A Happy Thanksgiving to all our Readers

Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)
¹²  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
¹³  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

My prayers often end up with me asking God to help me to trust and obey. To trust His Word and rest in the reality that He loves me more than anyone ever could, in spite of the fact He knows more about me than anyone else. Then my plea is often to give me strength and courage to obey because of that trust I have in Him.

It is almost comical how those words - trust and obey - appear to me. It has happened so often that now, when I see or hear these words I know that change is coming into my life. This change needs to be embraced by me and accepted as part of God's will.

This journey has brought me to living a life of Thanksgiving and anticipation. Thanksgiving because His provision is so amazing each and every time these seasons of change come. Anticipation because God's plan is always so perfect that I am stunned when all is said and done. My faith grows, my relationship with Jesus blossoms into one of daily thanksgiving and most of all a new feeling of contentment.

Philippians 4:10-13

It Is What It Is

In March of 2012 I had the privilege to write on these same five verses. I was living in Eagle River Wisconsin, tucked away in the beautiful north woods. My heart was filled with uncertainty and fear. I recognized verses 35 and 40 as bookends and wrote how life is sandwiched between these two verses. Everything we could want or need we find here. Our hunger is satisfied and our thirst quenched; and all we need to do is LOOK and BELIEVE. 

Fast-forward four years and I am living in Ohio, and while much is changed, the important things are the same.  Jesus is still the bookends of my life. Even when I question why life isn't turning out as I had planned, I can be sure everything is falling together exactly they way God planned. I can take comfort in the reality that tomorrow will also be part of His plan for my life - whatever that might look like. 

Each morning, as I Behold My God, and talk things over with The Great I AM, I am humbled and thankful. I pray this doesn't sound preachy, just honest. It has taken a long time to get to this place of contentment. 

A phrase in the recovery world, "It is what it is," used to irritate the dickens out of me. Now I recognize truth in these 5 words. For me, they mean to take life as it comes, pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) daily. As the words from a song composed in 1887 tell, Trust and Obey - there is no other way. 

This is only the beginning for those of us who partake of the Bread of Life. While these words are easy to say, and seem almost too good to be true, Grace makes all this possible. 

John 6:39 (MSG) 
"This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed--not a single detail missed--and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole." 
John 6:35-40

Monday

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

There are seasons in my life when I feel that God is trying to teach me to trust and obey Him.  A number of years ago, as I was learning this lesson the hard way, it seemed everywhere I turned those words smacked me in the face.  I would hear that old song playing on the radio (that in itself is reason to pause), or out of the blue someone would casually reply to a comment with, "Trust and Obey." Before the week was over, my ears were tuned in to the command.

And still today there are times when I forget give up control of my life; to turn everything over to Him. I enjoy reading the Message Bible version of this same verse. Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.

It is really plain and simple. This entire Proverb is a recipe for healthy living spiritually and emotionally; it all boils down to surrendering all to Jesus, letting Him comfort and protect us.  When I seek Him daily, what a difference it makes. In the quiet moments before my day begins, to spend time talking it over with God, sets me up for success and for peace.  As the words to the refrain to Trust and Obey says:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Proverbs 3:1-12

Joshua 14:1-5

I am learning through these chapters in Joshua that God is looking for people who follow His directions, His instructions, to the letter.  At first glance into chapters 13 and 14 it appears we are just rehashing the list of the tribal names, only learning who got what.  It is much more than that, it is God, lifting up the importance of following his directions to the last dotted i and crossed t.

Every instruction the Israelites have been given by God has a purpose.  It might be that only God knew that purpose, but for Joshua, that was good enough.  The people of Israel had been following His commands, but occasionally would revert to their own will.  It always resulted in tragedy of some sort or another.  They would then come to the realization that God knows what He is doing.

Don't we do the same?  Don't we pick and choose what commands to obey?  Don't we start out with good intentions only to fall back into old habits?

The People of Israel followed through exactly as God had commanded Moses. They apportioned the land. (Joshua 14:5)

God chose their inheritance for them, they didn't have opportunity to bicker and fight over it. There are many stories of families fighting over their parents or grandparent's belongings.  They lay claim to heirlooms before anyone else has a chance.  Families are torn apart, relationships destroyed over the claim to possessions.  Most families have memories of something like this in their lives.

If we learn only one thing during this study, it is that God knows best.  God will guide us to a perfect life.  God will forgive our failures and He will always be there until the day we can claim the inheritance He has set aside just for us.  We simply have to trust and obey.

Read Joshua 14:1-5 here

Listen to Joshua 14:1-5 here

Joshua 8

"Then the LORD says to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." (Joshua 8:1)  These words must have been like balm to a blistered finger.  Imagine the discouragement Joshua and others must have experienced when they lost the battle for Ai.  They were part of such a glorious victory in Jericho and then they were chased from Ai in defeat.  What a tremendous blow.

Can you relate to Joshua?  Have you had a great victory in your life, one that made you feel like finally things were going to be Okay, only to experience a major setback?  Maybe you married the love of your life after years of searching and praying for God to send the right person.  You are feeling as if God is smiling on you and life is wonderful. Then illness or death or infidelity invades your perfect home. What happens next?  Where do you turn?

We learn in this chapter of Joshua, another valuable lesson.  When things go bad, when the plan doesn't seem to be a good one, God will redeem it.  When I read chapter 7, my immediate thoughts were negative.  I could not help but be disappointed in the behavior of some of the Israelite people.  I was disappointed, but not surprised.

We are such a fickle creation.  One day we are strong and steadfast in our faith and our actions.  We want only to do what is right, but the next minute we see a chance for self-gratification and all the good intentions and the powerful life-lessons we learned are out the window.  As I continued reading in Chapter 8 I began to feel better about things.  Of course, we are going to sin, of course we are going to fail and disappoint God as well as those we care about.

But there is wonderful news.  God will forgive, God will use our weaknesses to strengthen us.  God will use our faults and failures to further our mission in this world.  Once again we hear the words, "Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged."  God will make it right, God will make us whole, God will make it all better in the end if we just Trust and Obey.

Read Joshua 8 here

Listen to Joshua 8 here