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What Are Your Reminders of Your Promises to God? –Joshua 24:25-27

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 22:1 through Joshua 24:33

Right before Joshua died he summoned all the tribes of Israel together.  Joshua reminded Israel of their amazing journey with the Lord.  Then Joshua gave the Israelites a challenge:

So Fear the Lord and Serve Him Wholeheartedly.  –Joshua 24:14

Then Joshua did something all godly leaders do; he led by example:

Choose you this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.  –Joshua 24:15

Next, Joshua stirred up the people and challenged them by saying “you are not able to serve the Lord, for He is a holy and jealous God.”  (Joshua 24:19) I counted four times the Israelites came back and said, “Yes, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and recorded those things in the Book of God’s Instructions.  As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the Terebinth tree beside the Tabernacle of the Lord.

Joshua said to all the people, “This stone has heard everything the Lord said to us.  It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God.”  –Joshua 24:25-27

There are several occasions during the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land where they were told to take rocks or stones and make a memorial.  Stones have been used for many things along our journey through six books of the Bible (can you believe we finish Joshua today?):

  • Jacob used a stone for his pillow  (Gen. 28:18)
  • Zipporah used a flint knife (sharp stone in the KJV)  to circumcise her son (Ex. 4:25)
  • God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone (Ex. 24:12)
  • Aaron’s had stones on his ephod with the names of the tribes of Israel engraved on them (ex. 28:12)
  • Stones were used to killed people who brought evil into the camp (Deut 21:21)
  • They set up stones when they crossed over the Jordan to build an altar(Deut. 27:4-8)
  • Twelve stones were a sign to future generations of the faithfulness of God (Josh. 4:6)

Rest, purification, instruction, holiness, correction, worship, reminders of faithfulness, reminders that God hears our promises…I need these rocks in my life.

Yesterday, we talked about all the promises that God made to us in Bible.  Today we are using “rocks” to remind of us our promises to Him.  Here are a few of my reminder “rocks”.

  • My old Bibles
  • My journals
  • My wedding ring
  • Pictures of my family
  • Scripture plaques in my home
  • Songs
  • Books

What are your reminders of your promises to God?

Praying for you today…

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 1:1 through Judges 3:30

Step Up and Claim What’s Yours–Joshua 21:2-3

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 19:49 through Joshua 21:45; 1 Chronicles 6:54 through 1 Chronicles 6:81

So the division of the land was completed. –Joshua 19:51b.

Everybody saw their promise fulfilled.

Everybody…Except the Levites.

Here are a few points to remember–

The Levites…

The Levites took one for the team; not that they had a choice.  They became the first-born.  Yes, it was an honor to be set apart by God but they were missing out on receiving an inheritance like the rest of the Israelites.  I wonder if they ever wished they could change tribes.

As we are reminded in today’s reading, provisions were made for the Levites in the Promised Land …

The Lord Commanded Moses to give the Levites towns to live in and pasture lands for their livestock. –Joshua 21:2

I really feel bad for the Levites—they must have felt left out and unappreciated.  Everyone in the camp was so excited; they had finally received their own piece of the Promised Land…EXCEPT the Levites.   How could they forget them?

They way I see it the Levites had a choice—

  • They could pout
  • They could step up and claim what was theirs

Look closely at verses two and three of chapter 21 of Joshua—

The Levites didn’t whine, complain and shout, “How could you?”  They just quoted the law, The Lord commanded Moses to give us towns to live in and pastureland for our livestock.

The very next verse was their leaders’ response…

So by the command of the Lord the people of Israel gave the Levites the following towns and pasture lands out of their own grants of land.

The Levites weren’t the only folks to have to remind their leaders about a promise.  Remember, in Joshua 14, Caleb reminded Joshua that he was promised the land of Canaan and Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him the land.

This is amazing!  No discussion, no debate; they just gave them what was theirs; because their promise was written in The Law.

The Bible is full of promises for you and me!  It’s impossible to count them but several of the sources I checked estimated 1260.  Wow!

Friends, are you thinking what I’m thinking?  If it’s mine I WANT IT!  I wonder how many well-meaning Christians have lived life below their privileges because they either…

–Did not know what their inheritance was

–Did not step up to claim it

This is why we need to read the Bible cover to cover. This is why we need to keep a record of the promises God speaks to us! Together we will know Him and His Promise more each today!

Standing on the Promises of God!

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 22:1 through Joshua 24:33

It’s Too Hard. I’m Quitting! –Joshua 17:16

Today’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 15:20-17:18

“It’s too hard, Nana.”  “I can’t do it!”  How many times have I heard one of my grandchildren say these words.

Forget the kids, how many times have I said these words?

“It’s too hard!”

“I can’t do it!”

“I can’t live like this.”

“I’ll never get this debt paid off!”

“This marriage isn’t going to work!”

“It’s just too much to ask.”

The descendants of Joseph responded, “It’s true that the hill country is not large enough for us. But all the Canaanites in the lowlands have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shan and its surrounding settlements and those in the valley of Jezreel. They are too strong for us.” –Joshua 17:16

The descendants of Joseph were complaining that they needed more land because there were so many of them, but they didn’t want to have to work and fight to win the land.

Then Joshua said to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, “Since you are so large and strong, you will be given more than one portion. The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its farthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.” –Joshua 17:17-18

Sometimes we need to say to our children, grandchildren and ourselves, “I don’t care how much you whine or complain, you can and will do it!”

Friends, let’s be careful when another friend says, “I can’t do it; it’s too hard.”  The easiest thing to say is, “You’re right, it is hard.  Don’t worry about it!

Let’s be a real friend and say, “No, you can and you will do it!”

If you are tempted to quit today, here’s my advice: “Don’t quit, don’t give up–You can do it.

For I can do everything through Christ,who gives me strength. –Philippians 4:13

Heavenly Father, it’s normal to be a quitter these days, but You have not called us to be normal.  Help us to see that finishing what we start is the right thing to do.  It sets us apart.  It speaks louder than words.  It’s shows our character.  Not giving up could be our greatest witness in these troubled times!  Jesus, give us supernatural strength and determination to finish what we start!

Heavenly Father, use us for Your Glory today!

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 18:1-19:48

Sometimes it’s God’s Fight and Sometimes it’s Yours

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 12:7 through Joshua 15:19

I just love imagining God talking with Joshua and saying “Buddy, you’re getting old and there’s so much left to do, but don’t worry I’ll take care of it—you just relax; you deserve it.  I’ve got your back!”  –Joshua 13:1-7

I know, I’m embellishing a bit, but it probably happened just like that!    :-)

Sometimes God fights our battles for us so that we don’t even have to break a sweat…

but sometimes He doesn’t.

Remember the half tribe of Manasseh and the tribes of Reuben and Gad?  They were the guys who chose to stop short of the Promised Land and receive their land on the east side of the Jordan.  Well, they also stopped short of getting rid of their enemies.

But the Israelites failed to drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continued to live among the Israelites to this day.  –Joshua 13:13

What battles are you trying to fight that the Lord has said to you, “Don’t worry about this one, I’ve got it.”

What battles are you wanting God to fight that have YOUR name on them?

I was a bit of a control freak when it came to raising my children.  I took that responsibility very seriously.  God made it clear to me that I had to lay my children on His altar, do my best as a parent and leave the outcome to Him.  Needless to say, “I” wanted to lead the charge in that battle…just ask my kids. I was fretting, worrying and ‘trying’ to control, as if their salvation depended on me instead of the Lord.  It is so amazing to me that once I was forced to let go of my children when they became adults– they began their own personal  journey to “know Him” and are becoming amazing men and women of God.  I sure wish I would have “let go and let God” when they were teenagers.  It would have been a lot more fun!

But what about the battles that have my name engraved on them?

You see, I have these “issues”

…a controlling nature

…pride

…a tendency to prejudge

…selfishness

The List could go on and on…  These are battles I’ve asked the Lord to fight for me.  I’ve said things like, “Lord, you made me, it’s up to YOU to change me!”

And the Lord said to me in 2 Corinthians 10:5.  This is “The Message” Translation…It just seemed to fit.

Dianne it’s your job to… use your powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

The New International Version says, “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”.

If I understand this correctly, “we” have to work on our warped philosophies, barriers, loose thoughts and emotions.  Ugh…I wanted a miraculous transformation; I wanted God to fight the battle of my mind. I wanted to walk away and come back and the battle be over.

Friends, if  you’re fighting a battle that only the Almighty God can win, “let go and let God”.  But if you  in the middle of a battle that has your name on it, know that you are not alone.  Yes, we may have to do some hard work but the good news is Jesus is coaching us and standing with us as we fight to take every thought captive.  Take comfort in these words whatever your circumstance:

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.   ~Isaiah 41:10

Let’s not be like the Israelites on the east side of the river and setting up housekeeping  with our enemies; let’s take them captive once and for all!

Praying for you!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 15:20 through Joshua 17:18

A Bold Prayer Gets a Bold Answer–Joshua 10:12

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 10:1 through Joshua 12:6

In today’s reading we see a bold prayer.

It began when Joshua had a conversation with the Lord about fighting the Gibeonites and was assured of victory.  He saw the Lord throw them into a panic and destroy them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven.  The hail actually killed more people than the Israelites killed with the sword.  With his own eyes, Joshua saw the Lord “give” the Israelites victory over the Amorites.

On this faith-building day Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel.  He said, ‘Let the sun stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.’ –Joshua 10:12

So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. (10:13) …There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer.  Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day.  (10:14)

Can you imagine standing up in front of a whole nation that you are entrusted to lead and asking God to allow the sun and moon stand still?

Just like Joshua, we’ve seen some miracles on our journey.  Let’s allow these miracles to build our faith.

Our job is to pray and the answering is God’s job!  I’m glad it’s not the other way!

I want to pray bold prayers and get bold answers.

Here are some things I noticed about Joshua?

  • Joshua knew the Word of God–God told Moses to rehearse the Word of God while Joshua listened (Ex. 17:14)
  • Joshua knew how to follow  (Ex 17:10)
  • Joshua was teachable. He was constantly by Moses’ side (Ex.24:13)
  • Joshua was a “glass half full” kind of guy–He expected the best  (Numbers 14:5-9)
  • Joshua was full of the Spirit of wisdom (Deut 34:9)
  • Joshua saw God do amazing things (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
  • Joshua was obedient (Joshua 8:18)

Dear Father God, I want to be able to pray like Joshua.  I want to expect things that have never happened before.  I want to have the boldness to ask You and the faith to believe You will answer.  Holy Spirit, as I seek to pray more powerfully, help me to pray according to my Heavenly Father’s will.  Help my heart to be pure and my only motive to be for God to be glorified.

In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 12:7 through Joshua 15:19

Are You Having a Bad Day? Get Up–Joshua 7:10

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 7:1, 1 Chronicles 2:7, Joshua 7:2 through Joshua 9:27

The last words from yesterday’s reading were “so the Lord was with Joshua, and his reputation spread throughout the land.”

And then

The first word in today’s reading is BUT.

It’s crazy that things could turn that fast.  It is so “real life”.

Can you imagine how Joshua must have felt?

It was his first battle and his warriors ran like little girls.  Joshua sounded like Moses as he fell face down before the Lord, “Oh Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us?  If only we had been content to stay on the other side!”

God’s response has had me smiling all afternoon… “Get Up.”  “Why are you lying on your face like this?”  In other words stop bawling and squalling, it’s time to do something.

Now one “Get Up” from the God of the Universe is powerful but two would stop a train!  Yes, God told Joshua to get up twice.

Sometimes we have to put some action with our prayers.  Sometimes we need to get up and do something!  God told Joshua exactly what had happened:  “Israel has sinned and broken my covenant!  They have stolen some of the things that I commanded to be set apart for me.   They have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings.” –Joshua 7:1

As we read the rest of today’s scripture we find that the problem wasn’t the stuff.

After Achan’s sin was discovered God told Joshua to go back and attack Ai again.  He specifically said, “but this time you may keep the plunder and the livestock for yourselves.”

The real problem was lack of obedience to the Lord’s instruction.

Joshua made the same mistake that Moses made; making a move without consulting the Lord.

When the spies came back and told Joshua that they only needed 3,000 men,  there is no mention of Joshua asking the Lord what to do.   At the end of today’s reading there’s another example of Joshua moving on his own instincts without asking the Lord’s advice…the Israelites made a covenant with the Gibeonites.  If only they would have consulting with the Lord.  But the good news is they honored their word.  It sounds like being a person of your word was very important to the Lord:  This is what we must do.  We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath (Joshua 9:20).

Here are my lessons from today’s scripture:

  • If God tells me to do something either through His Word or through the Holy Spirit’s prompting; I need to do it.
  • When in doubt; ask God what to do
  • Be a person who honors my word; it’s a reflection of God through my  life to others

Ummm.  It seems like we’ve heard this before (Numbers 20:1-13)

Father God, I want to honor you through my obedience but I’m weak. Sometimes I move without asking. Speak loudly Lord.

I trust you!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 10:1 through Joshua 12:6

God Qualifies Those He Calls

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 3:1 through Joshua 6:27

Have you ever had to fill the shoes of a great leader?

Maybe you just got a new job and everyone loved your predecessor.  Or maybe you are a step-mom or step-dad who is constantly compared  to the “real parents”.

Can you imagine following M-O-S-E-S?

I wonder if that’s why Moses told Joshua to be strong and courageous so many times.

I loved the way the Lord set Joshua up for success:

  • Since you have never traveled this way before, they (the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God) will guide you.   ~Joshua 3:4
  • The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in eyes of all the Israelites.  They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses.  ~Joshua 3:7
  • Come and listen to what the Lord your God says.  Today you will know that the living God is among you.  ~Joshua 3:7
  • Today you will know that the living God is among you.  ~Joshua 3:10
  • 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 touches the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away…the all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. ~Joshua 3:15-16
  • We will use these stones to build a memorial.  In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’  Then you can tell them, ‘they remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant when across.’  ~Joshua 4:6
  • That day the Lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.  ~Joshua 4:14
  • They (the Israelites’ enemies) lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them.  ~Joshua 5:1b
  • Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.”  ~  Joshua 5:9
  • “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.”  And Joshua did as he was told.  ~Joshua 5:15
  • So the Lord was with Joshua, and his reputation spread throughout the land.  ~Joshua 6:27

I’ve heard it say before, “God qualifies those He calls.”  He certainly did in Joshua’s life.  Today, be a Joshua, be strong and courageous—be the best you!  Let your enemies be paralyzed with fear because the Lord is with you!

Praying for you today!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 7:1, 1 Chronicles 2:7, Joshua 7:2 through Joshua 9:27

It’s December 23rd: Who or What’s Controlling You?–2 Peter 2:19 (NLT)

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:12-14, 2 Peter 1:1-3:18

I know it’s a bad day to ask this.  It’s December 23; Christmas preparations and activities are definitely determining our plans for the day.  I have last-minute shopping and wrapping to do myself, but now that I think about it, maybe this is the best time of the year to ask this question…

What or Who’s Controlling you?

In 2 Peter 2:19, Peter says, we are a slave to whatever controls us.

I looked up the word control in my online dictionary…

Control: The power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events.

Here’s my paraphrase Peter’s statement:

We are a slave to whatever has the power to influence or direct our behavior or the events of our lives.

Who determines what or who has this special power?

Didn’t we take care of this question when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior?

Salvation is a gift God gave us.  Accepting the gift is the easy part.  Sadly, this is where many Christians stop and then they wonder why they go through life being controlled by people, situations, and sinful thoughts and behaviors.

Everyday WE make a choice, every day WE determine what or who has the power to control us.

Choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. –Joshua 24:15 (KJV)

As we go through this day WE get to choose…

  • The joy of the Lord or the anger, sadness and depression of the world
  • The holiness of the season or the commercialism of the media
  • To spend time reflecting on the birth of our Savior or worry about everything that didn’t get bought, baked, decorated, or cleaned for the season
  • To focus on our blessings or our lack

The world tells us to take control of our lives, but the Bible tells us to give that control to Christ–it’s a choice.

If you have a few minutes, listen to Carrie Underwood’s thoughts on allowing Jesus to take control…

YouTube Preview Image

Jesus, we choose YOU!  Heavenly Father, take control of our thoughts, plans, and outcomes of this day.  We give up the power to control, we trust you with our day, our Christmas, and our future.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  1 John 1:1-4:6

What Are Your Reminders of Your Promises to God? Joshua 24:25-27

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 22:1 through Joshua 24:33

Right before Joshua died he summoned all the tribes of Israel together.  Joshua reminded Israel of their amazing journey with the Lord.  Then Joshua gave the Israelites a challenge:

So Fear the Lord and Serve Him Wholeheartedly.  –Joshua 24:14

Then Joshua did something all God-led leaders do; he led by example:

Choose you this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.  –Joshua 24:15

Next, Joshua stirred up the people and challenged them by saying “you are not able to serve the Lord, for He is a holy and jealous God.”  (Joshua 24:19) I counted four times the Israelites came back and said, “Yes, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and recorded those things in the Book of God’s Instructions.  As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the terebinth tree beside the Tabernacle of the Lord.

Joshua said to all the people, “This stone has heard everything the Lord said to us.  It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God.”  –Joshua 24:25-27

There are several occasions during the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land where they were told to take rocks or stones and make a memorial.  Stones have been used for many things along our journey through six books of the Bible (can you believe we finish Joshua today?):

  • Jacob used a stone for his pillow  (Gen. 28:18)
  • Zipporah used a flint knife (sharp stone in the KJV)  to circumcise her son (Ex. 4:25)
  • God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone (Ex. 24:12)
  • Aaron’s had stones on his ephod with the names of the tribes of Israel engraved on them (ex. 28:12)
  • Stones were used to killed people who brought evil into the camp (Deut 21:21)
  • They set up stones when they crossed over the Jordan to build an altar(Deut. 27:4-8)
  • Twelve stones were a sign to future generations of the faithfulness of God (Josh. 4:6)

Rest, purification, instruction, holiness, correction, worship, reminders of faithfulness, reminders that God hears our promises…I need these rocks in my life.

Yesterday, we talked about all the promises that God made to us in Bible.  Today we are using “rocks” to remind of us our promises to Him.  Here are a few of my reminder “rocks”.

  • My old Bibles
  • My journals
  • My wedding ring
  • Pictures of my family
  • Scripture plaques in my home
  • Songs
  • Books

What are your reminders of your promises to God?

Praying for you today…

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 1:1 through Judges 3:30

How Long Are You Going to Wait? Joshua 18:3

Today’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 18:1-19:48

Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given to you? –Joshua 18:3

What are you waiting for?  Has God’s Word spoken promises you’ve not claimed?

What about this one?

Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. –John 10:10 The Message

Don’t settle for the plastic life the world offers.

What are you waiting for?

Reach out and grab the real life, an “Ephesians 3:20″ life.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (NIV)

Don’t wait!

Start today!

Heavenly Father, forgive us for settling for the life the world offers.  It must be so hard to watch us live below Your plans. Help us to have a “can do” attitude that says, “God planned this for me and I will have it!”  Help us to begin today!

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 19:49-21:45; 1 Chronicles 6:54-81

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