"Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way." (Colossians 4:10)

Remember the story in Acts 12? Setting off on their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas take John Mark, Barnabas’ nephew, with them. Then somewhere in the early part of the journey, John Mark freaks out and runs home. At the outset of their second missionary trip, Barnabas says, ‘I’ll get John Mark, and we’ll be on our way.’

‘Hold on,’ Paul says. ‘John Mark flipped out and failed us last time. He’s not coming again.
‘Yes he is,’ said Barnabas, son of Comfort.
‘No way,’ said Paul. ‘There’s work to do. We can’t have this guy tag along with us. He just doesn’t have what it takes.’
‘I’m taking John Mark,’ said Barnabas.
‘Fine,’ said Paul. ‘Go your way. I’ll take Silas and we’ll go in a different direction.’

And they parted company.

Years later, we see that Barnabas’ work was successful with John Mark, for here in Colossians Paul salutes him.

So too, you who feel like you ‘missed the mark’, that God opened a door for you to do something, but you failed — take heart. I don’t care how badly you messed up, He’s not through with you.

You think you're a failure? Consider this man. He had less than three years of formal education and failed in business in ‘31. He was defeated for State Legislature in ‘32, and failed again in business in ‘34. Finally elected to the State Legislature in ‘35, he ran for Speaker and lost in a landslide. He was defeated again for Elector in ‘40, and for Congress in ‘43. Elected in ‘46, he was tossed out of office two years later, defeated in a reelection attempt in ‘48. Failing in business once again, he ran for Senate, but was defeated in ‘55. He ran for Vice President in ‘56, was crushed, and was defeated for Senate another time in ‘58. And then in ‘60, 1860, Abraham Lincoln won — and went on to become perhaps the greatest political leader in American history.

Could it be that the wit, wisdom, and understanding of human nature which he exhibited so powerfully came as a result of the setbacks, failures, and defeats Lincoln had experienced previously?

Don’t despair, precious people. John Mark blew it badly, but came through ultimately. So can you. 





joncourson.com

A Good Soldier Serves

"Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.  A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.  Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.  Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants." (2 Tim.2:22-26)

A good soldier is a servant. In addition to acting on behalf of his country in combat situations, he is called upon to aid the local populace, liberate captives, and keep peace within the ranks. He must think about more than his own skin. Likewise, a Christian soldier’s job includes watching over those working alongside him.

The Christian soldier protects the unity of the church. Worship communities divide over both important and trivial issues. Sadly, most splits are ugly battles between people who ought to be fighting side-by-side against a common Enemy. Paul warns believers not to be quarrelsome. Instead we’re to work out differences with kindness and show patience when wronged. Moreover, a sensitive, loving correction can often settle tempers and clean a wound torn in the church body. Then healing is possible.

The Christian soldier rescues those imprisoned by sin. A gentle correction is also useful when speaking to fellow believers ensnared by the Devil. Just as the men and women in a combat unit guard each other, we are to care for our spiritual brothers and sisters. Or as Paul explained, we “admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak” (1 Thess. 5:14). Our standing orders are to reflect Jesus to the world, beginning with each other (v. 13).

While these are things believers should do for one another, a servant-soldier’s top priority should be having a godly attitude. Respond to other spiritual warriors as Christ would. To keep your heart and mind right, you must be in God’s Word—reading, studying, and making His principles your own.

intouch.org

Peer Pressure

The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal.  They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord.  They abandoned the Lord to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth.  This made the Lord burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.  Every time Israel went out to battle, the Lord fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress. (Judges 2:11-15)









This generation of Israelites abandoned the faith of their parents and began worshipping the false gods of their neighbors.  Many things can tempt us to abandon what we know is right.  The desire to be accepted by others can lead us into behavior that is unacceptable to God.  But God wants us to stand firm.  When someone tries to pressure you into disobedience, what will you do?

A Good Soldier Prepares

   "And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

  And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction."

Peter’s Final Words

  "I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.  Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen." (2 Peter 3:14-19)

Christians are in a three-front spiritual war. We battle against our own flesh and this world’s influence even as Satan tries to take us captive. A good soldier needs to understand his mission thoroughly, or else he will make mistakes and fall to the Enemy.

During a Christian soldier’s lifetime, God will adjust His orders to suit the current battle. But the warrior’s ultimate mission never changes—to reach the campaign’s end with his testimony intact. In other words, a believer’s first priority is to guard against error and temptation by knowing the truth.

Sadly, many believers realize too late the need to defend themselves. While they are looking for momentous, obvious attacks, the Enemy sneaks in with guerrilla warfare—often right into the church itself. People with enticing new ideas and appealing words infiltrate and spread half-truths. Ill-equipped soldiers swallow this poison until their faith is impaired and their testimony nearly dead.

What the weakened soldier lacks is adequate preparation for the mission. One cannot stand unarmed before an enemy bent upon destruction! Yet in our hands, we carry our whole arsenal—the Bible. Everything God’s soldiers should know is in His Book. But we must read, study, and think about His principles in order to wield our weapons correctly (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Never underestimate the Enemy. You can’t avoid spiritual warfare, which invades your church, your home, and even your body and mind. Study the Bible so you can put on truth and wisdom to defend yourself. Then you can complete your mission and face your commander Jesus Christ in victory!

intouch.org

When The Going Gets Tough...

"But the tribe of Dan had trouble taking possession of their land, so they attacked the town of Laish. They captured slaughtered its people, and settled there. They renamed the town Dan after their ancestor.  The homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Dan included these towns and their surrounding villages." (Joshua 19:47-48)

When the tribe of Dan decided that some of their land looked difficult to conquer,  they headed to Laish where a victory would be easier.  Can you relate to that decision?  Anyone can trust God when the going is easy.  Our faith and courage are put to the test when everything looks impossible.  Do you believe that God is great enough to tackle your most difficult problem?

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.." (Colossians 3:23)

The man God uses is a man who knows how to work ...

It was when Moses was tending his father-in-law’s sheep that God appeared to Him in the burning bush (Exodus 3).

It was when Elisha was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen that Elijah cast the mantle of ministry upon him (1 Kings 19:19).

It was when Peter and Andrew were casting their nets that Jesus called them to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:19).

It was when Saul was laboring for the high priest on his way to Damascus that Jesus appeared to him and turned his life around (Acts 9).

Many people who want to be missionaries, ministers, or youth pastors are just sitting ‘waiting on God’. But they will still be sitting at age 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70. The answer is to work. Whatever you’re doing, do it heartily to the Lord — for it is then that God will tap you on the shoulder and give you tasks that are even more significant for the Kingdom.

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

Putting it Off

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?  Select three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to explore the land and map it out. They will then return to me with a written report of their proposed divisions of their new homeland.  Let them divide the land into seven sections, excluding Judah’s territory in the south and Joseph’s territory in the north.  And when you record the seven divisions of the land and bring them to me, I will cast sacred lots in the presence of the Lord our God to assign land to each tribe. (Joshua 18:3-6)






Joshua wondered why some of the tribes were slow to claim their land.  Like the Israelites, we sometimes delay doing jobs that seem large, difficult, boring, or disagreeable.  Jobs we don't enjoy require concentration, teamwork, lots of encouragement, and accountability.  Tempted to proscrastinate?  You might envistigate the cause of the delay (fear, lack of confidence in your ability to finish the task).  Then ask God to help youdo what you need to do.  Don't put it off!

Tradition

However, Zelophehad, a descendant of Hepher son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, had no sons. He had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.  These women came to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us a grant of land along with the men of our tribe.”   So Joshua gave them a grant of land along with their uncles, as the Lord had commanded. (Joshua 17:3-4)

By giving land to daughters of Zelophedad, Joshua honored a promise that Moses had made earlier (Numbers 27:1-11)  Although Israelite women did not traditionally inherit property, Moses put justice ahead of tradition and gave these 5 women the land they deserved.  Ever allow a tradition to decide your actions? It's easy to refuse to honor a reasonable request because of tradition.  God sometimes calls us to break one tradition and start a new one.

A Double Portion

The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the 
Jordan River near Jericho, east of the springs of Jericho, through the wilderness and into the hill country of Bethel.  From Bethel (that is, Luz) it ran over to Ataroth in the territory of the Arkites.  Then it descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer and over to the Mediterranean Sea.

 This was the homeland allocated to the families of Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

The Land Given to Ephraim

  The following territory was given to the clans of the tribe of Ephraim.

   The boundary of their homeland began at Ataroth-addar in the east. From there it ran to Upper Beth-horon,  then on to the Mediterranean Sea. From Micmethath on the north, the boundary curved eastward past Taanath-shiloh to the east of Janoah.  From Janoah it turned southward to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho, and ended at the Jordan River.  From Tappuah the boundary extended westward, following the Kanah Ravine to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Ephraim.
  In addition, some towns with their surrounding villages in the territory allocated to the half-tribe of Manasseh were set aside for the tribe of Ephraim.  They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day. (Joshua 16:1-10)

Though Joseph was one of Jacob's 12 sons, he did not have a tribe named after him.  Yet his family group was due to receive a double portion of the land because Reuben messed up long ago (Gen. 49:3-4)  This double portion was given to Joseph's 2 sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, whom Jacob considered as his own (Gen. 48:5)  If you believe in Jesus, you are one of God's own.  What "portions" of God's mercy have you received recently?

Promise Keeper

   A delegation from the tribe of Judah, led by Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb said to Joshua, “Remember what the Lord said to Moses, the man of God, about you and me when we were at Kadesh-barnea.  I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.  So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.’

  “Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old.  I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.  So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.” (Joshua 14:6-12)




When Joshua gave Caleb his land, he fulfilled a promise God had made to Caleb 45 years earlier.  How about you?  Are you this reliable?  God is.  Even today he honors promises he made thousands years ago.  In fact,  some of his greatest promises are yet to be fulfilled.  How does the knowledge of God's faithfulness make you feel?

An Exact Obedience

The remaining tribes of Israel received land in Canaan as allotted by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the tribal leaders. ord’s command through Moses.  Moses had already given a grant of land to the two and a half tribes on the east side of the Jordan River, but he had given the Levites no such allotment.  The descendants of Joseph had become two separate tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim. And the Levites were given no land at all, only towns to live in with surrounding pasturelands for their livestock and all their possessions.  So the land was distributed in strict accordance with the Lord’s commands to Moses. (Joshua 14:1-5)

The land was divided exactly as God had instructed Moses years before.  Joshua followed God's commands precisely.  Often we believe that "almost" is close enough.  This idea can carry over into our spiritual lives.  For example, we may follow God's Word as long as we agree with it, but ignore it when the demands seem difficult.  But God is looking for leaders who follow his instructions thoroughly.  Does that describe you?

The Age of Experience

When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered...' " (Joshua 13:1)

Joshua was between 85 and 100 years of age at this time.  God, however, still had work for him to do. Our culture often glorifies the young and strong and sets aside those who are older.  Yet older people are filled with wisdom that comes from experience.  They are capable of serving if given the chance and should be encouraged to do so.  Think about the older people in your life.  How much time are you willing to learn from their experience?

Progress

So Joshua conquered the entire region—the hill country, the entire Negev, the whole area around the town of Goshen, the western foothills, the Jordan Valley, the mountains of Israel, and the Galilean foothills.  The Israelite territory now extended all the way from Mount Halak, which leads up to Seir in the south, as far north as Baal-gad at the foot of Mount Hermon in the valley of Lebanon. Joshua killed all the kings of those territories, waging war for a long time to accomplish this.  No one in this region made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites of Gibeon. All the others were defeated.  For the Lord hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

  During this period Joshua destroyed all the descendants of Anak, who lived in the hill country of Hebron, Debir, Anab, and the entire hill country of Judah and Israel. He killed them all and completely destroyed their towns.  None of the descendants of Anak were left in all the land of Israel, though some still remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.

  So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war." (Joshua 11:16-23)






Although the conquest of much of the land of Canaan seems to have happened quickly, it actually took 7 years!  We often expect quick changes in our lives or quick victories over sin.  But our journey with God is a lifelong process.  Because changes and victories take time, many people grow impatient with God and feel like giving up hope.  Are you wondering whether or not you see any progress in your life?  Hold on to hope!  One day you'll look back at this point in your life and be amazed at how much progress actually took place!

A Thorough Response

  "So Joshua conquered the whole region—the kings and people of the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills, and the mountain slopes. He completely destroyed everyone in the land, leaving no survivors, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.  Joshua slaughtered them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza and from the region around the town of Goshen up to Gibeon. ord, the God of Israel, was fighting for his people. Joshua conquered all these kings and their land in a single campaign, for the L

  Then Joshua and the Israelite army returned to their camp at Gilgal." (Joshua 10:40-43)

God had commanded Joshua to conquer the people of Canaan to allow God's people to settle in this territory.  Joshua did his part thoroughly.  When God orders us to eliminate elements in our lives that cause us to do wrong (for example, interner porn; TV shows that make us unsatisfied with our lives), we must not pause to rationalize.  Instead, like Joshua, our response must be swift and complete.

Hope For The Future

“Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua told his men. “Be strong and courageous, for the Lord is going to do this to all of your enemies.” (Joshua 10:25)





With God's help, Israel won a battle against 5 Amorite armies (10:1-4).  Joshua told his men never to be afraid, because God would give them similar victories over their enemies.  The same God who empowered Joshua and his troops and led us in the past will help us with our present and future needs.  Reminding ourselves of God's faithfulness will give us hope for the struggles that lie ahead.

A Fork In The Road

"Then all the Israelites—foreigners and native-born alike—along with the elders, officers, and judges, were divided into two groups. One group stood in front of Mount Gerizim, the other in front of Mount Ebal. Each group faced the other, and between them stood the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant. This was all done according to the commands that Moses, the servant of the Lord, had previously given for blessing the people of Israel.

Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of Instruction. 

Every word of every command that Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among them." (Joshua 8:33-35)

After Israel's military victory at Ai, Joshua celebrated by thanking God and reading God's laws to the people of Israel.  A victory is a fork in the road for each person.  It can either be a reminder to stick closer to God more than ever or a time to congratulate oneself.  Joshua chose to stick close to God.  When the next victory comes in your life,  what will you do?

No Small Thing

Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.”

So Joshua sent some men to make a search. They ran to the tent and found the stolen goods hidden there, just as Achanad said, with the silver buried beneath the rest. They took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites. Then they laid them on the ground in the presence of the Lord.

Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies." (Joshua 7:20-25)






Achan underestimated God and didn't take His commands seriously (6:18-19). Taking a robe, some coins, and a bar of gold may have seemed a small matter to Achan, but the effects of his actions were felt by the entire nation, especially his family. Israel lost a battle amd the lives og the 36 men because of Achan. A small sin can have a big impact. When temptation comes, count the cost!

Lyrics Explains It All!

A War Already Won

"But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. 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. 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.” (Joshua 6:2-5)




God told Joshua that the enemy way defeated before the battle began! What confidence Joshua must have had as he went into battle! Christians also fight against a defeated enemy. Jesus defeated our enemy, Satan, when He died on the cross. Although we still fight battles every day and evil continues in the world, we have the assurance that the war has already been won.

Remember Rahab

"Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night." (Joshua 2:1)





Rahab risked her life to help 2 Israelite spies. She didn't allow her imperfect past to keep her from reaching out to God and helping His people. God often uses people with simple faith to accomplish great purposes, no matter what kind of past they have had or how insignificant they seem to be. Feeling like the mistakes you've made will keep you from being used by God? Remember Rahab!

Challenge

After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “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. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— 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.’ 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.

“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. 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. 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. 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.”(Joshua 1:1-9)

Joshua's new job consisted of leading more than 2 million people into a strange new land and conquering it. What a challenge - even for a man of Joshua's capability! We may never have to face such a challenge; still, we face tough situations, difficult people, and temptation every day. God promises that He will never abandon us or fail to help us, regardless of how we feel. With God's help, we can conquer many of life's challenges.

xoxo,

God Bless :)

Devotional over Pizza

"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful" (Colossians 3:15)





The word translated ‘rule’ is a Greek word which describes an official at an athletic event, similar to a present-day umpire. When people ask, ‘Should I move? Should I take that job? Should I marry him?’ I often answer with a question: what’s your heart telling you? If you’re walking with the Lord, the peace of God will be an umpire in your heart calling 'Safe!' or 'Out!'

Women, when he asks you to marry him, don’t say yes if there isn’t a deep sense of peace in your heart. ‘You just have cold feet,’ he’ll say. But I suggest it is much more than cold feet. It is God working deep within your soul.

Don’t move, gang, without the peace of God umpiring and ruling in your heart.

xoxo, God Bless :)

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

Where Your Heart is, There Your Treasure Will Be

"Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth." (Colossians 3:2)


"Set your heart on things above. Live for heaven, and you’ll enjoy life. How does that happen? Many ways, but I’ll suggest three ...

Number One: your treasure. Jesus said, ‘Wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also’ (Matthew 6:21).

For one week, I had a crush on Denise Fuller and wanted to take her to our church youth group’s spring banquet. In order to pay for it, however, I had to sell my one share of American Motors stock which I had bought for twelve bucks. Now, I was really into my one share of stock — so much so that, although I was a big San Francisco Giants fan, before I checked out the box scores to see how Mays, Cepeda, and McCovey were doing each day, I turned to the stock page to check on American Motors’ progress. But when this banquet came up, I sold my one share of stock. And guess what. Once I sold my share, I never turned to the stock page again. I just lost interest.

When Jesus tells us to lay up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20), it’s not God’s way of raising money. Knowing that where our treasure is, our heart will follow, it’s His way of raising our hearts and minds out of this world and up into heaven. You see, if you invest your treasure in American Motors, that’s where your heart will be. If you put your treasure in your house or hobby, your heart will be there as well. Your heart follows your treasure — so one of the ways we set our hearts on things above is by investing in the Kingdom.

Secondly, we live for heaven through our trials. I am convinced God will send a trial a day our way just to keep us homesick for heaven. If He didn’t, we would become bound up in this earth and would miss out eternally on what He has in store for us.

A third way the Lord gets me to set my heart and mind on things above is by transfers — when the people we love precede us into heaven. This process is very important because when you have transferred friends, parents, and spouses in heaven, your heart longs to be there all the more keenly.

Treasures, trials, transfers — three ways our hearts can be constantly set on things above."


xoxo,
God Bless :)



This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament.

Memory Verses over A Bowl of Cheerios

"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 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." (Hebrews 10:35-36)

"A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked." (Psalm 84:10)


xoxo,
God Bless :)

Lyrics to "What Faith Can Do" by KUTLESS

This song says it all!
It's truly inspiring and encouraging.
I heard it today for the first time and had chills going up my spine.
I needed encouragement, and I'm glad God spoke through them :)
Praise God! He is our Refuge and Tower of Strength!

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do


"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

7:42 AM Verse

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4


xoxo,
God Bless :)

joncourson.com

"I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong." (Colossians 2:4-5)





In the days of the Roman Empire, a certain wealthy senator became estranged from his son. When he died unexpectedly, his will was opened. ‘Because my son does not appreciate what I’ve done, I leave all of my worldly possessions to my loyal slave, Marcellus,’ the will read. ‘However, because I am a man of grace, I bequeath to my son one of my possessions of his choosing.’

‘Sorry,’ said the testator to the son. ‘You can only take one of your dad’s possessions. Which will it be?’
‘I take Marcellus,’ said the son.

Brilliant!

That’s the idea. When you take Jesus Christ, you get all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. When you open your heart to Him, you find everything you need. It’s all in Him.

Why is this understanding so important? - because it is the only way to keep from being sucked into ‘enticing words’, cults and other dead-end pursuits of pseudo-spirituality.

That’s what was happening in Colossae. People were coming on the scene saying, ‘Hey, what Paul is preaching is fine, but there’s much more.’

‘No,’ Paul says, ‘Be steadfast in your faith in Christ. All of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Him.’



xoxo
God Bless :)

James 1:5

This is a continuation from my previous blog, "on a quest for wisdom?" I would like to share with you what I've learned.


A few months ago, my fiance and I decided to spend some time apart. It was a shocker for me, because I did not expect it. We were in the middle of planning our wedding! However, we were
having some problems, and haven't talked to each other for almost a week. Our constant arguments and bickerings drove us apart. Now, after we had parted ways, you can assume that I was devastated, angry, torn, and betrayed. Yes, I was one but not all. I was devastated! I cried my eyes out. But, I was not angry, torn or betrayed. I was excited! I was excited but devastated simultaneously! Why? I was excited because God answered our prayers. John and I would pray together over the phone before we would go to bed. We prayed for each other. We asked God to increase our faith. We asked God to help us grow in areas that we needed to grow. We asked God to transform us, our hearts, and our minds. We asked God to control us. We asked God to turn us into Godly, God-fearing man and woman.

I could have been mad at John. I could have called him a liar. I could have hit him or destroy his car. But I didn't. I was not angry! I was excited. Yes, there was a time when I thought about it. I thought, "He promised me this..." or "He said he wouldn't hurt me...", but I would turn away from that thinking, because that thinking was from the devil. That thinking was from a human point of view.

Remember Matthew 16:21-23.
"From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

I recently realized that it was the devil who was seeping into my mind making me think human things. The devil wanted me to think all these things about what John had promised me. The devil wanted me to be angry towards John! The devil wanted to distract me from what God wanted me to see and learn. But I refused! I knew that the separation John and I are going through is for the glory of God. I refused to let the devil play with my mind. I refused to depend on my human understanding. I refused to lean on my human strength. Therefore, I prayed for wisdom.

On a quest for WISDOM?

Colossians 2:3
"In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

All wisdom, all knowledge is in — not from — Jesus. Whoever desires wisdom to navigate life successfully must come to the realization that there is nothing more, nothing less, nothing else than Jesus. All treasures of wisdom are in Him.

William Randolph Hearst, the billionaire publisher, became rather eccentric in his later years. One day, looking through a book of famous artwork, a painting caught his eye. ‘I want this painting for my collection,’ he said to his aides. But after making some inquiries, his aides reported that they were unable to locate the particular work.

‘If you value your jobs,’ Hearst barked, ‘do whatever it takes to find that treasure, and secure it for me immediately.’

Three and a half months later, the aides returned to Hearst. ‘Did you find the treasure?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ they replied. ‘After much searching and painstaking research, we found it.’
‘Did you purchase it?’ he asked.
‘No.’
‘Why not?’ Hearst demanded.
‘Because we found it in your warehouse.’

So too, Paul says to the Colossians, ‘You already have all the wisdom and knowledge you will ever need to get through life successfully. It’s all in Christ. When you got Him, you got it all.’


joncourson.com

Verse of The Day

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor."

1 Peter 5:6


xoxo,
God Bless :)

intouch.org

God Speaks Through a Friend

1 Samuel 3:1-10

When we're not listening for the Lord's voice, He will often send a message through someone else. In 1 Samuel 3:1-10, for example, young Samuel is confused about what is happening. He hears a person speaking but doesn't recognize it as the voice of God. However, his mentor--Eli, the priest--discerns that the Father was calling, so he tells the boy what to do when the Lord speaks again (v. 9).

In taking his advice, Samuel begins a lifelong career of relaying to others what the voice of God says. This might not have happened, though, if Eli had not given his young helper a word of instruction.

I myself had a similar experience several years ago. A friend called me unexpectedly and said, "While I was praying, God told me to tell you to spend tomorrow in prayer and fasting before you make that decision." This struck me in a mighty way, because I was indeed facing a big decision, but there was no way that my friend could have known about it.

I did what he advised, and through this process, God led me to the answer I needed. In fact, I discovered that I had been moving in the wrong direction and would have made a terrible mistake if my friend hadn't called. However, God stepped in and got my attention in a remarkable way.

When we're going off course, the Lord will sometimes speak through other believers to reach us. Therefore, it is vital to maintain a close network of godly men and women we can trust. Thank the Lord for the Christ-centered people in your life, and pray for wisdom in discerning their counsel.

xoxo,

God Bless :)

Delight Yourself in the Lord

"I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!
For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit
or a bride with her jewels.
The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world.
Everyone will praise him!
His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,
with plants springing up everywhere."
(Isaiah 61:10-11)NLT

The word delight means to gain great pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness. Isn't that exactly the kind of relationship you want with the Lord--one in which both you and He enjoy time spent in each other's presence? If that sounds good to you, then I have great news. God also wants that kind of delightful friendship, which develops through commitment, trust, and patience.

First, a believer must commit his or her ways to God. This means that we welcome Him to examine our desires and plans. The Lord is invited to alter whatever does not fit His purpose or advance His plan for our life.

Second, a believer must trust God. Who is more worthy of our faith than the Father, who gave Jesus Christ to save wicked sinners? The One who would not spare His only Son will certainly provide all that His children need (Rom. 8:32).

Third, a believer must rest in God. When we fret about an issue or something that we consider necessary, we're neither committing ourselves to the Lord nor trusting in Him. Because of our limited human viewpoint, waiting patiently is rarely easy. However, God knows when circumstances and timing are perfectly aligned for His will to be done.

A growing relationship with the Lord is not drudgery, though it can be hard work. But the effort is a labor of love, because humans are designed to derive joy from being in God's presence. The greatest pleasure we can experience in life is walking hand in hand with a Father who adores us.

InTouch.org

Compliment & Encourage!

²⁹ One day Moses said to his brother-in-law, Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are on our way to the place the Lord promised us, for he said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised wonderful blessings for Israel!”

³⁰ But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family.”

³¹ “Please don’t leave us,” Moses pleaded. “You know the places in the wilderness where we should camp. Come, be our guide. ³² If you do, we’ll share with you all the blessings the Lord gives us.”

By complimneting Hobab's wilderness skills, Moses let Hobab know that he was needed. The people in your life won't know that you appreciate them if you don't tell them. Complimenting the people in your life builds lasting relationships and helps them know their strengths and value. Think about those who have helped you this month. What can you do to let them know how much you need and appreciate them?

xoxo

God Bless :)

Gossip Good Stuff...

"You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you." Colossians 1:7-8


I like Epaphras. He goes around speaking good things. He says, ‘I have good news about great things happening with those guys in Colosse.’

I want to be like Epaphras — talking about how great someone is behind his or her back, for not only does this please the Lord, but it has an impact on me as well.

How? To a very real degree, you are who I say you are when you’re not around. You see, if all of you leave here tonight and, on your way home, talk about what an idiot I am, I will become that person to you the next time we meet. Talk negatively about me, and, even if those things are not totally true, that’s what I will become in your sight.

On the other hand, if you speak well of a person behind his back, that is the way you will tend to view him. The next time you see him, you will approach him with an entirely different mindset than if you had come down on him.

The power of words is awesome. For that reason, we must be very careful. Gossip good stuff. That’s what Epaphras did.

(Jon Courson's Searchlight)

Numbers 9

^"...15 On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it.^d]">[d] But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. ¹⁶ This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. ¹⁷ Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. ¹⁸ In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. ¹⁹ If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord. ²⁰ Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on. ²¹ Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. ²² Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. ²³ So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses."



The Hebrews traveled and camped as God guided. When you follow God's guidance, you can be confident that you're where God wants you whether you're moving or staying in one place. Instead of praying, " God, what do you want me to do next?" you might ask, "God, what do you want me to do while I'm right here?" Direction from God is not just for your next big move. He has a purpose in placing you where you are right now.