Joshua 20,21; Acts 1; Jeremiah 10; Matthew 24

“The Lord said to Joshua, “Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses.  Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed. These cities were set apart for all the Israelites as well as the foreigners among them.”  Joshua 20:1-9 NLT

Where do I find my refuge?

“Not a single one of all the good promises of the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.” Joshua 21:44-45 NLT 

When I get impatient and start to feel weary, this verse gives me renewed hope.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.  And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NLT

I can get complacent and forget that he calls me to be a testimony for him.  At times I just want to go about my day and get my tasks done.  But, this is most often when God will put someone in my path who needs to hear about him.

 “Lord, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full power.  Who would fear you, O King of the nations? The title belongs to you alone! Among all the wise people of the earth and in all the kingdoms of the world, there is no one like you.”  Jeremiah 10:6&7 NLT

I am thankful that God knows the future and I don’t have to.  I can get so caught up in thinking too far ahead that it causes me to be anxious and fearful. He is sovereign.

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.  Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into.  You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” Matthew 24:42-44 NLT

My daughter and I went out to lunch after church this past Sunday.  And my car was broken into. Thankfully we were fine and nothing valuable was stolen. It was more that we were taken off guard.  What a picture it was for me, that I want to live my life in a way that I am not surprised by the Lord’s return.  I want to be ready.

“I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own.  We are not able to plan our own course.  So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle.  Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.” Jeremiah 10:23&24 NLT

Dear Father, I surrender my life to you again.  Thank you for your love, mercy and patience with me.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit.  I want to be set apart to do your work.  I put my trust in you. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

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Exodus 25; John 4; Proverbs 1; 2 Corinthians 13

“Place inside the Ark the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you. Then put the atonement cover on top of the Ark. I will meet you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel.” Exodus 25:21-22 NLT

The Ark of the Covenant was a visual sign of the Lord’s presence. How do I feel the Lord’s presence today? Do I know that He is always with me, even when I can’t sense it?

Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.” John 4:48-50 NLT

He promises to always be with me. Sometimes I am distracted by so many other things, that I miss His voice. Maybe God is always speaking to me, I’m just not listening. I am thankful that He pursues me and meets me where I am. If I just clear the clutter in my mind, I know he is there waiting patiently for me to return to him.

“Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise. “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention…But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” Proverbs 1:23,24&33 NLT

My stubbornness to do things on my own can get in the way of hearing him. Than I miss out on his power. I can see his hand in my life when I humble myself before him and acknowledge that I can’t do it on my own.  And as much as I don’t want to suffer, that is when I know he is  most near.  Just as I read in my You-Version devotional this morning, “But when we suffer and choose to trust Christ through the trials we face, we are filled with his power and presence, reflecting his image to those around us.” (Hope when it Hurts, Kristen Wetherell & Sarah Walton)

“I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you. Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power…Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow in maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:3,4&11 NLT

Dear Father, Thank you for your word and for the promise of your presence. Help me to quiet my heart, so I can hear your voice above all others. I need you every minute of every day. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

Jeremiah 38 & 39; Hebrews 1

“So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malkijah the king’s son that was in the courtyard of the palace guard. They lowered him down with ropes…“He’s as good as dead. There isn’t a scrap of bread left in the city. They pulled Jeremiah up out of the cistern with ropes. But he was still confined in the courtyard of the palace guard. Jeremiah said, “If I told you the whole truth, you’d kill me. And no matter what I said, you wouldn’t pay any attention anyway.” Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah right there, but in secret, “As sure as God lives, who gives us life, I won’t kill you, nor will I turn you over to the men who are trying to kill you. Jeremiah assured him, “They won’t get a hold of you. Listen, please. Listen to God’s voice. I’m telling you this for your own good so that you’ll live.” Jeremiah 38:6-20 MSG

Growing up in Sunday school… when I think of bible stories and heroes, the first one that comes to mind is David and Goliath. As well as reading it to my six year old son every night who is fascinated by the slingshot and stone. This is one of the reasons I am thankful for 66 Books. It gives me the opportunity to dig into a scripture that I might have previously overlooked.

Jeremiah stands out to me as another biblical hero. He did not let fear hinder him. He knew who God was and that He would complete the work that He had for him. I think about how Jeremiah must have felt helpless in that cistern. And when he got out he was still showing boldness and courage. In the midst of being counted as “good as dead,” Jeremiah is still standing up for the God he believes in. He is telling the king to listen to God’s voice. He does not let fear stand in his way, though he does have “good reason to fear”(Jeremiah 39:16MSG) But, that God will deliver him out of their hands…“Yes, I will certainly save you. You won’t be killed. You’ll walk out of there safe and sound because you trusted me.” Jeremiah 39:15-18 MSG

How many times do I let fear stand in my way of fully trusting God?

Dear Father, help me to listen to Your voice above all others. I know that I am weak and need You and Your word. Thank you for loving me. Amen.

“The Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God’s nature. He holds everything together by what he says-powerful words! But, you’ll stay the same, year after year; you’ll never fade, you’ll never wear out.” Hebrews 1:3,12 MSG

Song of Songs 6-8; Galatians 1

“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 NKJV

I am a people pleaser…it has been my downfall at times. But, it can also be one of those weaknesses that turns me back towards Jesus. Usually it is when I have exhausted all of my energy trying to make everyone happy. I hear Him tell me to come and find my rest in Him.  I am His beloved.

“I am my beloved’s And my beloved is mine.” Song of Songs 6:3 NKJV

I can find rest in knowing that He loves me unconditionally. He offers a gift that is free. And so many times I want to make it more complicated than it needs to be. Just as Courtney talked about in her post last Thursday, I need to stop, slow down and enjoy being with my Jesus. To soak up His presence. I am blown away to think that He enjoys being with me.

I read this the other day from Ann Voskamp and it really spoke to my heart… “And Lord, we can feel it, You gently smoothing out the tension lines and undoing our knots with that whisper: “I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name. I’m the One who named You!  So when You call us ‘Beloved, we turn and answer to our truest name and believe the Namer of the stars has named You His…”You are Mine.” The God who made, named and numbers the stars, names you and pays attention to you and what matters to you, matters into Him and that is what changes your life, what renames you…Wanted. Beloved. Held.”

Dear Father, thank You for loving me enough to die for my sins. Help me to love others with the same extravagant love that You have shown me. Amen.

“Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm, For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it.” Song of Songs 8:7 NKJV

Amy(amyctanner)

Job 31-32; Acts 13:1-23

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:

“I am young in years,

and you are aged;

therefore I was timid and afraid

to declare my opinion to you.

I said, ‘Let days speak,

and many years teach wisdom.’

But it is the spirit in man,

the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.

It is not the old who are wise,

nor the aged who understand what is right. Job 32:6-9

The other day, while trying to get my kids settled down after a long day of traveling, I watched a rerun of Full House on Nick at Nite. It was a show I loved growing up. I was only a couple of years younger than DJ Tanner and I could fully relate to her experiences as a pre-teen and teenager growing up in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

This particular episode was when DJ and her boyfriend Steve first realized they were ‘in love’. Danny decided it was impossible for DJ to be ‘in love’, she was just too young to understand what love is. He realizes through the help of his girlfriend Vicky that he feels like a teenager ‘in love’ and recognizes that maybe DJ could be experiencing the same emotions.

When I began reading the passages for today, that episode popped into my head again, reminding me of the friction that often occurs between the generations, especially when it comes to wisdom and insight.

More often than I’d like to admit, I fall into the trap of either believing that I don’t know anything, because I am young and don’t have much experience or thinking I know it all and not heeding the advice of my elders. I feel grateful though that I am in the position where I am in relationship with believers of all ages who are able to offer wisdom and counsel to me regardless of their age, in relation to mine.

…it’s God’s Spirit in a person,
the breath of the Almighty One, that makes wise human insight possible… Job 32:8 (MSG)

God makes it clear in His Word that age is not the determining factor in the amount of wisdom one has. I don’t have more wisdom now at 36 simply because I am 10 years older than my 26 year old self. I have more wisdom because I chose to give my heart and my life to Jesus, I chose to follow Him.

Wisdom and insight into life, circumstances, and the question ‘why’ in the midst of joy and trials, comes from His Spirit living in me. It stems from fearing Him and following Him. It comes from asking for His understanding, studying His Word, being prayerful, and listening for His Voice. It comes from heeding godly encouragement coming from other brothers and sisters in Christ.

My desire is that more and more, as I walk with God and His people, I recognize more and more His truth. And, that I remember that truth may come from the mouth of a grandmotherly figure or from the mouth of babes.

Yesappa, Thank You for Your Wisdom and Your insight that is breathed into me by Your Spirit. Thank You for breathing it into all believers who truly fear You. Help me recognize Your wisdom when I hear it, and teach me to be discerning without making preconceived judgment. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Blessings – Julie (writing from the U.S.A.)

 

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.