April 5, 2023
  Daily Reading – Joshua 7-9 / Luke 7:1-35

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Joshua 8:34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      Have you ever messed up? Ever make one of those really huge mistakes. Something you have seen as the blunder of all blunders. You may even have thought to yourself, ok, this is it. This will be the end of our relationship, or my career. Thinking, what I have done will never be forgiven. However, you finally fess up, only to find out that the boss, or the person you felt you had wronged was a little more forgiving than you thought they might be. If so, then you may understand how the Children of Israel felt in today’s passage. 

 

      God had brought them over Jordan and given them a huge victory over Jericho. They were kind of on a victory lap when they came to the city of Ai. Comparing Ai to that of Jericho, it seemed rather small and easy to take. So rather than sending everyone, they just sent a few men out to take the city. However, they lost this battle. When Joshua asks God why, God says the people of Israel had sinned. Someone had taken something from Jericho, which God had told them not to do. The sin of one family now was effecting the entire camp. With God’s leading, they found who had done this, and dealt with it exactly as God directed them to do. Then, God gave them victory over the people of Ai. So they built an altar to worship God. Not only for the victory, but also for the assurance of his presence with them. They were standing exactly where God, through Moses, had told them in Duet. 27:12-13 they would be. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

      I love 1 John 1:9 which says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus paid the price for my sin; my confession reassures my relationship. 

 

Aren’t you glad for this assurance from God?

 

 

  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?