Love God More Than Anything

Judges 17: 11-13 - So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man became like one of his sons to him.  Then Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house.  And Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.”

Micah lived in a self-created …delusional world… built around his desire to have the Lord bless him…but…for all the wrong reasons. Sure …he repented of his earlier life of thievery from his mother…but he never repented of his love of money.  His own mother even supported his habit. He lived under the false assumption that being good could somehow bring you blessings from God…or save your soul.

Micah still lived under the New Testament Laws. Never one do we read that he prepared the correct sacrifices and atoned for the sin in his life. He doesn’t talk of reading the law...or trying to keep them.  He simply assumes God will bless him if he is good…never once understanding that the idols he had in his house broke the first and most important commandment according to Matthew 27:22…where the words of Jesus are recorded later in the Bible. 

Jesus came to fulfill the law God gave to Moses. God knew that goodness…that genetics….that money could not buy his love.  Salvation is available to all that call on his name to be saved…that believe on the son Jesus Christ who died to pay the full atonement for every sin. Apart from that blood…I am doomed to die for my sins.

I needed the reminder that I must never let the material driven world I live in control my heart.  It can take over quickly...even in one who claims to love God.  One of satan’s favorite things to do is entice us with things…and draw our hearts far enough from God that he can brainwash us into thinking that doing good things can lead us to salvation. Satan knows that if we follow the command to Love God more than anything else…our love of his son…our gratitude for the gift of salvation will drive us to allow the second most important commandment to rule our lives…prompting our love for others to turn us into a servant of God’s kingdom.

Father…thank you for the reminder that it was your blood that gives me the promise of life and salvation.  Forgive me for the times that I allow a love for things to draw me away from your purpose and will for my life.  Help me to keep my heart focused on you …so I can stay in your perfect will…and do the most possible to further your kingdom and show you love to others.  Amen.

Allow A Deep Repentance In Our Hearts

Judges 16:27-28 - Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform.  Then Samson prayed to the Lord,  “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 

Sampson’s failure to keep the secret of his strength to himself had cost him much. They had taken his eyesight in a horrific way…gauging out both eyes when he was first captured.  He was no longer free… forced to do heavy labor in heavy bronze shackles. The Philistine’s would have succeeded in keeping him captive much longer if they had not let themselves get so caught up in their success.  The party they had …praising the god they worshiped… rejoicing over his capture… gathered thousands of the people into the temple they used for worshiping dagan.

There was another element to their downfall that no one but Sampson knew. He knew his God was stronger than dagan.  His repentant attitude…allowed him to see the need to call out to him for one last surge of strength. The strength he had lost in shaving his head… began a new search in prayer. His self-seeking goals of pleasure and happiness became goals of holy zeal to give glory to the one God that controlled all things. I love the way Matthew Henry put it.  He said… “His afflictions brought him to deep repentance.  His physical weakness allowed God to renew his spirit.  Such is the heart of every true Christian… becoming more humble…watchful… circumspect… more simple in their dependence on God.

I am watching this basic principle of God work in my community as we begin to assess the deep losses of the wildfires that God allowed to ravage our Smokey Mountains last week.  The loss of material things…the loss of life…the visual devastation that one sees as they trek into the worst hit areas bring a empathy…a sense of deep humility to the true Christians heart. It put the most important things back in the proper order … causing us to cry out to God for comfort…for provision…for strength just as Sampson did.

It is my prayer that many who never knew the one true God…Emanuel….the Prince Of Peace…the Jesus who came to Earth as a baby to die on a cross for our sins…would learn of his power to save us from the certain death we deserve. It is also my prayer that God would use every tiny bit of sadness and destruction to his glory…especially in transforming the lukewarm Christians of my town into ones more dependent on him.

Father…thank you for the reminder that my power…my hope…my strength is in you.  Forgive me for the times that I have let the world detract me from your pure will for my life.  Allow the empathy I feel for the people of my town to cause a deep repentance in my heart.  Allow a humility in my heart that fuels anew the flame of service and generates a deep passion to draw closer to you than ever… so you can use me to do your perfect will. Amen.

God Has The Power To Regrow Our Faith

Judges 16:21-22 - Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.  But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

Samson had let a woman entice him into a deep relationship.  It was so deep that he fell prey to her persistent questions about where his strength lay.  He was so overcome by his infatuation with her…he had no clue she was working for the enemy. He gave her the secret… she shaved his hair…and in no time the Philistines captured him. He became their servant…constantly grinding grain in heavy bronze shackles in the prison they held him in.

The phrase …began to grow again…caught in in my spirit as I read it….so I let myself stop mid chapter. It spoke strength to me in a time when my hometown is grieving heavily for the loss of so many things...most of all the 13 people God has allowed to pass to the other side of this earthly existence.

Leaders of our town our using phrases like “mountain strong’… to describe the same thing God did for Sampson.  Even though he lost his power…he still had the possibility of growing back the hair that gave him his strength. Sampson may have lost his resolve and fell to earthly temptations…but he did not lose the God that gave him his strength.

One other thought was planted as I read Matthew Henry’s commentary.  He said…”Oh that all who indulge in sin would see themselves surrounded and marked for ruin. The sounder they sleep the more secure they feel…and the greater the danger.”  The Bible clearly says in Romans 3:23 that all of us are sinners. Perhaps one reason God allowed Sampson to fall…and our town to go through such a devastating tragedy…is to keep him and us from being too complacent.

Father…thank you for the reminder that sin can lead to destruction…and only you have the power to regrow our faith after a fall or deep trial.  Forgive me for the times that I have allowed sin to remain in my life because I have let something here on Earth draw me away from you.  Help me to use this reminder to deepen my faith…to humble myself and pray…to listen closely to the servant tasks you need me to do for you to show your love to all who are hurting in this troubled world.  Amen. 

God Has The Power We Need To Renew Our Heaviest Spirits

Judges 15:19 - Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi.

God had used the grief and frustration of Sampson to fuel his desire to destroy the Philistines. He had used foxes…torches tied into their tails…to destroy some of their land…and the jawbone of a donkey to fight and kill 1000 more of the Philistine army. The experience was so exhausting that he cried out to God in exhaustion and thirst. God heard his cry and opened up a hollow and delivered the water he needed so that his spirit could revive and renew to continue God’s will for his life…hard as it must have been for him.

I needed the great reminder this morning as my mind tries to process a myriad of emotions from the devastating wildfires that destroyed much of my county…that God is the one who can sustain us and revive us when life beats us down. I was spared damage…but as the sun rises each day and rescue teams are able to get into the worst areas….new reports of damage…injuries… and death are brought to light. I am sure that many of us have cried out to God in the last few days…I know my personal prayer Monday night was simply for rain.

As the rain fell all day Wednesday…my spirit would fill with a new sense of comfort from the loss around me.  I was able to pray with many at our church food ministry…one who had lost her job because the business she worked at burned completely. I even used some of my time to heat up chili to serve to the National Guardsmen who have come to aid the many firefighters…police…and other emergency crews working around the clock. But it was the music from practicing our church’s living Christmas tree production scheduled for Sunday night and Monday night that lifted my spirts the most.

As I read this scripture last night ...it was clear that God was slowly answering the cries of all of us that are hurting from this tragedy. He is opening a hollow within each heart of this town that loves him….and pouring out his pure love to the ones that are hurting the most. He will revive every spirit that is downtrodden.  He will lift us up like eagles to rebuild…to care of others….to use the resources he has already planted in this area…deepening our relationships with each other and with him.

Thank you father for the reminder that you are our source of help and strength. Forgive me for the times that I have taken for granted you great care and kept your love all to myself.  Help me to listen closely to you so I will know exactly how to share your love with others as our town rebuilds.  Reveal to me all theways I can help others that are hurting so much.  Amen.

God Works All To The Good Of Those That Love Him

Judges 14:3-4 - His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)

Samson had his eye on a wife…but his parents did not approve of the Philistine woman. They wanted him to embrace the holy calling on his life and marry a woman of Israelite descent. But Samson was set on this woman that pleased his eye…and insisted they do what he wanted. It’s the next bit of the verse that catches my attention the most though…the part where God was planning to use his seemingly bad choice to begin a move against these people that held the Israelites captive.

It is a very clear example of how God uses all our choices…good or bad to his good and glory.  It is a reminder that sometimes God allows our flesh to make choices that he knows he can use for good at some point in our life. Romans 8:28 is the New Testament promise that confirms it.  It says… ^“ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Truth is…we are all born with a purpose. Some of us invite God into our hearts and embrace it…others live their whole life without ever knowing what wonderful thing he had planned for us. I admit that even though I know God…and try my best some days to get it right… I am still weak like Sampson…messing up more than I get it right.

I needed the reminder this morning… that even when I mess up…God can use my mistake to work some good in the world. I may not always understand it…but the promise of this great fact encourages me to repent quicker… forgive myself when I realize what I have done…so his grace and mercy can take over and give my mess up purpose in his bigger plan.

Father...thank you for the reminder that you love me even when I mess up.  Forgive me for the times that I forget that you are able to use even the choices I make with my weak flesh to your good.  Help me to realize this promise with each sin you convict me of…so that you can begin to work it to the good of all that love you sooner.  Amen.

Let Thanksgiving Occur Every Day...Every Moment

Judges 13:18-20 - He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.” Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the Lord. And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched:  As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground.

This story in Judges is just one example of God’s ability to do supernatural things.  This couple…who were barren for whatever reason…was first blessed with a visit from an angel.  God was blessing them with their hearts desire…but they needed to prepare him from conception to be one of God’s special servants. This child would grow up a Nazarite….a person consecrated to God for special service.  They abstained from drinking alcohol in any form…ever cutting their hair…and avoiding situations that might defile their holiness…like being around dead things.

This supernatural visit ended with a rare sight.  This man...who appeared to give them the news…wasn’t any ordinary man.  They got to watch him rise to heaven within the flame of the burnt offering they offered… to thank God for his great gift. They were so full of gratitude…praise and so overcome with humility that they fell to their knees at the sight.

I can’t say that I have ever experienced such a sight…or felt the deep gratitude that they did. I needed the reminder that God’s good gifts should bring us to our knees occasionally in humble adoration and thankfulness. I am so guilty of taking all that God has done for me for granted…allowing a simple whispering of praise suffice …justifying my weak praise with earthly excuses that must disappoint God very much.

We took the time yesterday to celebrate a day  called Thanksgiving….but as the sun rises on what is traditionally black Friday…people have already let the world trap them in the commercial season of Christmas. Decorations have donned the isles of stores since early October…but today will set new records of spending all over the world. I for one have never liked fighting the crowd to shop on this day….I choose to change out my fall decorations and put up my Christmas tree instead.

This story reminds me to take more moments out of my day to thank God for all I already have…to extend my Thanksgiving of turkey…family fellowship…and extra thoughts of praise for the God who allows it …into a full year of praise for what he has done.  Perhaps I will get to witness one of his rare supernatural events…and feel the fullness of heart that these two parents felt with their precious gift of life.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you deserve our praise and thanksgiving every day….every moment.  Forgive me for the times that I have allowed the world to trap me in its mad cycle of wants and spending on things that do not last. Help me to fill my heart with thoughts of you….with your word…with service in your kingdom…so more people can join me when we all rise to meet you in heaven someday.  Bring me to my knees more often…and teach me how to show the deepest gratitude and praise these two parents showed for the promise of a child in their life.  Amen.

Guard Your heart Against Pride And Envy

Judges 12:1-3 - The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.” Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands.

The men of Ephraim told Jephthah that they were upset with him for not calling them to help him fight the Ammonites.  Although what they really were upset about was the fact that Jephthah had been handed a glorious victory…which they would receive no credit for. They were so eaten up by envy and pride that they threatened to burn his house down.

Jephthah was protected by God as they crossed the Jordan to hurt him... being given the support of the Gealeadites …who knew the dialect limitations of the Ephraimites. They killed each one that tried to cross and cause Jephthah harm… so he could continue as judge for the Israelites for 6 years.

It is a great reminder to me of how important it is to guard your heart and mind from self-driven pride and envy. They creep into your heart and puff up your mind to believe that it is better than others…that it deserves more than it is given…that life is more about satisfying selfish needs instead of walking in God’s pure and perfect will.

God teaches the opposite…that humility leads to a deeper understanding of what God created us as creatures in his likeness. Humility teaches our heat and mind that the less we think of our own worth… the more God can use us to further his kingdom. Paul says it better than I in 2 Corinthians 12:9.. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” Paul using the very worlds of Christ… who defeated satan and claimed victory over death.

I admit that pride is one of the hardest things to conquer in an earthly life. I have struggled with it for my entire 58 years.  The world…the time God even allows us to live in…the sinful nature of man naturally gravitates to puff themselves up…to collect things…..to think that the more we have the more blessed we are. I needed a new reminder to rely on God for everything…and give him credit for everything…so he can begin to instill in me his love that is totally driven by giving to others.

Father…thank you for the reminder that pride and envy are not part of your plan for me.  Forgive me for the times that I have allowed the world….the situation I am in…or the people around me to trick me into thinking better of myself than I deserve.  Help me to constantly fight against any form of pride and envy from setting up even a temporary residence in my heart.  Help me to stay so focused and centered on you that I hear your will before the world has a chance to whisper any other options in my ear.  Amen.

God Uses Anyone...Despite Their Circumstances

Judges 11:30-31- And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”

Even though Jephthah was born of a harlot….and persecuted by his brothers…even sent away to receive no inheritance….God had his hand on this man.  He managed to rise above the circumstances of his birth and become something mighty…that God used to win many battles over the lands that tried to keep Israel captive.

It is a great reminder to me that we are not limited by any worldly circumstance. God can and does use anyone he chooses…and he chooses all of us to do his work. There was also Rahab…a prostitute by choice…who saved the spies… God saving her and her family to do more of his work later. There are countless other examples of good people who let sin consume them so much they fell badly into their sin like King David.  Once God convicted him of that sin…and David repented…God used him in mighty ways to speak his message of truth and love.

It proves the words of Luke 1:37… “ For nothing is impossible with God”…to be absolutely true.  God can take the heart of anyone who want to get to know him…and make them into a great servant….the built in humility of their past driving them to be less prideful than others... who tend to boast to much about the things we have never done.  We are all born in sin. As Romans 3:23 says…”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  It is God’s grace that saves us…not anything we do of ourselves.

I needed the reminder not to let satan convince me that anything I have done in the past can limit the power that God can place within me to be something great for him today. I am as strong as God can make me…not as weak as satan tries to convince me I am.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you use all people…because your love covers the multitude of sins that break the perfect creature you intended for us to be into a prideful… self-driven transgressors. Forgive me for all the times that I have let satan trick me into staying too long in his worldly trap.  Help me to spend so much time in your presence that I recognize your perfect will for me as soon as you reveal it.  Amen.

With God There Is Always Hope

Judges 10:15-16 -  But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.”  Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.

The Israelites had cycled back into their rebellious mode once again….so God allowed them to reap the natural consequences of their choices.  The Philistines and the Ammonites were allowed to oppress them without restraint…until the Israelites misery caused them to realize their mistake….and realize that God was their only salvation.

God had been watching them the whole time…and he knew they would eventually cry out…but his anger was pretty intense this time.  God even told them the first time they cried out not to bother calling on him…to try and see if the gods they had been worshiping could help them.

It was their persistent pleading… the admission of sin…and the hearts that changed their behaviors back to what God had asked them from the start that melted God’s heart. He could no longer watch this people he loved in misery…especially since he could feel how very much they were sorry. He granted them mercy once again…and restored them back to a right relationship with him.

What a great reminder of the hope we have with God. Matthew Henry put my feelings into perfect sense as I read this excerpt from his commentary.  He said… “There is always hope when you cry out to God, especially when you lament your ungodliness and transgressions. True repentance begins to turn away from these actions and submit one’s self to God’s justice.

I admit that telling God to do whatever he seems best is more than hard. Those words will certainly be followed with a hard life lesson to teach us how to deepen our relationship with him. I know in my own life that using those words in a prayer began a process of refining my hurt … my hang up if you will...into something that he could use to help others heal and recovery from the same hurt. I am learning that it was never about me… but about furthering his kingdom so others could be healed as well.

Father….thank you for the reminder that I always have hope in you….and if I stay out of the way…you can teach me how to live my life closer to you than I ever dreamed possible. Forgive me for the times that I ran from you…letting the world dictate my feelings and actions.   Help me today to recommit my heart and actions to you…so that you can refine me into a vessel of hope and love to others.  Amen.

A Time For Comfort ..AND..A Time To Speak Out

Judges 9:7 -  When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.

Jotham had escaped from being the 71^st victim of the evil mind of Abimelech. All of his other brothers were unfairly murdered so that Abimelech could be king. Jotham came out of hiding to stand on a tall mountain …to shout to the people who had been tricked by the new king how crazy they were to allow it.

It must have been hard for Jotham to even come out of hiding…let alone position himself so that the whole town was drawn to come listen to him.  He chose to make his first points with a story… then explained the meaning to each one that would listen.

I am reminded by his wisdom to hide that there is a time to be quite and retreat to God for guidance and direction. I am also reminded that sometimes God ends our retreat of time with him with a call to speak out against the acts around us we know are not done with the love of God.

I admit that it is hard to know the difference sometimes.  I am very guilty of retreating way too long sometimes… even though I know that God is in control…I let fear hold me back from standing on that mountain and speaking to those that would listen. I needed the reminder to stay so connected with God that the world is not able to influence me too easily…so that when it is time to move and speak out for God’s way of pure love…I will be ready...excited…as soon as he gives the order.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are always there for me to run to for comfort and protection. Forgive me for the times that I let my heart take advantage of the feeling of warmth and love your presence provides by keeping it all to myself.  Help me to listen better to the calling of your spirit to speak out and share your love.  amen.

Stop...Pause..And Listen To God's Solution To Confrontation

Judges 8:1-3 - Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they challenged him vigorously.  But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer?  God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.

The tribe of Ephraim was upset with Gideon for his failure to ask them to help him fight.  Their argument was on based on jealously…..they didn’t really care about the victory…just that they would not receive any of the glory from it.  Gideon carefully worded his reply to them in a compliment of what they accomplished on a daily basis.  He turned what could have been a huge argument into a peaceful discussion of their many talents,

It is a great reminder to me that our response to confrontation could bring peace…if we use Gideon’s approach. Gideon had not been instructed by God to rebuke their attitudes… so he simply didn’t engage in the posed argument.  Someone in his upbringing had taught him to strive for a simple peaceful solution when confronted with opposition… helping him think of the positives to fuel his answer.

It reminds me also of the way Jesus treated the lady caught in adultery the leaders of Israel brought to him.  They were not interested in the soul of that woman...they were using her to trap Jesus. He knew the perfect way to diffuse the angry crowd they managed to create around her….he quietly wrote in the sand ….perhaps just to pause the crowd and get their attention. Then he told them that the one among them that was sinless could throw the first stone. I would have been one of the ones walking away from that scene…..in deep reflection of all my own sin.

It seems like it would be easier to stop and pause…listening for God’s answer to the confrontation.... instead of letting the situation dictate my response. I don’t have to have paper …or pen.  I just need a heart that is ready to listen and let God tell me what to do.

Father…thank you for the reminder to work toward peace in this sinful world. Forgive me for the times that I have escalated an argument with my own prideful thoughts.  Help me to always stop and pause….and let you form a peaceful answer in my heart.  Amen.

My Weakness... Plus God's Grace..Equals God's Greatest Power

Judges 7:2 -   The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 

God had called Gideon to lead Israel out of captivity…but before he went into battle God had a very important lesson to teach him about his power to use him in great weakness.  He took 30,000 men with him to fight…but God weeded out 27,000 of them.  He wanted Israel to know that their God was the winning factor in the battle…so none of them could boast in their own strength.

There are many scriptures that explain God’s reasoning for this….one of my favorites in 2 Corinthians 12:9.  Paul understood the power of God so well that he boasted about how God overcame in weaknesses with these great words…. “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”

In able for God to truly use us…we have to empty ourselves out of our own power.  That was one of the things Christ had to do on that cross.  He had the power within himself to save himself…but he gave that power over to God…so that a greater power could win victory over the power of sin in our lives. If we learn to do the same…to give over any strength we think we have over our lives to God…and allow him to use the weakest things about us to show his power…there will never be any question that what was accomplished was from him. 

It sure gives this old woman….weak in more than one way…a big boost in confidence this morning. It fuels a passion deep inside me…to keep searching for God’s will… so he can use me … even in ways that I was never trained.  When I allow him control over my weaknesses…he can use them in supernatural ways that the world can only assume was truly God at work within me.

Thank you father for the reminder that you use my weaknesses for your glory even better than the strengths you have created me with. Forgive me for the times that I let my feelings of weakness stop me from being obedient.  Help me to overcome any feelings of inadequacy with the thought that you can use these weaknesses to do great and mighty things to spread your gospel. Help me to embrace my weaknesses…so you can fill that weakness with a dose of your grace… and help me be my best versio of who you created me to be.  Amen.

God Uses All Our Questions And Weaknesses For His Good If We Are Obedient

Judges 6:15 – 18 -   “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”  The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”  Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”

Israel had cycled once again into a time of rebellion against God…forgetting his power …trying to find their needs met by the other gods around them. So God allowed their choices to result in another time of captivity. It took only 7 years this time for them to realize their need to have God in their life again.

God began to speak to man named Gideon… a man by his own omissions… that was from the weakest tribe of Israel….and the least of his own clan. He was bold with the angel that came to deliver the news that God was going to put him in charge of the army…and send him to fight against their latest captors.  He asked why….and lifted up a few excuses…even boldly asked God twice for signs that it really was God …asking him to do something so out of the realm he ever thought his life would take him.

It is a reminder to me that God can use anyone to do his work. Many times are recorded in our Bible where God used prostitutes like Rahab…murderers like Moses…. and runaways like Jonah to do mighty things. The signs that God was really in charge were all different….but the results after each one believed and became obedient were the same. 

It’s also a reminder that it is okay to ask God questions…to ask him to manifest his love in such a tangible way to our hearts that we become passionate to share his love and truth with the world.  God knew the questions…the excuses…the doubts we had before we even realized we had them. He was working a plan to solidify our faith even before we knew that we needed it.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you choose to use the weakest of people to do your work. Thank you for the love that is so patient with us that you listen to our questions…even sending us signs of your existence to help us understand. Forgive me for the times that I let my excuses and lack of confidence keep me from being obedient.  Help me to recognize the signs you send to solidify my faith...and the still quiet voices you send to tell me what to do.   Amen.

Speak God's Positive Power Over Negative Thoughts

Judges 5:31 - “So may all your enemies perish, Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.”   Then the land had peace forty years.

Deborah and Barak sang a long song to celebrate the victory God had given them over king Jaben.  The song celebrated all that God had done for them during the battle…despite their rebellion for the years they were in captivity. It praised God for his use of Jael… to end the life of this king that held them captive for so long.

The end of the song held the sweetest blessing for the future. It claimed victory over all their enemies….and blessings for those that continued to love the Lord. The blessing was compared to the strength of the sun…as it rose in the sky each day and gained intensity upon the land…it would reach full power at noon.

What great analogy of how our life with God is supposed to grow in strength every day we know him. Deborah and Barak model for us a simple way to speak God’s power into our life.  They claimed the positive forces of God to protect them from slipping quickly back into their rebellious attitudes. It worked so well they enjoyed 40 years of peace with God this time.

Even though it sounds like a simple thing to do… the negative thoughts seem to win in my head most days. I needed the reminder to speak life over each one with a positive thought…so God can bury the negative we feel rising up in us. It couldn’t hurt to find a scripture that matches our positive thought… so God can begin to build a fortress of strength that even satan can’t penetrate with any more negativity that might interfere with our growing faith.

Father…thank you for your power that can help me overcome my feelings of worry and frustration over the worlds crazy and deteriorating condition.  Forgive me for the times that I have allowed any negative thought to cause me to weaken the faith and courage you are trying to build in me. Help me to use the positive thoughts in your word to rebuke every one as it trys to trick me into worry and doubt.  Amen.

Watch...Pray...Be Ready For God To Use You

Judges 4:1-4 - Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, now that Ehud was dead.  So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in Harosheth Haggoyim. Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the Lord for help.  Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.

The Israelite had fallen once again to the evils around them...despite the woman God had called as the judge during that time. Even though the many warnings and commands she might have shared were ignored…they still looked to her for leadership. God heard their repentant cry and even gave Barak…the one he called to lead the army at that time…a humble spirit so he would take Deborah with him to battle.

This chapter…one of the many times God led them out of bondage… also included the record of another brave and courageous woman named Jael and her quick actions.  She alone drove a tent peg into the temple of the King that had fled the battle… bringing closure to the whole matter.

I am strengthened this morning by these two women…one dubbed a leader and the other a simple housewife…and their faith. It is a reminder to me that no matter what gender we are given at birth…no matter what station in life we end up in life….God can use us to bring him great honor and glory. It also reminds me that we need to be constantly listening and ready to do his will.

Despite the frustration that Deborah must have felt as leader during one of Israel’s rebellious times….and the daily grind Jael must have felt as a simple housewife… the fact that they were ready and listening when God spoke such great purpose into their lives helped to bring glory to God in their obedience to his direction in their lives.

Perhaps they were at least two of the people God laid on Luke’s heart when he penned Luke 21:36…. “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”  These two women modeled this before these words were ever recorded.

Father…thank you for the reminder to always be ready to hear your still …quiet voice tell us your perfect will.  Forgive me for the times that allow the world to interfere with my hearing what you have put me here on this earth to do. Help me to use more of my time to stop and pray…and watch for the many opportunities you place before me to show your love every day.  Amen.

Cry Out To God To Remove The Sin In Your Life

Judges 3:14-15 -  The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.  Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. 

The Israelites had become trapped in their own choices.  They had let the people around them dilute their faith so much that they forgot the one true God and adopted the pagan customs of all the people around them. God had sent them a deliverer….a judge once before….and now they needed one again.

God loved them so much...as soon as they realized their sin…and cried out to him…he sent them another judge…to kill the king of the people that held them captive. They would be free once again… to reestablish their relationship with the one true God.

It is a reminder to me that God is a forgiving God….showing grace as many times as he needs to sinners like me who follow the same pattern of failure as the Israelites. He only requires that we turn from our sin…and repent. I just know that if I spent a few minutes every morning asking forgiveness for the failures of the past….God would meet me there with a big smile on his face….happy to see me more attentive to what he needs form me in the future.

He knows we mean what we say because of our actions.  These Israelites cleaned house of all the pagan gods that had trapped them in bad choices.  They began to follow God’s law and commandments again. They went back to their first love…the love that did miracles for them….the love that went with them and before them.

Father…thank you for the reminder to start my day visiting with you…so you can help me to identify the sins that are holding me back from a deeper relationship with you. Forgive me for the times that I have let sin and selfish thoughts keep me from doing your will.  Help me to mean what I say this morning… so my time with you will clean out the things that keep me separated from all that you want for me. Amen.

Our Sins Have Natural Consequences

Judges 2:3-4 -  And I have also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snaresto you.’” When the angel of the Lord had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, and they called that place Bokim. There they offered sacrifices to the Lord.

Before Joshua died…an angel of the Lord visited the camp of the Israelites. We aren’t told how they came to be in one place...but we are told that the angel spoke so harshly to the people that they wept about their sin…..offered up sacrifices…even renamed the place where the angel had come.

The core of the angel’s message was there failure to follow through on their commitment to God to clear the land of all other people…to cleanse the land of those that worshiped other gods. Instead…they allowed many of them to stay…under the pretense at first of controlling them for servitude.  But exactly what God had warned them about came true.  The gods of these people weakened and diluted their faith in the one true God…and they became like them…many of them adopting the wicked practices of the many gods that existed in Canaan before they came to claim it.

The tears did not change the natural consequences of their sin…God allowing the sins they chose to participate in…over worship to him…to be the natural consequences of their behavior. These people became their enemies…and God did not fight for them anymore.  He allowed them to be overtaken and live in the sin they had created around them for some time.

What a great reminder that many of our actions reap natural consequences.  God allows them to play out in our lives till our tears of repentance cause a total change in our hearts. Sometimes God allows the consequences to continue even after we have repented and ask him to cleanse of what we had fallen into. They become tools of learning...just how important it is to make holy choices…to follow his will instead of our own.

Father…thank you for the reminder that my sins can sometimes create pockets of consequences in my life that you allow to play out until they teach me the important lessons about faith in you that are vital to my growing in understanding of being more holy. Forgive me for the choices I made that put me in those compromised positions of faith. Give me the strength…wisdom…and courage to see these situations through to the end…so you can use them to glorify your kingdom when I have come through the other side with a deeper faith in you.   Amen.

See Your Battles Completely Through

Judges 1:27-28 - Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.  When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely.

Joshua was gone…and Israel needed the confidence of another battle leader…so they asked God for one.  He appointed Judah…and God was with him in all the battles he fought. Town…village…mountain terrain…he began to fight for what God had promised his people.

But somewhere along the way…and this chapter was filled with battle after battle and town name after town name that was difficult to pronounce…. The orders to completely destroy the people of that land got blurred.  Instead of destroying and completely wiping out all that God laid out before them…they stopped short and left many towns intact.

I am thankful that we are not called to engage in a physical battle anymore.  Jesus fulfilled the old testament law and gave us the holy spirit to guide and fight for us…but the battle is still there.  It is now a spiritual battle….fought against the principalities of darkness. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 puts it this way… “  For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

It is a reminder to me that I should always see all the battles God allows in my life completely through. Matthew Henry’s commentary tells us one of the dangers if we don’t.   Our….”distrust of the power and promise of God deprived them of advantages.” We might just miss a greater blessing if we stop short of total obedience to what he wants us to do.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you will fight for us…no matter what we are faced with.  Forgive me for the times that I have let go of your hand and walked in the light of the world…cause I could see where I was going.  Help me to hold your hand…even in the darkness….so I can claim the greater promise of your word.  Amen.

If We Choose God...He Will Keep Us In His Perfect Peace

Joshua 24:14-15 - “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua shared one last word from God before he passed from his earthly life.  God recounted the whole story one more time…from the promise he made to Abraham…to where they stood that day. The bondage…the freedom….the obedience and its blessings… the disobedience and its consequences were all included.

God recounted the story…told them what to do…but Joshua’s response is included.  He had chosen God…and had raised up his family with his commitment to him. The words he said…and took the time to write down for us in the books of law have become one of the most used verses in the Bible.  I see it on church marquees…. on decorative frames for pictures… it is printed an thousands of decorative plaques for one’s wall. 

I can say from experience my choice to choose God was the best decision I ever made in my life.  His love…his care… his way…..has made the less comfortable times he has allowed in my life tolerable. I am even learning to let God rearrange my opinions of my pain into a joy that is hard to explain. I am beginning to understand the palmists words in chapter 30… “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”  The pace that passes understanding that Paul talks about in Philippians 4:7 begins to cover everything that happens in your life. It may still be painful…but you can accept it as a pathway to greater peace in the end.

Father…thank you for the reminder that your way is the best way.  Forgive me for the times that I have let my humanness get in the way….leading me to misunderstand…even run away from you at times. Help me to cling to the promise that f I follow you alone…you will keep me in your perfect peace….because I have trusted you.  Amen.

God Is Available To All People

Joshua 23:6-10 -   Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left,  that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them,  but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day.  For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day.  One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you.

Joshua had grown old….he knew his time of passing was near…so he took some of his last breaths to remind these people that God had chosen of all God had done.  He wanted to tell them one last time to be strong…courageous…faithful…even passionate about the one true God that had given them alone a great land.  There were still many people in the land that did not believe or worship Yahweh. If they were allowed to stay among them…it would weaken their faith...cause them to fall away from God’s law.

The world has approximately 4,300 religions…according to the quick answer on reference.com. Christianity has approximately 2 billion and Islam 1.3 to 1.5 billion believers… but a close second is Islam with about 1.3.  And let’s not forget to include those that do not believe in any deity….around 1.1 billion people identify as agnostics, atheists, nonreligious or other secular views.

I am thankful that Jesus came to fulfill the law…and did away with the need to drive out all these other religions. I would have had a hard time with all the killing and destruction the Israelites were asked to do to clear these other religions out of their land. He made a way for all nations…all people…to hear about the one true God and make a choice to follow him. He pushed the consequences of non-belief all the way to the end of time…so everyone could hear the truth and make a decision on their own.

It creates a sort of ‘pickle’ for those that believe in God…you know…that baseball situation where a runner gets trapped between bases. God opening up the world to make their own choices about who to worship puts all of those that believe in him surrounded by other beliefs. We can let them weaken our faith…as Joshua warned about….or we can use what God has done for us to share the truth with others.  God wants us to remember one thing about that process though.  We are called to share only…we cannot control others choices.

Think about that part of Joshua’s speech where he told them... “One man of you puts to flight a thousand.” That would be a great goal for all of us…to actively search out 1000 lost people that desperately need the gift of salvation that Jesus made possible for all. I am sure that I haven’t reached that number yet.

Father…thank you for the reminder that because you allowed your son to die on the cross to save me…all people have access to your great love.   Forgive me for the times that I take for granted my salvation…and do not actively search for ways to share your truth and love with the lost and confused around me. Help me to focus on you so closely that I hear every prompt to share with another…using all the perfect words that only you can give me to touch their heart and help them understand your gospel.  Amen.

Only God Knows The Whole Truth

Joshua 22:22-24 -  “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day.  If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account. “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel?

Joshua had informed the 2 ½ tribes that Moses had granted land on the east side of the Jordan that they had fulfilled their commitment to help them fight until all the Promised land was claimed. He sent them on their way...back to their families…but before they felt secure in crossing the great river they stopped to build an enormous altar. It was intended to be a reminder to stay unified as a people…even though they would be separated physically by the river. 

But as word spread back to camp…rumors ….guesses...and the gossip of all had concocted a grand story of them already leaving God. What happened next is a great reminder of how to handle news that might be distressing and worrisome…especially if your own eyes and ears did not witness the original version.

First they sent a team of leaders and elders with Eleazar the priest to see what was going on.  They reminded these tribes of how God would feel if indeed the rumors were true.  Second…the tribes reacted with gentleness…understanding completely the deep concern they voiced.  Then the tribes explained the altar to them and how they wanted it to be a reminder of unity. And as they all parted that day…a sense of peace and love permeated their decision to believe all that they had explained.

I needed the reminder that jumping to conclusions hardly ever ends up being what actually happened. It is always better to go to someone and gently ask them if indeed something you heard is true. There is nothing wrong with pointing out what might be wrong with it as well.  But the lesson for me here is to always keep and open mind. To be willing to listen…trust and believe in what we are told first hand.  Sure…I can also admit that sometimes we might accept a really good lie…but the liar is the one who will be judged for that…in God’s own time.

It reminds me of that story in John 8…where the Sadducees were trying to use a woman’s sin of adultery to trap Jesus.  God had taught him…like he had Joshua and Eleazar how to use mercy and grace when dealing with people’s sin…and other people’s judgmental attitudes.  I just bet that writing in the sand was everyone else’s sin.

Father…thank you for the reminder that the truth is sometimes twisted into a thing that worries and concerns the heart of one who loves you.  Forgive me for the times that I have reacted to a story without checking it out for myself first.  Help me to always remember to ask you for a dose of mercy and grace before I meet with them to hear their side…then react the way Jesus might have if he were there. Amen.

Share God's Truth With Others

Joshua 21:1-3 -  Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.”  So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

When all the land had been allotted…the heads of the Levite families came to Joshua and Eleazar at Shiloh…in the midst of all the tribe leaders.  They reminded them of God’s instructions to assign cities for them to dwell in among the other tribes. So all the tribes gave of their individual portions to fulfill the promise God had made to these priests…48 cities in all.

I have to admit it wasn’t a fun or deeply meaningful chapter to read.  I got really lost in the strange names of all those cites…and which family of Levites each city went too. I found myself skimming the chapter for names and numbers …going to the commentaries to try and glean some bit of wisdom from all the details.

It was Matthew Henry’s thoughts…who said of this process… “Thus did God graciously provide for keeping up religion among them, and that they might have the word in all parts of the land. Yet, blessed be God, we have the gospel more diffused amongst us...” that started my heart thinking this morning. It was God’s plan all along that his truth be dispersed throughout the land.  He began this thought with his chosen people so long ago...and continued it as he left this earth to rein in Heaven with what many refer to as the great commission.

It is one of the few times that all four gospels record a bit of Jesus’ words in this important moment of faith for those that were honored to share his last moments. Mark 16:15… Matthew 28:19…John 20:21…and Luke 24:26-27 all record the charge he gave to all to believe to share his truth with all people. It remains the most important part of sharing a personal relationship with God the father…his precious son Jesus…and the Holy Spirit that dwells among us to help us in this venture.

It is true that some people who hear will reject it…and even reject you for your obedience. But it is not our job to make sure they accept the truth…our job is only to present it.  Free choice is still an option and always will be. We are judged individually...not as a group.

Father…thank you for the reminder that part of my commitment to you is to share your truth to others. Forgive me for the times that I have wasted an opportunity to share your truth to an unbeliever.  Help me to be so in tune to your voice that I hear your directions and your words when a lost soul is near enough to me to be used of you to help them understand.  Amen. 

God Is Our Refuge

Joshua 20:1-4 - Then the Lord said to Joshua:  “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them.

It was an awesome provision of God to provide 6 cities….spread throughout the land so travel to them would be easy …. For those that found themselves accused wrongly…or involved in a situation that caused a death unintentionally to live till the case was decided by the judges. It gave them comfort…peace…protection….and extended a sense of freedom to their mind in a great time of stress.

These cities were longer needed after Jesus fulfilled the law.  He provided a way for all of us to use his love and ultimate peace that passes understanding when we need such a refuge…yet many still search for comfort…peace…protection….and freedom from life’s troubles in every way imaginable. They seek what they need in drugs…. relationships…alcohol … sports….shopping…. parties… gambling…. fighting…  gangs… murder…. living beyond their means by means of credit… using all kinds of things to try and surround themselves with these earthly things to try and imitate what only God can provide in our soul.

There are many verses that speak of God as our refuge… but Psalm 46:1-3 pretty much says it all. It says… “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.”

I needed a reminder that no matter what happens in life…because I chose to believe and accept Jesus as my savior… my adopted father has all I need…and will ever need to make it through anything. I admit that is it easier sometimes to let the world’s resources trick me into using one of its many temporary fixes to cope…but none of those ever last.  God’s fix is permanent… and grows in understanding the more that you use him.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are my refuge. Forgive me for the times that I I have let the world trick me into trying other things …when I know that you have the only thing I will ever need to cope with anything that ever happens. Help me to always run to you…and let you be my only refuge in any time of trouble.  Amen.

Humility...One Of Our Most Powerful Character Traits

Joshua 19:49-50 -  When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them,  as the Lord had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for—Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.

After all the tribes had been given their allotments…Joshua was given a portion from among their lots.  It was not a gift of the tribes...but a command of God to be sure that Joshua also received a portion of the promised land. He waited till all of the lots had been cast to let them know what piece of land he thought would be good for him…and they gave it to him without question.

As I researched the commentaries…trying to dig deeper for meaning and understanding…I read so many thoughts of how this was just one more example of Joshua’s humility and servant mindset.  He knew that God would provide for him and his family…he wanted to make sure that everyone else was taken care of first.

His humility is a great reminder to me of how important it is to build and use daily this character trait that the word sometimes perceives as a weakness. There is nothing weak about choosing to be last. In fact…God builds power through any form of humility…especially if it is intentional. Joshua Becker…good name huh….wrote in his article “The Hidden Power Of Humility”… “Humility is the act of being modest, reverential, even politely submissive. It is the opposite of aggression, arrogance, pride, and vanity. And on the surface, it appears to empty its holder of all power. But on the contrary, it grants enormous power to its owner. (his boldface...not mine) Humility offers its owner complete freedom from the desire to impress, be right, or get ahead. Frustrations and losses have less impact on a humble ego and a humble person confidently receives opportunity to grow, improve, and reject society‘s labels. A humble life results in contentment, patience, forgiveness, and compassion.”

The whole world needs a dose of this great power…I’m thinking it could just be the answer to world peace.  I sure needed the reminder to strive to let humility override many of the selfish decisions I make each day. The more selfless I become the more God can use me. Proverbs 11:2 says … “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”  James 4:10 says “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” And let’s not forget 2 Chronicles 7:14…which says… “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Father…thank you for the reminder that you consider humility one of the best character traits I can have. Forgive for the times that I have let the world rob me of the many chances you have provided for me to grow in this mindset. Help me to recognize these moments...and ask you to hold my hand as you teach me your pure form of humbleness.  Then help me to listen to your prodding’s of when to use it to bring more glory to you.  Amen.

No Complacency Allowed

Joshua 18:1-3 - The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The country was brought under their control, but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.  So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?

God had directed Joshua to the city of Shiloh...where he would reside among them.  It was a peaceful city that lay somewhat in the center of the territory God was dividing between all of the tribes. Everyone picked up and moved their tents … and met there as the Levites fulfilled their duties of tearing down and rebuilding the holy tabernacle for its last time.  This would be its permanent home.

Joshua must have looked around him and seen the rote way they pitched their own tents around the tabernacle as they had in the 40 years they wander in the wilderness.  He frustration with none of them asking for their own permanent portions of Canaan is clear as he reprimands them for not being more zealous about settling a piece of this land for their own.

It is another reminder to me to guard my heart against the same kind of complacency. It is easy when God brings us to a peaceful… rich season of goodness… to want to rest in its pleasures and riches. Why would we want to leave a good thing…for something that requires more work and effort? Perhaps that is why God allows some of the difficulties we experience in life. He is using those times to force us to take our faith to deeper levels of trust and obedience.

Father…thank you for the reminder that I must guard my heart against complacency. Forgive me for the times that I have let myself rest to long in the blessings you have allowed in my life…taking them for granted.  Help me to always look for opportunities to enlarge my territory…as Jabez prayed in 1 Chronicles 4. Amen.

Let God Stir Up Our Best Endeavor

Joshua 17:12-15 - Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region.  However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely. The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.” “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.”

Joshu had allotted the choicest of lands to the tribe of Manesseh… and their numbers reflected God’s great blessings on this tribe of Israel. They grew so numerous that the land they were given was too small…so they asked for more. The only problem with this was that they had failed to completely claim all that God intended for them to have.

One group of Canaanites had been allowed to stay in their territory. At first it was because they were afraid to try and conquer them…but eventually they grew strong enough to force them into laboring for them. Another area of their territory was forested… there was lots of land if they would take the time to clear it.

I usually write in the morning. ‘Waking up with God’ was birthed from a deep need 3 years ago ….I felt to start my day out with God…so he could power me through any more hard stuff that he allowed in my life… that I felt was difficult.  BUT…lately…I have hit the snooze button so many times I barely get to whatever was scheduled that day on time…let alone take time to reflect and write blog post.

Today was no different.  I hit the snooze…barely made it to my substitute job on time…ran to my mom and dad’s house after work to help them out with a couple of things….ran straight to the quilting ministry that meets on Tuesday afternoons….then straight to a new home Bible study I wanted to try out. Before I could sit down and blog… I even had phone calls and texts to answer.

I’ve felt dispassionate about my blogging…about my morning time with God for a bit now.  I have prayed…searched…let myself fall into depression…search some more… make excuses… you get the picture. I knew I shouldn’t feel this way…but couldn’t quite find the answer to how to fix the problem.   It’s close to 10 pm now….but I have that old passionate feeling I used to have…when I first started blogging….that I was going to spend a bit of time with God before I went to bed.

One piece of the puzzle that changed my outlook was the commentaries I read last night.  David Guzik pointed out how the Israelites had become complacent.  They wanted the easy road…just give us more land they said. They had just as much power to defeat the Canaanites as they did to force them into labor. Matthew Henry added this thought…”If we belong to Christ – He will stir us up to our best endeavors.

It was a statement from the video from our Bible study that put all the thoughts together… convicting me and renewing the passion I knew I had lost… to spend time with God.  When I heard author and pastor Larry Osborne make the point…God worries more about our holiness than our happiness…it was as if the last piece of the puzzle I’ve been struggling to find was put in place. I need to remember my first love…so that fire he put inside me can fan back into a flame that can help him increase the kingdom…before it’s too late for all the lost souls still to be won over to the truth.

Father…thank you for the reminder that I belong to you….and you want to stir up within me the best.  Forgive me for letting the world water down my longing to visit with you each day.  Help me to stay fanned into flame…so your power will keep my faith and passion to learn as much as I can about you never wane with time.   Amen.

What We Have Is More Than We Deserve

Joshua 16:1-4 - The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel.  It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth,  descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea.  So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.

Joshua continued to define the territories for each tribe by clans.  Judah and Joseph…along with his children Ephraim and Manasseh…were allotted the first and best of the lands to the north and the south. These lands were choice areas that would have supported farming or pastures for their livestock. Even though they did not follow through on God’s orders to completely clear the land of Canaanites…God still blessed these tribes enormously.

As I researched the commentaries for some deeper wisdom…Matthew Henry’s thoughts washed deep into my soul. He said… “This chapter reminds us that our situation and provision in this life, as well as our future inheritance, is appointed by the only wise and righteous God and we should be content with it. He knows best. What we have is more than we deserve.”

Truer…more humbling words have not been heard by my ears in a while. I needed the reminder that God gives to us from his grace…not by our worthiness or service to him.  He gives freely…way more than I could ever earn or be worthy of.

Father…thank you for the reminder that your love flows freely to all that accept and believe in your sacrifice on the cross. Forgive me for the times that I take for granted the grace that you have shown me…a sinner.  Help me to be more grateful for the blessings that you send my way each moment of life you granted me. Show me how to pay  your love forward with the same grace you show me.  Amen.

The Responsibility Of The Great Comission

Joshua 15:1 and 20  -The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south.

…This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, according to its clans:

The tribe of Judah is the first to get a detailed list of all the land God is portioning them.  The writer takes great care to give the new name each Canaanite town used before it was conquered. Nothing was left to its old ways…the tribe of Judah took over and finished a complete takeover of each area it was given …except one.  Jerusalem was allowed to stay strong enough not to be taken over….and we aren’t told why.

I have sat longer than usual listening for the one bit of wisdom that God needs me to have from this chapter. My readings have gleaned very little that just grabs you as a lesson…but one thought.  All of this land was not completely cleared of the pagans God wanted abolished.  The portioning of land was as much about possession and ownership as it was about the responsibility to complete what the joint army had started. God was not going to bless a nation that was not obedient to his directives to clear out any peoples that might not believe in him and his commands.

God has given each of us something to do. I believe some of us are given more than one task…and that is on top of the great commission that Jesus used as his triumphant speech before his ascension.  He said in Matthew 28:18 – 20 - Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So the hidden bit of wisdom in Joshua 15 for me this morning is to never forget that a relationship with God is two way.  When I accept his love and grace…I commit to consciously accept the responsibility to carry out these last earthly words of Jesus. Wherever God leads me…and especially if he allows me to possess land….I need to be about sharing his truth to the portion I am given…so more people will be able to enter the kingdom of God.

Father...thank you for the reminder that my relationship with you includes a great responsibility to spread your gospel everywhere you plant my feet. Forgive me for the many times that I have forgotten this great commissioning…and failed you and the lost people you placed all around me.  Give me new ears and eyes to recognize the lost around me…and use some of that courage and boldness I pray for to share your love and truth.  Amen. 

Imitate Caleb's Boldness...Ask For God's Promises

Joshua 14:10-12 -  “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!  I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.  Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

Caleb…the only other spy that brought a message of ‘we can do this’ back to Moses when they first visited the land God was promising them…recalled the promise God had given him when all the others had gone against he and Joshua. Everyone that had said no to an immediate quest to take the land Canaan had died in the last 45 years.  Only Caleb and Joshua had entered into the land and fought for the freedom they had enjoyed for the last 7 years.

What a great reminder that we should never be afraid to ask God….even be bold in our requests… to fulfill his promises to us.  There are so many in the Bible…we could ask God to fulfill a different one every day. One of the basics…that has become a great strength for me personally… is his promise from Isaiah 26:3…"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Everything else can become a chaotic mess around me…but if I have God’s perfect peace…my spirit will never get caught up in it.

Father...thank you for the promises you allowed to be written into your word. Forgive me for the times that I take any of them for granted. Forgive me also for not claiming them every time I need one of them.  Help me to recall a promise that will give me the exact strength I need for each situation you allow in my life. Then give me the boldness and patience of Caleb to know when to ask.  Amen.

God s My Complete

Joshua 13:1-5 - When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites,  from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites  on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek and the border of the Amorites;  the area of Byblos; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.

Joshua had enjoyed a great time of peace and was getting old now. God had blessed the obedience and hard work with a long period of rest and prosperity. BUT…God reminded him this day that there was still a huge portion of the land he had given the Israelites that still needed to be taken. Their time of rest of peace was coming to an end… there was still work to be done before God’s promise was complete.

When things are good…when God allows a time of blessing and goodness in our lives…we want it to last forever. BUT… there is a danger in becoming completely content with what we have. We might forget that God’s goodness…his perfect love….knows no end. Complete will come only once…when Jesus returns to claim his children and the battle between good and evil is ended forever. ..or when we cross over the earthly realm into God’s arms in heaven. 1 Philippians 13:7-10 is clear.  It says… “ Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen. For if there are prophecies they will be fulfilled and done with, if there are “tongues” the need for them will disappear, if there is knowledge it will be swallowed up in truth. For our knowledge is always incomplete and our prophecy is always incomplete, and when the complete comes, that is the end of the incomplete.

It is a great reminder to me that until he calls me home he has more for me than what I know now. I am always to look forward to one more promise being fulfilled in my life. The true contentment that Paul experienced had nothing to do with earthly things. It was his spirit…his faith…his trust in God that gave him that peace that passes understanding in all that he was led to do by God. He looked forward to God’s complete…and kept pressing on to win the great race at the end of his life.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are my complete. Forgive me or the times that I forget that you have new promises to unveil to me each new day you allow. Help me to grow so close to you I feel the words of psalm 18:30 embed deeply in my soul… “Joshua 13:1-5 - When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites,  from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites  on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek and the border of the Amorites;  the area of Byblos; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.

Joshua had enjoyed a great time of peace and was getting old now. God had blessed the obedience and hard work with a long period of rest and prosperity. BUT…God reminded him this day that there was still a huge portion of the land he had given the Israelites that still needed to be taken. Their time of rest of peace was coming to an end… there was still work to be done before God’s promise was complete.

When things are good…when God allows a time of blessing and goodness in our lives…we want it to last forever. BUT… there is a danger in becoming completely content with what we have. We might forget that God’s goodness…his perfect love….knows no end. Complete will come only once…when Jesus returns to claim his children and the battle between good and evil is ended forever. ..or when we cross over the earthly realm into God’s arms in heaven. 1 Philippians 13:7-10 is clear.  It says… “ Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen. For if there are prophecies they will be fulfilled and done with, if there are “tongues” the need for them will disappear, if there is knowledge it will be swallowed up in truth. For our knowledge is always incomplete and our prophecy is always incomplete, and when the complete comes, that is the end of the incomplete.

It is a great reminder to me that until he calls me home he has more for me than what I know now. I am always to look forward to one more promise being fulfilled in my life. The true contentment that Paul experienced had nothing to do with earthly things. It was his spirit…his faith…his trust in God that gave him that peace that passes understanding in all that he was led to do by God. He looked forward to God’s complete…and kept pressing on to win the great race at the end of his life.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are my complete. Forgive me or the times that I forget that you have new promises to unveil to me each new day you allow. Help me to focus on today…the task you gave me to do today…and learn to anticipate with a deep inner peace and trust in the perfectness of what lies ahead if your grant me a new tomorrow.  Amen.