proximity

Acts 12:1 About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. 2 He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword. 3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.) 4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, "Quick! Get up!" And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." And he did. "Now put on your coat and follow me," the angel ordered.

  9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

  11 Peter finally came to his senses. "It's really true!" he said. "The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders* had planned to do to me!"

  12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, "Peter is standing at the door!"

  15 "You're out of your mind!" they said. When she insisted, they decided, "It must be his angel."

  16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. "Tell James and the other brothers what happened," he said. And then he went to another place.


How many of us are like the people at the Home of John Mark's mother?

They were so busy praying for a miracle that they almost missed the miraculous thing happening at their front door.

I've got a situation like that right now in my own life. I've been praying for something and I'm wondering if I may be missing what very well may be the miracle that's happening right in front of me.

keeping on

Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.
   Remember the great reward it brings you!  

36 Patient endurance is what you need now,
   so that you will continue to do God's will.

Then you will receive all that He has promised.

guiding

Psalm 73:24 You will keep on guiding me with Your counsel,
  leading me to a glorious destiny.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
  I desire you more than anything on earth.

26 My health may fail,
   and my spirit may grow weak,
  but God remains the strength of my heart;
    He is mine forever.

faith

The faith that got ya here won't keep ya here.


Is 41:9b For I have chosen you & will not throw you away.
   10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
   Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
   I will strengthen you.
   I will help you.
   I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.


"Walk By Faith" by Jeremy Camp


Would I believe you when you would say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

[chorus]
Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to win my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah, yeah, ya

[chorus]

Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace

[chorus x2]

Well hallelujah, hallelu
(I will walk by faith)
Well hallelujah, hallelu
(I will walk by faith)

I will walk, I will walk, I will walk by faith
I will, I will, I will walk by faith

old-ness

Psalm 71:18 Now that I am old & gray
   do not abandon me, O God.
Let me proclaim Your power to the next generation,
   Your mighty miracles to all who come after me.


I remember when I underlined this in my Bible.

I think God's favored me to connect to the next generation ;-)


Ministry NEVER ends.It is something we DO - it's something we ARE


And this new generation needs people of age to walk with them

obeying & trusting

Joshua 12:8b These are the kings Israel defeated:

9 The king of Jericho
The king of Ai, near Bethel
10 The king of Jerusalem
The king of Hebron
11 The king of Jarmuth
The king of Lachish
12 The king of Eglon
The king of Gezer
13 The king of Debir
The king of Geder
14 The king of Hormah
The king of Arad
15 The king of Libnah
The king of Adullam
16 The king of Makkedah
The king of Bethel
17 The king of Tappuah
The king of Hepher
18 The king of Aphek
The king of Lasharon
19 The king of Madon
The king of Hazor
20 The king of Shimron-meron
The king of Acshaph
21 The king of Taanach
The king of Megiddo
22 The king of Kedesh
The king of Jokneam in Carmel
23 The king of Dor in the town of Naphoth-dor*
The king of Goyim in Gilgal*
24 The king of Tirzah.

In all, thirty-one kings were defeated.


No, I haven't lost my mind this morning - well, not any more than usual ;-)

The children of Israel had just finished wandering in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years.

They were nomads, not warriors. Joshua, their leader, was not a warrior.

But God said if they trust Him, He would give them victory over the people who lived in the land God had promised to them - Canaan.

As long as they obeyed Him, their foes were defeated.

At this point in the story, they've defeated 31 kingdoms.


You see the parallel here for us, don't ya?

As long as the non-warrior, nomadic Israelites trusted & obeyed God, He came through in what seemed an impossible place.

And as long as we trust & obey God...


Is this for anyone besides me today?

Psalm 69:5 O God, You know how foolish I am;
   my sins cannot be hidden from You.
6 Don't let those who trust in You stumble because of me,
   O Sovereign Lord Almighty.

suffering

Acts 5:40b The high council called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

  41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: "Jesus is the Messiah."


How many of us are willing to suffer for Jesus - and consider it an honor?

And what would we consider to be "suffering"?

just ask

Joshua 9 talks about how the people of Gibeon deceived the Israelites into thinking that the Gibeon delegation was actually a delegation from a far off country, come to seek a treaty with the Israelites.

The Israelites would never have made a treaty with the Gibeonites, because the Israelites were supposed to destroy all the people who lived in Canaan. And that's what the Gibeonites were - people who lived close by, in Canaan.

I hope all that makes sense.

As proof they had come from a distant land, the Gibeonites had put old moldy bread & old wineskins in their saddlebags, saying they were new when they left their land to find the Israelites.

The Israelites signed a treaty before God with the Gibeonites. Then the next day, the Israelites found out they'd been tricked. They had to honor the treaty they had made with the Gibeonites before the Lord, but the Israelites give them menial work to do, which they continued to do up to the writing down of the book of Joshua.

In this whole exchange, there's a very telling verse - verse 14.

Joshua 9:14 So the Israelites examined the Gibeonites bread, but they did not consult the LORD.

This whole thing would have been averted if the Israelites had just asked God about it.


How many times is this you & me? I blush to think how many times in my life I am & do things that I think the Lord wants me to be & do without asking Him about it!!!

Why are we so stupid?! How many times have we gotten our butts in a sling over stuff that we would have been directed away from if we'd just asked the Lord about it, instead of assuming that we (in our holiness?!) are smart enough to know what to be & do w/o asking God about it?!

be healed

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up & walk!

who keeps us

Peter quoted verses 8-11 in his BIG speech on Pentecost...

Psalm 16:1 Keep me safe, O God,
  for I have come to you for refuge.

2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Master!
  Every good thing I have comes from you."
3 The godly people in the land
  are my true heroes!
  I take pleasure in them!
4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
  I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
  or even speak the names of their gods.

5 LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
  You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
  What a wonderful inheritance!

7 I will bless the LORD who guides me;
  even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the LORD is always with me.
  I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
  My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
  or allow your holy one* to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
  granting me the joy of your presence
  and the pleasures of living with you forever.

who's really in charge

Joshua 6:1 Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. 2 But the LORD said to Joshua, "I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. 3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. 4 Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram's horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. 5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams' horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town."

  6 So Joshua called together the priests and said, "Take up the Ark of the LORD's Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram's horn." 7 Then he gave orders to the people: "March around the town, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the LORD."

  8 After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams' horns started marching in the presence of the LORD, blowing the horns as they marched. And the Ark of the LORD's Covenant followed behind them. 9 Some of the armed men marched in front of the priests with the horns and some behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns. 10 "Do not shout; do not even talk," Joshua commanded. "Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!" 11 So the Ark of the LORD was carried around the town once that day, and then everyone returned to spend the night in the camp.

  12 Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests again carried the Ark of the LORD. 13 The seven priests with the rams' horns marched in front of the Ark of the LORD, blowing their horns. Again the armed men marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the LORD. All this time the priests were blowing their horns. 14 On the second day they again marched around the town once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days.

  15 On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times. 16 The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the town! 17 Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.

  18 "Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel. 19 Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the LORD and must be brought into his treasury."

  20 When the people heard the sound of the rams' horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. 21 They completely destroyed everything in it with their swords—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys.


My Life Application Bible suggests that God has the Israelites do what they did here in this passage because He wanted them to understand that their success or failure in the battle with Jericho was completely dependent on Him.


Sometimes, God handles us in ways that show us a s strongly as possible that the success or failure of what we are, or are doing, is completely dependent on Him & His favor.


How do I know?


I'm livin' it right now.

help

Psalm 63:7 I think how much You have helped me;
   I sing for joy in the shadow of Your protecting wings.
8 I follow close behind You.
   Your strong right hand holds me securely.

Sometimes, God helps us the most when we are the least aware of it.

sent

John 20:21b As the Father has sent me, so send I you.

Here's what my Life Application Bible says about this verse...

"Jesus identified Himself with His Father. He told his disciples by whose authority He did His work. Then He passed the job to His disciples of spreading the Good News of salvation around the world.

"Whatever God has asked you to do, remember:
   1) Your authority comes from God,
   2) Jesus has demonstrated by words & actions how to accomplish the job He has given you. As the Father sent Jesus, He sends His followers... & you."

stepping in it

Joshua 3:1 Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. 2 Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, 3 giving these instructions to the people: "When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them. 4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don't come any closer."

  5 Then Joshua told the people, "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you."

  6 In the morning Joshua said to the priests, "Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river." And so they started out and went ahead of the people.

  7 The Lord told Joshua, "Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. 8 Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: 'When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.'"

  9 So Joshua told the Israelites, "Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. 10 Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you. 11 Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! 12 Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall."

  14 So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. 15 It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge, 16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.

  17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord's Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.

I remember Pastor John preaching on this passage.

He said something along the line of this...

"sometimes we get to stand on the bank of the Red Sea, like the Israelites did, & get to see the miracle of the Red Sea parting..."

"and sometimes we have to be like the Israelites in this passage, their miracle didn't come until the priests, carrying the Ark, stepped into the Jordan River (which was at flood stage)."


Imagine the faith it took to step into the water.


The faith that brought ya hear (crossing the Red Sea) ain't gonna be the faith that keeps ya here (stepping into the Jordan River at flood stage).


Who is that for today besides me?

truth

Psalm 60:12 With God's help we will do mighty things, for He will trample down our foes.

Sometimes, in the face of overwhelming circumstances, we have to go with what we know to be true about God

throw away your box

Joshua 1:1 After the death of Moses the Lords servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant. He said, 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: 'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— 4 from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea* in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.' 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

  6 "Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

I think God wanted Joshua to "be strong & courageous" - He said it to him 3 times.

What would you think, or think you ought to be & do, if within a short space of time the God of the universes said specifically & emphatically to "be strong & courageous"?

I cannot imagine what kind of fear Joshua must have face as he took over leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Some scholars believe there could have been as many as 2 million of them. Talk about laundry! ;-)

Joshua also had some pretty compelling challenges as he led them into Canaan. They had to conquer a land filled with well equipped, well organized enemies.

But we know the Lord came through in power, might, & fulfilled promises, & they went to their destiny in Him.


Isn't God saying the same thing to us? It may be to "be strong & courageous" & be salt & light in a workplace that is filled with darkness.

It may be to "be strong & courageous" in a family that is dysfunctional or abusive.

It may be to "be strong & courageous" & throw away your box & simply follow Him wherever He leads you - which could mean living where you are & loving as He loves, or going to another part of town, another area of the state (like moving to Blairsville!), or another country, or the other side of the world.

Why can we throw away our boxes?

Because "the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go".

So...

Go!

Be strong & courageous!

Do not be afraid or discouraged

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

what we've done

Deuteronomy 34:10 There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.

11 The LORD sent him to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and his entire land.12 With mighty power, Moses performed terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel. 

At the very end of Deuteronomy, after slogging through long chapters, there is this seemingly insignificant little verse of 17 words. Only 2 more verses until the end of the book.

It states something we all know - Moses had a pretty spectacular relationship with God.

But lets remember something - when Moses was younger, he killed an Egyptian & had to run away to the desert of Sinai.

And he led the children of Israel to the Promised Land, but he couldn't go in because he disobeyed God at the waters of Meribah at Kadesh & struck the rock rather than telling the water to come out, as God has told him to do.

God used a murderer to perform His mighty acts in Egypt.

God used a murderer to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.

God used a murder to hand over the ten commandments.

God used a murder to guide the children of Israel through the wilderness of Sinai for 40 years.

a murderer...


And remember something else...

Paul, the macdaddy missionary, author of half of the New Testament, who before he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, approved of the stoning of Stephen & went all over Palestine throwing Christians (men, women, & children) into prison & having them killed - no one or two, but lots.


So?


Moses talked to God face to face; Paul wrote half the New Testament.

If God can use murderers for His kingdom like these, there's NO reason He can't use you or me.

The devil wants you to think God can't use you because of the things you've done, or the things that have been done to you.

We are persons of worth to the God of the universes because God sees us for who He dreamed us to be, & because of Jesus, doesn't see the sin & sins in our lives, because if we ask Him, He's forgiven them, & forgotten them.

There's no "But you don't understand, I've..." with God. If He's forgiven us, He's forgiven us.

He dreamed a dream for our lives when He thought us up. He operates outside of time, see the beginning, middle, & end of our lives - the big picture.


Thank the Lord! Where would I be if this wasn't true? Where would you be?

All of this is just a prime example of the scandal of God's grace - that He would use the likes of you & me.

storms

Psalm 57:1b I will hide beneath the shadow of Your wings until this violent storm is past.

I've dated this verse in my Bible with a date when there was a terrific storm blowing in my life a few years back.

I thought my life in ministry was pretty over, relegated to a back burner.

I couldn't have been more mistaken.

It seems that God specializes in resurrections, and not just for His Son, Jesus. He's resurrected my life plenty of time out of the ashes.

For some reason, during the storm, it's hard to see that it WILL end some day.

And it did end, & I've gone on to the most fruitful days of my life, so far.

(If you want more specific details, message me)

trust & believing

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

John 14:1 Don't be troubled. You trust in God, trust also in Me.

Trust - from Dictionary.com
–noun
1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.
2. confident expectation of something; hope.
3. confidence in the certainty of future payment for property or goods received; credit: to sell merchandise on trust.
4. a person on whom or thing on which one relies: God is my trust.
5. the condition of one to whom something has been entrusted.
6. the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed: a position of trust.
7. charge, custody, or care: to leave valuables in someone's trust.
8.something committed or entrusted to one's care for use or safekeeping, as an office, duty, or the like; responsibility; charge.

–adjective
12. Law . of or pertaining to trusts or a trust.

–verb (used without object)
13. to rely upon or place confidence in someone or something (usually followed by in  or to ): to trust in another's honesty; trusting to luck.
14. to have confidence; hope: Things work out if one only trusts.
15. to sell merchandise on credit.

–verb (used with object)
16. to have trust or confidence in; rely or depend on.
17. to believe.
18. to expect confidently; hope (usually followed by a clause or infinitive as object): trusting the job would soon be finished; trusting to find oil on the land.
19. to commit or consign with trust or confidence.
20. to permit to remain or go somewhere or to do something without fear of consequences: He does not trust his children out of his sight.
21. to invest with a trust; entrust  with something.
22. to give credit to (a person) for goods, services, etc., supplied: Will you trust us till payday?

—Verb phrase
23. trust to, to rely on; trust: Never trust to luck!

—Idiom
24. in trust, in the position of being left in the care or guardianship of another: She left money to her uncle to keep in trust for her children.


vs 12 The truth is, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have, & even greater works...

I wonder what our lives would be like if we REALLY believed this?


vs 27 I am leaving you w/ a gift - peace of mind & heart. And the peace I give isn't the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.

And what would our lives be like if we took the God of the universes at his world here & didn't allow ourselves to be troubled about all the things we worry about, nor be afraid of all the things that scare us?

what I'm holding onto today

Here's what He said to me this morning...

Deuteronomy 31:6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."

Psalm 55:16 But I will call on God,
  and the Lord will rescue me.
17 Morning, noon, and night
  I cry out in my distress,
  and the Lord hears my voice.
18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe
  from the battle waged against me,
  though many still oppose me.

22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
  and he will take care of you.
  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

who we trust

John 12:44 Jesus shouted to the crowds,
"If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me.

   45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.

46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world,
   so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.


Are you living in the dark places. You don't have to. Jesus can lead you out.

the why?

Chapter 11 in the gospel of John s basically about the death of Lazarus, Jesus going to see about him, & Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

(The last 10 verses or so are about the religious leaders of the time plotting Jesus' death. It's interesting that they thought they could kill someone who could raise people from the dead, isn't it?)

Early on in the narrative, when Jesus' disciples tell him about Lazarus' sickness & impending death, Jesus says a curious thing.

John 11:4b Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God.

I had a thought, or maybe more of a question, when I read that.

Does God sometimes allow our lives to move into dire situations just so He can flex & show us & everyone that in the final analysis He's the One who makes things happen, thus bringing glory to Himself?

what happens if...

Deuteronomy 28:1 "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the world.2 You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God:

3 Your towns and your fields
  will be blessed.
4 Your children and your crops
  will be blessed.
The offspring of your herds and flocks
  will be blessed.
5 Your fruit baskets and breadboards
  will be blessed.
6 Wherever you go and whatever you do,
  you will be blessed.

  7 "The LORD will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven!

  8 "The LORD will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

  9 "If you obey the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways, the LORD will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. 10 Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you.

  11 "The LORD will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. 12 The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. 13 If you listen to these commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. 14 You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them.


Now the rest of the chapter is about what will happen to you if you DON'T obey Him. It's about 4 times as long as this passage & it's pretty scary!



It's interesting that I was also slated to read Psalm 52, which is all about what happens if you disobey God & do evil things. It doesn't give those kinds of folks much slack or hope. The psalm ends like this...

Psalm 52: 8 But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
  I will always trust in God's unfailing love.
9 I will praise you forever, O God,
  for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
  in the presence of your faithful people.


And I was also slated to read John 10, & this verse came off the page...

John 10:10 The thief's (read: devil) purpose is to steal, kill, & destroy. My (Jesus) purpose is to bring life in all its fullness.

doing

This is Jesus, talking to His disciples...

John 9:4 All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent Me,

   because there is little time left before the night falls & all work comes to an end.

I'm ready to roll...

some more verses

Ya know, I was an idiot to not read the Bible EVERY day! I'm SO glad & thankful that God started waking me up early in the mornings back in January of 2003. My life has never been the same.

But I wanna caution you - if you start doing this too, GOD WILL MESS WITH YOU!!!

Psalm 50:7c I am God, your God!
8 I have no complaint about your sacrifices
  or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.
9 But I do not need the bulls from your barns
  or the goats from your pens.
10 For all the animals of the forest are mine,
  and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird on the mountains,
  and all the animals of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
  for all the world is mine and everything in it.
13 Do I eat the meat of bulls?
  Do I drink the blood of goats?
14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
  and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
15 Trust Me in your times of trouble,
  and I will rescue you,
  and you will give Me glory."

vs 23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
  If you keep to my path,
  I will reveal to you the salvation of God."

How often do we think we have to "give up everything" to please God. If we're thankful, everything else, every sacrifice & every blessing will come out of that.


John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

vs 31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

vs 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Anybody out there not free? Jesus says here He can free you. I know - He set me free from all kinds of stuff. Wanna know what? Just ask ;-)

some verses from this morning

Psalm 49:5 There is no need to fear when times of trouble come,
   when enemies are surrounding me.
vs 10 But as for me, God will redeem my life.
   He will snatch me from the power of death.

Sometimes I don't know why verses come up off the page at me.I just write them down. Usually they have some sort of meaning to my life & situation when I look back & read some of the things I wrote down in the past.



Feel like this is for someone out there - don't know who...

John 7:37b Jesus said, "If you are thirsty,come to Me! 38 If you believe in Me, come & drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within." 39 When He said "living water," He was speaking of the Spirit, Who would be given to everyone believing in Him.

The Holy Spirit became available to us at Pentecost, & has since been available to all who believe in Jesus as Savior.

guidance

Psalm 48:14b He is our God forever & ever,
   & He will be our guide until we die.

Here's what my Life Application BIble says about this verse...

"We often pray for God's guidance as we struggle with decisions. What we need is both a map that gives us directions & a constant companion who has intimate knowledge of the way & will make sure we interpret the map correctly.

"The Bible is such a map, & the Holy Spirit is our constant companion & guide. As you make your way through life, use both the map & your Guide."


I've been getting up early like this each morning since January, 2003. My life has taken stupendous turns since then. I've felt definitely that Someone has been guiding me through it all.

The smartest thing I've ever done in my life was starting to get up early to read the Bible & listen out for what God, through His Holy Spirit, has to say to me.

The dumbest thing I've ever done was wait until I was 52 1/2 to do it.

come

This is Jesus, speaking to the Jewish leader & Pharisees...

John 5;39 "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

When I read verse 40, I felt like Jesus was whispering "tell them to come to Me."

Over in Matthew, Jesus expresses the exquisite "come" by saying...


Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

I don't know who all these are for, but I think Jesus is saying today...

"Come to Me if you've lost all hope.

"Come to Me if you're scared.

"Come to Me to me if you're bone weary tired.

"Come to Me if you're so depressed you can't see straight.

"Come to Me if you well, but want to become "well-er".

"Come to Me if you're sick.

"Come to Me to me if you're sick & tired.

"Come to Me if you're addicted to porn.

"Come to Me if you're addicted to sex.

"Come to Me if you're addicted to anything.

"Come to Me to me if you're a hypocrite.

"Come to Me if you're smug & self-important.

"Come to Me to me if you're holier-than-thou.

"Come to Me if you live with, struggle with, or embrace a same sex attraction.

"Come to Me if you gamble away all your money each week.

"Come to Me when you're sad.

"Come to Me when your happy.

"Come to Me to me when you marry.

"Come to Me when you bury someone you love.

"Come to Me with anything, anytime, anywhere, anyhow.

"But most important to remember - come to Me."


I guess that's the most important thing He's whispering to me today, to hold in my heart today, & to share with y'all...

just come to Him, & say,"here I am..."

whispers, not shouts

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,

  always ready to help in times of trouble.

2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come

  and the mountains crumble into the sea.

3 Let the oceans roar and foam.

  Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

An interesting statement to read today, in view of the events in Japan.

**********

Psalm 46:10 "Be silent, and know that I am God!

Some translations say, "Be still" - either way, how many of us are REALLY silent or still with God? We spend SO MUCH time running our mouths whenever we are talkinf with Him or are simply in His presence.

The deepest & most profound things God has EVER said to me didn't occur during some highly expressive prayer time or some "set my hair on fire" worship time. It was in very quiet times when He whispered something of enormous &/or eternal significance to me or about me.

Like what?

2001, during a discussion of "The Heart of the Artist" - "You don't have a problem with arrogance & pride. You're just self-centered."

December, 2002 - "Tell Andy King that thing you've never told anyone."

1st Friday night in May, 2003, while reading Erwin McManus' "Seizing Your Divine Moment" - "leave music ministry & serve in House of Grace" (the 20something ministry at the church where I was on staff)

late April, 2010, after driving back from Tommy Drakes' mountain home near Blairsville - "Blairsville..."

There were no trumpets, flashes of lightning, or fireworks.

It was the still, small voice of God.

How different my life would be today if I hadn't been listening.