reading, just remember that Christ is praying for you and the Holy Spirit is praying for you. Shew. That is powerful.
Romans 9 - Do we want people to come to know Christ that we would be willing to be cut-off so that they could be ushered into God's Presence (v.3)? Do we have the heart of Jesus who laid down His life for the sake of His friends? He is so in love with us that He gave us His best to bring us to His feast. Are we willing to give our best to invite others to His feast? Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
Joshua 4
Joshua 4
I look at my four children and I am reminded of God's goodness to me. I can remember all four of them coming into this world and feeling like I was standing on holy ground, as I watched this God idea happening. As I look at my four kiddos, it takes me back to when they came forth :). These are my standing stones. Each time I look to them, I am aware of God...standing stones. What are yours? What can you give thanks to God for right now at this moment? Don't do anything else until you spend time thanking Him. Then, do something significant as a standing stone to worship Him. Be creative. Honor Him. Then look at it daily and be aware of God. He is in our midst. I read a phrase tonight that sort of took my breath away...may we come before a life-giving God, a death-defeating Christ, and a life-abounding Spirit...oh yay!
Then I sort of laughed as I thought about the poor priest having to stand in the river while everyone crossed the river. Were they tired? Hungry? How long did they wait? Well, the did what they were told to do and as soon as everyone touched the shore and the last foot was removed the river bed, the water went right back to flood stage level. How amazing is our God? Why do we doubt? I guess because the good work in me is still happening and I am thankful that He is slow to anger and abounding in love. Give thanks to Jesus!
"It is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life." - Augustine
I look at my four children and I am reminded of God's goodness to me. I can remember all four of them coming into this world and feeling like I was standing on holy ground, as I watched this God idea happening. As I look at my four kiddos, it takes me back to when they came forth :). These are my standing stones. Each time I look to them, I am aware of God...standing stones. What are yours? What can you give thanks to God for right now at this moment? Don't do anything else until you spend time thanking Him. Then, do something significant as a standing stone to worship Him. Be creative. Honor Him. Then look at it daily and be aware of God. He is in our midst. I read a phrase tonight that sort of took my breath away...may we come before a life-giving God, a death-defeating Christ, and a life-abounding Spirit...oh yay!
Then I sort of laughed as I thought about the poor priest having to stand in the river while everyone crossed the river. Were they tired? Hungry? How long did they wait? Well, the did what they were told to do and as soon as everyone touched the shore and the last foot was removed the river bed, the water went right back to flood stage level. How amazing is our God? Why do we doubt? I guess because the good work in me is still happening and I am thankful that He is slow to anger and abounding in love. Give thanks to Jesus!
"It is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life." - Augustine
Monday, December 5, 2016
Joshua 3
Joshua 3
So imagine if you will, carrying something of God that is important. He has called you to do so and the people are to follow it, because they don't know which way to go. So you are the priest carrying this item and you want to honor the Lord because not doing so is death. Then you realize you've got all these people behind you who are counting on you...as you follow the commands of God. Whew. Now, you come to the mighty Mississippi and you have to carry this Ark and lead the people through the river and Joshua says, so when you come to the shores of it, place your toe in it and the water flowing from St. Louis will stop...haha. Do you think the priest put their toes in the river like the times that we do to check to see if the water is cold or not :). How crazy is this moment, but thankfully they do it and the Jordan stops flowing so they can cross. Now...don't you think that is enough for you and I to go, ok, there is no reason for me not to wholeheartedly trust this God and yet each day we find ourselves putting in our toes right off the bat. Ugggh! I would love to read of a priest just taking off and doing a cannonball in the Jordan because he is absolutely sure of what God says He will do. But I love that God knows that this whole trust thing is a process and He is slow to anger and abounding in love with us. Amen!
"your new self (which is Christ's and also yours) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him" - CS Lewis
So imagine if you will, carrying something of God that is important. He has called you to do so and the people are to follow it, because they don't know which way to go. So you are the priest carrying this item and you want to honor the Lord because not doing so is death. Then you realize you've got all these people behind you who are counting on you...as you follow the commands of God. Whew. Now, you come to the mighty Mississippi and you have to carry this Ark and lead the people through the river and Joshua says, so when you come to the shores of it, place your toe in it and the water flowing from St. Louis will stop...haha. Do you think the priest put their toes in the river like the times that we do to check to see if the water is cold or not :). How crazy is this moment, but thankfully they do it and the Jordan stops flowing so they can cross. Now...don't you think that is enough for you and I to go, ok, there is no reason for me not to wholeheartedly trust this God and yet each day we find ourselves putting in our toes right off the bat. Ugggh! I would love to read of a priest just taking off and doing a cannonball in the Jordan because he is absolutely sure of what God says He will do. But I love that God knows that this whole trust thing is a process and He is slow to anger and abounding in love with us. Amen!
"your new self (which is Christ's and also yours) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him" - CS Lewis
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Golden Nuggets (December 4)
Psalm 20 - Well, we can invest in our chariots and horses or we can invest in our God. When the race is over, the chariots will rust and the horses will be lame, but God...He will be God. And He desires that we will be still standing on our feet, standing tall. Make Him your life's desires and nothing else!
Psalm 21 - If God could give you what you wanted, what would it be? Would it be everlasting or just a short pleasure? Would it be part of passing on to the next generations or is it just for you? King David wanted the heart of God and that is exactly what He got. Solomon wanted wisdom and that is what he got. The rich man got what he wanted and he walked away sad. If you are not wanting the heart of God...it will not satisfy.
Romans 6 - I hate being in any kind of water that I can't see the bottom of! When I was a kid swimming in a pond, I stepped on something sharp that hurt and bled like crazy. To this day, I don't know what it was, but I was young enough to think that I stepped on a fish and its fins went in me and that was it. No more swimming in water I can't see. So I begin to swim in the bathtub :). I love clear water...so I can see what I am swimming with. I think it is the same way with the Lord. We have all this water that we can live in...but only one type of water satisfies our soul. It is the living water, Jesus Christ. The beauty, there is nothing that we "have to do" to get it, we just simply need to receive it. It is ever-flowing. It is refreshing. He never runs empty. He never gets tired. We can bathe in Him...we can drink Him in. We can live full-on in this water, but will we? Because all the other types of water we can live in is dirty and stagnant. Which one is worth going after? "But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God tell you, what a surprise!" (Romans 6:22) We are healed by God's Living Water. There is more and more yet to come...so swim hard for this living water. When you get tired, He is there. When you get thirsty, He is there. When you get lost, He is there...and He will keep coming. God's gift to us is this: real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus (Living Water)...let's make Him our Master.
1 Samuel 7 - 8 - While I'm at sharing my life as a kid, I hated lightning and thunder. Much like Luther, every time lightning and thunder happened as a kid, I made sure that I was right with God, just because I was afraid of getting hit by lightning. Every time it stormed, I felt closer to God because I would repent of my sins. Haha. What we do to be right with God in intense moments is kind of foolish, isn't it? Now, I am a lover of storms. My kids and I experienced a storm awhile back and while it was storming I said outloud, "God, just give us one good show of lightning right now" and it happened within 4 seconds...amazing. I have four little witnesses who can testify to that story. In fact, it happened and we screamed with joy. Then Jojo was like, "i think I'm blind." Anna was like, "dad, you asked for it and God did it." It was awesome. I am sitting here thinking of that while reading about how God intervened for His people by letting a huge thunderclap happen which caused the Philistines to panic and ran from the Israel...haha. Israel chased them and overtook them. Only because of God. They knew God was the one behind it and yet...chapter 8 may be one of the saddest chapters of all of Scripture. I want to rip it out and yet, how often I honor the Lord with amazement and praise only to turn around and say thanks, but no thanks...I'll take it from here. That is exactly what happens in 1 Samuel 8. God was victorious for His people in chapter 7 and now they want a king over them like all the other nations, because God isn't good enough??? Samuel is grieved...the Lord is grieved and yet the Lord says to Samuel, tell the people the consequences of having a human king over them and Samuel does and how do the people respond? "no, we will have a king to rule us! Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles." They rejected God and cried out for a human king and all of those consequences. Man, if we can't learn from that my friends, what will we learn from? May Jesus be our King and only King. Next time we hear a thunderclap, may it remind us that He is fighting for us.
Psalm 21 - If God could give you what you wanted, what would it be? Would it be everlasting or just a short pleasure? Would it be part of passing on to the next generations or is it just for you? King David wanted the heart of God and that is exactly what He got. Solomon wanted wisdom and that is what he got. The rich man got what he wanted and he walked away sad. If you are not wanting the heart of God...it will not satisfy.
Romans 6 - I hate being in any kind of water that I can't see the bottom of! When I was a kid swimming in a pond, I stepped on something sharp that hurt and bled like crazy. To this day, I don't know what it was, but I was young enough to think that I stepped on a fish and its fins went in me and that was it. No more swimming in water I can't see. So I begin to swim in the bathtub :). I love clear water...so I can see what I am swimming with. I think it is the same way with the Lord. We have all this water that we can live in...but only one type of water satisfies our soul. It is the living water, Jesus Christ. The beauty, there is nothing that we "have to do" to get it, we just simply need to receive it. It is ever-flowing. It is refreshing. He never runs empty. He never gets tired. We can bathe in Him...we can drink Him in. We can live full-on in this water, but will we? Because all the other types of water we can live in is dirty and stagnant. Which one is worth going after? "But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God tell you, what a surprise!" (Romans 6:22) We are healed by God's Living Water. There is more and more yet to come...so swim hard for this living water. When you get tired, He is there. When you get thirsty, He is there. When you get lost, He is there...and He will keep coming. God's gift to us is this: real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus (Living Water)...let's make Him our Master.
1 Samuel 7 - 8 - While I'm at sharing my life as a kid, I hated lightning and thunder. Much like Luther, every time lightning and thunder happened as a kid, I made sure that I was right with God, just because I was afraid of getting hit by lightning. Every time it stormed, I felt closer to God because I would repent of my sins. Haha. What we do to be right with God in intense moments is kind of foolish, isn't it? Now, I am a lover of storms. My kids and I experienced a storm awhile back and while it was storming I said outloud, "God, just give us one good show of lightning right now" and it happened within 4 seconds...amazing. I have four little witnesses who can testify to that story. In fact, it happened and we screamed with joy. Then Jojo was like, "i think I'm blind." Anna was like, "dad, you asked for it and God did it." It was awesome. I am sitting here thinking of that while reading about how God intervened for His people by letting a huge thunderclap happen which caused the Philistines to panic and ran from the Israel...haha. Israel chased them and overtook them. Only because of God. They knew God was the one behind it and yet...chapter 8 may be one of the saddest chapters of all of Scripture. I want to rip it out and yet, how often I honor the Lord with amazement and praise only to turn around and say thanks, but no thanks...I'll take it from here. That is exactly what happens in 1 Samuel 8. God was victorious for His people in chapter 7 and now they want a king over them like all the other nations, because God isn't good enough??? Samuel is grieved...the Lord is grieved and yet the Lord says to Samuel, tell the people the consequences of having a human king over them and Samuel does and how do the people respond? "no, we will have a king to rule us! Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles." They rejected God and cried out for a human king and all of those consequences. Man, if we can't learn from that my friends, what will we learn from? May Jesus be our King and only King. Next time we hear a thunderclap, may it remind us that He is fighting for us.
Joshua 2
Joshua 2 -
I can't help but mention again the beauty of Rahab's story. The very fact that she HEARD about God...she didn't experience God. She didn't see God. She HEARD about God. And it melted her heart. Andrew Murray's book on humility is a book I am reading right now with a friend. In the book he says, "and so it follows that nothing can save us but the restoration of our lost humility, the original and only true relationship of the creature to its God. And so Jesus came to bring humility back to earth, to make us partakers of it, and by it to save us...Jesus' humility gave His death its value, and so became our redemption." Humility is the "secret answer" so to speak. Satan got us with pride and God is redeeming us through humility. Thus, Rahab knew that she could never save herself from the hand of God unless humility played a part and it did by her hearing about God and trusting in Him. And by trusting in Him, her life was spared. I like to think that I can get through my problems on my own but I am not strong enough and yet I try...PRIDE. It is an attitude of recognizing my brokenness and knowing that there is nothing I can do except lay down myself before Him who can do all things. When I truly do that, He takes over...which He is really good at. Rahab submitted herself to a God she heard about and He took over. I have a relationship with that God and yet I get in the way...unique. Let's lay down who we are and let God tell us who we are! He's got it all taken care of and we just need to trust.
"To need God is nothing to be ashamed of, but is perfection itself." - Soren Kierkegaard
I can't help but mention again the beauty of Rahab's story. The very fact that she HEARD about God...she didn't experience God. She didn't see God. She HEARD about God. And it melted her heart. Andrew Murray's book on humility is a book I am reading right now with a friend. In the book he says, "and so it follows that nothing can save us but the restoration of our lost humility, the original and only true relationship of the creature to its God. And so Jesus came to bring humility back to earth, to make us partakers of it, and by it to save us...Jesus' humility gave His death its value, and so became our redemption." Humility is the "secret answer" so to speak. Satan got us with pride and God is redeeming us through humility. Thus, Rahab knew that she could never save herself from the hand of God unless humility played a part and it did by her hearing about God and trusting in Him. And by trusting in Him, her life was spared. I like to think that I can get through my problems on my own but I am not strong enough and yet I try...PRIDE. It is an attitude of recognizing my brokenness and knowing that there is nothing I can do except lay down myself before Him who can do all things. When I truly do that, He takes over...which He is really good at. Rahab submitted herself to a God she heard about and He took over. I have a relationship with that God and yet I get in the way...unique. Let's lay down who we are and let God tell us who we are! He's got it all taken care of and we just need to trust.
"To need God is nothing to be ashamed of, but is perfection itself." - Soren Kierkegaard
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Joshua 1
Joshua 1
Can you imagine following Moses? A friend of mine pointed out to me that in Deuteronomy 1, that Moses was instructed to build up Joshua and to encourage him in this transition. I had never caught that before, but how cool is that. God telling Moses to prepare Joshua...but still, what a huge task. Now we are in Joshua 1 and God is telling Joshua, just like I was with Moses, I will be with you, thus be strong and courageous and meditate on my Word. Friends, Jesus says to us...just like I was with Moses, I will be with you. Do not be afraid, take courage, for I am with you. Do you know what I love about our God? He has never once abandoned us, even though He has every right too. He is faithful. He doesn't leave us when everyone else does. When storms come and we don't know which way to look, He is there. He is our foundation. He is our rock. He is our refuge. Don't be afraid. Just like He was with Moses, Joshua, David, Caleb, Joseph, Paul, Peter...He is with us. Wow!
"My eyes were up to God for help: I could say, the work was His; and if done, the glory would be His." David Brainerd
Can you imagine following Moses? A friend of mine pointed out to me that in Deuteronomy 1, that Moses was instructed to build up Joshua and to encourage him in this transition. I had never caught that before, but how cool is that. God telling Moses to prepare Joshua...but still, what a huge task. Now we are in Joshua 1 and God is telling Joshua, just like I was with Moses, I will be with you, thus be strong and courageous and meditate on my Word. Friends, Jesus says to us...just like I was with Moses, I will be with you. Do not be afraid, take courage, for I am with you. Do you know what I love about our God? He has never once abandoned us, even though He has every right too. He is faithful. He doesn't leave us when everyone else does. When storms come and we don't know which way to look, He is there. He is our foundation. He is our rock. He is our refuge. Don't be afraid. Just like He was with Moses, Joshua, David, Caleb, Joseph, Paul, Peter...He is with us. Wow!
"My eyes were up to God for help: I could say, the work was His; and if done, the glory would be His." David Brainerd
Friday, December 2, 2016
Obadiah
Obadiah
Obadiah is an old fashion prophecy book against Edom. Edom had invaded and plundered Jerusalem at least 4 different times and so God has something against them and used Obadiah to make that known. Don't mess with God's people, which means anyone!
Oh pride. I know it so well. Pride is that thing that makes you think that you are untouchable and above everyone else. Pride is what deceives you greatly in your walk with the Lord. Pride says like Obadiah told Edom, "you say to yourself, who can bring me down to the ground? Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down." That is pride. And living in pride, it is just a matter of time before you are brought down...and it hurts dearly. And it does wait to bring you down, but there is something that you can do before it happens...humble yourself and bow at the feet of Jesus DAILY! Lower yourself now. Remind yourself that you are nothing and can do nothing apart from Jesus. I think God gives us grace and time for us to come to a place of humility before He does it. Well, today is a great day to start and it starts with Him...not us. We just come to Him now. Obadiah says, 'the day of the Lord is near' and that is so true for you and I as well. Today is a perfect day to humble yourself before the Lord.
The infant King came to set up his kingdom that would never end and his cross of sacrifice would be the door that would welcome us in. Paul Tripp
Obadiah is an old fashion prophecy book against Edom. Edom had invaded and plundered Jerusalem at least 4 different times and so God has something against them and used Obadiah to make that known. Don't mess with God's people, which means anyone!
Oh pride. I know it so well. Pride is that thing that makes you think that you are untouchable and above everyone else. Pride is what deceives you greatly in your walk with the Lord. Pride says like Obadiah told Edom, "you say to yourself, who can bring me down to the ground? Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down." That is pride. And living in pride, it is just a matter of time before you are brought down...and it hurts dearly. And it does wait to bring you down, but there is something that you can do before it happens...humble yourself and bow at the feet of Jesus DAILY! Lower yourself now. Remind yourself that you are nothing and can do nothing apart from Jesus. I think God gives us grace and time for us to come to a place of humility before He does it. Well, today is a great day to start and it starts with Him...not us. We just come to Him now. Obadiah says, 'the day of the Lord is near' and that is so true for you and I as well. Today is a perfect day to humble yourself before the Lord.
The infant King came to set up his kingdom that would never end and his cross of sacrifice would be the door that would welcome us in. Paul Tripp
Thursday, December 1, 2016
3 John
3 John
Showing hospitality is a great ministry. I love that these strangers are being served faithfully by people who love Jesus. That is so cool that people do that. I have heard stories of people serving faithfully people they don't know...how impacting is that? The best part, they get nothing in return and don't even know how it turns out, but FAITHFULLY they do it. So, if brothers back in John's time, in the midst of persecution, are faithfully serving strangers...what is our excuse? This was such a big deal that John took a few lines to write about it and to share it with the church, which means it is very relevant for us today. So tomorrow morning, let's wake up and faithfully serve EVERYONE :). And let's not expect anything in return, sounds like a fun challenge. We will read Obadiah tomorrow...that too will be a fun challenge. Haha.
"The glory of kings is in the wealth and peace of their subjects; and the glory of Christ is in the grace and holiness of his subjects." - John Owen
Showing hospitality is a great ministry. I love that these strangers are being served faithfully by people who love Jesus. That is so cool that people do that. I have heard stories of people serving faithfully people they don't know...how impacting is that? The best part, they get nothing in return and don't even know how it turns out, but FAITHFULLY they do it. So, if brothers back in John's time, in the midst of persecution, are faithfully serving strangers...what is our excuse? This was such a big deal that John took a few lines to write about it and to share it with the church, which means it is very relevant for us today. So tomorrow morning, let's wake up and faithfully serve EVERYONE :). And let's not expect anything in return, sounds like a fun challenge. We will read Obadiah tomorrow...that too will be a fun challenge. Haha.
"The glory of kings is in the wealth and peace of their subjects; and the glory of Christ is in the grace and holiness of his subjects." - John Owen
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