The day with dianne Louise

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable- if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8,9 Honourable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, moral excellence and praise are all higher qualities. spending time here is important and worthwhile. Today I had lunch with a group of people around my age and we discussed current events in the light of scripture. A few voiced disappointment in not having an important topic dealt with seriously. I said, "pray for the leaders." I know it is easy to complain but praying about weaknesses will bring strength, complaining will destroy. We are having serious problems in our world and whilst we need to be aware we need to pray and seek God about our role. The end is approaching and I do not w...

Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 Here are the tools of our trade, Christianity. Rejoice, firstly, rejoice when things are good and when things are bad, because He, our God, is good, and for that reason alone. He uses all things for His purposes. If He is able to create us out of dirt and bring the universe into being just by a word, I think He can hold it all together. Next, a result of rejoicing is graciousness. If we are full of His grace then it flows out like a river, pouring all over out world. Why? The Lord is near! He is returning to rule and reign and even if He does it when I am gone, He will return for me when my time comes. What joy! ...

So then my brothers, you are dearly loved and longed for- my joy and my crown. In this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:1-3 This church had a special place in Paul's heart. Some of them had worked alongside him in the ministry. They were his joy and his crown. So not only did they bring him joy but they were one of Paul's successes. What joy a group of people bring to your heart when they take a message, own it and grow with it. Paul is not needing to continually correct them and watch over them. However, two women, Euodia and Syntyche seemed to be having difficulty, perhaps a clash of personality, who knows. Perhaps one was a Martha and the other a Mary. What a joy it would be to go away and know that not only did...

He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself. Philippians 3:21 I believe I have just had a transformation! For the longest time I have treated FB and the people I connect with on it with a professional conduct but today, after the development in Austrslia and the media around same-sex marriage I went to prayer, serious prayer and came out. Just as a gay person 'came out' and declared themselves as gay, I have come out and declared my love for Jesus and what He means to me. I feel so liberated. Yesterday I had the revelation that the true debate was between humanism and Christianity. Simple! I love my God and love my fellow man but I had to stand for my Lord and I have done. Now I am free! I cannot think of a life without Christ. He is transforming my humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body. He is all powerful, I am not. This morning I wrote to my gay frie...

For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their God is their stomach; their glory is their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:18-20 I don't know whether it is the fact that my eyes are being opened or that our society is rushing, he'll-bent, on its own path away from Christ. I have been pondering the same sex debate in my country Australia. There is hatred for the sacred and when we Christians make glib, not well thought through remarks or traditionally held beliefs are sprayed out upon the populous we are called bigots, perhaps blind guides would be better. What is the real issue? It is not about same sex marriage, last time it was about unmarrieds living together before that it was abortion. These are symptoms of a new faith in our country called Humanism. Humani...

In any case we should all live up to whatever truth we have attained. Philippians 3:16 In fitness we see this, we can buffet our bodies and whip them into shape and be rippling in muscle but stop going to the gym and start eating cake and the slide will happen. In Christianity we must press on continually! I still remember a song I used to sing, way back in my 20s. It said: keep on walking, you don't know how far you've come, keep on walking.... Take a look at all the pleasant looking places where you might stop and take a rest, take a look at all the faces there, their sadness will tell you that it's best, keep on walking. I see the sad faces and the pain I experience in keeping on going is greater at times than I can bear but I don't like the sad faces, so I keep on going. I cannot stop until he takes me home. How do I press on? Spend time with the Lord, lots of time; read the right books; watch the things that will build and not destroy; watch my talk, keep it sweet....

Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.  Philippians 3:12-15 In our country we enjoy watching the elite, the fit athletes who compete in their discipline. In Australia we love football or all sorts. Last night their was what is called a State of Origin match between my states NSW and Queensland. Last year NSW won, last night Queensland won round one (one of three). Many who watch the games are undisciplined, non- athletic types you love to yell at their TVs telling the players how they should play. Of cour...

But everything that was gain to me, I consider to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as filth, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ- the righteousness from God based on faith. My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being confirmed to His death, assuming I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead, Philippians 3:7-11 Would you agree this man is committed? Fanatical even? But why? Why was he so committed? Why did he suffer so much because of Jesus Christ? As a fanatical Jew Paul persecuted the Christians until, he met the One they loved and served. This meeting so affected Paul that he gave up all his possessions, his reputation and he ...

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.  To write again about this is no trouble for me and is protection for you. Watch out for 'dogs,' watch out for evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh- although I once had confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:1-4a The exhortation to rejoice seems out of place. Perhaps it comes as the finish for the last verse in chapter two which speaks about Epaphroditus who had been healed from a serious illness. Nevertheless, it is good to rejoice. In season and out. Rejoicing is something we can do even in pain and difficulty. In fact it lifts the heaviness from our shoulders. An attitude of thanksgiving is better than one of complaining. Worship opens the heavens and allows the Kingdom of God to be established on earth. Paul then talks about dogs. This term was usually used in reference to Gentiles...

But I consider it necessary to send you Epaphroditus- my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need- since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard he was sick. Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one grief on top of another. For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious. Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honour, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me. Philippians 2:25-30 These verses are so full of human emotion and natural living. Epaphroditus was longing for his church family in Philippi, he was distressed because they heard he had been very ill. Paul did not call this childish. Epaphroditus became ill and almost died...

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you. For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. Philippians 2:19-21 Have you experienced this? Do you find it hard to find a faithful messenger, worker or friend? How good is it when you have such a person? And if you have such a person do you value them highly? A few days ago I wrote how Ireland has voted for same sex marriages and now, tonight, I hear that the leader of the opposition, in Australia, has tabled a motion to have a vote in Australia. Not only did this man's party put us millions into debt they now seek to destroy a central part of our society. I am disappointed in this man and his party. We vote politicians into power to protect us and our ways of li...

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and peverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain. But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:12-18 12-13 Give application of practical Christianity - the Philippians were not being called to obey Paul, insomuch, but rather Christ. 'Work out,' is not referring to a works programme but rather an app...

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death- even to death on a cross. FOR THiS REASON God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow- of those who are in heaven and on the earth and under the earth- and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 There you have it folks! We spend so much time trying to make it at work, in sport, in relationships and yet what did Jesus do? Emptied Himself, humbled Himself and paid the price of our sins. It is one thing to give up His Godhead but another to take on all our filth, but He did. So what can I...

If there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests but also the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 Having the experience of his rivals condemning Paul and trying to prove he was wrong by their own behaviour, this would be foremost to Paul. He sees the need to all march to the same tune and work as a unit, not as devisive individuals. Working as one is an ideal but one that is severely challenged by selfish ambition. Even with this aside we have personality differences. A group of people, all with differing ideas and differing preferences will approach a job differently. For example the worshippers will put this out front, whereas the ...

For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in Him, but also suffer for Him, having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have. Philippians 1:29,30 By grace I am given the ability to believe in Him and the ability to suffer for Him. We don't like to hear about us suffering. I've done quite a bit of this but if this life is not about my happiness or my ease but about His glory. My attitude determines which it shall be: glory or grief. If all is for His glory then the message goes out. I have an unsaved friend who told me on Friday night she has always admired my faith but her religious relatives who she is close to make her think their way is what knowing Jesus is about. I have many unsaved relatives who wonder at my faith but that is not enough. I want to see them in Christ, worshipping the Lord, in freedom that only He brings. It is not enough that I am faithful I want to bring them in. Yes I speak to them about Him but they turn ...

My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, it that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honoured in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:20 Paul tells us he is not ashamed of the gospel. To him it is everything not just an add- on. The gospel is who he is, a Christ follower. Who am I? What am I? When asked 'who are you?' What would you say? Does my life show? Last night I watched a programme called Landline. It is an Australian farmers programme and whilst I am not a farmer I enjoy watching it so that I can talk with my farming clients. On the programme they showed us a group of men who come to a particular farm in Victoria, Australia, on a seasonal basis, from Vanuata. The employers love them because they are always singing. Guess what they are singing? Choruses about Jesus. They are all Christians and their happiness, even though they may spend up to 6 months away from family and loved ones, they centre their ...

Just one thing: live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith that comes from the gospel, not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your deliverance- and this is from God. Philippians 1:27,28 My commentary says: 'Roman armies stood ready for combat regardless of the enemy's level of strength and preparedness or the distracting enticements of culture. The church must manifest the same readiness.' As a group we are to stand firm in one spirit and one mind. This I have experienced when first saved. The youth group met regularly with one purpose, to read the word and have fellowship and then go and tell others about Jesus. We were committed! Paul says that faith comes from the gospel. I watched a U-Tube clip of Bishop Michael Putts today and re watche...

For me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don't know which one I should choose. I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ- which is far better- but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that, because of me, your confidence may grow in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. Philippians 1:21-26 I agree! This is exactly how I feel. I long to be with the Lord but when I look at all those I encourage in this life and my grandchildren, I must stay until my God calls me home. I see so many older Christians who have faded eyes. They have lost the sparkle for their God. Perhaps there are a lot of disappointments. We have a habit of expounding how we think God will perform and when He doesn't we lose our way. The antidote is to press into Him and find...

And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice because I know this will lead to my deliverance through your prayers and help from the Spirt of Jesus Christ. My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honoured in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:18-20 Paul is in prison and his enemies in the church are slandering him and still he rejoices, because he knows it will lead to his deliverance. What an attitude! No Pity party here! I am so grateful to Paul for being steadfast. He goes on to say, he hope he will have nothing to be ashamed of. I know I fall in many ways and often am ashamed of my attitude or even my behaviour. Tonight I was talking to a dear friend who is in pain. She has spent her life pushing herself and her body is now complaining bitterly. This friend has very religious relatives and therefore has walked away from what she considers as church life. As I talke...

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imorisonment is in the cause of Christ. Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message more fearlessly. Philippians 1:12-14 We don't like persecution but it happens, difficult times happen to us, just as it did to Paul and here he is rejoicing in that difficulty and showing how God was using his imprisonment for His glory. Great men and women are in prison for their faith. I  pray their faith is a witness to God's goodness. We face various trials but it is how we face them that speaks to others. Paul was being a witness to all in the Imperial Guard. Not only was he suffering imprisonment for his faith but he was also being opposed by those who were jealous of his ministry. These men were preaching t...

And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 How beautiful and full of love is Paul's comments?  The commentary in my bible says: Paul prayed two petititions: a growing love and a complete character. Love is selfless action for another person. (This is what he is portraying- my comment) knowledge and discernment provide the twofold environment that fosters love. "knowledge" is both intellectual and experiential. "Discernment," unique in the Bible, is moral sensitivity. Love enriched by knowledge and moral discernment leads believers to experience what really matters. The word 'pure' emphasizes personal integrity; blameless means good character that survives all accusations. In Eph...

I give thanks to my God for every remberance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day till now. I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to think this way about you because I have your heart, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and establishment of the gospel. Philippians 1:3-7 What a recommendation. For ever and ever all Christendom would know about your faithfulness? Do you bring such joy to the heart of a leader? I pray I do and not bring harm. Having been a pastor I know the pain that is experienced. The ones who brought joy were such a blessing. How do I bring joy? Support my leaders, pray for them, speak well of them and do the work of the gospel. Simple. I think we should add: mind my own business. Amen! And maybe : watch my mouth!

The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, their refuge in a time of distress. The Lord helps deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in Him. Psalm 37:38,40 What a beautiful journey it has been through this Psalm! I have enjoyed every moment. Well I worshipped my way to Uralla and back today. What a good drive. What lovely clients! I returned to work to face 5 exams. Not fun! On-line open book but not in one place. I was all over the place looking for the answers. It is a regulatory exam. I suppose I will benefit in some way, some day. Came home to cook up a storm, Well a good veg stir-fry and now it is raining, refreshing! My God is my refuge, my safety, my friend! I love Him best of all. All glory to Him! Amen!

Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for a man of peace will have a future. Psalm 37:37 In times of warfare we must remember that our enemy is a spirit, not a person. My warfare is in the spirit, that is where I take territory. It is so easy to see a person who is painful and not the spirit that motivates them. People in bondage are not pretty. If I really want to win in must love them whilst dealing with the spirt. Now, there's a challenge. I have entered another battle and am determined to ascend the hill. I want what is mine and I want what I am promised. Today as I travel to Uralla I will worship this sucker down. I will release such a flood of worship that heavens will shake. Greater is He that is in me than he who is in the world. If God be for me, what can be against me? I will paint this land with the blood of Jesus, not the blood of man. I will stand against all foul things and see them bow the knee to my God, He is greater. Amen!

I have seen a wicked, violent man well -nourished like a flourishing native tree. Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found. Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for a man of peace will have a future. Psalm 37:35-37 Watch the right people. We can think being a Christian is all one needs, but are we Christian in deed and truth? Are we whinging Christians, or are we people of faith? One could look at my life and say, "Where was God for her? He is right beside me. Yes I have been tested and stretched but I am still standing and in need of no one to save me as my God does a good job in that department. I am so grateful that I no longer need the approval of others. Oh mercy me, that was a long time coming. I am grateful that I know no matter what comes against me I will rise above and fly beyond. Self-pity needed killing off, again and again! Self-doubt needed stomping on. My God is so good! He does have all I need. All the best is ...

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom; his tongue speaks what is just. The instruction of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. Psalm 37:30,31 Anyone wise? Anyone lacking wisdom? James tells us to ask God for wisdom. James 1:5,6 I know there are times when I know my lack, many, many times but am grateful my God has wisdom on tap. Wisdom is given and a just heart is given when we are born again. We can live out of it instead of the selfish heart. How do I find my God's instruction? I seek Him, read His word and listen. If I have a heart for Him and His ways I will become wise and His instruction will live in my heart. When I fail I can go to Him and He supplies. When I live out of His instruction, I do not falter. I can trust Him. Amen!

Turn away from evil and do what is good, and dwell there forever. For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon His faithful ones, they are kept safe forever. Psalm 37:27,28 Note, we have to turn away from evil. In other words it stares us in the face. We are given the option of dwelling upon evil, just a Lot did, or turning away. He camped his tent in the hills looking down on Sodom and Gomorah. He ended up in the city of Sodom and his guests being listed after by evil men. I have a range of people on my Facebook page, relatives and friends who do not think as I do. They will often post things I should not gaze upon or dwell upon, they come from another place and will pull me to another paradigm so I shut them down. The above scripture tells me to do good. Paul tells me to dwell upon what is good and clean and lovely. If I dwell in this place I will not be open to the other place. The Lord does not dwell in uncleanness, only in purity. This is where I find Him and if I treasure Him ...

A man's steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way. Though he fall he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord holds his hand. Psalm 37:23,24 What a beautiful picture! My God establishes my steps. He designs them and I, in faith, walk them. Can you see Him out ahead designing the paths through, under, over obstacles? Can you see the shady trees, the fountains, the grassy glades, the tables at where you feast? They are there, but you must use your spirit eyes to see them. If I look with natural eyes hating the pain, the trial, the difficult terrain, I will miss the provision, the places of rest. Difficult times are a given but our God provides for the journey. My God takes pleasure in my ways. If you have ever had little childen you will know the pleasure of just having them in your world. If you have not had children, perhaps a pet ( a once removed substitute). The child might be going through a tough time with their health, their behaviour might not be th...

The Lord watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever. They will not be disgraced in times of adversity; they will be satisfied in days of hunger. Psalm 37;18,19 One of the biggest challenges a Christian faces is to succumb to a bad attitude, to walk away and give up and curse the day they believed. Today I had lunch with a neighbour who had left church. I am sure there were reasons, there always are. The enemy comes at us determined to make us give up the belief that we are actually children of God and joint heirs with Christ. He knows what awaits us, what he gave up, the delight of knowing the fullness of God, walking in sweet fellowship with Him. Satan's mantra is: 'if I can't have it, they can't and I'll taken them all to hell.' The closer we get to our Lord the fiercer the battle because the closer we get, the more like Him we become and the more deadly to him we are, and deadly we are, because we are dead, to si...

The little that the righteous man has is better than the abundance of many wicked people. Psalm 37:16 A righteous person knows where priorities lie. It is not in the getting of things. I have seen so much waste and so much indolence and it is full of wind and nothingness. Yet in the home of a righteous person is treasure and gratitude. When we are grateful for all God gives us then there is value as opposed to wasteful living and getting because I can or I lust after another thing. Having things so that you are up with the Jones is stupid and so is feeling intimidated by someone who has a lot of worldly things. If God is not in the abundance then it will all be blown away. What God gives is treasure indeed. Amen!

The Lord watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever. Psalm 37:18 When going through a rough time we can look at this scripture and believe God lies. We could ask if God is watching over me and things are going wrong I wonder what would happen if He didn't watch? We could also question the part about the inheritance. We could say I have inherited trouble, I don't want this to go to my kids. Yes well, all very valid if you judge things according to your own perspective and vision. Who is blameless? Those whom God says are blameless, those who accept a walk of faith and trust their God to make them blameless. God was watching over His Son and He had struggles, you might say He gave His life in a struggle for our lives. Jesus had a good communicative relationship with His father but still He struggled. Struggles are a sign of life, struggles are what we have when we want progress. So, we now understand we do not need to be saints...

Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans. Psalm 37:7 Being silent can be a real challenge, especially when you have been wronged and suffer because of another. Yet the Lord wants complete control. Whilst ever I am agitated, He cannot act. So there is the challenge, 'let it go, let it go, let it go, completely, let it go!' By being silent not only does my heart come to rest but I can then hear my God. What is He saying? This is most important. Not only is it relational, it is good medicine as when I am agitated I trouble my body and make it sick. Not good! Today my mother catches the train south. Now I will have time to be silent and rest before the Lord. I am looking forward to hearing what He has to say. Amen! The last encouragement is to wait expectantly for Him. He wants to act on our behalf. What is He going to do? Let Him surprise you! Amen!

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like noonday. Psalm 37:5,6 Here is another challenge: commit your way to the Lord. Now, have you ever pondered on what that actually means? To help me understand I will use the example of an on-line entry in a competition.  Yesterday I applied for a grant offered by my employer for some worthy entrant. The competition was looking for people who are doing things in their community. I have a project to raise funds to build a toilet on a skate park opposite my office. A seemingly un-exciting project but one that will bless many. I have even determined to be responsible for locking said toilet every work-day. I reached a point on my application where it said: 'if you press SUBMIT you cannot make any changes.' If I pressed SUBIT I was committed. Now how does this apply to me committing my ways to the Lord? I am glad you asked! If I commit my ways to the Lord, they ...

Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely Take delight in the Lord in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. Psalm 37:3,4 The act of trusting the Lord is kneaded in my life like dough. My trust has to be massaged with His oil, stretched by His loving hands, compressed back into a lump and kneaded again and again. He is making me a worthy vessel. Trust is not a five minute wonder. We cannot come to Gkd and say, "Okay I trust you now fix this up or give me this or that." I am in the Lord's hands. He is the master. Taking delight in Him is the same. Delight comes and goes. His goal is it switched on more than it is off. In delight I gain His power, in delight I gain His heart. In delight I see Him. Amen! Trust and delight, now there is a pair. Yield! Amen!

Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated- it can only bring harm. For evil doers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land. Psalm 37:8,9 I have a young niece who is a little hot-headed. I am sure she struggles within herself with the strong emotion she experiences. This same girl loves deeply and does not know how to show it. We can be impatient to see justice in the land. When we are hot headed we want to rush on and bring justice by own own hand, often with dire consequences. Injustice is something I abhor and remember struggling just the same when I was young. Leaning to trust the Lord to exact justice can be very challenging. We can watch and seemingly see nothing but  God is working His plan. Sometimes it is us He is working on. We therefore are more importent to Him. The above scripture carries a promise, those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land. Amen!

When they finished distributing the land into its territories, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them. By the Lord's command, they gave him the city Timnath-Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, which he requested. Joshua 19:49,50 Caleb received his first and Joshua last. Joshua was a humble man who waited until all the tribes were settled before taking what was his. All he asked for was a hill city. Another hill dweller just like Čaleb. These old men did not want the tidy retirement village by the lake. Joshua had led the people well, kept them faithful, reminded  them to establish correct structures, he provided for the priests, cities of refuge when things went wrong, he led the Reubenites and Gadites, who had chosen land on the other side of the promised land and now sent them home. He declared them faithful in the task he had given them. However they tested this by building an altar on the Isaelite's side of the Jordan. It was to remind their breth...

The entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh where it set up the tent of meeting there; the land had been subdued by them. Seven tribes among the Israelites were left who had not divided up their inheritance. So Joshua said to the Israelites, "How long will you delay going out to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your father's gave you?" As the men prepared to go, Joshua commanded them to write down a description of the land, saying, "Go and survey the land, write a description of it, and return to me. I will cast lots for you here in Shilh in the presence of the Lord." Joshua 18:1-3; 8 I remember well my days at C3 church in Oxford Falls, Sydney, Australia. Ps Phil Pringle would often preach about the need to write things down. Having things written and on paper made them real, having photos made them visual. Today at work I talked to the team about the Mirror Test, a John Maxwell concept. I spoke to them about how they valued themselv...

The descendants of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the Lord promised Moses, the man of God, at Kadesh-barnea about you and me. I was 40 years old when Moses the Lord's servant sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout the land, and brought back an honest report. My brothers who went with me caused the people's heart to melt with fear, but I remained loyal to the Lord my God. On that day Moses promised me: "The land where you have set your foot will be an inheritance for you and your descendants forever, because you have remained loyal to the Lord your God." As you can see the Lord has kept me alive these 45 years as He promised, since the Lord spoke this word to Moss while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then. Now give me this hill country...

So Joshua took all this land- the hill country, all the Negev, all the lands of Goshen, the foothills, the Arabah, and the hill country of Israel with its foothills- from Mount Halak, which ascends to Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon. At that time Joshua proceeded to exterminate the Anakim from the hill country- Hebron, Debir, Anab- all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua 11:16, 17, 21 Joshua did what God commanded him to do, take the land, rid it of all their enemies. This meant a lot of battles, he took 31 kings. In chapter 13 it says: 'Joshua was now old, getting on in years, and the Lord said to Him, "You have become old, getting on in years, but a great deal of the land remains to be possessed." Joshua lived 110 years. In Chapter he was nearing the end of his life. Considering his battles didn't start in earnest until he was 80, I am impressed. I am now 61 and each time I take on a new battle I feel my age ...

The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua  in the camp at Gilgal:"Do not abandon your servants, come up quickly and save us. Help us, because all the Amorites kings from the hill countries have joined forces against us." Joshua 10:6 The Gibeonites had previously saved their own lives by deceiving Joshua about their identity and now they were claiming his protection. Whilst they had caused their own problem they knew that forging an alliance with superior power would work in their favour. Although Joshua had formed this alliance and not sought the Lord, the Lord was about to use the situation created and destroy the enemies of Israel. As Joshua goes out to defend the Gibeonites,  God speaks to him and tells him not to be afraid as He would give his enemies into his hand. It is right to be afraid when you go out without seeking the Lord but He is good to use all things for His purposes. His kingdom purpose is far greater than we imagine. We see our little part but He handles the ...

Now Adoni-zedek,  king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and completely destroyed It, treating Ai and its king as he had Jericho and its king, and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and we're living among them. So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed because Gibeon was a large city like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors. Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hiham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, "Come up and help me. We will attack Gibeon because they have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites. Joshua 10:1-4 What possessed these men to attack people they knew were warriors and Israel who had a God like none other? Pride? Arrogance? Foolishness? The outcome was not a victory for them. It meant death for all of their people, themselves included. If they had heard how Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and th...

Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, "Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us? Therefore you are cursed and will always be slaves-woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." The Gibeonites answered him, "It was clearly communicated to your servants that the Lord your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitatants of the land before you. We greatly feared for our lives because of you and that is why we did this. Now we are in your hands. Do with us whatever you think is right." This is what Joshua did to them: he delivered them from the hands of the Israelites and did not kill them. On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the Lord's altar at the place he would choose. Joshua 9:22-27 The Gibeonites rightly perceived God's proclamation to Moses. I admire their spunk in endeavouring to stay a...

When all the Kings heard about Jericho and Ai, those who were west of the Jordan in the hill country, in the Judean foothills, and all along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea towards Lebanon- they formed a unified alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel. When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they acted deceptively. Joshua 9:1-3 Two different reactions by different people. Always we must discern those who will outwardly oppose our team. And fight with us as opposed to those who pretend they are something other than what they are to protect themselves. Joshua, again, did not seek the Lord. If he had he would not have been deceived. Because he chose to act in his own wisdom, the whole of Israel were bound by a covenant to live peaceably with their enemies. Thus meant they could go on worshipping idols in their midst. Bad move! The message we are getting is, seek the Lord first, not when it is too late. When flush with a success we rush on, too h...

The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take the whole military force with you and go and attack Ai. Look I have handed over to you the king of Ai, his people, city and land. Treat Ai and its king as you did Jericho and its king; you may plunder its spoil and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city." Joshua 8:1,2 A previous attempt to take Ai was defeated because there was sin in the camp. Now that the sin was dealt with and the people were back trusting the Lord, success was given. Two things went wrong the first time the Israelites tried to take Ai, there was hidden sin and arrogant pride in the people. The success at taking Jericho had filled the people with a pride in their own ability to take Ai, even though God was the one who took down the walls of Jericho. More than that one of the men took what they were told not to take and this caused blessing to be lost. We can become so enamoured with our own ability and race on our own strength...

Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell before the ark of the Lord with his face to the ground until evening, as did the elders of Isral; they all put dust on their heads."Oh, Lord God," Joshua said, "why did You ever bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites for our destruction? If only we had been content to remain on the other side of the Jordan! What can I say Lord, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies? When the Caananites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do about Your great name?" The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! Why are you on the ground? Israel has sinned. They have violated My covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what had been set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put things in their own belongings." Joshua 7:6-11 Only one man's sin caused the Israelite army to be defeated at...

Joshua got up early the next morning. The priests took the ark of the Lord, and the seven priests carrying seven trumpets marched in front of the ark of the Lord. While the trumpets were blowing, the armed troops went in front of them, and the rear guard went behind the ark of the Lord. On the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. Early on the seventh day, they started at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they marched around the city seven times. After the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city." Joshua 6:12-16 Note that Joshua got up early. I am sure there would have been many who could not sleep or did not sleep well. Myself, when I have a big event the next day, my sleep can be disturbed, sometimes because I need to pray and sometimes I just don't sleep well thinking about what is...

Now Jericho was strongly fortified because of the Israelites- no one leaving or entering. The Lord said to Joshua, "Look, I have handed Jericho, it's king, and it's fighting men over to you. March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram's horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets. When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear it's sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will advance, each man straight ahead." Joshua 6:1-5 How weird the people of Jericho would have thought the Israelites, they probably wondered what sort of magic or witchcraft they practised. I am sure, on the seventh day, when the inhabitants of Jericho saw the Israelites March around seven times they knew something was up. Were they on the walls jeering o...

When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, "Are you for us or our enemies?" "Neither," He replied. "I have now come as commander of the Lord's army." Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked Him, "What does my Lord want to say to His servant?" The commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15 Joshua had a divine encounter. I wonder what he was doing near Jericho? Was he there to inspect it? Was he having time alone? God had promised to be with Joshua as he led His people and now he meets the Lord face to face. Just as Moses had to remove his sandals, so did Joshua. The ground in itself was not holy but was made holy by the presence of the Lord. What an honour to have the Lord Himself tur...

While the Israelites camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month. The day after the Passover they ate unleavened bread and roasted grain from the produce of the land. And the day after they ate from the produce of the land, the manna ceased. Since there was no more manna for the Israelites, they ate from the crops of the land of Canaan that year. Joshua 5:10-12 Divine provision ceased and now in the land of promise the land would sustain them. The current generation, the one that grew up in the wilderness was now going to eat new food, they had only ever eaten manna, and quail. Wow! Imagine living on manna all your life and suddenly experiencing all the abundance of your promised land. When we come into Christianity we experience a new birth. All that was is gone, the new has come. The new is so much more fulfilling than the old. In the old life we get by but lack the presence of joy. In Christ we have the joy of t...

At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make Flint knives and circumcise the Israelite men again. So Joshua made Flint knives and circumcised the Israelite men at Gibeath-haaraloth. (The hill of foreskins) Joshua 5:2,3 Ouch! What a time to be circumcised! That would have been very painful! Yet here was a group of men who had grown up in the desert and although their fathers had been circumcised, they had not. What does circumcision mean? Dedication. The Christian has a circumcised heart. We can no longer go back to old  ways of life. We belong to another. By being circumcised then men would carry the awareness of their God in their bodies. They were set apart, different and belonged to the Lord God almighty. By being circumcised the men would have days where they suffered and were mightily aware of what they were and where they were going.  They were very vulnerable and if their enemy only knew how vulnerable he could have destroyed them. Fortunately he was so afraid of them he...

When all the Amorites kings across the Jordan to the west and all the Canaanite kings near the sea heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, they lost heart and their courage failed because of the Israelites. Joshua 5:1 When God goes before me, I am blessed! His actions on my behalf make me respected and honoured. He gives me favour. He gives me reputation. He performs just for me. Yet He does not get the credit from the enemies. Why? The enemies think I am something special that my God would go before me, and they are right. His love is all over me. I am blessed and highly favoured of the Lord! Amen! When I allow Him to lead and direct my steps, I am in sync and the closer I am to Him, the better I look. How cool is that?

The Lord spoke to Joshua: "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they will know that I will be with you just as Ai was with Moses..." On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they revered him throughout his life, as they had revered Moses. Joshua 3:7; 4:14 The Lord keeps His word. Joshua obey the Lord is all he was commanded to do and the Lord honoured him. Our God is worthy to be followed, worshipped, honoured and obeyed. He is good! Did Joshua want or need reverence? He needed God's endorsement. God's endorsement is the best endorsement you can ask for. With God's endorsement those who follow follow well. God went before Joshua in the land he was given whilst ever he sought the Lord first. Amen!

The priests carrying the ark continued standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything was completed that the Lord had commanded Joshua to tell the people, in keeping with all that amuses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried across, and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the Lord crossed in the sight of the people. Joshua 4:10,11 The priests represent ministry to the Lord, ministry of worship. They entered before the people, stood stil in the middle of the problem in ministry and when all was done they left the problem behind. When they entered the problem the problem submitted and oped up and allowed passage, whilst the ministers were in the middle the problem stayed submitted and when they finally left the problem returned but it no longer affected those it had previously hindered. Ministry to the !ord in worship opend doors, pulls down walls and parts the waters. It subdues enemies, controls circumstances and takes authority over the problem....

After the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua: "Choose 12 men from the people, one man for each tribe, and command them, 'Take 12 stones from the place in the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing, carry them wih you, and set them down at the place where you spend the night," Joshua 4:1-3 This is significant. This miracle needed remembering. Taking stones from the middle of the path of deliverance, whilst dry, and soon to be wet again, would make these a treasure of rememberance. It is important that we remember and take time to creat memories about how our God delivers us and brings us throug onto dry land. The reason we need to create monuments with the stones is to have a point of rememberance. Every time the people went by the monument built out of the stones they remembered and remembered to tell their children and grandchildren. Another pary would remember, their enemies. They needed to remember such a great God, a ...

When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of the people. Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a mass that extended as far as Adam, a city next to Zareth. The water flowing downstream into the Sea of Arabah ( the Dead Sea) was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho. Joshua 3:14-16 Now, if the inhabitants of Jericho were in fear before, just because they had heard the rumour about the God of Israel, imagine why they were like now that they watched, first hand, His miraculous power. What fear and dread they would be experiencing. The large crowd of Israelites came and camped by the river in flood. Three days later they picked up a strange box and went to stand in a flooded river. That would have been strange enough. But, sudden...

Joshua told the people, "Concecrate yourselves because the Lord will do wonders among you tomorrow." Joshua 3:5 Consecration to these people meant washing their clothes and abstinence of sexual relationship (Ex 19:10-15). I began to wonder what concrecration to us Christians would be. The actual word 'Concecrate' does not come up in the New Testament a word search of the bible. Interesting! As we move out into a new experience in God we would spend time in prayer and wait on God for His direction. We would seek Him more and prepare ourselves to step out in faith. Myself I wait to hear from Him in some way, in my spirit, through the scriptures or a word from God through another person. Sometimes all I have was the initial direction to go and a sense to trust. I suppose these people had moved to a place of preparation, they were waiting on God to go before them, they were having to use their faith that He would come through this time, once again, they were waiting for a...

Joshua started early the next morning and left the Acacia Grove with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan and stayed there before crossing. After three days officers went through the camp and commanded the people: " when you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God carried by the Levitical priests, you must break camp and follow it. Joshua 3:1-3 Joshua took the people down to the river that was in flood and had them camp next to it for three days. I wonder if they wondered how they would cross it? I wonder if they hoped to see the God like miracle their parents had seen at the Red Sea? Were they a little nervous? Were they confident? Joshua had gone through the Red Sea and now would have hoped to see his God work a similar miracle. His leadership was on the line. How would he be feeling? Excited and a little nervous? He was the Man now. I wonder if there were any who wondered if the God of Moses was the God of Joshua? I wonder if Joshua wondered the same thin...

Then the men said to Rahab, "We will be free from the oath you made us swear, unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father's family into you house. If anyone goes out of the doors of your house, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his blood will be on our heads. And if you report our missions, we are free from the oath you made us swear." "Let it be as you say," she replied, and she tied the scarlet cord to the window. Joshua 2:17-21 Although it would be days, perhaps weeks before the Israelites came into the land of Jericho, Rahab tied the cord to the window. She was in, right away. Rahab had no way of knowing that the walls would fall down as an act of God. How would she and her family be as the walls began to fall? Their house was built into the wall. What a challenge t...

Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. "Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won't find you," she said to them. "Hide yourselves there for three days until they return; afterwards, go on your way." Joshua 2:15,16 If seasoned warriors can follow the directions of a prostitute and have wisdom enough to discern she is giving good advice, then we can learn a lesson here. Rahab knew her land and her people, but the spies did not. They trusted her knowledge. My dad was sometimes, a handy man, and sometimes a gunky man. By this I mean he was a man who thought he knew how to solve most things and he did solve a lot, but not all. I came to respect the things he did know. Growing up I saw my dad strip down the mower often because it was having problems. My brothers grew up following suit, not always with success. I must have watched and learned more than I thought because now...

"Now please swear to me by the Lord that you will also show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and save them from death." Joshua 2:12,13 Here was a heathen woman daring to believe in a God she did not know and trusting people she did not know for the sake of her family. Here was a prostitute who loved her family more than herself and was pleading for all their lives. This woman had spunk, she had faith and boldness. She is daring to ask for all her family, all her relatives. These men could run her though with a sword and not do a deal. What authority did they have to do deals with the heathen? When they had gone what would prevent her family from being killed along with the rest? The Israelites did not know that God intended for the walls to fall down. How was Rahab's portion of the wall to still stand? Yet the men would do a dea...