CONCEIVED FOR GOD’S PURPOSES The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son.” —Judges 13:1             Imagine the joy of this woman who desired to have a child.  She was “sterile and childless.”  That is utterly painful for a woman who wants to have children.  But nothing is impossible with our Lord.  He who created all things has no problem telling a woman that she is “going to conceive and have a son” even though she is sterile.             The One who created the universe is all-powerful and can do whatever He desires.  In…

PERSPECTIVE AND INTENTIONALITY But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.  For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked…  They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth…  But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! —Psalm 73:2-3, 9, 16-19 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will…

SHARE HIS WONDERS AND GLORY! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! —Psalm 72:18-19             Our Lord’s Name is to be lifted up and praised forever!  How great is His Name and how great are the wondrous things He has done, is doing and will do.  Oh, that “the whole earth be filled with his glory!”  Right now, what do you praise our Lord for?  Take time and do so and may we allow His glory to be seen in and through our lives today and for…

PROCLAIM THE ROCK OF REFUGE EVEN TO OLD AGE! Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come… —Psalm 71:3 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. —Psalm 71:18              My Lord Jesus is “to me a rock of refuge.”  Oh, that I would “continually come” to Him!  He alone is my protection.  He alone is my comfort.  He alone is my peace. He alone unconditionally cares for me.  He alone is my help. He alone is my strength.  He alone is my wisdom. …

DISOBEDIENCE TO OUR LORD CAN ONLY LEAD TO EVIL But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? —Judges 2:2 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. —- Judges 2:10-11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. —- Judges 3:7             What…

BE LOVINGLY OBEDIENT, NOT REBELLIOUS Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? —Joshua 22:20 “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” —Joshua 7:20-21 …choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will…

OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM OUR LORD! Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. —Joshua 14:10-11 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures… —Psalm 90:10 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. —Psalm 90:12             Amazing that Caleb was as strong at age…

SEEK OUR LORD IN MAKING DECISIONS! So the men took some of their (Hivites of Gibeon) provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. —Joshua 9:14 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you. —Joshua 10:8 And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. —Joshua 11:42 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them… —Joshua 11:6             Do we seek our…

REFLECT ON WHAT HE HAS DONE! Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves. —Psalm 66:5-7 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. —Psalm 66:16             What have you seen or heard that God has done in His awesome deeds toward the children of men?  What has He done for you?…

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! Be strong and courageous… —Joshua 1:6 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. —Joshua 1:8-9 Only be strong and courageous. —Joshua 1:18             We have no strength of our own, “But you, LORD,…