Joshua 2; Psalms 123-125; Isaiah 62; Matthew 10

“Then, since Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window.  “Escape to the hill country,” she told them.  “Hide there for three days from the men searching for you.  Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.”  Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions.  When we come into the land, you must leave the scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down.  “I accept your terms,” she replied.  And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window…Then the two spies came down from the hill country, crossed the Jordan River, and reported to Joshua all that had happened to them.  “The Lord has given us the whole land,” they said, “for all the people in the land are terrified of us.” Joshua 2:15-23 NLT

The Lord positioned Rahab right where she needed to be for his purpose.  Rahab had the kind of courage that I want to have. She didn’t question, but accepted the plan.  And great things were accomplished because of it. It might have seemed like a small task to her at the time.  Did she even know all the lives she would affect through her obedience?

“O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually.  Take no rest, all who pray to the Lord.  Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.  The Lord has sworn to Jerusalem by his own strength: “I will never again hand you over to your enemies.  The Lord has sent this message to every land: “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Look, your Savior is coming.  See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.”  They will be called, “The Holy People” and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.” And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place” and “The City No Longer Forsaken.” Isaiah 62:6-12 NLT

Am I a ‘Watchman on the Wall’ interceding for my family and friends daily?

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves.  So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.  When you are arrested, don’t worry how to respond or what to say.  God will give you the right words at the right time.  For it is not you who will be speaking-it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”  Matthew 10:16-19 NLT

I need to stay in prayer, so that I am not deceived.  I need to stay close to Him, so I can and be ready to answer anyone.

“I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.  We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.” Psalms 123:1-2 NLT

Dear Father, Thank you for so generously giving wisdom when I ask.  Help me to stay hopeful. Only you can break bonds. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

 

 

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Josh. 1; Ps.120-122; Isa. 61; Matt. 9

Photo by Mandy Baldwin

What is your favorite? Favorite ice cream…TV show…friend…family member…season? My favorite pictures to take are of old barns. The history is beautiful and taking pictures of them makes my mind fly with thoughts of those who used to look out the windows.

The other night, I was sitting with my family and we got to talking about our favorite Bible verses. It feels weird to say that I have favorite verses, but I do. I also have favorite stories. The older I get the more I love the stories of Jesus interacting with women.

“Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.”

Matthew‬ ‭9:22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus was in high demand. Word had gotten out that He was powerful and able to even raise people from the dead. Massive crowds flocked to hear Him speak. He was drawing the attention of those in power. And in all of that He was aware of one suffering woman. a woman who hadn’t been seen in 12 years because she was considered unclean.

Have you ever felt unseen? Have you ever struggled with something that has isolated you? Have you ever wondered if you mattered? I have. May this story of one woman’s encounter with Jesus remind you that God sees you. Not only does He see you, He knows you, loves you and desires to heal you and forgive you.

Dear God, wow! What a gift we have in the Bible. To see how Jesus loved and walked with every day people gives us a glimpse of how You are walking with us. God may we sense your turning towards us. For anyone who feels unseen may your Spirit fill them with love. May we not hoard your “seen-ness” but allow it to give us eyes to see those around us. Amen.

Mandy

Deuteronomy 31; Psalm 119:97-120; Isaiah 58; Matthew 6

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

This is my favorite Bible verse. It reminds me to keep my focus on God’s word because it is what He uses to direct and instruct me. The psalm continues

“I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.” (Psalm 119:106 ESV)

I really like this verse as well, it reminds me of the commitment that I have made to God to keep his commandments. The passage of Matthew also has some good reminders.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19‭-‬21 ESV)

I need to be careful not to become too attached to worldly and physical possessions and instead focus on storing up treasures in heaven. This passage also warns me against storing up too much treasure on earth because if my treasure is worldly my heart will also be focused on the world.

Dear God, thank you for everything that you have blessed me with. Please help me to focus on you and your word, which is my guide. Please help me to store up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth. In Jesus’s holy name I pray. Amen.

Asher (AsherB)

Deuteronomy 30; Psalm 119:73-96; Isaiah 57; Matthew 5

He clears away any mystery–he wants my heart, all of it. It is simple. It is rich. It is the most valuable thing I can give him. It holds my trust, my obedience, my hope, my love, my joy. And he offers me what I think I’ve always craved–his love, his delight, his approval.

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, ² and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, ³ then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. ⁴ Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. ⁵ He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. ⁶ The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. ⁷ The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. ⁸ You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. ⁹ Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, ¹⁰ if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 30:1-10, NIV)

People are fickle and change their desires as it serves them. But he whispers to me, “¹¹ Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. ¹² It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ ¹³ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ ¹⁴ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14, NIV, emphasis added)

He will not waffle in his ways. He will not keep me running for a bait he holds out of my reach.

¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, NIV, emphasis added)

Good Father. My God. My life.

Courtney (66books365)

Deuteronomy 29; Psalm 119:49-72; Isaiah 56; Matthew 4

Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God…  You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God, a covenant the Lord is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God but also with those who are not here today. Deuteronomy 29:9-15 NIV

You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words
I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.  Psalm 119:57-59 NIV

A vow is binding.  This is serious.  Give me focus to understand the gravity of my ‘yes.’  How much joy You have Lord when I can give me all in search of Your love,  Is there any part of my heart that resists? 

…all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—  these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer…for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:6-7 NIV

All are welcome to this house of prayer.  Who will accept the invitation? 

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11 

Before going into public ministry, the gauntlet was laid.  The lies were strong and convincing using Your Word in temptation. Prepare my heart as in times of uncertainty, the harvest is abundant right now.

Take my heart and form it to Yours. Take me to another place in my call to evangelization.  Expose the lies and hold me close in Your love.  Take my mind, transform it.  Take my will conform it to Yours to Yours O Lord. May it be done to me according to thy Word.