Whose Are You, Joshua 5:2 - 9

Whose Are You

Joshua 5:9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.

Circumcision was a covenant between God and Abraham and subsequently the people of Israel. It was a promise that they would inherit the land of Canaan and would becomes many nations, forever. In Egypt the Israelites began to believe the covenant was void. For over 300 years, they were slaves and no change was in sight. But, now they were in the Promise Land, and God reinstated the covenant he made with Abraham. Finally the reproach of Egypt could be put behind them.

Daughters, you are a child of God. He promised you a future land flowing with milk and honey. Never forget whose you are. If you are not right with him, circumcise your heart (Dt 30:6) and love the Lord your God and you will live like never before, for you are God's, never forget it.

~Dad

Quick Note: Grow in Grace, 2nd Peter 3:18

Grow in Grace

Grace: gifts given to us by God. Not because we deserve them, but because he loves us. Often referring to salvation. jpb

Daughters, in 2nd Peter 3:18, Peter tells you that you need to grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in order that you will not be fooled by those who twist the Scriptures which will cause you to live unworthy lives and lose your salvation. This is s big problem today in the church just add it was in Peter's time. So grow up in your faith and keep your heart in sync with God, so you don't shrink back.

~Dad

Quick note, When Will Jesus Come

When Will Jesus Come

Matthew 24

My Sunday school lesson today dealt with this issue.  It was from Matthew 24. Jesus said, he will come back soon, quickly, unexpectedly, and for those doing his work

He will come in the last days when most are busy with life and not looking for his return. But remember that he will come for us individually the same way.

Are we living for Jesus all the time, or like the servant Jesus spoke about in chapter 24. He was busy living life with those in the world.  Only those busy living for him well go to heaven. The others will be thrown outside where there will be willing and nashing of teeth.

It's my prayer, daughters, that you are living for Jesus every moment. You never know when he'll come for you. You just know he will. Be ready!

~Dad

Full Surrender, 1 Kings 19:24

Full Surrender

1 Kings 19:24 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate it. Then, he set out to follow Elijah and began his attendant.

Elijah had just signaled to Elisha that Elisha was to be his successor. He immediately turned to follow Elijah and asked to say goodbye to his family. He knew that he may never see them again and need to say a final goodbye. The other thing Elisha did was to sever all ties to his past. He took his livelihood and crucified it by slaughtering his oxen and cooked them as an offering. What just happened? Elisha just did was to make it difficult to return to the past. He totally surrendered to his new life, no turning back!

A and K, crucify your the past. Paul said we are to crucify our flesh, our earthy nature (Gal. 5:24), Jesus said to take up our cross and follow him (Lk. 9:23).  You must not look back at the joys of the world, as Lot's wife did, and desire their pleasure and evil ways. No, you are to crucify yourself and all that hinders you from following him. Make a concerted effort stand and never return. Be totally sold out to his way. Ladies, his disciples do not mix worldly things into their spiritual and physical lives. They know they could not stand. You have been called to live for him, slaughter what will keep you from being fully surrendered to him.

~Dad

Wise Thought: Discipline is Love, Proverbs 3:11

Discipline is Love

Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves as a father the son he delights in.

When we do wrong, the Lord corrects us. In yesterday's blog we saw this truth with King Amaziah. Like the first king of Israel, he rejected the rebuke and paid the price of losing his kingship. We need to understand that correction and discipline from the Lord is for our own good, a preparation of our soul to be ready for entry into the kingdom of God. He desires each of us to stay true to his Word which shows us the way of holiness. His love for us shows how he delights in us.

K and A, I delight in you and have disciplined you both, often verbally and sometimes physically. I have desired you to follow in my footsteps as I follow Christ, walking the straight and narrow. Thankfully you have chosen to seek the Lord yourselves. Fathers move from commanding obedience to hoping their teachings took hold.. Although they still suggest ways to walk, their children become owners of their own choices and the outcome it brings. God has become their father, and he will discipline them as he sees fit.

K, soon you will fall under the authority of your husband. You will give your love to him and submit to his will. He is to guide you and walk the narrow road for you to follow. Together, you will be taught by God and when you fail to walk in obedience to him he will set you straight.

A, you have yet to commit to someone else's authority. Choose wisely the one to whom you give your love. For it is not only the hardships of this life that matters, but your entrance into the next that he will affect. Pray and seek God's choice for the one you will be commit to for life. You will become one with him to serve the Lord for the rest of you life.

Daughters, sometimes I find God's disciple confusing. He does not paddle you right after you do wrong. You are not always sure right away if your problems are a result of someone else or for your own sin. But, I am confidant that God will make it clear to you, if you desire his way. Know that he will discipline you, for he loves you, just like my daughters I delight in.

~Dad

No Other Gods, 2 Chronicles 25:14 - 20

No Other Gods

2 Chronicles 25:20 Amaziah, however would not listen, for God so worked that he might hand them over to Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom.

We all know the first of the Ten Commandments, You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me (Ex 20:3). In this verse, we see that, because Amaziah did evil in God's sight and then would not listen to a prophet, God brought about his destruction. God had just blessed him by helping him conquer Edom. But Amaziah brought back the gods of Edom and thanked and worshipped them... Crazy?... Crazy!

What I want to stress here is the fact that God works out situations for his own ends. Certainly, all things work out for the good... but only for those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Ro 8:28)! We cannot break God's rules and expect blessings. Jesus said that we are to give a tithe (Mat 23:23), his father also said we are to give it (Dt 14:22). Why do so many keep it for their own use? We'll save tithing for another day... what I am saying is that when we now how we are to follow God and fail to do so, God will remind us of his commands, his expectations - if that makes you feel better. If we choose not to listen to his correction and repent, he will NOT work in all things for the good... rather he will so work in all things for the bad. That doesn't sound good, right? I guess that is why so many  people like to quote Romans 8:28 when bad things happen in their lives. It sounds much better.

A and K, when God said thou Shall Not... that's what he meant. Amaziah had just been blessed by God but took his blessings and used them in evil practices. Don't be like some who celebrate something good that happened by participating in evil. I have seen "christians" rejoice by eating, drinking and dancing, and by partying to the world's music. Then when "bad things happen to good people" they wonder why God would allow it? Others come by and say things like, every cloud has a silver lining, All things turn out for the good, Just wait till you see how God blesses you through this. But, rarely do they look inward.

Daughters, God's is not like man that he should lie, that he should change his mind (Nu 23:19). His laws stand true yet today, and he will repay for the sins done in the body for the wages of sin is death (Ro 6:23). Have no other gods before him, honor God in all you do, and flee the fun of the world. Paul say you should throw off the sins that tie us up and rejoice in the Lord instead... always! (Phil 4:4)

~Dad

Wise Thought: Delight in Wisdom, Proverbs 10:23

Delight in Wisdom

Proverbs 10:23 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

I have seen people who work hard... at doing evil. They will try to figure out how to "set up" a situation to tell a dirty joke. Looking to hijack every opportunity, they insert garbage into a conversation to twist others words that they might get a laugh. Some have learned to master words. belittling others, using someone's words against them. They step on others, so they can get ahead.

But, I know different people who, at every opportunity, love to give encouragement to the hurting. When someone makes a mistake, they choose to pick them up and give them aid to succeed. These kind of people use their talents and abilities to give others hope. These kind of people lift everyone and take them along as they climb their way up the ladder of success.

Daughters, which will you be? Don't just look at how you can get ahead. Look to the needs of others(Phil 3:4) and help them succeed. The love given you by God, is to be acted out in service to those around you. Do not tear others down, rather build them up, especially if they are you enemy, God will reward you (Pr. 25:22). Only a fool takes revenge. Be willing to forgive, for God has called you to be a blessing to those who are against you (Ro. 12:14). As they take pleasure in destroying others, work all the harder to be a help to them and those striving to live life.

~Dad