Living in the Dark...

People who reject God and oppose His people live in darkness. Even though they think they are living in the light.

34 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness.35 Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. Luke 11:34-35

Willingness to Get Dirty...

Hard work has always been something the Bible tells us that God honors. It started with Adam in the Garden, and still continues today. As one wise man once told me, “if you get in a hog pen, you’re gonna get the mud on you”. You have to be willing to get a little dirty in order to get the job done. There’s no substitute for hard work, and that requires our pride to let go of the fear of getting dirty.

4 Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. Proverbs 14:4

Divided We Fall...

A nation divided will not stand. America’s days are numbered.

17 He knew their thoughts, so He said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 18 You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive?19 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said.20 But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.21 For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe–22 until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.23 “Anyone who isn’t with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn’t working with Me is actually working against Me. Luke 11:17-23

Prayer...

Prayer, what Jesus taught: to be persistent, passionate, and believe in the One to Whom you pray.

1 Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As He finished, one of His disciples came to Him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”2 Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: “Father, may Your name be kept holy.May Your Kingdom come soon.3 Give us each day the food we need,4 and forgive us our sins,as we forgive those who sin against us.And don’t let us yield to temptation.” 5 Then, teaching them more about prayer, He used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 6 ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’8 But I tell you this–though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.11 “You fathers–if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” Luke 11:1-13

God Knows Us Better...

Why is it important to know God? Because He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows how much stress we can take. He knows our breaking point. He knows how we will react when tempted. He knows our capacity to love. The more we know God, the more we know ourselves, and thus the better decisions we will make.

21 God would surely have known it, for He knows the secrets of every heart. Psalms 44:21

The Source of All Good Things...

When all the ruckus calms down. When all the excitement and exhilaration is gone. When all the celebrations are over, there’s only one cause of all good things in our lives, God. All the victories, passed exams, successful campaigns, wins, promotions, deep relationships, mountain top experiences, and quiet blessings, are God’s doing. He is sovereign. It is His care, power, and action that gives these victories. Praise Him today. Tell Him how grateful you are that you’ve been given so much. Honor Him today with the sacrifice of your life, being obedient to His will.

You are my King and my God.You command victories for Israel.5 Only by Your power can we push back our enemies; only in Your name can we trample our foes.6 I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me.7 You are the One who gives us victory over our enemies; You disgrace those who hate us.8 O God, we give glory to You all day long and constantly praise Your name. Psalms 44:4-8

Hardened Hearts...

There seems to be a natural phenomenon with all human beings when they decide to reject God. Their hearts harden. When you deny God something inside the heart begins to harden, leaving the compassionate, loving side of humanity as cold as a winter stone in the desert. The result of this callousness is opposition to God’s agenda and His faithful followers. When Joshua and the Israelites entered into the “Promised Land”, they were met with opposition. Of all the inhabitants, only one group, the Hivites of Gibeon, made a treaty (and they used deception to do it). The rest hardened their hearts and attacked Israel, instead of going with what they knew to be true about God’s chosen people. Do you ever go against God’s people? His plan? If you feel your heart hardening, you might want to retreat. Search your heart to find the cause of this selfishness. Ask God to help you with it. It will save you great pain in the long run. And give you the peace your heart long’s for.

19 No one in this region made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites of Gibeon. All the others were defeated. 20 For the Lord hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Joshua 11:19-20

Love Disciplines...

Those that love their children but neglect their need of discipline (spanking), will get the same result as those parents who hate their own children. Love disciplines, while selfishness (the opposite of love) enables through lack of discipline. Don’t be selfish, discipline your children. If you don’t, someone one else will. And your children will hate you for it. They will see it as an act of betrayal (when they are disciplined by others).

24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24

Through Obedience...

Just think, the God we serve can make the sun stand still, or make it rotate with the earth as if it was standing still. If the wind and waves obey Him, and the sun and moon are obedient, shouldn’t we be obedient also? This is how we show our love to God, through obedience.

On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon,and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies.Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. 14 There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day! Joshua 10:12c-14

Moving Foward...

You can’t effectively drive forward while constantly looking in your rear view mirror. You can’t live two lives. You must pick one or the other. You’ll either live in the past, not letting go of the security you think it brings. Or you’ll make the decision to let go of the past and move forward. You can plow straight lines, while constantly looking backwards. They’ll be crooked and less productive than straight ones. You can’t be effective trying to live in both worlds. Pick one or the other. If you don’t you won’t be an effective tool in God’s hand.

62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

How You Respond...

How do you respond when you witness God’s power in action? With awe, reverence, and wonder? How about apathy, indignation, or rebellion? How you respond when you see God at work reveals the condition of your heart. It either encourages and revives hope in you. Or you try to explain it away as a coincidence. How you respond reveals your true perspective of God.

43 Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power. Jesus Again Predicts His Death While everyone was marveling at everything He was doing, Jesus said to His disciples, 44 “Listen to Me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of His enemies.”45 But they didn’t know what He meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it. Luke 9:43-45

The Safest Place...

The safest place in the world is in God’s will. Not in a building or place, but with God, Himself. When you are trusting God, yet feel abandoned, praise Him in your dark times. That’s where your Hope anchors your soul.

1 Declare me innocent, O God!Defend me against these ungodly people.Rescue me from these unjust liars.2 For You are God, my only safe haven.Why have You tossed me aside?Why must I wander around in grief,oppressed by my enemies?3 Send out Your light and Your truth;let them guide me.Let them lead me to Your holy mountain,to the place where You live.4 There I will go to the altar of God,to God–the source of all my joy.I will praise You with my harp,O God, my God! 5 Why am I discouraged?Why is my heart so sad?I will put my hope in God!I will praise Him again–my Savior and my God! Psalms 43

The First Thing You Ask Yourself...

Do you ever wonder why things don’t work out? There are many reasons. Here in Joshua chapter 7 we read about Ai chasing the Israelites away from their town. The mighty Israelite army being chased away from a ragtag town of fewer people. Joshua was confused as to why this happened. God told him it was because someone in the clan of Judah had stolen that which belonged to the Lord. The reason why God allowed the inhabitants of Ai to chase them out was because of this “hidden sin”. In verse 13 it says, “... You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you”. I know this isn’t the only reason why people don’t succeed, but it should be the first thing you examine in your life when things aren’t going right. It should be the first thing you ask yourself before making any type of commitment to God. Hidden sin harbors resistance to God. You’ll never defeat your enemies until it is honestly dealt with first.

13 “Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you. Joshua 7:13

He is No Fool...

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. -Jim Elliot. People who do not see God as the “First Great Cause” miss out on the best thing about being human. And for those who do (pursue God), the world sees them as foolish in believing in a fairy-tale. But for these believers life makes sense (to a certain extent). Life is seen from a deeper, larger scale. Life to them has purpose and significance. And with that comes rewards, contentment, and peace the world cannot give. If you spend your entire life chasing dreams of attaining things, building monetary wealth, or increasing social status, it will only exhaust all of your mental, physical, and spiritual capacities, leaving you bankrupt in the end. Pretending to be someone you’re not, or believing the world can offer you true contentment and security, will not prepare you for the next world to come. In fact, it will keep you from experiencing what God had intended you to have in this one. God is in control; we are not. Jim Elliot found what Jesus talks about here. Does this seem foolish to you? Me neither.

23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it.25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?26 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in His glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.27 I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:23-27

The Company You Keep...

The company you keep will determine the climate in which you live. Hang out with fools and watch your life become foolish. Hang out with the wise and watch wisdom develop you. Hang out with fools and watch trouble constantly invade your life. Hang out with those who are righteous and watch blessings be your reward. If you have high hopes and depth to your dreams, don’t dash them by mingling with those who refuse to see the error in their ways. If you do, you’ll never become the person you’ve dreamt of becoming. You’ll never experience the joy of fulfilling your dreams.

19 It is pleasant to see dreams come true,but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them. 20 Walk with the wise and become wise;associate with fools and get in trouble. 21 Trouble chases sinners,while blessings reward the righteous. Proverbs 13:19-21

What God Focuses On...

It’s not our sin that God’s focused on, it’s our hearts that He’s concerned with. Yes sin interrupts our communication with God, but Jesus settled that issue once and for all on the Cross. The condition of our hearts should be the focus and priority of our lives. When we get our hearts right with God, sin loses some of its powerful appeal. Rahab the prostitute lied to protect the spies and helped them escape. God didn’t reward her for lying. He rewarded her because her heart was made right with Him when she decided to follow Him.

2 Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, “Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute’s house and bring her out, along with all her family.”23 The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel.24 Then the Israelites burned the town and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day. Joshua 6:22-25

Base Your Life On This Promise...

God will always take care of us. Always. Either here on earth, or with Him in Heaven. Live your life based on this promise and count on it.

10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then He slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds found out where He was going, and they followed Him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and He healed those who were sick.12 Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to Him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.”13 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are You expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” 14 For there were about 5 ,000 men there.Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 So the people all sat down. 16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, He kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. 17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers! Luke 9:10-17

The Choice God Gives....

Here’s something that rarely gets discussed among believers and non-believers. When someone refuses to welcome the Gospel, God gives them exactly what they want. When people talk about how God is a tyrant, or how He is so cruel, ask them where they get their information from. Ask them to share an experience or give an example of how they came to that conclusion. If God is so unloving and heartless, why does He give every single human being a choice? Either you love God or you don’t. God cannot force you to love Him. Yet so many people act as if God is forcing Himself on them and they have no choice but to rebel and fight Him off. Here God gives us a clear example of how we are to treat those who are unwelcoming. We must be gentle, treating everyone with respect. But also, we don’t need to waste our time and energy with those who think they have it figured out. We are to leave them to their fate. A fate that they chose for themselves. A choice that God gave them. Does that sound tyrannical or unloving to you?

5 And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” Luke 9:5

Handling Criticism...

Here is a proverb for America in 2019. I wish someone would tweet this and watch it go viral. I’ve always told myself that the only way to handle criticism is to listen, weigh the points made, apply the necessary, and throw out the unnecessary. Make yourself better with the good in it, and strengthen yourself even more by recognizing the untruth and letting it go. For it doesn’t apply to you. Remember, we are God’s masterpiece, we are not perfected yet. It’s a process. When we get there, it’s time to go home (Heaven). No one, still living on this earth, is ever above correction. It’s one reason why God values Humility.

18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. Proverbs 13:18

When You Are Discouraged...

When you are discouraged, sad, or distraught, focus your attention on God. Praise Him. Sing songs about what He has done for you and others. It will get your focus off of you, and onto the real Object of our affection. Trials are food for our faith. Faith always has the last word. God will deliver you. Keep your faith in Him.

5 Why am I discouraged?Why is my heart so sad?I will put my hope in God!I will praise Him again–my Savior and 6 my God! Now I am deeply discouraged,but I will remember You–even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,from the land of Mount Mizar.7 I hear the tumult of the raging seasas Your waves and surging tides sweep over me.8 But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me,and through each night I sing His songs,praying to God who gives me life. 9 “O God my rock,” I cry,“Why have You forgotten me?Why must I wander around in grief,oppressed by my enemies?”10 Their taunts break my bones.They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” 11 Why am I discouraged?Why is my heart so sad?I will put my hope in God!I will praise Him again–my Savior and my God! Psalms 42:5-11

Document God’s Moving...

Why is it important to document God’s movement in your life or build memorials? So we don’t forget. Why is it important to teach our children about God? So they don’t forget. Every generation either carries on a tradition or forgets and starts new ones. It’s just a historical fact. Do you as a Christian want to be known as the last generation to worship the One and Only True God? If we want to impact the world, we have to document God’s moving in our lives. And we must teach our children to know our Creator. It’s not our choice, rather it’s our duty.

4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen–one from each of the tribes of Israel. 5 He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder–twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 6 We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:4-7

21 Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and He kept it dry until you were all across, just as He did at the Red Sea when He dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.” Joshua 4:21-24

On the Winning Team...

Just think demons know who Jesus is, and obey His commands. They know His power and status. They know His victory on the cross defeated death. They know that they are only lions with no teeth or claws, with only limited influence on believers. They know all these things. So do we, yet we are not obedient. We live our lives in fear and shame that this limited influence has on us. We live like we are defeated. We need to take the demon-possessed man’s example and start trusting more and living under the influence (LUI) of a defeated and powerless foe. Tell yourself today, “I’m on the winning team”. Start living like it. It will free you up to finally reach your potential. It’s all starts with doing it God’s way.

26 So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. 27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet Him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of Him. Then he screamed, “Why are You interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg You, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”“Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged Him to let them enter into the pigs.So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.34 When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35 People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 36 Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. 38 The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with Him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, 39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:26-39

Flawed Human Beings...

Have you ever thought of the complexity of God’s plan? Here in Joshua chapter 2, we read about a prostitute named Rahab. In the entire plan of God, to give the Israelites the “Promised Land”, He rescued a prostitute and her family. Why would God stoop to such a feat, as to rescue an immoral woman, who lied to her own people (protecting their enemy)? And not only that, but Rahab was in the lineage of Jesus. Why would God do such a thing? Because He honors those that honor Him (1Sam 2:30). God doesn’t play favorites. Most importantly, flawed human beings are what God has to work with. A woman of the night acknowledged God, and He rescued her. Doesn’t that give you hope? Doesn’t that reveal God’s true heart? Doesn’t that make you see Him in a new and different light? Doesn’t that give hope to even the lowliest of people? Share that hope today. Someone desperately needs to hear this.

1 Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.2 But someone told the king of Jericho, “Some Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab: “Bring out the men who have come into your house, for they have come here to spy out the whole land.”4 Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn’t know where they were from. 5 They left the town at dusk, as the gates were about to close. I don’t know where they went. If you hurry, you can probably catch up with them.” 6 (Actually, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out.) 7 So the king’s men went looking for the spies along the road leading to the shallow crossings of the Jordan River. And as soon as the king’s men had left, the gate of Jericho was shut.8 Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. 9 “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. 10 For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. 11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.12 “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that 13 when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.”14 “We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety,” the men agreed. “If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the land.”15 Then, since Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. 16 “Escape to the hill country,” she told them. “Hide there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.”17 Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. 18 When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members–your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives–must be here inside the house. 19 If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this house, we will accept the responsibility for their death. 20 If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way.”21 “I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window.22 The spies went up into the hill country and stayed there three days. The men who were chasing them searched everywhere along the road, but they finally returned without success.23 Then the two spies came down from the hill country, crossed the Jordan River, and reported to Joshua all that had happened to them. 24 “The Lord has given us the whole land,” they said, “for all the people in the land are terrified of us.” Joshua 2

Knowing Your Future...

If you could see the future and the outcome of events, would that change the way you lived? Knowing things worked out or failed, would give you a different mind-set, wouldn’t it? Here Joshua is given that insight by God Himself. He is told by God to be courageous and strong. As long as he followed the instructions Moses gave him, he was promised to prosper and succeed at everything he did. Don’t we have that same promise? Didn’t Jesus tell His disciples that in Matthew chapter 6? “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Just like Joshua, we have been given the same foresight, encouraged and strengthened by God’s word to live knowing God has our back. This should change our attitudes. It should give us confidence everyday, knowing the outcome of our lives. The greatest thing about it is that we don’t know the details. This keeps us on our toes, knowing we will get through but not knowing the details, gives us confidence to move forward and yet keep us from becoming arrogant because we need God to run the show (having to depend on God for the outcome). It’s like going into a game knowing you will win, but you don’t know the “how” or the details. That way you still enjoy the game and have a wonder about it during the process. God has a way that keeps us dependent on Him, but gives us the freedom and confidence to live without removing our freewill. There are a lot of people that don’t see or get this about the Christian faith. They miss out on the blessings God brings every day. When you start seeing your life as God walking with you, knowing that He has our back, it changes your perspective. It helps you become free, and allows you to strive for excellence. It gives you a deeper insight by knowing the outcome will be for your best. It gives you confidence in facing the unknown. It guarantees your hand will be held, as you walk through this life with the One Who created it.

8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is My command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9

Hearing vs. Listening...

How we hear matters. How we listen is important. It’s all about the receptivity of our hearts. Do we accept truth? Are we honest enough with ourselves that when truth is spoken, we recognize it, and respond? Jesus said it here, “so pay attention to how you hear”. When He speaks, everyone should listen, for He is Truth.

18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” Luke 8:18

Moses’ Burial Place...

If you ever wondered why God buried Moses in an unknown tomb, it’s most likely because if He buried him in a known place, Israel would’ve made it into a shrine, and people would’ve turned it into another religion. It’s what people do. It’s what the Israelites did with the golden calf when Moses was upon the mountain for so long. Human beings have a hard time worshipping God, because He commands us not to make graven images of anything. Since we can’t see God physically, we make something physical to worship. This intangibility, makes Him unique. You can’t put God in a box, so to say, He can’t be measured or replicated. He’s one-of-a-kind. Unfortunately, humans have a hard time with this. We feel the need to have something physical in order to worship it. Examples that can be taken out of context and worshipped would be the physical cross with Jesus on it. People, like Mary being prayed to. Like church buildings or altars. God does not want us worshipping things, created or not. He is the only Object worthy of our worship. Moses’ burial place is proof of this.

5 So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said. 6 The Lord buried him in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place. 7 Moses was 120  years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. 8 The people of Israel mourned for Moses on the plains of Moab for thirty days, until the customary period of mourning was over.9 Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him, doing just as the Lord had commanded Moses.10 There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. Deuteronomy 34:5-10

The Heart of the Issue...

Here in America in the 21st century, we have people committing all kinds of rude, cruel, and violent acts. We have shootings in schools. We have hatred between races. We have equality issues among the sexes. And we have disagreement in our politics. Everyone wants a quick-fix. People think the government has the answers. They think money can buy its way out of this quagmire of conflicts. People think legislating new laws will eliminate these issues. What people are missing is the root of the problem is a heart issue. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Forcing someone with fines or jail time to accept your lifestyle choices won’t change or eliminate your guilty conscience or change their convictions. Hatred, discrimination, and intolerance are all human heart issues. It’s not until we start addressing the heart, that change will occur. And God is the only One Who can effectively perform the heart transplant we all need. Forgiveness can only come from God first, then man. It’s not until man realizes his own sin and repents, that he is forgiven by God. Once this happens, it allows him to forgive others as well. Those in need of forgiveness, need it. They need it now. Help some one today, by showing them the only way to be forgiven. Then and only then, things might start to change. It’s a “heart issue” not a “government fix it” issue. Our faith should be in God, not the government.

47 “I tell you, her sins–and they are many–have been forgiven, so she has shown Me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:47

Wisdom Put Into Practice...

Wisdom put into practice will prove itself to be true to the practitioner.

35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” Luke 7:35

Hope In the Present...

The one thing about the Gospel, that those outside looking in fail to see, is that the salvation it provides helps us live eternally, but also in the present. You see the Gospel gives us hope, that hope is in our future. It’s promised to us, a guarantee to happen. It’s what helps us through the tough times. Not only that, it sets our minds on eternal things, people (who last forever). When we have this hope, and the secure mindset it brings, it helps us to do good for others. Which gives others hope as well. When you have the opportunity to do good, do it. It will infuse hope into those who desperately need it, while feeding your soul with life-giving nutrients it needs to continue to grow. Be a beacon of hope in someone’s life today. Share the truth of the gospel with them. Then stand back and let God do His work.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

True Treasure....

When you place God’s word in your heart, and you treasure it, you can’t help but tell others about Him. As my favorite verse in all scripture says, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

8 I take joy in doing Your will, my God,for Your instructions are written on my heart.” 9 I have told all Your people about Your justice.I have not been afraid to speak out,as You, O Lord, well know.10 I have not kept the good news of Your justice hidden in my heart;I have talked about Your faithfulness and saving power.I have told everyone in the great assembly of Your unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalms 40:8-10