Gates

“And she had a great and high wall with twelve gates and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.”  Revelation 21:12 NKJV

The children of Israel have always been a crucial part of God’s whole plan.

Thank You, Lord, for the role Israel plays in Your redemption story.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

And the gates
of New Jerusalem

named after
the twelve tribes

stand open
now forever

as nations bring
their glory inside.

Opposed

“Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one being an opponent  may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”  Titus 2:6-8

Christians will have opponents.

Lord, thank You for making a way for us to live so that nothing evil can be said of us.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Nothing Evil                                                              

Even though quiet
isolated and alone

lives lived for Jesus
will still be known

a contrast to
the darkness around

opposed but in them
no evil is found.

(Photo credit: cnnphotos.blog.cnn.com / Photographer: Gary S. Chapman)

God With Us

“Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O Children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper.”  2 Chronicles 13:12

Abijah was outnumbered 2 to 1 when he spoke this to Jeroboam.

Lord, we thank You for being with us as our head and always over us.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Prospered

Oh how You prosper us
in Your power, in Your love

turtle doves

always with us
over and above

all that comes against
to discourage and destroy

but flees as we shout
Your name with joy.

Whose Steps?

“For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them . . .”  2 Kings 17:22

The fact that others are following in our paths puts a whole new realization to our steps.

Oh Lord, may all those who follow us be led straight to You.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Who I Can Follow

We must honor and love
those around us each day
be respectful and listen
to what they say
but when it comes to following
there is only One’s way
may we all run after
the Lord Jesus, I pray.

Weeping Before God

“Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept . They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening . . .” Judges 20:26

When was the last time I really wept before the Lord? I think it’s been too long.

Lord, break my heart for my brothers and sisters, for the lost and the hurting today. And here’s a simple poem . . .

For Real

I can bring others to You
with a nice little prayer

and not have to get too messy
or involved in what’s there

or I can let You show me
how it is You feel

when You know someone is suffering
and begin to pray for real.

Let The Lord Judge

“Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the Lord, the Judge, render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon.” Judges 11:27

Community #1 is attacked by Community #2. Community #1 defends itself while Community #2 cries out that they’ve been wronged and the world agrees. Sounds familiar. Yes, let the Lord judge.

Lord, we thank You that You see exactly what’s going on when matters get complicated and twisted, when nothing is as it seems . . .when good becomes evil and evil becomes good. And here’s a simple poem . . .

One Day

Someone says they’ve been wronged
and another says they had a right
and the Lord God looks
upon this fractured sight
where nothing is
as it is proclaimed
knowing one day every knee will bow
at the mention of His name.

A Deliverer

“So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs.” Judges 3:7
“Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years.” Judges 3:8
“When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.” Judges 3:9

God has raised up a deliverer for us all in His Son, Jesus.

Lord, no matter where or to what depths our sin has taken us, let us cry out to You now and be saved. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Cry Out To Jesus

I kept falling farther
and farther down the stairs

no sense trying to climb out
I couldn’t get up from there

every move sunk me deeper
and deeper into despair

until I cried out to Jesus
and He became my answer and my prayer.

By Grace

“So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” Acts 15:8-9
“Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” Acts 15:10
“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Acts 15:11

It seems easier to accept His grace than to extend it.

Oh Lord, let us see our grace accounts and just how much You have spent on us, so we can generously give it to each other. And here’s a simple poem . . .

No Distinction

The grace I have been given
goes on day after day

piling high around me
I must give some away

lest I think I am special
more favored than someone else

and forget You don’t distinguish
we are all part of Yourself.

You Did Not Labor

“I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you shall dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.” Joshua 24:13

This reminds me of a time share – only they got to stay and not pay!

Lord, we thank You for forgiveness, mercy and grace, none of which we could ever work or earn on our own. We abide and rest in You, a type of dwelling place that we could not build for ourselves. Your word grows within us and nourishes us, something we never planted or imagined. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Imagine That

We have what we
haven’t worked for

we live within
what we haven’t built

we have food
that no one knows of

all of this
without shame or guilt.

This is the last post from The Book of Joshua. 🙂 On Monday, I go back to the New Testament, The Book of Acts. Thanks so much for all of your help and support!

No Going Back

“Therefore take diligent heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God.” Joshua 23:11
“Or else, if indeed you go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations – these that remain among you – and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you,” Joshua 23:12
“know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you . . .” Joshua 23:13

Turning away from God can be disastrous.

Oh Lord, let any turning I do be toward You. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Diligently Yours

We love You Lord
and wish to stay

only Yours
day after day

bowing down
to Holy You

the One Who’s for us
and ever true.