Joshua 11-13

Joshua is on a role for God in Joshua 11-13.  The Kings of Canaan realize that God means business, but despite their best alliance efforts, the Israelites conquer city after city (take a look).  The extensive list of defeated kings is quite impressive.  Joshua is getting old though, and God tells him that there is still large areas of land to be taken over.  But at last, the twelve tribes of Israel are finally getting the shares of land God has promised them for so long.

Love this verse from today.

15 As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.

Joshua 11:15

God's purpose is being passed down across generations.

Joshua leaves nothing "undone."

That makes me think about my own "to-do" list.  When I weigh my "to-do" list in light of this verse today, considering that I don't want to leave anything "undone" for God, it really changes things.  It shifts my focus.

It's an "ah-ha moment" as Oprah would say.  

My "to-dos" seem so insignificant in comparison to that which I don't want to leave "undone" for God.     

How about you?  Do you have an "undone" list?

My "undone" list of all God asks me to do is where my time and attention really need to be.  Those are the things I need to be sure to write down and check off each day. 

Hmmm.

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for speaking to my heart through Your Word.  Thank You for using me for Your great purposes each day.

Forgive me for focusing too much on my own "to-do" list instead of those things You are calling me to work on each day.  I do not want to leave anything "undone" for You, Lord.  You come first in my heart and in my life.  

Guide all my list making.  Help me to focus on the things that are important to You and Your kingdom.

{Spend some quiet time listening to God for anything He needs You to do for Him today.}

Lord, may Your kingdom come and Your will be done.

In the name of Jesus I pray,

Amen

Grace,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.

    

Joshua 8-10

In Joshua 8-10, the Israelites are burning it up in the Promise Land.  They are conquering cities right and left for God, just like He said they would.  Once the Israelites deal with the hidden sin among them, their second attempt to defeat Ai is successful.  Even though Joshua makes a mistake in dealing with the Gibeonites, God doesn't give up on Israel, and the sun literally stands still in their favor.  Joshua continues to be faithful in giving God all the credit for their success.  He gathers the entire community to read and remember the Book of Law and God's promises for His people.

Joshua is doing such a good job following in Moses' footsteps.  He is really trusting God.  His relationship with God is strong.

Yet, Joshua messes up and makes a peace treaty with the Gibeonites in today's reading.  He seems like such a smart, faithful man.  How does he get deceived so easily?

This part in God's story is standing out to me today because I feel like we are all at risk for being deceived.  And the problem with that is that it takes us off God's course for our lives.

I think it's important to note that self-interest and fear drive the Gibeonites.  They go out of their way, pretending to be a people they aren't in order to get what they want.  Joshua doesn't see this at first.  He is fooled by appearances.

Here's where Joshua and the Israelites go wrong.

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peacewith them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

Joshua 9:14-15

In other words, God's people had an error in judgement.  They were fooled by appearances.  The Israelites got so caught up on on how things looked, material possessions, that they didn't stop to talk to God about what their next move should be.

In hindsight, I have the privilege of learning a lesson from this situation.  When we have God's plan in our hearts, and we face any decision that will impact that plan, we can't make assumptions that we know what to do next, even if the next step seems simple and obvious.  

Taking time to stop and seek God's advice can save us a lot of grief and grumbling in the future.  

It's always better to be safe with God than sorry without Him!  

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for always hearing my calls for help and advice.  Please forgive me for all the ways I fail to seek You first before I act.

Give me the patience and wisdom I need to make all my decisions with You in mind, no matter how things appear.

________________ is facing some big decisions.  Please guide him/her in Your will and way.

I pray in the name of Your Son, Jesus,

Amen

Peace,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.

Joshua 5-7

In Joshua 5-7, Israel's new leader is really making a name for himself because God is on the job!  After crossing the Jordan River on dry ground, the Israelites take a break from their conquest to get circumcised and celebrate the Passover.  It's a weird combination of events, I know, but circumcision was a symbol of the Lord's covenant with His people.  God wants to renew His vows with the Israelites since a brand new generation is about to enter the Promise Land.  God's people get to say good-bye to manna as they welcome fresh food from the Promise Land.  Things are changing for the better.  The walls of Jericho come tumbling down, and a man named Achan teaches us the hard way that we have to deal with the sin in our lives.

I want to focus on the walls of Jericho today.  Jericho was the oldest city in the world at the time.  It was well-established, heavily protected, and surrounded by huge, thick fortified walls.  The walls were tall and intimidating I am sure.    They were a huge obstacle. 

The walls separated the Israelites from God's best for them, the heart of Jericho, His Promise Land.

6 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

Joshua 6:1

And wherever there's a wall, I am willing to bet there is fear.

Remember, forty years earlier, the Israelites didn't have a enough faith in God to break through those walls.  They didn't trust God enough to reach God's best for their lives.  They were too afraid of failing, focusing way too much on their own limited capacities.  

Now, after forty years of total dependence on God in the wilderness, the Israelites know God better than that.  This time, things are different for the Israelites.  They face Canaan with new strength and renewed faith, and it makes all the difference.

2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.

Joshua 6:2

Instead of focusing on the problems in front of them, they focus on God.  He tells the Israelites exactly what to do, and they do it.  Obeying God guarantees blessings in the future, even when we cannot see beyond the huge impending walls right in front of us.

Here's the other thing I noticed today in my reading... 

Often God's way of doing things, the way breakthroughs happen, what we are called to do, how we are called to do it, and how long it takes seems crazy.  Just look at what God asks the Israelites to do for seven days in order to conquer Jericho.

12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city...

20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.

Joshua 6:12-16, 20

Who would have ever thought that marching around the walls of the city with the priests carrying the ark of the Lord and blowing trumpets for seven days would lead to those giant, strong walls collapsing!

God is full of powerful surprises for us, y'all!

That brings me to one more awesome lesson I noticed in the reading today.

Obeying God empowers us.  It allows God to use us, and to transform our hearts.  It also gives God room to work in the hearts of those around us, even our enemies.  The people of Jericho were so terrified of the Israelites and God that they did not fight back.  

When we choose to live in God's purpose and let Him help us in the situations we face, He is able to breakthrough the strongest of barriers and the most established of stubborn people that stand in our way.  

God has a personal best for each of us, a Promise Land.  He will fight for us if we will walk with Him like Joshua and the Israelites at Jericho!  That's when we find ourselves on Holy ground.

15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.”And Joshua did so.

Joshua 5:15

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for leading me and fighting for me.  

Forgive me for all the ways I lead myself with my own imperfect thoughts.  I am sorry, Lord, for allowing walls and barriers to build up in my heart and in my life that keep me from Your personal best for me.

_____________ is a wall or obstacle that is weighing heavily on my mind today.  The situation seems and feels impossible.  It's been there a long time.  I give it to you, God.  I pray You will tell me what to do and exactly how to do it.  Be with me and all those involved.  Work in our hearts.  I pray for the walls to come tumbling down!

You are my Rock and my Redeemer.  

In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray,

Amen

Blessings,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more. 






     

  

Words Sweet to the Soul & The Next Step in Mom's Story

It's been 18 months since Mom's life- changing breast cancer diagnosis.  In some ways, that feels like yesterday.  In others, it feels like forever ago.  Everything is different now.

Eighteen months ago, I would have said my mom is a fighter and that she is battling cancer without much thought.  But, even that has changed.  Let me tell you why...

I know better now, from holding Mom's hand, that we have to choose our words and attitudes so carefully, especially when it comes to cancer.

Gracious words are like a honeycomb,

    sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Proverbs 16:24 

To say that a cancer patient is a "fighter" is to suggest that others are not, that there is some choice in the matter.  When we speak of cancer patients as "fighting" and "battling" cancer we need to be thoughtful.  We mean well, but using those words can insinuate that some people are better at cancer than others.  Without realizing it, we imply that cancer patients have control over their own outcomes, that their outcomes depend largely on their own efforts.  

That is not fair because cancer isn't fair. 

Here's the thing we all need to know and remember.

Cancer patients don't have a choice because no one chooses cancer.  

When someone has cancer, there's no room for questions or "if onlys."  As soon as it invades your life, you are a fighter, no matter what happens next.  The biology that goes on inside the body will back me up on that.      

The bigger truth here is that no matter how hard we try (or don't), we have very little control over what happens to us in the end.  That goes for all of us, with or without cancer.

a note to mom from my son (his faith is much stronger than his spelling)

God, on the other hand, is in control.  He knows what He is doing.

So while Mom's whole world has changed, Her Savior, Jesus, remains.  He holds her hand every single day.  He walks ahead of her making the way, opening doors and closing others.  And sometimes, He carries her.  He is there doing His thing, step by step.  Belief and trust far outweigh the numbers with God.  He has this for her!  

It's a beautiful thing.  

You probably wouldn't guess it, but Mom is stronger now than she was eighteen months ago.  Instead of fighting for herself and with herself, she is trusting God to fight for her and through her.  She believes Him for His promise to work ALL things for good and His glory.  God has used Mom's weakest moments and biggest fears to help her find and know her real strength.   

That is a blessing worth celebrating!  My mom is a miracle, the product of what only God can do.  

As the cook in one of Mom's favorite local restaurants told me since her diagnosis,

"She's been shinning."

Only God.

I have realized that my Mom is a perfect example of who God is and what He does best.  God has given her the same saving grace and abundant life we ALL need.  He's the only perfect lover, the ultimate healer, the best comforter, and the most powerful redeemer any of us will ever have.

We all need Jesus.  Period.

Look at my Mom.  Her "white-coat" fear was so severe, she avoided doctors, all kinds, for 20 years.  At first, we had to drag her for treatment.  Now, she has been seen by so many doctors we couldn't even begin to count the appointments.  There's not an ache or pain that hasn't been addressed or an inch of her body that hasn't been checked.  

Eighteen months later, she goes to many of those appointments on her own, clutching cross in hand.  

Only God.

Doctors originally wouldn't discuss operating on her tumor.  It was too large.  But, guess what she's doing in this picture eighteen months later?

mom and my sis before surgery

She is getting prepped for a mastectomy.  You heard me right.

Before I took this picture, the doctor came in and told my mom and the nurses that she is "a special case."  She is special because most people in her shoes do not make it to this point, and here she is.

Only God.

That cancer that doctors couldn't touch months ago in her chest, God has touched.  She had the operation on a Monday and was off to a college basketball game with friends on Tuesday.

Only God.

Eighteen months ago, my mom was so broken she could barely move.  Today she is redeemed and moving so fast we have to keep slowing her down and reminding her "think yoga and not aerobics."  

My mom is here with a glorious purpose.  God's purpose.  In truth, she is so much healthier today than she was eighteen months ago.

We don't need pathology reports and test results to tell us that.

Gracious Words from God, His grace, and Our Savior make all the difference.

Every battle she will ever fight has already been won.

 A prayer for today-

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You for Your truth and saving grace.  I thank You for the miracles You work in all of us who believe.  

I pray today for my mom and cancer patients everywhere ______________(name those on your heart).  Lord, bless them with Your strength and Your peace that passes understanding.  Hold them in Your arms, Lord, as You fight for them and through them each day.  Be with their families.

I know You work all things for good and Your glory.  

In the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, I pray,

Amen

In Christ's love,

To read more posts on Mom's story:

• Redefining Extraordinary
• Getting My Head In the Game
• Continuing the Story
• More to Mom's Story
• What a Difference a Year Makes
• Who's Your Daddy, Cancer?

   

Joshua 1-4

Today we begin reading the book of Joshua (chapters 1-4).  Joshua has been Moses' aide for 40 years, and he has also served as the general for the Israelite army.  Joshua is one of the only eye-witnesses to all that went on during the exodus from Egypt.  God has chosen Joshua to take over right where Moses left off, and we can tell that Joshua has learned from the best.  He is ready to faithfully continue carrying out God's plan for the Israelites.  

I can't help but think, Joshua must be a little scared and overwhelmed at this point in God's story.  He's had his "burning bush" moment, like Moses, and now it's time to get started.  He's in charge of leading more than two million people into a huge, strange Promise Land, and he has to fight for it.  He has to win. 

Maybe you've been there too.  God has made Himself known to You.  God has your attention.  You've had a "burning bush" moment, maybe several if you can be hard of hearing like me.  What next?

We can learn so much from Joshua today.

• He believes God's promises for his life, and he relies on Him for his strength and courage.

3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses...

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:3, 9  

• Joshua doesn't just run and dive into the situation with his head first.  He spends a lot of time listening to God and preparing himself and his crew for what is ahead.

5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

Joshua 3:5

• Joshua walks faithfully with God and trusts Him to work out the details, even that which seems and feels impossible.

10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you...

13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.

Joshua 3:10-11, 13

• Joshua expects God to work a miracle; and when it happens, Joshua is intentional about giving God all the glory for generations to come.

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 4:5-7

I love how God loves to tell a good story through His people.  Like Moses and Joshua, that burning bush in our lives is only the beginning of God's power at work.  When we follow Him, there's so many more glorious things to come!

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for filling my life with Your love and Your purpose.  Thank you for all the amazing things You have done and all the amazing things You will do in the future.

Lord, be with me.  Help me know when to prepare for what's ahead in my quiet time with You.  Give me the strength and courage I need to walk with You and glorify You.

I pray that my life will be a reflection of Your love story forever.

I also pray for ________________ today.  Prepare him/her for the next step in Your perfect plan.  He/she needs Your loving arms and guiding hands.

In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray,

Amen

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.

Deuteronomy 31-34

We finish up the book of Deuteronomy as we read chapters 31-34.  Moses sings an emotional song of faith to the Israelites, and then heads up on Mount Nebo to die.  It is at that moment we can't help but remember that even the greatest leaders, Moses included, struggle in faith.  Moses does not get to enter the Promise Land because of the way he decided to bring water out of a rock many years earlier.   Moses, however, does get more intimate time with God and a good look at the Promise Land.  At 120 years old, Moses dies and leaves behind beautiful blessings for the twelve tribes of Israel and a lasting legacy of God's powerful love that lives on in us who believe today.

Moses has come so far since God first spoke to him in a burning bush.  His life of faith is an inspiration on how God calls us to great things for Him.  Remember Moses' self-doubt in the beginning?  Moses couldn't possibly imagine how in the world he was going to accomplish all God was asking of him.  

Moses wanted God to find another man for the job, and yet he took a leap of faith because only God could be in that burning bush.  It was a powerful defining moment that lead to a transforming faith.  Moses shows us both how God loves us and how we are to love God.  

In fact, Moses knows that God's Words are powerful, not only for him but all of God's people.  They are more than letters on a page.

47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.

Deuteronomy 32:47  

We see again and again that when we faithfully live out God's plan for our lives, God does not disappoint us.

It's in God's purpose, like Moses, that we clearly hear God's voice, see God's miracles, feel God's loving and protective presence, and realize the pure joy that only comes from God.

I can't help but stop and think.  God, am I living out Your purpose for my life right now?  Is there anything else You need me to do?  

3 

I will proclaim the name of the Lord.

    Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

4 

He is the Rock, his works are perfect,

    and all his ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong,

    upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

I praise You!  Thank You for being my Rock and for blessing me with Your perfect works.  

Help me to stay close to You, Lord, and hear Your Words for my life.  Use me for Your purposes and fill my heart with a strong love for You.  

Forgive my self-doubts.  You are my strength and with You I can do all things.

__________________________ (name all those on your mind) also need Your strength and peace this day.  Bless them, please Lord.

In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray,

Amen

In Christ's love,

   

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.

Everyday Reading Project: March 2-8

I would love for you to jump in and join me in reading!  For more on this Everyday Reading Project click here.

Deuteronomy 29-31

Deuteronomy 29-31 gets at the heart of Moses' send-off message to the Israelites.  Moses is 120 years old, and he fears what will happen to God's people after he is gone.  He gives them two choices for living in the future, following God and His promises for them (which leads to blessings) or going their own way and forgetting His promises for them (which leads to self-destruction).  Moses seems to know that the day will come when God's people forget their mighty God.  Moses gives a copy of God's covenant, containing all of the commands and promises, to the Levites and tells them to read it every year to the entire community.  He is passing the torch to Joshua to lead the Israelites.  God's love for His people and His promises is a legacy Moses knows needs to be passed down from generation to generation.

So here it is.  God has these great promises for the Israelites, and He wants them to listen to Him and obey Him, wherever life takes them.  

It's no different for us today.  God has these great promises for you and me.  He wants us to listen to Him and obey Him, wherever life takes us.

How do we do that?

I think one of the most amazing resources we have as believers is the Bible.  God's Word is the Living Word.  Need guidance?  Want the Holy Spirit to work in You?  This book of truth will speak to your heart.   

We don't have to go to great lengths to find it or to be transformed by it.  Moses tells us that we always have it.

14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Deuteronomy 30:14

 It doesn't matter that we are far in time from the actual events and stories.  God's love story is still applicable to everything we have going on today.  That is fascinating to me and so comforting.  

God's Word is powerful and life-changing.  

6 Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

I thank You for speaking to me through Your Living Word.  Help me to hear Your voice every time I read it.  Guide me in the ways I should go.  Transform me to let go of my ways and follow Your ways.

Thank You for always going with me, wherever this life takes me.  I pray for Your courage and strength in all the things You need me to do.

I also pray for ______________ (name those on your mind) today.  Please, Lord, bless them today with Your loving presence and comfort.  Draw them close to You.

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,

Amen

Blessings,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.

Deuteronomy 25-28

In Deuteronomy 25-28, Moses continues to remind the Israelites to obey God.  Why does he seem to repeat himself so many times on this topic of obedience at this point?  It's so simple.  Obeying God leads to great blessings in our lives.    Moses knows the Israelites are about to enter the land "flowing with milk and honey," and he doesn't want them to forget their dependence on God once their daily lives are much easier.  

I keep reading through Moses' words, and He covers every single detail of the Israelites' lives.  God is involved in EVERYTHING they do.  There is nothing in their daily living that is "off limits" to God.  Even their very private matters, matter to God.

And then I think about our lives today.  Jesus, our Savior, brings us into God's family.  We are God's treasured people too.  So, how normal is God in our daily living?  

It's as if Moses is warning the Israelites about the very future lives in which many of us live right now.  He knows it's a likely possibility that when things have been "good" for a while, the Israelites will forget that God still wants to be the center of attention. 

If we take Moses' words into our hearts today, we can't help but realize that as God's children, there is nothing about us and our lives that is "off limits" to God, even our very private matters.  God wants to be a part of EVERYTHING we do too.  He wants to bless us like only He can!  The more room we give Him in our lives, the more He is able to bless us...

2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

Deuteronomy 28: 2-6 

Where does God need more room to move in your life?

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for Your living Word I read today.  I pray Your Holy Spirit will speak to my heart and move me closer to You.  I know that the more I give You, the more You can do in me, through me, and for me.

Help me hear your voice and feel Your presence, Lord, as I spend some time sitting quietly with You.  I want to listen to all that You have to say to me now. 

[spend some quiet time with your mighty Savior and Counselor]

In the name of God my Heavenly Father, God the Son, my Savior, and God the Holy Spirit that fills me,

Amen

May God bless you and keep you,

  *This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more.