Nothing Missing

“Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, ‘Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, and he reviled them’.”  1 Samuel 25:14

“But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields.”  1 Samuel 25:15

Good was done to Nabal, even though he was unaware.

Lord, thank You for Your hand that guides others to care for my family and I,  even when I’m not aware of it. I desire to be more and more generous and gracious in this life.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Beholden

I want to say thank you
more and more each day

to all those who help me
along this narrow way

who guard me with prayers
strengthen me with faith

I may not know all the names
but my heart beholds the grace.

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Of Complaints and Such

“When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove . . .” Acts 25:7

The enemy lays out some serious complaints against me each day.

Lord, I am so thankful that Satan’s accusations have all been forgiven me and washed away by Your blood. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Back At Ya

Much is said
as accusations

attempts to take
each believer out

tossed like hand grenades
that Jesus catches

diffusing bombs
of fear and doubt.

Witnesses

“And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority’,” Acts 1:7
“‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’.” Acts 1:8

Knowledge can puff us up, but trusting Him keeps us humble.

Lord, we thank You for a power we cannot generate to witness to You and not ourselves. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Power to Bear

Asking and waiting
to receive

the power of
Your Holy Spirit

to bear witness
of Your greatness

knowing only in Whom
we believe.

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!

Fail Proof

“Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord spoke to Israel. All came to pass.” Joshua 21:45

We humans fail. But God, He never fails.

Thank You, Lord, for being the one thing we can always count on. And here’s a simple poem . . .

True To The End

Not a word failed
of any good thing
that was spoken to them
by their King.

All that He’d said
came to pass
as Israel possessed
the land at last.

One Of Them

“And when he flees to one of those cities, and stands in the entrance of the gate of the city, and declares his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city as one of them and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.” Joshua 20:4

Our enemy is hot on our heals, as we step within the gate where Jesus declares us forgiven and one of His.

Thank You, Jesus, for giving us a place within You. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Our Safe Rest

He is our refuge
a place to go

when we’ve done wrong
and must confess

and at the gate
of His cross

is where we find
our safe rest.

I Will Give . . .You

“And Caleb said, ‘He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife’.” Joshua 15:16

Sons and daughters are a great treasure and reward.

Father, we thank You that it is as much loved and blessed children that we are sent forth. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Heart Strings Attached

You are precious
you are loved

you’re a treasure
His delight

and though
you must go forth

you are never
out of His sight.

As He Said

“So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God’.” Joshua 14:9
“And now behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, those forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness, and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.” Joshua 14:10

Caleb saw that God kept His word.

Thank You, Lord, for keeping us alive and fulfilling all Your promises. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Surely

If He spoke it
it is true
and it will come
to be.

Whether now
or then later
His word’s a certain
guarantee.

Advanced

“Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the Lord said to him; ‘You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed’.” Joshua 13:1

God often worked through the older generations.

Lord, thank You for valuing and using those society overlooks. And here’s a simple poem . . .

To Those Remaining

There’s more work
yet to be done

and we’re so thankful
for those who’ve come

and lived their lives
in obedience to Him

an inheritance of faith
their sacrificial offering.

Found Hidden

“But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah.” Joshua 10:16
“And it was told Joshua, saying, ‘The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah’.” Joshua 10:17
“So Joshua said, ‘Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them’.” Joshua 10:18

I couldn’t help but notice the similarities of this situation to that of Jesus. These five kings went in alive, to come out and meet their deaths. Jesus, the One true King, went in dead, to come out risen and alive.

Jesus, thank You for entering the tomb of my heart and bringing me to life. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Out of the Dark

Hiding out in a cave
enveloped by the dark
hard to see past myself
without even a spark
until the Light compelled me
to step into its glow
and leave behind the dank dust
of yesterday’s false hold.