Jdg 8:4 And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing.
Their mission was clear. Even though they were exhausted and no one wanted to help them they still persued after their mission. To defeat and capture their enemies.
Father give me clear direction to persue after what you have called me to do regardless of my circumstances. Amen.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
2008.03.28. Me first you last. Ps 39.
My time is short here on this earth. I feel as when I go for these things to help myself get ahead or to get the things that I want, I put myself in a position that is far from God's heart. I think I'm worth this, or this isn't a big deal. but God is tugging at me, is this what life in me is about. You are mine. All mine. I want these things for you. But I first want you first. Don't push it or give your best energy to these. They will pass, but I will never. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Use your gifts, energy for my glory and not your own. I love you dearly come back, rest in me. Fully rest in me.
Father I surrender myself to you. Help me to fully rest where you are. Amen.
Father I surrender myself to you. Help me to fully rest where you are. Amen.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
2008.03.25. He will bring about His perfect will. Jos 21:43-45.
Jos 21:43 Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there.
Jos 21:44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands.
Jos 21:45 Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
He is always faithful. Nothing will not come to pass that He has promised. We doubt, don't believe there is a way. Yet His timing is perfect. We only have to obey in the here and now and the overal picture will add up to fulfill all His promises. We cannot see in each circumstance how He is working, sometimes we get a small glimpse of why something happened the way it did. But each instance is movement forward toward the fulfillment of His promises. So we still have the choice to disbelieve He is working and to disobey Him or to believe He is at work and to obey each and every moment. Father help me to trust you for every opportunity that I may live fully unto you to bring about your will on this earth. Amen.
Jos 21:44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands.
Jos 21:45 Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
He is always faithful. Nothing will not come to pass that He has promised. We doubt, don't believe there is a way. Yet His timing is perfect. We only have to obey in the here and now and the overal picture will add up to fulfill all His promises. We cannot see in each circumstance how He is working, sometimes we get a small glimpse of why something happened the way it did. But each instance is movement forward toward the fulfillment of His promises. So we still have the choice to disbelieve He is working and to disobey Him or to believe He is at work and to obey each and every moment. Father help me to trust you for every opportunity that I may live fully unto you to bring about your will on this earth. Amen.
Monday, March 24, 2008
2008.03.24. This is what you have been prepared to do. Jos 17:16-18.
Jos 17:16 The people of Joseph said, "The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel."
Jos 17:17 Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, "You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only,
Jos 17:18 but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though theay are strong."
This is several chapters later from the beginning of the book, but I am reminded of how God says to Joshua "be strong and courageous". I don't think he would be able to say these words now if courage had not been put into him by the Lord.
These are very strong leader words to tell the house of Joseph. But as Joshua's journey has progressed his courage has turned into faith. He believes that even though the Canaanites are strong and have chariots of iron, his God is bigger and is able to defeat the enemy without a doubt. And now Joshua is able to put courage into the house of Joseph when they are in a place of doubt and weakness.
I recognize times when as a new leader and even as an older leader I have needed words of encouragement to help me step forward. And I have also recognized times when I have been full have faith and have given courage to others so that they may move forward. It seems that there are many times when we need both. Father give me the discernment to listen when you are speaking and the faith to encourage others when you have placed me in leadership over them. Amen.
Jos 17:17 Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, "You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only,
Jos 17:18 but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though theay are strong."
This is several chapters later from the beginning of the book, but I am reminded of how God says to Joshua "be strong and courageous". I don't think he would be able to say these words now if courage had not been put into him by the Lord.
These are very strong leader words to tell the house of Joseph. But as Joshua's journey has progressed his courage has turned into faith. He believes that even though the Canaanites are strong and have chariots of iron, his God is bigger and is able to defeat the enemy without a doubt. And now Joshua is able to put courage into the house of Joseph when they are in a place of doubt and weakness.
I recognize times when as a new leader and even as an older leader I have needed words of encouragement to help me step forward. And I have also recognized times when I have been full have faith and have given courage to others so that they may move forward. It seems that there are many times when we need both. Father give me the discernment to listen when you are speaking and the faith to encourage others when you have placed me in leadership over them. Amen.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
2008.03.18. Fear. Get behind me! Josh 2:9
Why should the Israelites have fear? Fear has fallen upon their enemies. Why do we need to fear? For when God is for us, what on earth (literally) do we need to fear?
Jos 2:9 and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
Four times Joshua is reminded in the previous chapter that he should be strong and courageous. It's almost like a broken record. But it is not without warrant. This is probably the biggest moment in his life. He has not gone in battle so many times before. This is pretty huge. And not to mention the entire task at hand could seem pretty overwhelming to a person. Just saying that we are going to take the land would seem daunting.
But God says "Be strong and courageous, Be strong and courageous, Be strong and courageous, Be strong and courageous." I would start to believe it if this came from the father. And so Joshua sets out his plans.
And what happens, this Jericho woman and all her people are in fear of the Israelites. What do you know? Of course they are, they have heard about all that God has done for them. I would be shaking too if I heard a peoples are coming and they have kicked everyone's butte whom they have run into.
I personally would be very encouraged if I were on God's side. Why do I go to fear, when I have the ultimate fighter on my side? When He has made available everything to me? Father, help me to live in your promises, in your truths, that I may be strong and courageous to act. For I have nothing to fear, but others who are not for you have plenty. Thank you that you are for me and with me. Amen.
Jos 2:9 and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
Four times Joshua is reminded in the previous chapter that he should be strong and courageous. It's almost like a broken record. But it is not without warrant. This is probably the biggest moment in his life. He has not gone in battle so many times before. This is pretty huge. And not to mention the entire task at hand could seem pretty overwhelming to a person. Just saying that we are going to take the land would seem daunting.
But God says "Be strong and courageous, Be strong and courageous, Be strong and courageous, Be strong and courageous." I would start to believe it if this came from the father. And so Joshua sets out his plans.
And what happens, this Jericho woman and all her people are in fear of the Israelites. What do you know? Of course they are, they have heard about all that God has done for them. I would be shaking too if I heard a peoples are coming and they have kicked everyone's butte whom they have run into.
I personally would be very encouraged if I were on God's side. Why do I go to fear, when I have the ultimate fighter on my side? When He has made available everything to me? Father, help me to live in your promises, in your truths, that I may be strong and courageous to act. For I have nothing to fear, but others who are not for you have plenty. Thank you that you are for me and with me. Amen.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
2008.03.13. I am my brother's keeper. Deu 22.1-4
Deu 22:1 "You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep going astray and ignore them. You shall take them back to your brother.
Deu 22:2 And if he does not live near you and you do not know who he is, you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall stay with you until your brother seeks it. Then you shall restore it to him.
Deu 22:3 And you shall do the same with his donkey or with his garment, or with any lost thing of your brother's, which he loses and you find; you may not ignore it.
Deu 22:4 You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fallen down by the way and ignore them. You shall help him to lift them up again.
These verses don't allow an israelite to not be responsible for another man's loss. It goes over every situation that you could think of to let yourself off the hook. Oh, they'll find it. I don't have time. He doesn't need that garment. I don't know to whom this belongs. It basically comes back to the law of "do to others as you would have them do to you". For these laws are summed up by this premise. But the the law spells it out practically for them in each scenerio. It seems the law gave how the summed law actually looks like in everyday situations.
In a sense, this is who Jesus is to us. He didn't have to take on our responsibility or our needs. Yet He offers to take every burden that we have, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
And as we get to know the heart of Christ, we develop His heart to be concerned for others needs. We supernaturally care for another's heartache, lost item, trial, etc. We develop His heart for others and we are propelled to act on their behalf. Obviously its not out of compulsion, but out of His love for them we have compassion and want to act on their behalf as how we would respond if it were happening to us.
Father, give me your heart of compassion that I may act according to you and not my own selfish desires. For that is my immediate response-to let them deal with it themselves. But your heart is for me to respond according to your selflessness. Let me live and dwell there. Amen.
Deu 22:2 And if he does not live near you and you do not know who he is, you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall stay with you until your brother seeks it. Then you shall restore it to him.
Deu 22:3 And you shall do the same with his donkey or with his garment, or with any lost thing of your brother's, which he loses and you find; you may not ignore it.
Deu 22:4 You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fallen down by the way and ignore them. You shall help him to lift them up again.
These verses don't allow an israelite to not be responsible for another man's loss. It goes over every situation that you could think of to let yourself off the hook. Oh, they'll find it. I don't have time. He doesn't need that garment. I don't know to whom this belongs. It basically comes back to the law of "do to others as you would have them do to you". For these laws are summed up by this premise. But the the law spells it out practically for them in each scenerio. It seems the law gave how the summed law actually looks like in everyday situations.
In a sense, this is who Jesus is to us. He didn't have to take on our responsibility or our needs. Yet He offers to take every burden that we have, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
And as we get to know the heart of Christ, we develop His heart to be concerned for others needs. We supernaturally care for another's heartache, lost item, trial, etc. We develop His heart for others and we are propelled to act on their behalf. Obviously its not out of compulsion, but out of His love for them we have compassion and want to act on their behalf as how we would respond if it were happening to us.
Father, give me your heart of compassion that I may act according to you and not my own selfish desires. For that is my immediate response-to let them deal with it themselves. But your heart is for me to respond according to your selflessness. Let me live and dwell there. Amen.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
2008.03.11. You do this where I tell you to do it. Deu 16.5-6
Deu 16:5 You may not offer the Passover sacrifice within any of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you,
Deu 16:6 but at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell in it, there you shall offer the Passover sacrifice, in the evening at sunset, at the time you came out of Egypt.
I don't know if I fully understand why these rules must be followed so closely. Is it show they can show some effort by going to the designated places, is it so that they will follow God's commands. God says do it to make his name dwell in it.
It must be in order for people to know that He is God. Because He is worthy to receive these sacrifices and celebrations the way that He requires them. It may seem trivial to do it in this manner, but God has specifically asked that worship be done in this particular manner. And for them it is not to question the means but to obey the God who has spoken to them and revealed His ways to them.
Father, I just think of the ways that you prompt and communicate to me. Sometimes it isn't always convenient, or the most logical. For I think I can do that when I'm ready, or there is a better day. But I believe what this is communicating is that you just want me to obey.
I think of last Friday when I got lunch on campus, there was an international student that was sitting by himself. I felt really prompted to engage with him, but I talked my way out of it. "oh, I'm going to meet up with international students, I don't need to talk with this guy." But instead I just needed to obey that prompting. Father, help me cling to your ways and your word that I would not turn to the right or to the left, but fall on every direction that you give me. Amen.
Deu 16:6 but at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell in it, there you shall offer the Passover sacrifice, in the evening at sunset, at the time you came out of Egypt.
I don't know if I fully understand why these rules must be followed so closely. Is it show they can show some effort by going to the designated places, is it so that they will follow God's commands. God says do it to make his name dwell in it.
It must be in order for people to know that He is God. Because He is worthy to receive these sacrifices and celebrations the way that He requires them. It may seem trivial to do it in this manner, but God has specifically asked that worship be done in this particular manner. And for them it is not to question the means but to obey the God who has spoken to them and revealed His ways to them.
Father, I just think of the ways that you prompt and communicate to me. Sometimes it isn't always convenient, or the most logical. For I think I can do that when I'm ready, or there is a better day. But I believe what this is communicating is that you just want me to obey.
I think of last Friday when I got lunch on campus, there was an international student that was sitting by himself. I felt really prompted to engage with him, but I talked my way out of it. "oh, I'm going to meet up with international students, I don't need to talk with this guy." But instead I just needed to obey that prompting. Father, help me cling to your ways and your word that I would not turn to the right or to the left, but fall on every direction that you give me. Amen.
Monday, March 03, 2008
2008.03.03. Don't just think of yourself. Num 32.5-7.
Num 32:5 And they said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan."
Num 32:6 But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here?
Num 32:7 Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the LORD has given them?
It seem like such an innocent request. Is it okay if we just stay here? We have found the place where we would like to stay, if we don't have to I'd rather not cross the Jordan. But God calls us to a different place. Moses calls it out for what it is, it is discouraging the Israelites to fulfill what they have been called to do. It is disobedience. And Moses helps them see how similar it is to what their fathers did and the punishments that ensued.
This is the heart that I have. I am not looking out for my brothers well-being. I am looking for my own comfort and establishment. That I may receive what is coming to me, but I could care less if someone else is stranded or helpless.
I often think of the poor in this scenerio. My obligation is to help my fellow man. I consider a food hand-out as adequate, but what about clothing, housing, health, etc. What should be my role in providing that for others with a need? God has provided so much for me, yet I am content in not thinking about others.
Jesus is the ultimate brother, who did not think of himself, but freely gave of himself so that we might have life.
Father help me to live in this supernatural realm of thinking selflessly like your son, where I would consider others needs above my own. For I would use what you have given me for the blessings of others. For it is yours. Amen.
Num 32:6 But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here?
Num 32:7 Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the LORD has given them?
It seem like such an innocent request. Is it okay if we just stay here? We have found the place where we would like to stay, if we don't have to I'd rather not cross the Jordan. But God calls us to a different place. Moses calls it out for what it is, it is discouraging the Israelites to fulfill what they have been called to do. It is disobedience. And Moses helps them see how similar it is to what their fathers did and the punishments that ensued.
This is the heart that I have. I am not looking out for my brothers well-being. I am looking for my own comfort and establishment. That I may receive what is coming to me, but I could care less if someone else is stranded or helpless.
I often think of the poor in this scenerio. My obligation is to help my fellow man. I consider a food hand-out as adequate, but what about clothing, housing, health, etc. What should be my role in providing that for others with a need? God has provided so much for me, yet I am content in not thinking about others.
Jesus is the ultimate brother, who did not think of himself, but freely gave of himself so that we might have life.
Father help me to live in this supernatural realm of thinking selflessly like your son, where I would consider others needs above my own. For I would use what you have given me for the blessings of others. For it is yours. Amen.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
2008.03.01. It's all His. Num 28.2
Num 28:2 "Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.'
An interesting distinction. It could be very easy to say to God, here is what I am giving you. These things that are mine, I now give back to you. But God is saying, this is mine, my offering, my food, my pleasing aroma, according to my ways. The offering is already His. There is no question about it. This even gives a greater picture or understanding to the fact of stealing from God. Because in fact it originated from Him, our ability and our worth to be able to give anything to Him.
This was the covenant that was made with the people of Israel. If you enter this land and give to me according to what I have told you, you will receive blessings. But if you don't you will receive the curses.
So what for me? This is still relevant for me, that everything is unto God. I can choose to disobey and hold back from God. Or I can hold up to Him and honor and obey with what I have. Not under condemnation, but out of reverence and love.
Dear Father help me live unto you. Help me to see life from your perspective. That I may not lose sight of the fact that you have given everything and it is only that fact that I can give back to you because of the work of your son Jesus Christ on my behalf. Would I praise you and trust you in all my ways for your glory. Amen.
An interesting distinction. It could be very easy to say to God, here is what I am giving you. These things that are mine, I now give back to you. But God is saying, this is mine, my offering, my food, my pleasing aroma, according to my ways. The offering is already His. There is no question about it. This even gives a greater picture or understanding to the fact of stealing from God. Because in fact it originated from Him, our ability and our worth to be able to give anything to Him.
This was the covenant that was made with the people of Israel. If you enter this land and give to me according to what I have told you, you will receive blessings. But if you don't you will receive the curses.
So what for me? This is still relevant for me, that everything is unto God. I can choose to disobey and hold back from God. Or I can hold up to Him and honor and obey with what I have. Not under condemnation, but out of reverence and love.
Dear Father help me live unto you. Help me to see life from your perspective. That I may not lose sight of the fact that you have given everything and it is only that fact that I can give back to you because of the work of your son Jesus Christ on my behalf. Would I praise you and trust you in all my ways for your glory. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)