1 Samuel 1-3: I am always heartbroken to read about Eli’s family. We remember Eli as one of the leaders in the church and the one who trained young Samuel when his mom brought him to be left at the church. We teach children about how Eli taught Samuel to listen to God’s voice and respond, but that is only a part of Eli’s story. Eli had two sons who also were priests, but they did not obey God and they also led Israel away from God. Eli knew his sons were not offering sacrifices like they should, that they were selfish, and that they were not living pure lives. God spoke to Samuel about what would happen to Eli’s sons and Eli. When Samuel was asked what God said, he did not want to tell Eli, but even Eli knew that a holy God would not allow what he had allowed his sons to do.

So what is the take away from us? First, God knows our hearts and knows what we do in private as well as a show before man. He is not amused with our spiritual games. Second, He longs for us to lead our children in a sincere faith. When they walk outside of God’s will we are to speak truth to our children. It may not change their actions, but they know that it does not please God for us as parents. It doesn’t mean we break fellowship with our children, but they need to have someone speak truth in love into their lives.

With that said, I also think it is important to point out that we also need to speak positively to our children when they follow after Christ. As we encourage and speak truth into our children hopefully we will strengthen their good character. Being a parent isn’t for cowards!

Even as I rose before the sun this morning I could not help playing in my mind what must have been happening at the tomb. Can’t you see the smiles on the faces of Jesus and the angels as the stone rolled back, and He came forth from the grave. To know the ultimate battle had been won and Jesus was the victor!!! Sin and death had been defeated and the lives of mankind would be forever changed. Jesus had done His part. Now the decision of life with the Father would be in the choices made by man. The Spirit would soon come and He would convict of sin but man would have every opportunity to choose.

Can’t you see the joy on His face as the ladies who had followed Him came to the tomb only to find it empty. Can’t you just hear the tender care in His voice as He speaks her name, Mary. Who are you looking for? As she falls at His feet can you hear the sobs in her voice, Rabbi! Then as she runs back to tell the others, He is alive just like He said!!!! Oh the joy, from such deep sorrow. Now the laughter and the relief, life eternal is the gift because He lives!!!

Oh my friend, have you made that choice to follow Him? If not, on this Resurrection Sunday why not! He is not dead, He has risen just as He said and one day soon He will come again. Please choose today to follow Him!

Judges 14-18 The story we read today has always bothered me, but I see some common threads through it.

The idea of leaving your place and seeking another is a major. If you look at the map, the tribe of Dan was given the land near the Mediterranean Sea and moving to the upper right hand corner almost out of the Promised land. They did not clear the land of the Philistines that lived there. In time the Philistines took the land because the tribe of Dan left. This set up a stronghold that kings for years to come would have to fight. You also see the levite leaving his land and responsibilities as God’s religious leader. He was bribed by Micah to be his priest and to offer sacrifices to his gods. The levite and the Danites left God first then their position of responsibility

The second thing that was evident was that Micah was not an honest man either. He stole from his mother but later gave back what he had taken. He did not honor God and led others astray. When the priest does the same thing to him he is indignant.

The Danites and the priest ended up in Laish (upper right corner) and they defeated the people there. The commentary I read talked about how evil and idolatrous the city was. They followed the way of the Sidonians. These men who once were a part of the Promised land ran from their inheritance and embraced the carnal nature of the countries and people around them.

So how does this apply to our lives? First embrace God alone! Don’t put any other gods before Him including self, money, possessions, jobs or even family. God is to have first place in our lives. Second do the job you were given to do to completion. We get in trouble when we leave our calling and position. We only move when God says move and where He says to move. Times will get hard and people will disappoint and even make your way difficult, but until God gives you the okay, stay where you are planted and rest in Him to fight your battles. Times will get hard, but with God’s power and strength we can and will make it through.

Judges 10-13: This morning the song Take Time To Be Holy came to my mind. Here are the words:

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

For Israel and for us this is the key to not needing a warrior to save us. Israel had been told time and again to keep God’s covenants with them. They were to seek Him and worship Him alone, but as the scripture says, they did what was right in their own eyes. They did not seek the Lord. When things got so bad that they finally turn back to Him in repentance, the cost was high. In today’s reading they were so desperate for a leader that they went back to Jephthah, a young man who was a mighty warrior the they had pushed out of leadership and their country because he was the son of a prostitute. When Israel faced the Ammonites and there was no one to lead them they sent for this rejected son. Jephthah trusted the Lord and in the end he had victory and Israel was saved, but he made a senseless vow to the Lord that cost him his only child. Though my heart goes out to the child, at least Jephthah lived out what true devotion to God really looks like.

Oh how our world needs godly men who will stand up for what is right. How we need young men and women who from their birth live out their walk with Jesus and are truly holy. It only comes as we spend time with the Lord speaking to Him, reading His word. We must make Christian fellowship priority and surround our children but also ourselves with godly influences. As we then help those who are weak and those in need not forgetting that God is our strength, then we will not need to have a warrior to save us for our God will be between us and the enemy that pursues. If only Israel would have stayed close to the Father and clean before Him. If only we would. We can’t rewrite Israel’s history, but we can change ours before calamity comes.

Though the enemy pursues us, our God will fight for us. As we stay close to God, He will be our defender, provider and friend.

Judges 6-9: Last night in our Bible Study we talked about how joy comes when you have confidence in who you are. Our study in Judges reveals a man who saw himself much differently than God saw him. Judges 6 records

12And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?”

Gideon was referring to the fact that even as the Lord spoke to him he was hiding from his enemies threshing his grain so they would not take it. When God called him a mighty man of valor Gideon was like “yeah right as I hide out to work.” If you read through the story you find he really was that mighty man and God used him to save his country from the enemy. What Gideon did not see, God did, and when by faith Gideon believed God he saw God do amazing things through him.

How about you? How do you see yourself? Last night we talked about some of the things that God’s word says we are. A Child of the King.
Dearly loved.
Forgiven
Chosen
Created in His Image
Able to do immeasurably more than I can dream or imagine
A Warrior Princess!

Yep, you may not feel like it, just like Gideon did not, but feeling are fickle and they lie to you. Don’t allow them to rule over the truth of God’s word. The key to Gideon’s valor and might was that it was not done in his power. If you are a child of God you are not to be operating in your own power and strength either. One of the most important truths we remembered last night was “Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4). Claim this truth! Know it and walk in confidence that He who infills you by the power of the Holy Spirit is greater, stronger, mightier than he that is in the world. You truly are the things we listed above and so much more. If you are hiding today from your own “enemy” maybe even yourself do a google search of what the Bible says I am in Christ. You may even want to print it off and hang it by your mirror to remind you that you truly are who God says you are.

Judges 2-5: We are entering into a book that shows us a cyclical pattern with Israel. As long as their spiritual leader is alive and they are listening to and following that leader, they do well, but then the leader dies and Israel does what is right in their own eyes and they get far off of God’s path. Eventually God allows the fruit of their choices to become evident and He allows and sometimes even sends a conquering nation, famine, or pestilence of varying kinds to bring Israel back to Himself. Moses and Joshua warned that this would happen and indeed it does. Eventually God sends a judge to help Israel again return to God and for a while Israel stays on the right path. The the cycle repeats itself again.

It is so easy to see this cycle in the life of Israel, but it is much harder to see it in our own life and nation. We love it when life is going well, but with that many times we pull away from our dependency on God. We do what seems right in our own eyes. We yield to our own god of flesh and convenience. We get away from reading our Bible daily. We may even become less frequent in church. Our giving to the church may get less or even dry up. We make excuses as we slowly fade into a much cooler relationship with the Father. Before we know it we are on a path that is far from what we know God desires and wants. It is the that hard times come and we find ourselves calling out to God. In His compassion and mercy He draws us closer to Himself and realize once again our dependance on Him. Once again we find ourselves in the Word, attending church, and maybe even kindling christian friendships again.

Satan also knows this pattern and uses it to not just distract us, but our families and communities. The key is to be aware of his tactics. Be aware of your own longing for convenience and prosperity that causes us to know lean on the Father. Nip the temptation in the bud and don’t allow your heart to chase after the things of this world. I am sure that is why the writer of Hebrews remind us to throw off the sin that so easily entangles us and run with endurance keeping our eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Keeping our eyes on Him will put us back on the right path and prevent our wandering hearts from meandering away.

Father, please keep us pursuing You and Your righteousness for Your Kingdom’s sake. Keep us far from evil and running with and toward YOU.

Joshua 23-24, Judges 1: Having gone to Billy Graham’s Library yesterday I am sure my mind was on the impact that a godly leader has on the people they serve with. As Joshua comes to the end of his time of service with God’s Chosen People he divides the group into their land to possess. With each tribe he knows they face obstacles, but with the power of God they can and will be strong and successful. Not every tribe got equal amounts of land, but as God directed, Joshua communicated the land they were to possess. He reminded them of God’s care for them and that with Him they could conquer the enemies left to destroy. Then Joshua and Eleazer the priest both died and Israel was left to carry out the commands they had been given.

Over the last few weeks we too have lost a great leader. He is not actually lost any more than Joshua or Moses were. They are in their heavenly home now, but we are left without them to carry on and carry out the commands they left us. As I walked through the Billy Graham Library yesterday here are some of the things I believe Dr. Graham left us to do.

* Love God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength
* Love your spouse and children if you have them
* Love the people God has put around you
* Share the good news of the gospel with anyone who will listen
* Live a pure life
* Treasure the people you serve with
* Leave it all on the field! Give all of your effort, skill, talent, knowledge, understanding, care and so much more for the sake of the upward calling.
* Enjoy this life and be prepared for even greater things yet to come!

I would greatly encourage all of you to make the trek to Charlotte, NC and spend a day walking the Library. It is very interactive and is not a lot of walking so everyone can enjoy it. I would especially encourage ministry families to come. The husband may be the upfront man, but the family is as much a part of the ministry as the man. That is evident!

I rejoice in the man that Dr. Billy Graham was, but I rejoice even more in the God who indwelled Him and us! To the glory of the One and Only Son of God!

Joshua 19-22: It is so easy to misunderstand someone. You know how it is. You see something, you jump to a conclusion about something they have said and done, and before you know it a barrier is erected between you and the other person.

In our scripture today we see this lived out. Though the fighting men from the 2 and 1/2 tribes that settled on the east side of the Jordan had fought for the rest of the tribes in the promised land, when they separated and returned home they chose to build an altar at the edge of the Jordan to remind the other tribes that they were a part of them. When the people of the promised land saw they had built the altar they assumed that the Eastern tribes were trying to go against what God had told them to do. Assuming caused a barrier to be erected because of misunderstanding. Instead of allowing the misunderstanding to build the barrier, the leaders were able to talk about why the Eastern tribes built the altar, and after they explained their reasons, the conflict was resolved.

Here are some important things to keep in mind when facing conflict and misunderstanding.
* Don’t jump to conclusions
* Talk to each other and get to the bottom of things
* Choose humility and forgiveness even if the other person has wronged you.
* Choose to live in peace

Honest conflict may come along, but with wisdom we can circumvent some situations. Romans 12 tells us when possible to live at peace with all men. That is so important in order to have unity.

Joshua 15-18: “But” and “However”, when reading the Bible the words “but” and “however” are important words. They communicate a transition that you should take note of. Today’s reading had a couple of them:

Joshua 15:63 “But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.”
Joshua 16:10 “However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.”
Joshua 17: 12 “Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.”

It was as though Joshua was saying, you were doing so well, (TRANSITION) BUT you did not finish the job. That is the biggest struggle for many of us. God gives us a job, but when challenges arise and it gets hard, it is easy to turn aside and just leave the last part undone. Maybe you even intended to go back and complete it, but once you turned your attention to something else, the drive to go back and see your project to completion was gone. Even worse, maybe you just decided you were willing to settle for what is completed instead of doing the job correctly.

Look at what that mentality cost Israel. Those same people that they left in the territory they knew had been given to them by God are the same people their ancestors are fighting today. That mountain top in Jerusalem that countless lives have been slain over is still the hottest area of contention in the world. A mosque sits there today with the Western Wall a rocks throw away.

Incomplete obedience like we said yesterday is disobedience and it comes with its own inherent challenges. They may not raise their heads at first, but over time they wage war against you. Lol even as I write that, I think about the outside of our home that we have not had the finances to complete yet. It is coming, and we haven’t given up, but in the meanwhile the weather definitely is taking its toll. It is a great example of “but” and “however.” The house is complete BUT the outside is yet to be stoned or bricked. The buts in our lives can cause much stress and pain if we do not complete the project. Praying today that you will be able to remove some buts and however from your personal life and see obedience to God complete.

Joshua 3-6: How would you respond if you were facing a huge enemy and you had just stepped into its territory? Now add to it that you have been asked to have quick surgery that would make you weak for a couple of days. How would you respond?
If you are like me I would be asking REALLY GOD??? You put me in enemy territory just to be defeated? And yet God had a whole different view. He knew the enemies hearts were “Melting” within them in fear of this great nation coming to invade. The enemy feared the new nations God. They knew Israel had already defeated two major kings, taken their land, and their God had just parted the swollen river and given them passage on dry land. They had no idea what God was doing in Israel’s midst. It was one more test of whether Israel would follow their own logic or God’s plan.
If I am honest I would tell you that when life looks overwhelming to me I am so tempted to take things into my own hands. I know better than that. I know to trust and many times I can, will and do. There are those occasional times when I reason….why I should do it a different way than to trust God. What I don’t see is that it is about so much more than getting to the destination. It is about building my trust in God. It is about acknowledging my own weakness. It is about yielding my will to His. It is about James 1:2-4 counting it all joy so that I will learn perseverance, endurance, and ultimately maturity. It is about growing in my relationship with God and other.
Not sure what you face today. You may already feel the weakness God has put upon you. You may be looking eye to eye at the enemy and weighing whether to obey God or try it on your own reasoning. No matter where you might find yourself, remember that God is enough for whatever you face. He can be trusted. You may not understand what He is doing, but He loves you and is for your best. Walk in Him trusting and knowing His way is best. I am praying for you!