Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The not so great Cover-up

September 26, 2007
Joshua 7

Be sure your sins will find you out. God had told Israel that they were not to take anything from Jerico. Only take what God commanded for His treasury. When the army went to fight against a smaller city, they were quickly defeated and sent fleeing in shame. As Joshua fell before God asking why, God told him His covenant had been violated. Someone had stolen and kept some of the loot.

So one by one the tribes were called before God and Joshua – then the clans – then the families, and finally the guilty one – Achan. He confessed that he had taken forbidden loot and buried it in his tent. So the people purified themselves and Achan was taken out of the camp and all Israel stoned him and buried him under the pile of stones. (ugh).

And God’s anger was satisfied that the sin was settled and now they could go on to claim the next section of the promised land.

My Lord, do I have anything that I am trying to cover up and hide from You? The key word here is “try” as I know nothing is ever hidden from You. You know all. You see all. You hear all. I do not want to hide anything. I do not want to hide from Your love.

Keep me open and honest before You and everyone else including myself. Enable and empower me to be honest with myself and recognize truth and live by it.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

God's strange orders

September 24, 2007
Joshua Chapter 6

God’s orders to Joshua were so strange. Proving once again that following His orders (no matter how strange it may seem), is always the best way.

Circle the city only once. Following seven priests with rams-horn trumpets. Do this for six days. On the seventh day march around seven times with the priests blowing away on their trumpets. And, as they marched, the people were instructed to stay quiet – not even whisper, until the signal to shout.

After the seventh time the priests blow a long blast on the horn and when the people hear that they are to shout at the tops of their lungs. Then when the thunderous shout was given– the walls just collapsed and every soldier had a straight direct entry into the city.

Joshua ordered the two spies who had been given protection by Rahab to go immediately to her home and take her and all her family to safety outside the camp of Israel.

The people were also instructed not to covet anything in this cursed city. Everything was to be destroyed – every man, woman, child and beast. The city was burned. Only the silver, gold, bronze and iron were salvaged and put in God’s treasury.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The Miracle at the End

September 12, 2007
Joshua 3&4

What strikes me here is that several times in these two chapters it says “Listen to God, Your God!”

You are God, but You are very personal. You are my God. You know my name and my Jordan (river – the obstacles and problems in my life). I must listen closely to hear Your words of instruction and love to me. v. 17 – I must stand firmly planted in the battle of my problems while You work Your miracles. I will get through my Jordan with dry feet!

I was also struck by the order for one member of each tribe to take a stone from the middle of the Jordan and carry it over to the other side so they would have something to mark the occasion. A permanent memorial for the people and generations to follow.

I think of my journals as “markers” – testimony of Your work in my life and the ones I pray for. For me to remember and record for my children and grandchildren.

After all the people were safely across the priests left the middle and crossed, too. As the last one set foot on the opposite shore, Your Word says “the waters resumed their flow within their banks. Just as before. Had You not been in total control, when the waters were loosed, there would have been a flood – a flash flood. But no. The waters resumed as before within their banks! Wow!

Thank you, My Lord. When I read Your Word, just read, I miss so much. But when I read and then try to write down what I think you are showing me, I see so much more. I never before thought about the miracle at the end – when the river was loosed. You performed another miracle at the end. Praise be to the God of the Covenant. My God!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Rahab and the Red Rope

Sept 3, 2007

Joshua 1-2
You gave every square inch of the land of Canaan where they put their feet down to the children of Israel – a gift forever. You were with them giving strength and courage and you said “I won’t give up on you. I won’t leave you.” They had to give it all the strength and courage they had and not get side-tracked – they had to stay focused and never forget Your Holy Words.

They were to ponder and meditate on them day and night and to practice it and live it every day. You are just as faithful to us today as You were to Joshua and the people then. Thank you for Joshua’s life and example for all time.

Rahab hid the spies and the men promised mercy to all her family if they were all in her house when the battle was on. She told them “we all had the wind knocked out of us, because of You and Your God!” They were aware of the parting of the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross – and she knew of the victories they had over a couple of kings.

The spies gave her a red rope to hang from her window and all in her household would be spared.

A red rope. I never picked up on that before. They were covered by the blood of Jesus (yet to be shed). They were saved. Praise you, Lord, for eternal truths, past, present, and future which are all the same to you.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

“Watch what God does and then do it!”

August 29, 2007

Ephesians 5:1. “Watch what God does and then do it!”

Like a child following around his father, almost irritatingly, especially so when he copies the bad habits and deeds. But as Your child, when I tag along with You, You are pleased and happy, especially when I copy Your loving habits and deeds.

Mostly what You do is love me (and others). We learn from your life of love. You are an extravagant lover. You don’t love to get anything back from us. But when we are loved so much, we want to lavish our love on You too. I’m so grateful that You graciously accept our love. You are just as hungry to receive my love as I am to receive Yours.

This is hard for me to honestly understand. The One True Holy God doesn’t need my puny offers of love, BUT He desires it. WOW!

This love between us is not the lustful variety. It is pure, holy, and beautiful. May my words of love speak to You with hones gratitude. As I allow Your love to fill me and purify me, my relationships with other people will also benefit. Enable me to be honest, may my talk not be “religious talk.” May I speak Your truths in love, always.

May I allow the bright light of Your love make my way plain, so I don’t stumble in the darkness. Enable me to be true to all that pleases you. I do not want to waste my life on barren pursuits of darkness. Christ Jesus my Savior will be and who me the Lighted Way.

In these desperate times may I make the most of every chance I get to honor You. Keep me free from the pull of the world. May I drink in Your spirit, singing and whistling songs from my heart to You, any excuse for a song of praise.

Respect for others, especially my husband. May I understand and support him in a way that shows my love and respect for Christ. As the church submits and respects Christ, may I do likewise for him. As Christ treats and responds to the church in pure love and full attention, that is the way a husband and wife should be. A two-way street.

Monday, September 7, 2009

The road God calls me to travel

August 27, 2007

Eph 4:1 Walk (better yet, Run!) on the road God has called me to travel. Without a miracle I could never run on the road (physically). Also without the miracle gift of Your indwelling Holy Spirit, I can never walk or run on any road (spiritually).

Thank You that You are the source of my strength, physically and more importantly, spiritually. You alone are the source of any discipline or humility I may possess. You enable me to steadily pour myself out for others in acts of love, working together with others. The true body of Christ is permeated with His Oneness (the Women’s Ministry Center).

God, You want us to grow up to know the whole truth and to tell and share it in love. Christ is the source of everything I do. I want always to take my lead from Him and no one else. Your very breath and blood flow through me, nourishing me, so that I will grow healthy in You – robust in LOVE!

Jesus, Your Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in me is the most intimate part of my life. He (the Holy Spirit) makes me fit for you, Jesus. Enable me to be gentle with others, forgiving others as quickly as You do.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Resurrection Power

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Ephesians 3:16-21 My Lord Jesus Christ, will You please grant to this weak child strength, reinforced by Your mighty power in my inner spirit, by Your Holy Spirit indwelling me personally.

I know this is already done, as I am aware of Your indwelling presence – but – I’m not always aware of Your power. Not physically, or spiritually - and yet, I am. This is confusing and not making sense.

v.17 – You actually have settled down – are abiding – making Your permanent home in me – in my heart.

I know that I must believe it, because that is what Your Word states. Then it says “may You (Jean) be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.

This, too, I believe is done and I also know my roots grow deper and more secure every day. This I experience.

v. 18 (from the Message) says Jean, with both of your feet planted firmly on love, that you will be able to take in extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love (wasteful, excessive, unduly lavish, too costly, extreme, exorbitant!).

Reach out and experience the breadth. Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to its height! Life full lives, full of the fullness of God.

V 19 – that I may really come to know (practically) through experience for yourself, Jean, the Love of Christ which is far surpassing mere knowledge (without experience). That I may be filled through all my being unto the fullness of God. I may have the richest measure of divine presence and beocem a body wholly filled an flooded with God Himself.

Lord, one question here. Does this ebb and flow, or is it constant? Am I wholly filled with You always, but just not aware? I know I don’t always feel aware of this filling. And I also know that feelings and emotions are not good barometers of truth. So even thought I don’t know the answers to these questions, I choose this day – August 8, 2007, to believe and accept.

V 20 (amplified Bible) – that your power is at work within me, that I am able to carry out Your purpose, so super abundantly and far over and above all I dare ask or think, beyond my own highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams.

I am able because of Your indwelling power in me. To You be all honor and glory throughout all generations forever and ever, Amen! So Be It.

This is not any of my puny doing! It is Your Resurrection Power in this feeble body. WOW. Thank You for reinforcing this truth today.