Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua must have been a pretty smart guy, he was Moses' successor, leading God's chosen people. Joshua was the brave one who told Moses that the people on the other side could be beaten, when all the others said they were giants. Yet it is interesting that 3 times in 4 verses God tells him to "Be strong and courageous". Did God think that he didn't hear Him the first time, like when you tell your kids something 3 times really fast. Did God think he was dull or stupid? Not if He had chosen him to lead His people. Then why would God tell him so many times?
God knows how weak we can be. He knows that we may be strong and courageous one minute and the next we are total wimps. This was not new to Joshua, but God wanted to remind him, so there was no way he could forget when times were scary.
I love how God has written these stories down for our encouragement. If He reminds His chosen leaders 3 times in 4 versus, then I guess it is pretty normal for me to mess up and have to be reminded as well.
God also gave Joshua, and us, a formula for guaranteed success in His economy; follow His Word, meditate on it day and night, don't turn to the right or to the left and do everything that God has commanded us to do. Then, and only then, will He give us success and make our way prosperous.
God is so patient with us. We need to trust Him in every circumstance, but He knows He will have to remind us again in just a little while. But He keeps sharpening the dull tools, so that when He wants to use them again they are better than the lst time.
Friday, February 13, 2009
What's On Your List Today?
He
Ps. 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
David has many requests in this section. Teach, give, lead, incline, turn, confirm and turn away. He wants to be changed by the Word.
David is humble. He is looking, longing and desiring that God would give him all these things. It is interesting that none of them are things you would necessarily put on your Christmas list, but they are the best things we could ever receive.
Oh that our list would be filled with the things of God, rather than things that are worthless. Oh, that we might desire things that give life, rather than things that make our lives void of true value. If only we loved the things of Heaven as much as we love the things that steal our joy, rob our time, distract us from the important and give us self importance. Then and only then will His righteousness give us life.
Look ONLY to Christ.
Ps. 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
David has many requests in this section. Teach, give, lead, incline, turn, confirm and turn away. He wants to be changed by the Word.
David is humble. He is looking, longing and desiring that God would give him all these things. It is interesting that none of them are things you would necessarily put on your Christmas list, but they are the best things we could ever receive.
Oh that our list would be filled with the things of God, rather than things that are worthless. Oh, that we might desire things that give life, rather than things that make our lives void of true value. If only we loved the things of Heaven as much as we love the things that steal our joy, rob our time, distract us from the important and give us self importance. Then and only then will His righteousness give us life.
Look ONLY to Christ.
On Purpose - For a Purpose
Sometimes I am writing and something just goes onto the page. I read it and think, "How did that get there?"
In all of this craziness I have actually been thinking about God's using me to encourage others. On my own, I am not the most encouraging person. It is actually strange to me that God would want to use me, in any sort of a way to encourage others, but He is like that I guess.
As I am in the middle of my fight for joy, faith building, big waves and a small boat, praying like crazy that God would show me what He wants me to do and be, I am really amazed at how He works.
I have wondered why He leaves me here when we are created to be with Him. Why we really need all this trouble and sin around us when He could just take us home and we would be able to rest forever. But I am reminded that He leaves us here on purpose and for a purpose.
If He wanted to be finished with this dull tool and put it on the "shelf" He would just do that. But if you are reading this, and since I am still writing, He is not finished using us.
Dull tools are not great to work with. If you have ever worked with dull tools you know exactly what I'm talking about. Sawing through the tomatoes, mowing the lawn at 5 different settings, cutting hair a couple of strands at a time are all really fun exercises in patience.
So why does God choose to work with a dull tool like me? He could do it so much better without my "help". He would use less patience. It's like watching your 5 year old make cookies for the first time. You could have it done in 1/10th the time with 1/50th of the mess, but we must train them.
Well maybe, just maybe, that is what God is trying to get across to me. He could do it easier, cleaner and much more efficiently w/o me, but He actually wants to use this dull tool so He can show off what He has done with such a useless instrument.
You know what, I am good with being an instrument that He wants to use. I am good with Him using me until He decides that I should be put on the shelf. I just am NOT good with being dull because of some sort of slackness on my part. I want to be as sharp as I am able, through the power of His might, so that when He does decide to use me it won't be such a test of His patience.
When He is finished I want Him to say, "Well done good and faithful one, enter into the joy of my rest, and by the way, you've been a nice tool to use along the way".
It is exciting to see the transformation from that first batch of cookies to batch 100. How efficient the kids get, how much cleaner they are and how much better the cookies taste when they have learned how to follow instructions.
We have been given the "recipe book" for how to be a useful and sharp tool. May we want to be sharp, not for our own glory, but that God would be pleased to use us as He wills.
In all of this craziness I have actually been thinking about God's using me to encourage others. On my own, I am not the most encouraging person. It is actually strange to me that God would want to use me, in any sort of a way to encourage others, but He is like that I guess.
As I am in the middle of my fight for joy, faith building, big waves and a small boat, praying like crazy that God would show me what He wants me to do and be, I am really amazed at how He works.
I have wondered why He leaves me here when we are created to be with Him. Why we really need all this trouble and sin around us when He could just take us home and we would be able to rest forever. But I am reminded that He leaves us here on purpose and for a purpose.
If He wanted to be finished with this dull tool and put it on the "shelf" He would just do that. But if you are reading this, and since I am still writing, He is not finished using us.
Dull tools are not great to work with. If you have ever worked with dull tools you know exactly what I'm talking about. Sawing through the tomatoes, mowing the lawn at 5 different settings, cutting hair a couple of strands at a time are all really fun exercises in patience.
So why does God choose to work with a dull tool like me? He could do it so much better without my "help". He would use less patience. It's like watching your 5 year old make cookies for the first time. You could have it done in 1/10th the time with 1/50th of the mess, but we must train them.
Well maybe, just maybe, that is what God is trying to get across to me. He could do it easier, cleaner and much more efficiently w/o me, but He actually wants to use this dull tool so He can show off what He has done with such a useless instrument.
You know what, I am good with being an instrument that He wants to use. I am good with Him using me until He decides that I should be put on the shelf. I just am NOT good with being dull because of some sort of slackness on my part. I want to be as sharp as I am able, through the power of His might, so that when He does decide to use me it won't be such a test of His patience.
When He is finished I want Him to say, "Well done good and faithful one, enter into the joy of my rest, and by the way, you've been a nice tool to use along the way".
It is exciting to see the transformation from that first batch of cookies to batch 100. How efficient the kids get, how much cleaner they are and how much better the cookies taste when they have learned how to follow instructions.
We have been given the "recipe book" for how to be a useful and sharp tool. May we want to be sharp, not for our own glory, but that God would be pleased to use us as He wills.
Tom and Tami
I asked yesterday if Tom and Tami would be encouraged if I stopped by to see them in the hospital. I haven't met them yet.
Apparently their daughter has just finished with her 2nd chemo treatment and she is pretty sick and Tami was not felling well either, so they asked if I would stop by another day.
I don't know too much at the stage, but will probably have a better idea when I actually do meet them in person.
Also, my friend sent them to this blog and they were encouraged enough to start their own blog to keep others posted as to what is going on in their lives. As soon as I get that info I will give you all the link so you don't have to wait for me to know something and then post.
Thanks for your prayers for them. God is using many people to change lives. We need to be clean vessels for His use.
Apparently their daughter has just finished with her 2nd chemo treatment and she is pretty sick and Tami was not felling well either, so they asked if I would stop by another day.
I don't know too much at the stage, but will probably have a better idea when I actually do meet them in person.
Also, my friend sent them to this blog and they were encouraged enough to start their own blog to keep others posted as to what is going on in their lives. As soon as I get that info I will give you all the link so you don't have to wait for me to know something and then post.
Thanks for your prayers for them. God is using many people to change lives. We need to be clean vessels for His use.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
What do we have to look forward to?
There is a higher throne
Than all this world has known,
Where faithful ones from ev'ry tongue
Will one day come.
Before the Son we'll stand,
Made faultless through the Lamb;
Believing hearts find promised grace—
Salvation comes.
REFRAIN
Hear heaven's voices sing;
Their thund'rous anthem rings
Through em'rald courts and sapphire skies.
Their praises rise.
All glory, wisdom, pow'r,
Strength, thanks, and honor are
To God our King, who reigns on high
Forevermore.
And there we'll find our home,
Our life before the throne;
We'll honor Him in perfect song
Where we belong.
He'll wipe each tear-stained eye
As thirst and hunger die.
The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King;
We'll reign with Him.
Keith & Kristyn Getty
I printed this song off today before I left the house and sang it most of the day while driving. Some of the things that really hit me are;
"The faithful ones"- What a title, what a privilege, can this actually be me?
"Before the Son we'll stand",- we get to stand before the Son, what a day that will be, what an eternity that will be.
"Made faultless through the Lamb"- I still am having a hard time getting my mind around being faultless.
"Believing hearts find promised grace—Salvation comes"- We have to be believing to find the promised grace and then salvation comes.
Songs, anthems, emeralds, sapphire skies; what singing there will be when we get there and all for the King in His courts forever.
"And there we'll find our home, Our life before the throne" we will be home, before the throne, what sweetness for eternity.
"We'll honor Him in perfect song Where we belong"- perfect song as we honor our King, exactly where we belong.
"He'll wipe each tear-stained eye as thirst and hunger die"- no more tears, no thirst or hunger, only Our Lord with us.
"The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King we'll reign with Him" How does the Lamb become the Shepherd? What a glorious time it will be and it will be glorious forever.
Than all this world has known,
Where faithful ones from ev'ry tongue
Will one day come.
Before the Son we'll stand,
Made faultless through the Lamb;
Believing hearts find promised grace—
Salvation comes.
REFRAIN
Hear heaven's voices sing;
Their thund'rous anthem rings
Through em'rald courts and sapphire skies.
Their praises rise.
All glory, wisdom, pow'r,
Strength, thanks, and honor are
To God our King, who reigns on high
Forevermore.
And there we'll find our home,
Our life before the throne;
We'll honor Him in perfect song
Where we belong.
He'll wipe each tear-stained eye
As thirst and hunger die.
The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King;
We'll reign with Him.
Keith & Kristyn Getty
I printed this song off today before I left the house and sang it most of the day while driving. Some of the things that really hit me are;
"The faithful ones"- What a title, what a privilege, can this actually be me?
"Before the Son we'll stand",- we get to stand before the Son, what a day that will be, what an eternity that will be.
"Made faultless through the Lamb"- I still am having a hard time getting my mind around being faultless.
"Believing hearts find promised grace—Salvation comes"- We have to be believing to find the promised grace and then salvation comes.
Songs, anthems, emeralds, sapphire skies; what singing there will be when we get there and all for the King in His courts forever.
"And there we'll find our home, Our life before the throne" we will be home, before the throne, what sweetness for eternity.
"We'll honor Him in perfect song Where we belong"- perfect song as we honor our King, exactly where we belong.
"He'll wipe each tear-stained eye as thirst and hunger die"- no more tears, no thirst or hunger, only Our Lord with us.
"The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King we'll reign with Him" How does the Lamb become the Shepherd? What a glorious time it will be and it will be glorious forever.
What Does God Require of Us?
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
I have been questioning God as to what He wants from me. I truly think I am willing to give Him everything as long as I can have Him. My heart is deceitful and so I want to make sure this is the case, but I think it is.
I am searching to see if there is something that I an holding back; is there something that is "off limits"? My desire is that He would be my first and only Love. Is there something that I can give more than this? "He doesn't delight in more sacrifice, or I would give it". He wants what is best for me and He gives it.
So what can I give to the Lord that He doesn't already have? As this verse says, He requires that I am just, that I love kindness and that I would walk humbly before Him. It seems too simple, yet this is what the verse says.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, yet I can do nothing on my own. Lord make me this man. Make me be just, love kindness and give me humility as I walk.
Lord, You know my heart. You can see if there is any wicked way in me. You know every word I speak before it is on my tongue. You created me and You sustain me with every breath and every heart beat. Let me delight in Your Word, rest in it, drink from the Living Water that never runs dry. Let me find all of my strength and joy in You. Renew my spirit within me, that I might be an encouragement to others around me. Don't let me see the waves around me, but keep me focused on You and all that You are. God, You know what I need today and I want to trust You will give it, but my flesh gets in the way. Give me the heart of a lion in times of worry, that others may see and know that this is from You. Give me the courage of David to stand in front of giants and not be afraid. I have nothing if I don't have You and there is nothing I desire except being with You. Be near me today Lord. Let me know Your presence, for then I can rest.
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
I have been questioning God as to what He wants from me. I truly think I am willing to give Him everything as long as I can have Him. My heart is deceitful and so I want to make sure this is the case, but I think it is.
I am searching to see if there is something that I an holding back; is there something that is "off limits"? My desire is that He would be my first and only Love. Is there something that I can give more than this? "He doesn't delight in more sacrifice, or I would give it". He wants what is best for me and He gives it.
So what can I give to the Lord that He doesn't already have? As this verse says, He requires that I am just, that I love kindness and that I would walk humbly before Him. It seems too simple, yet this is what the verse says.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, yet I can do nothing on my own. Lord make me this man. Make me be just, love kindness and give me humility as I walk.
Lord, You know my heart. You can see if there is any wicked way in me. You know every word I speak before it is on my tongue. You created me and You sustain me with every breath and every heart beat. Let me delight in Your Word, rest in it, drink from the Living Water that never runs dry. Let me find all of my strength and joy in You. Renew my spirit within me, that I might be an encouragement to others around me. Don't let me see the waves around me, but keep me focused on You and all that You are. God, You know what I need today and I want to trust You will give it, but my flesh gets in the way. Give me the heart of a lion in times of worry, that others may see and know that this is from You. Give me the courage of David to stand in front of giants and not be afraid. I have nothing if I don't have You and there is nothing I desire except being with You. Be near me today Lord. Let me know Your presence, for then I can rest.
Barnacles
Ps. 119:25 My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;
let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!
"My soul clings the dust" might be better thought of as "dust clings to me and holds me down". I read a few commentaries on this and the illustration used frequently is that our greatest joy is when we are soaring spiritually but there are times when the trials of life cling to us like barnacles and they weigh us down so we are not able to soar.
The balance of the verse is "give me life according to Your Word". There is no other place to turn for life than His Word.
The rest of this paragraph is about meditating, clinging, being taught by, understanding, and basically being surrounded on every side by God's Word. This is the Rock that we can cling to; the place where we can take shelter from the cares of this world. The is the chisel that knocks off the barnacles to weigh us down and enables us to soar.
I want to have my heart enlarged. I want to be so full of His Word that it is my constant thought, my constant hope and my greatest joy.
Lord work Your will in my life. Don't let me go without encouragement, Provide, as You always do, what I need for today. Set Your face in front of me so I can't possibly look any other place but into Your eyes. Give me a courageous heart and I will praise You for it is only You that can do this in me.
give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;
let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!
"My soul clings the dust" might be better thought of as "dust clings to me and holds me down". I read a few commentaries on this and the illustration used frequently is that our greatest joy is when we are soaring spiritually but there are times when the trials of life cling to us like barnacles and they weigh us down so we are not able to soar.
The balance of the verse is "give me life according to Your Word". There is no other place to turn for life than His Word.
The rest of this paragraph is about meditating, clinging, being taught by, understanding, and basically being surrounded on every side by God's Word. This is the Rock that we can cling to; the place where we can take shelter from the cares of this world. The is the chisel that knocks off the barnacles to weigh us down and enables us to soar.
I want to have my heart enlarged. I want to be so full of His Word that it is my constant thought, my constant hope and my greatest joy.
Lord work Your will in my life. Don't let me go without encouragement, Provide, as You always do, what I need for today. Set Your face in front of me so I can't possibly look any other place but into Your eyes. Give me a courageous heart and I will praise You for it is only You that can do this in me.
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