Been reflecting on the things I want to do with my life, friends that inspire me, the "after ORU" time....been spending a lot of time in the Word too but one thing I have found amongst all the things I am learning and growing in is that nothing is more important or takes precedence over time in His presence just worshipping. Truly it is about our first love. Nothing will ever compare to knowing Him...it is above all the things we will "accomplish" for the Kingdom in this life-time. Those are all important...but not nearly as important as soaking in His presence, knowing and hearing His voice, being consumed in His love, and loving Him.
Phil 3:8
Psalm 18:1
Rev. 2:3-4
Go ahead...go be with Him. Get to know Him if you don't...He's waiting for you :)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Before he led, he followed
Joshua didn't come out of the womb ready to lead Israel into their promised land. He had the calling on his life before he was born according to Psalm 139, but there was time for training before he walked it out. I believe though too, the time of preparation is just as important, and just as much a "call of God" as when you are seeing the fruit of that preparation (i.e. Joshua leading the Israelites into the promised land).
Joshua walked closely with Moses. The first mention of Joshua is when Moses tells him to go fight a battle in Exodus 17:9. Joshua did as he was instructed and they won the battle. I love what verse fourteen says in following, "And the Lord said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua..." This is so powerful. God had divinely appointed Joshua to walk with Moses and this is where (from what we know) that Moses began mentoring and speaking into the life of Joshua.
This is so key for leaders - Moses was to rehearse in the ears of Joshua what God had done for them. When you rehearse things in your mind, meditate on scripture, it will mold and transform your thinking (Romans 12:2). We will all inevitably be molded and transformed by one thing or another. It will only depend on what we constantly think on. God had instructed Moses to rehearse in Joshua's ears God's faithfulness and what He had done for them in this difficult situation.
side note: You will often find in the old testament where different memorials were set up to give honor and glory to God. They were for remembering and passing down to the generations of what God had done for them.
This for Joshua would be important because of what He would face later. To carry out the things God had called him to, he had to have the truth of God's faithfulness and character deeply rooted in his heart. It started with what he meditated on...and led to great victories in great battles later on, which led to fulfillment of the promise.
What do you meditate and rehearse in your mind?
Will it lead you into the promises of God, or away from them?
Joshua walked closely with Moses. The first mention of Joshua is when Moses tells him to go fight a battle in Exodus 17:9. Joshua did as he was instructed and they won the battle. I love what verse fourteen says in following, "And the Lord said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua..." This is so powerful. God had divinely appointed Joshua to walk with Moses and this is where (from what we know) that Moses began mentoring and speaking into the life of Joshua.
This is so key for leaders - Moses was to rehearse in the ears of Joshua what God had done for them. When you rehearse things in your mind, meditate on scripture, it will mold and transform your thinking (Romans 12:2). We will all inevitably be molded and transformed by one thing or another. It will only depend on what we constantly think on. God had instructed Moses to rehearse in Joshua's ears God's faithfulness and what He had done for them in this difficult situation.
side note: You will often find in the old testament where different memorials were set up to give honor and glory to God. They were for remembering and passing down to the generations of what God had done for them.
This for Joshua would be important because of what He would face later. To carry out the things God had called him to, he had to have the truth of God's faithfulness and character deeply rooted in his heart. It started with what he meditated on...and led to great victories in great battles later on, which led to fulfillment of the promise.
What do you meditate and rehearse in your mind?
Will it lead you into the promises of God, or away from them?
Monday, May 17, 2010
God Be Praised and Angel Song
I am in love with these two new tracks from the newest Desperation album. They are actually playing as I write this. Both songs are off of the new DesperationBand album. This isn't even what the blog is about - even though its the title haha.
More thoughts from the life of Joshua....
Joshua 18:2-3
"And there remained among the Israelites seven tribes who had not yet divided their inheritance. Joshua asked the Israelites, "How long will you be slack to go in and possess the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?"
Why had they not possessed what God had given them?
Laziness.
If Joshua had not urged them to possess what God had already given to them I wonder if they would have ever received what was already theirs...
This is such a powerful truth that absolutely knocked me over.
The battle has been won...the gift is ready to be received but they had to go get it.
Applying this to our life:
The Word of God is full of promises that Christ gave His life for us to live in the fullness of - the greatest of all Salvation. But while we are on this earth He knew we would face different difficulties and as children of the Most High God, left us provision for everything we would encounter.
How often do we encounter difficulties...pretty often.
How often do we apply and stand on the promises in our lives whether in good or bad times...
The answer should be daily - not so that we can be "good" Christians, but to experience the fullness of God!! Why would you not want to receive something from Someone Who loves you so much?! We are called to overcome in this life. The only way we can do that, so we can be a light in a dark world, is to take ahold of what has been given to us.
Resist complacency.
Press on toward the goal.
Don't allow the cares of life to entangle you and keep you from greater things in God.
Seek to know Him more and you, beloved, will inevitably make Him known.
More thoughts from the life of Joshua....
Joshua 18:2-3
"And there remained among the Israelites seven tribes who had not yet divided their inheritance. Joshua asked the Israelites, "How long will you be slack to go in and possess the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?"
Why had they not possessed what God had given them?
Laziness.
If Joshua had not urged them to possess what God had already given to them I wonder if they would have ever received what was already theirs...
This is such a powerful truth that absolutely knocked me over.
The battle has been won...the gift is ready to be received but they had to go get it.
Applying this to our life:
The Word of God is full of promises that Christ gave His life for us to live in the fullness of - the greatest of all Salvation. But while we are on this earth He knew we would face different difficulties and as children of the Most High God, left us provision for everything we would encounter.
How often do we encounter difficulties...pretty often.
How often do we apply and stand on the promises in our lives whether in good or bad times...
The answer should be daily - not so that we can be "good" Christians, but to experience the fullness of God!! Why would you not want to receive something from Someone Who loves you so much?! We are called to overcome in this life. The only way we can do that, so we can be a light in a dark world, is to take ahold of what has been given to us.
Resist complacency.
Press on toward the goal.
Don't allow the cares of life to entangle you and keep you from greater things in God.
Seek to know Him more and you, beloved, will inevitably make Him known.
Yellow Vest
Working at the Mabee Center tonight for Jenks Graduation. Sporting the yellow vest...and I'm fully convinced there is no way to make this yellow vest look cute. Ah well..it makes me smile because it is a sign of an answered prayer.I am saving up for summer classes and was praying for provision and it came in the form of a yellow vest. I direct people how to park.
God is good.
Its super easy, I get to be outside and the best part is I have nothing to do but stand or sit for a couple hours during the program...which means I have so much time to pray, dream or enjoy the Word on my phone. Can I just say it again - God is good. And so faithful.
I have to admit tho..when I first saw the vest I wasn't thrilled. Not in the least. But working this job means taking summer classes - which means graduating earlier - which means continuing to move forward with the dreams God has placed in my heart.
Thank You Lord for this yellow vest.
And thank You that its only for a season! :)
God is good.
Its super easy, I get to be outside and the best part is I have nothing to do but stand or sit for a couple hours during the program...which means I have so much time to pray, dream or enjoy the Word on my phone. Can I just say it again - God is good. And so faithful.
I have to admit tho..when I first saw the vest I wasn't thrilled. Not in the least. But working this job means taking summer classes - which means graduating earlier - which means continuing to move forward with the dreams God has placed in my heart.
Thank You Lord for this yellow vest.
And thank You that its only for a season! :)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Start of Something New...
I have been studying about Joshua lately in the Old Testament. What an amazing story of an ordinary kid that someone saw something in and pulled it out. Joshua walked with Moses for many years. He was raised up spiritually by Moses. I loved going back and finding the first time scripture spoke of Joshua and following it through to see his life...how he interacted with Moses and Joshua's deep love for God...all the things that prepared him for leading Israel later. It is a rich account of scripture. I will blog over the next few days of all God has taught me through my time in that section of the Bible.
I will finish with this. My favorite scripture involving Joshua is in Exodus 33 when Moses and Joshua had been in the tent with the Lord. Moses left to go back to the people, but it says Joshua lingered there. Oh how vital those precious times that Joshua lingered in the presence of God were to the days ahead. There is nothing that compares to just being in the presence of Almighty God. This short phrase speaks volumes to me of Joshua. A person who is deeply and desperately in love with God longs to just linger...to just be with Him. At the beginning of the verse it states that Moses spoke 'face to face' with God....and it makes me wonder...did Joshua? Did he just watch as Moses spoke with the Lord? If he didn't see...did he hear the conversations?? Did he feel the glory that must have filled that tent?
It is in the presence of God that we are transformed. I'm sure there were other things Joshua could have been doing...he was Moses' assistant amongst a very needy people. People will always pull on you, things will always come up that need to get done....the cares of life that scripture warns us of to not get lost in. We must make a choice....what is more important? To hurry off and see people, check off our list of to-do's that will always be there, catch up on the latest tv show...all things that will one day burn up, or linger just a little longer in the presence of your ABBA Father?
I know in my own life I have had to learn, and still am learning, to put things aside for a time, and just be with Him. Sometimes it is the wee hours of the morning, or deep into the night when the house is quiet that I get quiet before Him, talk with Him, or read His Word. Either way...wherever or whenever it is you can steal away with Him and just breathe in His presence....you will find yourself so deeply, and utterly in love... it will be difficult to pull away.
I have been so love-sick lately I have lost sleep because
I just
want
to be
with Him.
He is everything you will ever have need of. He is love. He is Father. He is protector, provider and shepherd.
Linger.
Listen.
Be loved by Him....because
YOU
are His
beloved child.
I will finish with this. My favorite scripture involving Joshua is in Exodus 33 when Moses and Joshua had been in the tent with the Lord. Moses left to go back to the people, but it says Joshua lingered there. Oh how vital those precious times that Joshua lingered in the presence of God were to the days ahead. There is nothing that compares to just being in the presence of Almighty God. This short phrase speaks volumes to me of Joshua. A person who is deeply and desperately in love with God longs to just linger...to just be with Him. At the beginning of the verse it states that Moses spoke 'face to face' with God....and it makes me wonder...did Joshua? Did he just watch as Moses spoke with the Lord? If he didn't see...did he hear the conversations?? Did he feel the glory that must have filled that tent?
It is in the presence of God that we are transformed. I'm sure there were other things Joshua could have been doing...he was Moses' assistant amongst a very needy people. People will always pull on you, things will always come up that need to get done....the cares of life that scripture warns us of to not get lost in. We must make a choice....what is more important? To hurry off and see people, check off our list of to-do's that will always be there, catch up on the latest tv show...all things that will one day burn up, or linger just a little longer in the presence of your ABBA Father?
I know in my own life I have had to learn, and still am learning, to put things aside for a time, and just be with Him. Sometimes it is the wee hours of the morning, or deep into the night when the house is quiet that I get quiet before Him, talk with Him, or read His Word. Either way...wherever or whenever it is you can steal away with Him and just breathe in His presence....you will find yourself so deeply, and utterly in love... it will be difficult to pull away.
I have been so love-sick lately I have lost sleep because
I just
want
to be
with Him.
He is everything you will ever have need of. He is love. He is Father. He is protector, provider and shepherd.
Linger.
Listen.
Be loved by Him....because
YOU
are His
beloved child.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)