October 28, 2024

                    Claim Your Faith

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.– Joshua 24:15

 It’s easy to throw out words, isn’t it? It’s not so easy to live out our faith – especially when it might cost us more than we are willing to give.

God’s people wanted to serve Him. But they wanted to serve other gods too. Today we would label those other gods as money, power, prestige, self. We might choose to serve our church, our pastor, our political leaders. And let’s not forget comfort, financial security, and all our many possessions.

We’re not called to any of that. We are called to serve God. We are called to follow Jesus. Hatred, revenge, greed – none of those things have any part of Jesus.

We are afraid. We’re afraid we won’t have enough money. We’re afraid “illegals” will steal our jobs and our homes. We’re afraid the government will demand our guns and destroy our way of life. We’re afraid of many things and we’re fighting to control it all.

We are justifying evil and claiming Jesus at the same time. And we wonder why our nation is in such turmoil. We can’t believe people are turning away from God. We don’t understand how our actions and our words are leading people to believe that God is evil when He is really only love.

We put our idols, and our fears, above the One true God. We choose to follow evil even as we proclaim that we will follow God.

We are at a crossroads. Will you follow idols? Will you allow fear to dictate your response to the evil we face? Or will you trust God? Will you truly follow Him?

We all have choices to make. Claim your faith and live it.

September 25, 2024

                                     Cling to God

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9

As I write this, Tropical Storm Helene is headed our way. It is expected to intensify into a major hurricane. That means, for us, it will likely be a Category 3 or higher.

We are preparing now. This isn’t our first hurricane. Right now landfall is expected east of us but we know, from experience, that the eye of the hurricane can shift quickly and turn toward us.

Life is like that hurricane. Sometimes we are faced with huge storms not of our making but which we cannot escape. I am thankful for advanced weather detection that allows us to know what’s to come but it doesn’t change what is to come. The storm isn’t going away.

God knows how weak and vulnerable we are at times. He knows what lies ahead far better than anything we could ever predict. Sometimes He doesn’t take away the storm but God always promises to be with us. He will strengthen us and help us as we go through it and as we rebuild from it.

I learned this verse from Joshua many years ago. I had volunteered for VBS and it was the scripture that the children memorized. I hope they have kept it in their hearts. I certainly have.

None of us really know what tomorrow will bring. For some, it’s the hurricane that might take their home and all their material possessions. For others, it might be the life of someone they love, the job they needed or the health they took for granted. But God is there standing with us, strengthening us and reminding us to be strong and courageous.

Bury His word deep in your heart. Cling to Him. God is faithful and He will carry us through whatever is to come.

April 29, 2016

Age Doesn’t Determine Service

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. -- Joshua 13:1

I recently went for my first bone density screening. It’s a right of passage I suppose. They assure me it’s more of a preventative measure, just making sure my bones are okay before I get old.

Except that they told me I am 1 ½ inches shorter than I used to be. What?! I am undeniably aging. There is proof. I can no longer deny it. But that doesn’t mean I’m done.

Joshua was between 85 and 100 years old (see Life Application Study Bible) when God told him there was still work to be done. I’m nowhere near that age and I know there’s still work to be done.

I’ve never really understood why some people think that if they reach a certain age, they no longer have to contribute to their church or community. I’m not talking about money. That’s a good thing, of course, but I’m not sure it’s even the most important thing.

Sometimes we need the experience of older people, coupled with the exuberance of the younger folks, to really make things work. Kids need older role models. There are many kids these days who live far from grandparents and extended family. Why not be there for them?

Stories abound of people who work hard and then finally reach retirement. Six months later they are dead. Why? They had no reason to get up in the morning. They had lost their purpose.

I once met a couple, both retired, who volunteered 40 hours per week. There wasn’t just one organization that benefited from their labor. They found a few groups they supported and divided their time. They were happy and busy and filled with purpose.

And, yes, they were forever trying to recruit others to their way of life. They had a point. Just think how much good could be done if retirees volunteered at least some of their time and expertise each week.

The Bible doesn’t say anything about retiring. I’m not sure why we think we should stop serving Him as we get older. I have no idea what the future holds or if I even have a future. God determines my time here on earth. But I sure hope that I will always find a way to contribute, to give back, for as long as I am here.

April 10, 2016

Remember God’s Faithfulness

4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” -- Joshua 4:4-7

How specifically do you pray? Our class has been studying The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. This week’s lesson is on praying strategically and specifically.

That’s always been difficult for me. I want to be vague about it. Please, God, help me. Please, God, guide me. But I never say how I want Him to help or guide me. I want His will, of course, but I’m also a little bit intimidated by asking God Almighty for anything else.

I am so blessed. Totally. I know that. Mostly, I am blessed by His Presence. I am never alone to face whatever happens, good or bad. He has met all my needs. All of them. So I feel guilty when I want more.

Yet God gives me more. He answers my prayers. I am always amazed at how good He is to me.

Yesterday I desperately needed to talk with someone about a first aide issue. I had done all I knew to do and still blood would not stop flowing from the wound. I called a friend who is a medic, but he wasn’t home. I called the doctor’s office and was on hold waiting to speak to a person for what seemed like forever. I finally hung up.

I asked God what I should. I barely got the words out of my mouth when the phone rang. It was the doctor’s office calling to give me test results from earlier in the week. I needed to talk with a nurse and God had one call me. How amazing is that!

I immediately told her she was an answer to my prayer and, after I explained the situation, she told me what to do. It worked. Crisis averted and no trip to the ER for us.

I want to remember this. All the times in the future when I wonder where God is, I want to remember how He helped me. All the times when I don’t think God hears me, I want to remember how He answered my prayer.

We could all use stones to remind us of God’s faithfulness. And we should share our stories with others, so that everyone will know how good God is to us all. What an amazing illustration of just how much God cares.

　

　

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

God’s Word Teaches Us

“Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed.” -- Joshua 1:8

Sound words of advice, wouldn’t you agree? Especially since these words came directly from God. They were to guide Joshua has he led God’s people following the death of Moses.

I will never understand how people can claim to know what the Bible says when they’ve never read it. We’re so fortunate in this country that we have Bibles readily available. And for those who don’t enjoy reading, they can get the audio version. So many people in the world don’t have access to the Bible, or, if they do, they could be imprisoned or killed for possessing it.

Do you want God to speak to you? Do you want God to guide you? Do you want to know what God’s will is for your life? Then read the Bible. It’s the first place to look. The first place. Because it’s impossible to really know God without knowing what He says.

I know. We think we know Him. We do. We’ve asked Jesus into our hearts. We’ve been Baptized. Most Sundays we attend church. We’re believers. We are. We just don’t want to have to work at it.

Ah. There you have it. We view reading the Bible as work. One more chore in a never ending list of chores we face each day. It’s easier to veg out in front of the television. But it isn’t as memorable. And it won’t feed your soul the way the Bible will.

That’s the thing about the Bible. Once you start reading it, the story is simply amazing. It’s got it all. Feuds and murder. Great kings and horrible kings. Prostitutes and queens. Redemption and love. There’s a reason it is often called the greatest story ever told.

There are numerous versions of the Bible which makes the stories easy to understand. There are also Bibles with lots of footnotes for those of us with many questions. There really is no excuse for not reading and understanding God’s Word.

Yeah. It takes time. And commitment. There are plenty of reading plans out there to help you if you’re the type of person who needs structure. As for me, I did it the old-fashioned way. I started with Genesis 1:1 and read through the Bible. Then I did it again. And again. Because it is a good story and I learn something new every time I read it.

So what are you waiting for? You’ll never regret investing your time in God’s Word.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Get Ready For God's Blessings

Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." -- Joshua 3:5

If you took away my contacts and my reading glasses, I wouldn't be able to see anything beyond something right in from of my face. I'm that blind. Sometimes it seems that blindness also translates into my life. I'm so focused on today's issues that I can't see how tomorrow could possibly bring wonderful changes.

Yet the Bible tells us to prepare ourselves. God has wonderful things in store for us. He has plans for us, plans to give us a hope and a future. We don't have to remain stuck in the pit. He's offering a hand up to anyone willing to trust Him and follow His lead. It's just so amazing.

Of course, the key is to prepare ourselves for this wonderful future. It doesn't mean sitting back in the recliner and waiting for God to act. He doesn't work that. Not that He couldn't. He just doesn't. God expects us to do our part.

So spend time reading and studying the Bible. Pray to God without ceasing, making sure to listen to what He has to say. Take part in Bible studies and don't skimp on opportunities to help others. Live your life according to His will today and you'll be amazed at the blessings that reign down on you.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Listen For God's Voice

" When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go." -- Joshua 3:3b-4a

Wouldn't it be great if we always had a physical sign to follow so we would know the way of the Lord? We would never have to guess which way to go. And we would never have an easy excuse when we chose the wrong path.

Wait a minute, you say. Think about it, I say. If we always know exactly what road God wants us to take, we can only blame the person we see each day in the mirror when we choose the wrong road.

Of course, we would probably make an excuse and it would never be our fault. Just ask the Israelites. They always complained. They sinned repeatedly. And it was never their fault. Sound familiar?

But God has given us a road map. He didn't leave us without direction. It's called the Bible. The more we read and study it, the clearer God's path for us will be.

And then there is prayer. You know what that is. It's the time when we get to talk to God and listen to Him. That's the key -- listening to Him. We tend to forget about that part.

Even when we remember, it's not always easy. So many times I have prayed for God to quiet my mind so I could hear His voice. I get so much static -- my wants, other's opinions, the "should" dialogue that fills my mind. It's sometimes difficult to hear what He's telling me.

I pray that I will follow Him no matter what I think I want. I pray that His will be done no matter what others believe is best for me. Because I know that so long as I am doing what He wants, everything will turn out alright. That is His promise to me.