A Breathe of Fresh Air

After reading through the book of Judges, the book of Ruth is really a breath of fresh air! We leave off in judges with a wild account of a scene taken directly from a page out of sodom and gommorah (spelling?). But in Ruth we see character traits worth standing and cheering for. We once again want to draw closer to God because somebody helps to point us in that direction. Iv'e known from experience that good habits are addicting just like bad habits. You can really get complacent with not exercising just like you can really get into exercising and want to do it more. You can really eat bad habitually, or on the flip side of that really crave eating well, because you are liking the results and crave more of the same. So it is with following God, it can seem terribly religious from the outside but the health inside is so good that you want it on a regular basis. Just like habits though, it's harder to start a good one, but once you do and stay at it.....

Something I've never read before

Judges 13:17,18 What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true? He replied,"Why do you ask My Name? It is beyond understanding." There are all kinds of problems going on throughout the times of the judges, it is a true showing of Gods mercy that He dealt with them and rescued them so many times during their deliberate disobedience. It provides hope for us that God is patient and deals with our foolishness.

FAITH

At Baraks advance the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army. In between revelation and success is action, and that action is faith. It's that weak in the knees action where you don't think you can get out of your seat because your own legs aren't going to support you and God doesn't seem to be anywhere around to help. But you get up anyway and head to the front and somewhere between your seat and the end of your talk God performs something miraculous. His power takes over and you know it's not from you. There was a moment there though when you were trusting and God wasn't jumping in to help you.

GO

Has not the LORD gone ahead of you? Judges 4:14 When is the right time to act? When do we make our move in life? Any move big or small? In a nutshell "when the move is not ours but His." If we walk in step with our God, we are prepared to "do' life as life comes along, big or small. I have a photo shoot this morning, I'm kind of anxious, but I shouldn't be. I believe God cares about my photo shoot. Maybe not in the sense it sounds, but more in a sense that He cares about me. This is a part of my life for one reason or another, and something I have to give to Him and trust Him in all I say and DO. A part of me growing up in every area of my life work, play , business, family, friends. responsibility, etc...

Be Radiant!

psalm 34:5 says "those who look to him are radiant, there faces are never covered with shame."Moses looked radiant when he came down from the mountain after being with God. Lincoln refused to hire somebody for his cabinet because of the way his face looked. The man had a fixed scowl on his face, Lincoln claiming that he had had fifty years or so to make his face look that way. What do we reflect; anger, depression, worry, lust, or joy, hope, etc... The very next verse says "this poor man called and the Lord heard him," a few verses later, "taste and see that the Lord is good." Do I reflect Him or do I broadcast "Workaholism," worry about how my next project will turn out. Do I trust Him for my finances. "This poor man called and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles." There's no time like the present to tap into Him. Earlier in the psalm it said, "glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together." Don't get all preachy, but don't hide Him either. Speak about Him in everyday language with an everyday voice. If you search for joy, hope, love, peace, and those things hard enough it will ultimately take you to Him, why not cut the search time in half and go directly to Jesus. Don't be ashamed of Him, He is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe. Throw away that shameful life. Seek His face, not His hand. If He can save you from not looking worried, it's only because He can first save you from not worrying.

Keep the Course

What a couple of buds, Joshua and Caleb. Joshua very old in age is told by God "hey there's still land to be taken". It is a lesson that we never arrive here, there's always a job for us that we might be used of God our whole life, we don't have to retire God can use us. Never sit back on your accomplishments and become stagnate, move forward! Caleb shows us to follow God wholeheartedly.(joshua 14:8) "I however followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly" Caleb could have slacked off on his report about the land but his character shows that he went against the flow. I admire that quality in a person, when the stand up for what's right even when it;s not the popular thing. God honors and admires such courage.

what are you broadcasting to others?

Sunday at church we were challenged to consider what we were broadcasting to others with our life. Whether at work , with our families, friends, at school, wherever. Live Loud and Clear! Live True Live Connected Live Loved A couple of quotes from the day: "We are designed for our beliefs to dictate our behavior. Sin causes our behavior to dictate our beliefs. : " Until your heart is captured by God, you will never change for God."

Sunday after church we went to Mazzios pizza in Highland. We had a good lunch and it seemed extra special for some reason. Annabel and Audrey really liked it. Audrey is big enough to hold her own pizza slice and eat it bite by bite. It takes her about an half/hour to finish it but she gets it done. Annabel said "we should come back all the days." It's her new way of telling us she really, really likes something. It's very adorable. THis past year we were driving across the poplar street bridge, Annabel and I, and she saw the arch and said with much suprise, "look dad a big slide, we should go there some time. We'll have to bring back a really big ladder though, it's really tall." After pizza we went to Gliks outlet store and found some cool stuff, Annabel met a little girl in the store and ended up walking all around the store with her holding hands. She makes friends easily, I'm sure Audrey will be the same way.

We had a photo shoot last night. It was good working as a team. Can't wait to view more of the results.

Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory.

Are you for us or for our enemies? Neither. Is love above taking sides? When Joshua was confronted with a preincarnate Christ (Joshua 5:13-15) , he asked Him who's side He was on, not knowing who he was talking to. I would think He would say Israel, but He doesn't. I have to think more about this. Have to run off to work now, I think I will take this with me.

A remembrance for our children. Johua 4:2-9. A good thing.

Set mile markers in your life for the important things. Include all family members involved. Make something physical, or do something (action) to commemorate the event the milestone. Israel took twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan and set them up that evening as a remembrance.josh 4:2,3.

Will I trust God and allow Him to make something out of my life, or will I try to make something apart from Him?joshua 3:7. Joshua was exalted in Gods timing, and it happened to occur after he had given a good report as a spy early in his life and then mentored by Moses later. Give it time, but be there along the way

"Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."joshua 3:5 When God has a plan for you and you follow, there comes a point in which you get up one day wash your face and watch God do something that you know you could never do. Your body might be going through the motions but your voice is silent as your soul is still, watching in awe. Be excited about the journey knowing that God is doing things that you don't even see. Hang in there during those desert wandering days knowing even then that God is broadcasting something through you to others that you don't even realize. Not only will you see God do amazing things as you trust Him, but you will be a changed person along the way. Changed for the better and nobody can take that away, that change is yours to keep. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... my cup overflows"psalm 23.

What were the two spies thinking as they forded the river (joshua 2:23)? How will our families, the women, the children cross? What was it like for our ancestors to cross the red sea? Nothing is impossible with God. The crossing will be difficult, can't wait to report that "all the people are afraid of us". We're all young, let's do this thing. We learned our lesson in the desert. We lost so many in the desert. Will God perform a miracle? We're about to have a land of our own, be a nation again. GOD is amazing! Needless to say they were excited about giving their report to Joshua. Last time ten spies were sent out and only two believed, it's not just a coincidence that this time just two are sent out.

commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this; He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath, do not fret it leads only to evil. What a good day! What a difficult day! What a humbling day! I thank God who brought me through it, with help from Kath, my sister, Eric, my mom,& Kal for their prayers. Face it, do not make excuses , be strong, be courageous, trust, obey, move forward. What a beautiful day , what a beautiful saviour. josh 1, palsm 37 july 3rd.

Do not let this book depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night, so you may be careful to do everything written in it. Be strong and courageous. SUCCESS defined. Sounds like an adventure, not a boring religious life like our mind might be telling us to think. Why with the same mouth do I whine to God I can't do it and also say I'm bored or Your way does'nt seem good to me. It's a dangerous thing to pray "God use me today". A friend told me of a line in a C.S. Lewis book where a young person is asked to jump on the lions back to escape danger and as he contemplates, asks is it safe? The friend reply's no, but it's good.