April 4, 2023
  Daily Reading – Joshua 4-6 / Luke 6:20-49

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Joshua 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      Growing up I remember a commercial on television for a product called “Shake N Bake.” It was a coating mix that you placed Chicken into, shook it up really good, placed the pieces on a baking sheet and tossed them into the oven to bake, rather than fry the chicken. During the commercial they demonstrated how easy it was to do by having children help with the shaking, then someone would say, “this is great fried chicken.” To which smiling children would say, “it’s not fired, it’s Shake N Bake, And We helped.”

 

      We find in today’s chapters the Children of Israel coming to an understanding that what they were doing was assisting God in His plans. Do not misunderstand, they are actually doing things, but they are doing things exactly as God says. In chapter 4 they cross over the Jordan River. Obeying every detail of God’s directions of who goes first and what to do, God then parted the Jordan River, and they all went over. In chapter 5 God commanded that all the men be circumcised. These were men born during the 40 years in the desert and they had not been separated unto the Lord with this act of obedience. They all obeyed. When we get to chapter 6 God tells them of an odd way of taking the fortified city of Jericho. Yet we hear nothing of grumbling or arguing about how it was done. Instead, they assisted God in His plan to defeat this great walled city. You can almost hear them saying; “God did it, And We Helped!” 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

      God is still trying to help His children today. In Matthew 6:33 it says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” He still wants us to assist Him in His plans.

 

What might God do if we followed His plans?

 

 

  April 3, 2023
  Daily Reading – Joshua 1-3 / Luke 6:1-19

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Joshua 1:11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      “Are We There Yet? I am not sure of this, but I imagine that every parent, in every country, on every continent which God created, who has ever traveled with children has heard those famous words. I remember taking a group of teens on a trip to Tennessee. Our Youth Pastor, Mike would always answer that question, “15 more minutes.” I asked him, “don’t you feel like you are lying to them?” He said, “no, I did not say we would be there in 15 minutes, just in 15 minutes I will answer that question again.” Many of the teens had fallen asleep when we stopped early in the morning at a grocery store. When we got out of the van one teen said; “Are we there yet?” Mike said, “yup, we are here.” Still half asleep when we got into the store she said, “Pastor Mike, are we sleeping in a grocery store?” We all laughed.

 

      After forty years of wandering around in the desert, hearing of this future home, coming close to it several times but never going in, I am pretty sure someone at some time had to have asked, “Are We There Yet?” What a joy for Joshua to finally tell them, eat up folks, we have arrived. The day has come when you will get to see what God has been promising all along. The promised land. There were still some obstacles to overcome like the rushing Jordan River and the people who lived there now. However, they had come to believed God would see them thought any problems they might face. We Have Arrived! 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

      God has told the saints of a promised land. A home in heaven someday. There are obstacles we may face before we enter in. However, we have come to believe that God will see us through any problem we may face. One day we will say, “We Have Arrived!”

 

Will you trust God until then?

 

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Deuteronomy 31:19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    “Ear Worms.” It is that tune you cannot seem to forget. Sometimes it is fine. But, most often it will almost drive you crazy. Songs like, ”This is the Song that never ends;” or “Baby Shark,” that anyone with a toddler around has heard way too many times. Even if it is not playing, it echo’s in the back of your brain for days. Just when you think you have forgotten it, someone will play it again. You may think “Ear Worm’s” are some modern creation. Truth is, it was God’s idea first.

     I realize today’s verse came from yesterday’s reading. However, Chapter 32 fulfills todays verse. God told Moses to write a song. Why? Well, because songs have a way of playing in our memory long after lectures fade. God knew that if they learned this song, it would be a witness, or reminder in the years to come of just who He was and what He had done. God knew that songs play a powerful role in the hearts of man. 

      Today people often dismiss music, thinking of it simply as a form of entertainment. Satan knows that if he can plant sinful thoughts in your mind through songs he can tempt you to sin. In Col. 3:16 it says; “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” We should put those words to music and ponder that tune! 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Music is so important in our lives. What we allow to play in our minds, does affect how we live. Some of the new songs are good. I do know the Hymns may seem old fashioned. Yet they have a vital old-fashioned message we all still need to hear.
 

What tunes are you pondering today?

 THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

    Before Moses was led by God to the top of mount Pisgah to die, God used him to share words of wisdom about:

● Passing The Test
● Performing The Task
● Prayers For A Touch
● Prophecies Came True
● Picking A Trail
● Pondering That Tune

    Much of what God said through Moses then, can still be applied to our lives today. True Words of WISDOM.

     Enjoy today with your church and hear what God has prepared in the heart of His man for you this week.

   See you tomorrow.  

 SUNDAYS:

    Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

April 3, 2023	Joshua 1-3	Luke 6:1-19
April 4, 2023	Joshua 4-6	Luke 6:20-49
April 5, 2023	Joshua 7-9	Luke 7:1-35
April 6, 2023	Joshua 10-11	Luke 7:36-50
April 7, 2023	Joshua 12-14	Luke 8:1-40
April 8, 2023	Joshua 15-17	Luke 8:41-56
April 9, 2023	No Passages Assigned

Words Of Wisdom

 March 31, 2023
 Daily Reading – Deuteronomy 29-31 / Luke 5:1-26

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    Once on a family vacation to Kentucky, while staying at my grandma and grandpa’s house, I went exploring the mountain behind their house. My folks said; “do not wander off too far!” I said; ”OK,” and off I went. I climbed and climbed until I finally reached the top of the mountain. At that age it seemed to me that I could see the world from that peak. I wandered around up there for a while, and then decided to go back down the mountain. The problem was, I couldn’t remember which way I came up. I saw a path that looked traveled and thought this must be the way. After a while I found I had walked into a thicket filled with pricker bushes. When I came out to a road, I was scratched up and on the opposite side of that mountain. Fortunately, my dad, who knew the area well, was looking for me and when he found me, took me back to the house. You can imagine our conversation on the way back was not about how did I like my adventure.

 

    In today’s verse God sets out two very distinct paths for Israel. One is good and leads to life. The other is evil and leads to death. The problem is the old Devil loves making the wrong path look so appealing. It begins with satisfying enticements which appeal to the flesh. However, if you follow it, you will always end up in “the pricker bushes.” The best way to travel an area you are not familiar with is to follow someone who knows the way, and NEVER wander off too far! 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    In Sunday School we sang a song that said; “My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, All I have to do is follow.” Prov. 3:5-6 says if we will Trust in the Lord, He will direct our paths. If we are wise we let him pick our trail in life.

 

Do you follow or lead the Lord with your life?

 

 

 March 30, 2023
 Daily Reading – Deuteronomy 28 / Luke 4:14-44

 GOD’S WORD:

Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    People say they want to know the future. What is going to happen down the road. Daniel and Revelation are two of the most studied books in the Bible because of the truths they hold about our future. However, does knowing the future cause you to live better, or worse. Knowing something is going to happen, but not knowing just when, should cause people some concern.

    In Deut. 28 God tells the Children of Israel about the blessing He will pour out on them if they live according to His directions. He also says in verse 15, if you do not, there is a price to pay. God prophesies the carrying away of Israel and Judah into Assyria and Babylon in verse 36. In verse 49 He foretells of the Roman Empire’s conquering and ruling over Israel. The emblem of the Roman Empire was the eagle and their language, which the Jews did not understand, was Latin. Then again in verse 64 God tells of the eventual scattering of the Jewish people in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed. The nation of Israel may be back today, but the people are still scattered globally. God forewarned them hundreds of years in advance of these things happening. Yet as time has passed, they never believed it would be today, so let’s live it up. Each one of these prophecies came to pass exactly as God said they would. Yet, each one seemed to catch them by surprise. Why? It was not that they did not know. It was because they believed it would not happen to them now.. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Throughout the New Testament we read of Christ’s return. For Christians, a time of rejoicing. For unbelievers, a time of reckoning. Sadly, I see both groups living as if it just could not happen today. Yet someday it will. What then?

Do we really believe Jesus could come back today?