Do what you are supposed to do…

 

Do what you are supposed to do…

Joshua was mentored by Moses…but, the Lord filled him with the spirit of leadership…

Others were gifted in craftsmanship to design the Tabernacle, build a boat, lead others, follow after God’s heart, be a friend…later to be disciples, writers, prophets, even make it through hardships, be examples, etc…

We still are gifted by the Holy Spirit, with spiritual gifts…those gifts that motivate us to serve God, others…

I like that Moses encouraged, exhorted Joshua in this,   “ be courageous, be strong, be careful, be ready “…those words were not just for him but for generations of leaders, servers in the kingdom…do what you have been given to do…

Thank YOU…

 “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 

So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. 

Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 

Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 

He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. 

At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

Num.27.16-21

 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deut.31.7,Deut.31.8

 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. 

As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 

“Be strong and very courageous. 

Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 

Have I not commanded you? 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Josh.1.1-9

 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. 

And be thankful. 

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Col.3.15-17

I choose Jesus…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARSGgC9iQb0

Found notes…servanthood…

 Found notes…servanthood…

The other day, I found a box of greeting cards addressed to “church kitchen ladies”…you know those women who serve faithfully who are setting up, washing dishes, planning, cleaning, organizing, working behind the scenes….they may work in the kitchen, the library, the office, VBS, the nursery, etc…always finding ways to serve others….

I found the following notes about servants…

“Real servants act…

Servants make themselves available to serve…

Servants pay attention to needs..

Servants do their best with what they have…

Servants do every task with equal dedication…

Servants are faithful to their ministry…

Servants maintain a low profile…

Servants think more about others than about themselves…

Servants think like stewards, not owners..

Servants think about their work, not what others are doing…

Servants base their identity in Christ…

Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation…”

(I think this is from Rick Warren, but not certain, but from seminar years ago)…

When looking at spiritual gifting, service is one of the spiritual gifts…the motivation to serve others…but,  we are all called to serve one another…we may do it in different ways, exhorting, giving, showing mercy, teaching…but serving non the less…

“It has been rightly stated, “Rank is given you to enable you to better serve those above and below you. It is not given for you to practice your idiosyncrasies” (General Bruce C. Clarke, USA, Ret). Let’s serve others by serving Christ (Colossians 3:23-24). God the Father has served us by sacrificing Christ on the cross for our sins, and we should serve others by giving the gospel and our lives to them (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6). Those who desire to be great in God’s kingdom must be the servant of all (Matthew 20:26) gotquestions.org…. https://www.gotquestions.org/servanthood.html

Thank YOU…

 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matt.20.26-28

 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

Matt.24.45-46

 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

Luke.19.17

 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

John.12.26

Make me a servant …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6U8O_WnPZY

Speaking what God wants…

 

Speaking what God wants…

Reading about Balaam in the book of Numbers is similar in to reading about Jonah…

Both men were to give a message that the Lord had given them,  Balaam had a donkey whom he beat three times, Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days…both were reluctant to speak…Balaam and Jonah had to proclaim…both faced enemies of Israel…their hearts really weren’t right with God…

 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. 

I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”

Num.22.35,Num.22.38

 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

Jonah.3.1-2

“Balaam was a wicked prophet in the Bible and is noteworthy because, although he was a wicked prophet, he was not a false prophet. That is, Balaam did hear from God, and God did give him some true prophecies to speak. However, Balaam’s heart was not right with God, and eventually he showed his true colors by betraying Israel and leading them astray.

Balaam’s name and story became infamous, and he is referred to several times in the New Testament. Peter compares false teachers to Balaam, “who loved the wages of wickedness” (2 Peter 2:15). Jude echoes this sentiment, associating Balaam with the selling of one’s soul for financial gain (Jude 1:11). Finally, Jesus speaks of Balaam when He warns the church in Pergamum of their sin: “There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14). Satan’s tactics haven’t changed all that much. If he cannot curse God’s people directly, he will try the back-door approach, and idolatry and sexual immorality are his go-to temptations.”  Gotquestions.org 

It was just interesting to me how God used both men to speak…He uses so many methods to tell of his Word…wicked, reluctant…even a donkey…the heavens declare His glory…we have His Word around us in so many ways…He is not hindered in any way in proclaiming Himself…

Thank YOU…

 The heavens declare the glory of God;the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech;night after night they reveal knowledge. 

They have no speech, they use no words;no sound is heard from them. 

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 

The law of the Lord is perfect,refreshing the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,making wise the simple. 

The precepts of the Lord are right,giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure,enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are firm,and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold,than much pure gold;they are sweeter than honey,than honey from the honeycomb. 

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Ps.19.1-4,Ps.19.7-10, Ps.19.14

Thy Word….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npWJZwgmKMo

Double lives, double minded…

 

Double lives, double minded…

I had a cancerous mole removed from my face this week…went in for yearly check up, the doctor looks me all over and looks closer at one spot (doesn’t look any different to me), takes a “sample” and it was cancerous…so out comes the needles, the knife, the cauterizing machine, the tests, the bandaids….ugh..and whew…what looked simple led a different life under my skin, spreading and growing…

Recently, along with that, I just finished a book about double lives…people who led hidden lives while purporting upstanding, stable lives to those around them…found out by undercover investigators…all imposters in their lives…one for good,  one for evil…

 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Jas.1.8,Jas.4.7-8

There are those in the Bible who had divided lives…some repented of the evil they has done, while others did not…

David repented and sought after God’s heart…he wanted a whole heart for God…Saul, David’s predecessor, on the other hand, was half hearted…

Saul turned Paul, sought God whole heartedly..he was not double minded after he turned to God, traveling to preach the gospel in so many places…

James writes not be double minded…turning to God Wholeheartedly….

Matthew speaks of two masters, God and money…

  “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matt.6.24

Matthew later speaks of wolves in sheep’s clothing…

 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

;Matt.7.15-20

Single minded, undivided hearts, bearing good fruit, true, humble…a worthy goal…

Thank YOU…

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?’ declares the Lord. ‘These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite [wounded] in spirit, and who tremble at my word’” (Isaiah 66:1-2 NIV).

Spirit lead me…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABWnLjXer10

 

 

 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,for to you I entrust my life.

Ps.143.8

Mercies….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJg31komsak

Found notes..friendship…

 Found notes…friendship….

I still have more notes that I found going through files this winter… some to throw away, some  to keep and some to share…

This was one…the abc’s of friendship….

I still have a long way to go on these concepts… a work in progress for sure…

“The ABC’s of Friendship

The ABC’s of Friendship 

Accepts you as you are 
Believes in “you” 
Calls you just to say “HI” 
Doesn’t give up on you 
Envisions the whole of you 
(even the unfinished parts) 
Forgives your mistakes 
Gives unconditionally 
Helps you 
Invites you over 
Just because 
Keeps you close at heart 
Loves you for who you are 
Makes a difference in your life 
Never Judges 
Offers support 
Picks you up 
Quiets your fears 
Raises your spirits 
Says nice things about you 
Tells you the truth when you need to hear it 
Understands you 
Values you 
Walks beside you 
Xxoxoxoxxxoooxxox, explains things you don’t understand 
Yells when you won’t listen and 
Zaps you back to reality”

Author unknown

This was a good article…

Lifelong friend 

Mentor friend 

The adventure friend

The supportive friend 

 https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/the-4-types-of-friendships-that-define-our-lives-and-how-to-nurture-each-one/

An interesting article…

All of these friendships are important. Data from a recent survey exploring friendship networks revealed that most of us, regardless of age, have cultivated a wide variety of social relationships. Here’s an overview of the specific friendship types that were explored:

1. Lifelong Friends

2. Best Friends

3. Close Friends

4. Social Group Friends (friends you socialize with but with whom you are not particularly close)

5. Activity Friends (friends with whom you engage in specific activities, such as “gym buddies,” members of your book club or dinner club, church circles, and so on)

6. Friends of Convenience (the folks with whom you might share carpooling duties, youth sports team parents, neighborhood groups, and so on)

7. Acquaintance Friends (people at work, people you see each day when you’re walking your dog, folks you know to speak to, but not about anything of consequence or especially personal)…d https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/lifetime-connections/202111/the-7-types-friends-and-which-is-most-essential-our-happiness

Our most important friend, who knows us inside and out, a Saviour, a forever friend,  Jesus…

 Yet I am always with you;you hold me by my right hand. 

You guide me with your counsel,and afterward you will take me into glory. 

Whom have I in heaven but you?And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 

My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Ps.73.23-26

Thank YOU…

What a friend we have in Jesus….

https://www.crosswalk.com/video/dennis-quaid-heartfelt-what-a-friend-we-have-in-jesus-live-performance.html?aps=d491a43856e21b587867b447453a930de9780b237aec2d5b87b5802fcc4d8c3d&utm_content=1129189_20250114_322&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lst_bst_daily_bible_living&utm_source=newsletter&bt_ee=Lg72SqCzgwJOIULrXfAZ/i9vZD6sKQP6Cyf/xRmtIE7hsEdTK/1EQMvr6wRvCqoQ&bt_ts=1736852784568

Hot Seat…

 “Hot seat”…

We played the game “Hot Seat” last night…you answer a  question about yourself and the rest of the group answers what they think you might have said…then share…they range from very unserious to serious…

“What would you name a new shoe business?” .., “what wouldn’t you do even given a million dollars?”

A great way to find out what others think of you or what a person’s personality really is…since we had all ages, three generations, it was interesting…some were simple, easy answers, while others were thought provoking…

A few Verses later came to me…

 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;I am clean and without sin”? 

Even small children are known by their actions,so is their conduct really pure and upright? 

Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

Prov.20.9,Prov.20.11,Prov.20.15

 Start children off on the way they should go,and even when they are old they will not turn from it. 

Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. 

Have I not written thirty sayings for you,sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,so that you bring back truthful reportsto those you serve?

Prov.22.6,Prov.22.8,Prov.22.20-21

 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

1Tim.3.7

Through out the Bible, God speaks of various people’s character…whether evil, good, bad, a friend, noble, etc., etc., etc….

What would He speak of mine, yours??? We are in the “hot seat”….

Thank YOU…

More like Jesus…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hNGQ2AQWZ6Q&pp=ygUcaSB3YW50IHRvIGJlIGxpa2UgamVzdXMgc29uZw%3D%3D

https://scripturesavvy.com/being-like-christ/

https://www.gotquestions.org/Christ-like.html