"BLESSINGS AND CURSINGS"!

Joshua 8:28-30;37-38

"28 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.

29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,

34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, THE BLESSINGS AND THE CURSINGS, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them."

Joshua is known for being a great warrior, leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land.  But Joshua should be remembered as a great follower.......a follower of GOD!  

I find it interesting that as soon as Ai was defeated, Joshua "built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel".  He worship and praised the ONE who had given the victory.  Then "he read all the words of the law, THE BLESSINGS AND THE CURSINGS"!   My memory is directed to Joshua 1:8 where GOD instructs Joshua and the nation of Israel that "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night"!

In verse 35 it is displayed just WHO was subject to hearing the law. 

"There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read before ALL the congregation of Israel, WITH the women, AND the little ones, AND the strangers that were conversant among them."   

Today I pledge to spend more time studying and contemplating the "THE BLESSINGS AND THE CURSINGS" that GOD has promised.  HIS blessings are what we always remember but HIS cursings are just as sure!  I will study to avoid dealing with HIS wrath!  

Psalms 119:11   "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

"RED FLAG!"

Hosea 4:1-3;9  (ESV)

"Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and NO KNOWLEDGE OF GOD in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.  Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away....---

v 9. And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds." 

Although the book of Hosea was written somewhere around 755BC-720BC, it could be written about the United States TODAY!  FEAR of a HOLY GOD should be gripping the leaders of our nation.  Instead we are so power drunk that we seem to believe that NO HARM can come our way.  

September 11, 2001 should have jolted us into reality.  Instead we are more resolute than ever to do things that "man" thinks is best.  Proverbs 14:12 says "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death".  

My intentions are not to scare people into changing their lives.  My intentions are to lovingly let people know that HOPE is not found in Washington DC, rather in 1 Timothy 1:1.  "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, WHICH IS OUR HOPE"!  We must return!!!

465 Words per minute!

": I just read this article in 6 minutes, 23 seconds at 465 words per minute (via @ReadQuickApp)" 

This was on my FEED from Twitter recently.   I was taken aback by the author choosing to brag about how fast he could read.  The speed in which one can read seems to be more important than WHAT he is reading! 

Many know that Psalms 46:10 is one of my favorite Bible verses.  "Be still, and KNOW that I am GOD" does not lend itself to speed-reading.   I realize my opinion is ONLY my opinion, but over the past five years GOD has shown me that I was moving ALOT faster than what GOD intended.  

A lot of the time GOD could not work because I was in HIS way!   I would be doing good things, but I would not "Wait on The Lord" (Psalms 27:14).  

 HE does not need me to "help" HIM accomplish anything.  I am not the best student in that most times I have to be shown the correct way to do things multiple times before I learn.  But I am learning that I must SLOW DOWN and let GOD be GOD

JUDGEMENT???

Exodus 14:21-30  (ESV)

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.  And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.  The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.  And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic,  clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians."

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.". So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea.  The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained.  But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.  Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore."

Why did GOD choose to massacre the Egyptian Army?  They had just said they were fighting against the LORD of Israel and stood no chance?  Could it be that when GOD goes to battle the loser really loses?!?!

GOD is HOLY!  HE can not fellowship SIN!  If one dabbles in disobedience to HIS word, they must be prepared for The Judgement!  

SHEPHERD??

Today it seems most churches have pastors and other staff members who have their doctorate or other post graduate degree.  There seems to be some sort of pre-conceived idea that you cannot shepherd a flock without some college and/or seminary saying that you are qualified.  Having a Doctorate is great as long as you have been set aside by GOD to be a shepherd.   The term "Pastor", originally the Latin word for "shepherd", is now used solely to denote the clergy of most Christian denominations. 

A shepherd was NOT a desired occupation in biblical times.  One had to be willing to spend his time and resources to assure his sheep were fed and protected.  It was not a 9 to 5 job!   Whenever a sheep wandered from the flock, it was a shepherds job a go find the sheep and return them to the flock.  In John 10:27 JESUS says "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."   King David was a shepherd in his younger days.   Psalms 23 is a wonderful example of how The LORD cares for HIS own. 

I think it is high time we realize that the MAIN qualification for being a leader (of believers) is to be "CALLED"!  I have been blessed to have known many "called" men of GOD.  I also know many great orators, communicators, and speech givers who do not have a calling from The LORD on their life.  Some are great people, but they are not called.  

One will never be a successful pastor unless he is called by GOD.  You can get all the degrees and certificates man has to offer, but without GOD's calling, your ministry will never be productive.   

What day is it?

Today is March 24, 2013.   The calendar is centered around the life of Jesus Christ (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anno_Domini).  It is an indictment on ALL mankind that seemingly the calendar is only thing left in society that IS centered on Jesus Christ.  

I  currently 52 years old.  Being born in 1960, I grew up with "Blue Laws", meaning businesses would either close on Sunday or limit what they sold on Sunday's.  Culture used to be such that Almighty GOD was feared and revered.  

It pains me to acknowledge that "Almighty GOD" is used more as a slang word today than a worshipful proclamation.   How could a society, especially the United States of America, REJECT the very basis of its founding?  

Unfortunately, scripture records instance after instance where humans really believed (as many do today) that THEY were self-sufficient and did not need any help from YAHWEH.  Many felt (as they do today) that the human race was "smart" enough to make it on their own.  

But no one can tell me how they would make enough oxygen for 7 Billion people (not counting mammals) to exist?  With all of our wisdom, how do we make more Salt Water?  How do we prevent people from Cancer, or AIDS, or any number of other diseases from premature death?  If humans are so intellectually gifted, why does hunger exist?   

Wisdom and Knowledge do not have to be related.   A man full of book knowledge may not have enough Wisdom to "get in out of the rain".   My grandfather was one of the wisest men I have had the privilege of knowing, yet he never went past the sixth grade in school.  Although my grandfather was not blessed with a great deal of "book smarts", he REMEMBERED who he was and where he came from.  

I am afraid today that there are too many of us who have forgotten where we came from.  We come from an Almighty GOD that loves us and wants a relationship with us.   HE has wanted a relationship with us since creation began. We used to recognize HIM as our CREATOR.  It is high time WE remember "who we are and where we came from"!

The way I see it!

"You have to begin to see everything that comes to you as coming from me!"

Dr. Stanley gives a candid 25 minute interview with Ms. Brown.  In the interview Dr. Stanley is reminiscing about forgiving some acquaintances of his at First Baptist in Atlanta, Georgia.   Dr. Stanley said GOD was speaking to him about dealing with his adversaries.  GOD told Dr. Stanley "You have to begin to see everything that comes to you as coming from me!"  

I have meditated that phrase for a number of months.  All through scripture there are verses of GOD hardening hearts or directing people's thoughts.  If people are saying and doing things to me contrary to GOD's plan, HE must have approved it.  HE can use good or bad to mold me into HIS purpose for my life.  On a differing note, HE can use any BAD I do for HIS glory! 

GOD has a plan.  I choose to be used for HIM and by HIM for accomplish HIS plan.  The difficulties that come my way will be used to shape and mold me into the vessel that will most benefit The Kingdom.  I pray that my life will glorify HIM in everything I do.