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God has the answers!

Judges 13-15 Samson

I have never understood why God raised up and then let Samson die.His story befuddles me. He was a womanizer and had a problem with being wholly sold out to the Lord. Yet, once again I see the proof of Isaiah 55:8 God’s ways are not our ways, they are higher than ours. How like Samson we are! We say we are God’s chosen ones yet our lives prove otherwise. We fail just like Samson in so many similar ways. 

So the lesson for me in this sordid tale is to keep our eyes on the Lord and not on our circumstances. God will place people into our lives that seem to make no sense at all and yet God uses them for His glory. Take time today to bless the Lord and see each person He brings into our lives for His purpose, not ours. 

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Unity is key to struggles

Trust God
Others will only reveal ourselves to us

Judges 10-12 Seek God First…

Jephthath was a man of passions and he was unimpressed with the tribes on the west. He was an outcast of his family but in times of distress they came to him to save them. How often do we do much the same?  We fail to keep families together but seek to use excuses to divide. Paul taught the Corinthians to be unified and here we see that Israel is divided because of a foolish decision. 

The question is why were they divided? It all goes back to a dishonoring of Jehovah and how Satan used the tool of idolatry. God was right to say to them, you have dishonored me, why then should I come and rescue you? Go and call upon your idol Baal. This seems to be recurring theme. Men are only pleased when all goes their way but when trouble comes, they seek anything to solve the problem, even to idolatry. 

The lesson here is to honor God not an idol. Idols will never save but God will. There is another lesson here and that is God allows all troubles to come our way until we are at the end of ourselves and then as the scripture says: “Finally the Lord grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much.” [Judges 10:16] How gracious is our God and how patient. 

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Joshua 12 to 15 Heroes for God

You can be a hero like Caleb

The Israelites walked and conquered the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Out of all the Israelites, only Caleb and Joshua were alive to witness the hardness of the Israelites’ hearts and their unwillingness to trust God, and only these two had remained faithful. Both have seen the power of the Lord as they walked, fought, and conquered this new land. Egypt is far behind in their memories, but not the Israelites’ failure, for it was a reminder of what could have been and now is.  Both have been faithful warriors and models for the Israelites. Both are heroes for the next generation, and they are models for all of us today.   Caleb’s words ring forth: “I remained loyal to the Lord my God.” Can we say that of ourselves? Have we remained faithful and loyal to the Lord, or have we allowed the “deadly d’s” of distraction, disappointment, dismay, and so on to take our eyes off the ultimate victory? Caleb reminded Joshua, “I brought back an honest report to him.”  

As we study this man’s life, may our lives follow his example. Joshua had told them to be strong and courageous and Caleb had followed that to the letter. Are you a hero for God? 

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Joshua 1-4 Obedience 

Trusting God

It was harvest time and Joshua sent men ahead to scout out Jericho. Unlike the first time that men went ahead, this time he just sent two. They must have been fearless, strong, brave, and willing to die if found. They were faithful and that is a characteristic we must have to be followers of the Lord. Joshua has spent over 40 years following the orders of Moses and now the mantle has been placed on his shoulders. His first test of leadership will fall on the shoulders of these two men. Will they pass or fail? The test came as they entered the house of Rahab. Would they disclose their reason for being there in Jericho? How about Rahab? How would she handle this test? All four passed and God honored Rahab, the spies and Joshua. How about us when God gives a task that is challenging? 

This section of God’s Word challenges us to follow Jesus 100% with no questions asked. Joshua gave the spies the battle plan and they succeeded because God had also placed Rahab in the mix. We often see the plan but not the steps included, but God sees all and He has placed all the information we need to be successful. God only asks us to be strong and courageous for He goes ahead of us. What is keeping us from being God’s spies and getting information?  

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Deuteronomy 32-34, Ps 91 Prayer to God 

Prayers of the Saints

How do you begin your prayer time? Moses shares with us how he begins: “Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.”  We too pray, open the eyes of our hearts Lord, we want to see you. Open our ears so we can hear your Spirit speaking. Open our minds so we can comprehend the Truth, the Life and the Way of your Precious Son Jesus. Now Moses continues: “For I proclaim the name of the Lord; Ascribe greatness to our God!” Are we proclaiming God’s Name for ourselves and others? 

In addition we too should extol the greatness of our God because it brings sweetness to Him from us. As we pray, Holy Spirit bring to our minds those attributes of God as a way to praise Him. “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.”

Today in your prayer time may you share these thoughts with Him as well as with another. 

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Deuteronomy 31 Command! 

Choose Life

Moses told the Israelites and Joshua in particular to be “strong and courageous.” Joshua will echo those words as he prepares to take the nation from death to life as they cross the Jordan. That command was for them but it is also for us. What am I facing that I need those words today and every day beyond here. Who can I share this with today as a way of encouragement? 

The Israelites are finally preparing to end this 40 year saga and start a new chapter. Their leader, Moses is 120 years old and as he said, frail. God has said, you shall not cross over but I will show you the land they will see and enter.  As we enter the last chapter of our life, do we have that same encouraging word to those we leave behind and go and join our ancestors in heaven?  Moses tells the nation to choose life! 

What say you? 

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Deuteronomy 23 Vows

Gods Word is our standard

A vow is a promise to be fulfilled lest you bring sin into the camp. Moses, as the compiler of what God had said wrote: “When you make a vow to the Lord your God you must notdelay in fulfilling it, for otherwise he will surely hold you accountable as a sinner.  If you refrain from making a vow, it will not be sinful.  Whatever you vow, you must be careful to do what you have promised” [Deut 23:21-24]

Interesting that both Moses and Solomon wrote much the same thing. In Ecclesiastes Solomon added this: if  make a vow, be sure to keep it otherwise you will be seen as a fool.. [Eccl 5:4] 

God is serious about what we promise.  Today watch you what you say and what you promise to God or another. 

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Deuteronomy 10 Remember

Keep memories alive

Moses wrote the words of God to the Israelites: “Remember—don’t ever forget!”

That is a quick reminder to all of us to remember. God has been so good to all of us but like the northern tribe of Israel under King Ahab, they forgot. 

Deuteronomy 11  Rehearse 

God spoke in the hearing of the Israelites: “Know this day that I am not speaking with your sons who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of the LORD your God–His greatness, His mightyhand and His outstretched arm.”  

 How important it is for us to rehearse with our children what we have seen but they have not. If you choose not to follow my commands, be sure of this fact: ”Or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.”

Why is we are so stubborn to not obey the word of the Lord? Today choose whom you will serve and obey Him only so that His blessing may fall upon your 

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Deuteronomy 2 The Heart of God

As we read through these chapters, there are several verses that remind us of who these Israelites were and what God hoped for them and their future. For example: “The Lord our God has shown us his great glory, and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living.” [Deut 5:24]. Today where does God speak to you, not from the fire but from the Holy Word, the inspired Word of God. God heard this and then He spoke: “If only it would really be their desire to fear me and obey all my commandments in the future, so that it may go well with them and their descendants forever.” [Deut 5:29] 

God’s heart and desire is that we fear and revere Him so that He might bless us and our children. Today, is there someone whom you love and care for but they are not obeying all His commandments? Or, they are not hearing the voice of the Lord? Is it because they are not His chosen ones? Let’s pray for them. I have my list, how about you? 

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Numbers 36 A Positive Example

Obey God only

The book of Numbers closes with the women who had come to Moses as an example of what they provided for Israel. “This book that is so full of negative examples of unbelief and disobedience ends optimistically. With people like Zelophehad’s daughters in Israel, the future of the nation looked promising.” A fitting conclusion to an otherwise dark book. [Dr. C] 

We all need positive examples to look back on and Zelophehad’s daughters provide that for all of us, not just women. Honoring a parent, obedience to the spiritual leadership is a picture for us to include in our repertoire. 

What has God provided for you as an example to follow and emulate? 

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