"This Journey is Too Difficult for You"

Elijah felt alone and isolated. He was ready to quit...on his job...and his life.

Lonely Faith from Gcomchurch Sermons on Vimeo.

Mercy Ministries is Changing Lives

Of all the great causes worth fighting for, Mercy Ministries is at the top of my list. Check out this promo video and then go to www.mercyministries.org to find out how to help!

Amazing Story of Tragedy and Hope

A few years ago, Pete Wilson and his team at Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee, conducted one of the most heart-wrenching interviews I have ever witnessed. Todd and Angie Smith have lived through tragedy and yet found hope and even gratitude. I watched it again the other day and thought I'd share it.

Smith Family Story from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

I'm speechless...

Naked and Need a Blanket?

God saved Noah's life. He also saved his family. A flood of epic proportions had covered the earth, but Noah's family was spared.

Not long after that, Noah had his own private wine-tasting party. It is safe to say, he had a blast! In fact, he got so drunk that he passed out in his tent..without a stitch of clothes on his body.

One of Noah's sons went to visit his dad, only to discover his naked-drunk dad.

That son had a decision to make. Would he cover his dad with a blanket and let the story end there, or would he share the news with others?

He chose to tell his brothers of their father's little indiscretion.

As a result, there was division in the family that would never be resolved (see Genesis 9:18-29).

That story got me thinking about how I respond to peoples' struggles. Do I cover the person with a blanket and then when the time is appropriate have a heart to heart discussion? Or do I expose the indiscretion and add to the embarrassment and shame

When God uncovers sin in my life or the lives of those around me, I believe that is the time to grab a blanket. NOT TO COVER UP THE OFFENSE, but to COVER THE OFFENDER.

I wonder how differently things would have ended for Noah's family if his son had simply covered his dad with a blanket...and then (after ole dad had sobered up) confronted him with compassion, concern, truth, and mercy.

Why would we not want to keep the matter as private as possible? Is it because we like to see others struggle? Is it because it makes us feel better about our own junk?

Trust me. I've been the offender too many times to count. Having my sins exposed is painful and humiliating. But I thank God for the people He has sent in my life from time to time with blankets that were stitched out of compassion, concern, truth, and much mercy. I'm now ready and willing to return the favor.

Joshua Series: Unlikely Allies

God’s people were at the beginning of what would be a long series of battles. At the end, their hope was that God would make good on His promise to give them the promised land.

Joshua, the leader, sent some men to spy out the first city on the hit list: Jericho. The men were not as discreet as perhaps they should have been. They needed a place to hide. So…they stayed at the home of lady named Rahab, who happened to be a prostitute.

Rahab not only allowed the men to hide out in her home. She was willing to lie to anyone who was looking for them!

So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) Joshua 2:4-6

Pretty slick. Why was she so willing to do this for Joshua’s spies? Read what she told them:

Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. Joshua 2:8-9

Rahab knew very little of God. But she had heard enough. She had a reverent fear of Him. And if there was going to be a war, she wanted to be on His side.

This was her plea…

“Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land.” So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.” Joshua 2:12-17

Rahab feared what God could do and wanted to save her family. AND she would not allow her reputation or fear stop her from making that happen.

Regardless of where you’ve been or what you’ve done, you can still make a difference.

You cannot change how your story began but you can still affect how it will end.

Joshua Series: Miles Before We Sleep

Ever felt like rest was the one thing you needed but the most difficult thing to find? So exhausted that you just wanted to go home and fall apart? Too tired to take another step?

The Hebrew nation had followed Moses for over a generation! They were nomads. Wanderers. God had promised them a land of rest. A land to call their own. Home. But they were not there yet.

When Joshua took over, he told the people that it was time to occupy the land of rest. But it would have to be taken at a price. There would be many battles many sacrifices.

To complicate things, a few clans of Hebrew people had already found their place of rest. They didn’t need to conquer their land. They just needed their fellow countrymen to get out of the way so they could start making it their own.

Then Joshua spoke up and reminded these tribes at rest of something that God had commanded years earlier:

“Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you after he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.” Joshua 1:13-15

Even though some of the Israelites (Hebrew people) had found their rest, they were not permitted to enjoy the rest until everyone rested. NO ONE RESTS UNTIL WE ALL REST would be their battle cry.

Surprisingly (to me), the people agreed and lined up side by side with others who were still restless. Together they served, fought, and in some cases, died. Why? So that others could find rest.

Even though you may have found the answers in life you for which you were searching, your battle is not over. It is just beginning. Your soul may have found rest, but there are still others who are searching…fighting.

No one rests until we all rest.

Joshua Series: Starting a New Chapter in Life

Starting a New Chapter

For generations, the Hebrew people were led by a man named Moses. After his death, the people were lost. The only leader these followers of God had ever known was gone…and not coming back. The people needed direction. They needed hope. They needed a seasoned leader.

Too bad.

They got Joshua instead.

As an assistant to Moses, Joshua had seen Moses’ strengths and weaknesses. Wins and losses. But he had never led at that level. He was in unchartered territory.

Ever been there before?

Like many of us, Joshua might have planned to blaze a new trail. Implement a new strategy. Make his own mark. Prove himself to everyone.

But before he could run off and start his own legacy, God spoke.

He reminded Joshua of some basic principles that needed to become the foundation for this new chapter in his life.

If you feel overwhelmed or are beginning a new chapter in your life, these same principles may be good reminders for you.

TRUST

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Joshua 1:3

God was telling Joshua to trust His promise…His Word. That from that point forward if Joshua was asked how he was certain the people would fulfill their mission the answer would not be found in his strength or leadership. The answer would be: Because God gave his Word. He promised. And He can be trusted.

COURAGE

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. Joshua 1:5-6

Because Joshua had placed his trust in God’s strength, he could now lead with confidence. It’s okay to be bold and courageous as long as the source of our confidence is God.

CHARACTER

“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. Joshua 1:7-8

No amount of changes can cover up a lack of character. Even when we appear successful, we will fail if we sacrifice our character in the process.

PERSEVERANCE

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.” Joshua 1:9

God knew that along the way Joshua would be tempted to give up. Even though God promised success, that success would come with a price. In those moments, perseverance would be necessary.

And so the new chapter in Joshua’s life began…with a strong foundation of trust, courage, character and perseverance.