Coffee Tea and Thee Summer Book Club

Six Books. Vote for one. Vote by commenting or by emailing me. Your choice will be announced a week from today, Monday, June 7. Book Club will begin on Thursday, June 17 with comments, questions, observations, items of interest and action points. Questions? Let me know what I’ve forgotten to include and I’ll be sure to cover it in our summer schedule. Enjoy!

Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins we Tolerate by Jerry Bridges

As Christians, we believe that all sins are considered equal in God's eyes. Yet while evangelicals continue to decry the Big Ones--such as abortion, adultery, and violence--we often overlook more deceptive sins. It seems we have created a sliding scale where gossip, jealousy, and selfishness comfortably exist within the church. In short, some sins have simply become acceptable. Acclaimed author Jerry Bridges believes that just as culture has lost the concept of sin, the church faces the same danger. Jerry writes not from a sense of achievement, but from the trenches of his own personal battles. Drawing from scriptural truth, he sheds light on subtle behaviors that can derail our spiritual growth. Paperback.

Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan

The author of the bestselling Crazy Love pleads passionately for the church to live by the power of the forgotten God: the Holy Spirit. Calling Christians to more than just a better life, Chan says he wants to live a life unexplainable without the Holy Spirit, so dependent on the Spirit that, he says, if he doesn't come through, I'm screwed. He offers vivid personal stories and illustrations about how the church ought to help Christians discern the powerful gifts of the Spirit, rather than toning down radicals. Biographies of people keeping in step with the Spirit conclude each chapter. Intended for application, Chan's aim is to end ceaseless talk and follow God's lead to assist the poor, the abused and anyone without hope. Chan himself has given all royalties from Crazy Love to a ministry to children trapped in sex trafficking, explaining that God said to him, I want you to love them as your own children. Chan's voice is fresh, earthy and fiery. Paperback.

These Strange Ashes: Is God Still in Charge? by Elisabeth Elliot

Elliot, author of numerous books (including A Path Through Suffering) as well as a conference speaker and host of the "Gateway to Joy" radio program, treats readers to more than a bare-bones description of her first year (1952) as a missionary to the Colorado Indians in Ecuador. Elliot tells her experience so vividly that readers will likely envision the cockroaches climbing the walls, the next-door latrine field's noxious odor, the fight against food spoilage, rusting utensils and molding walls. More acute, however, than these descriptions are the many spiritual lessons and feelings of inner gratification that she found in this jungle setting. The author speaks freely of her own joys as well as her heartfelt struggles to accept losses in life, in materials, in work. Although she encounters many obstacles in her mission to translate the Colorado language into written form, she is able to complete a substantial body of work by year's end. In her own engaging, plainspoken style, Elliot concludes each chapter with a spiritual insight she gained from the event recounted. Paperback.

Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard

Hannah Hurnard suffered from many fears and phobias. She even developed a stuttering problem that got worse when she had to speak in front of strangers. By the time she was 19, Hannah was deeply depressed. Over time, however, Hannah found deliverance as she continued to follow the Lord in obedience. Later, she was to write the best selling Hinds' Feet on High Places as a result of her experiences with the Lord. She went to Israel as a missionary to the Jews in 1932, and lived there through the war for independence in 1948. In Israel, she served as a housekeeper in a hospital--a kind of work she had detested before her surrender, but now loved. This timeless classic tells the story of Much-Afraid and her journey to the High Places with the Shepherd. Filled with exciting adventure and a triumphant conclusion, this story will teach every reader the importance of following the Shepherd. Paperback.

Lost Women of the Bible by Carolyn Custis James James

James (author or When Life and Beliefs Collide) was compelled to this search of "lost" biblical women because she has felt lost at times—when marriage and family were delayed for her, or when trying to minister within a church culture which often constrains women's ministry. She begins by studying the "helpmeet" role that Eve was assigned and discovers that the Hebrew word ezer has stronger connotations than usually allowed, meaning strong helper and even warrior. James unearths the stories of eight additional women, including Sarah and her abused handmaid Hagar, the deceitful—or righteous?—Tamar, infertile Hannah, beautiful Esther, Jesus' mother Mary and Mary Magdalene. Each story reveals the critical, powerful roles these women played in the biblical narrative, confirming every woman's calling to be an ezer. James concludes with a chapter on Paul and his close relationship with the women leaders in the church at Philippi. Paperback.

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

The Screwtape Letters (a collection of letters written by the devil), are set in a series of fictional correspondences between Screwtape, a high ranking demon, and his young protégé Wormwood, a young demon that has been sent out on his first assignment to ensnare a human. The seemingly gentle and fatherly advice to the young demon from his patron exposes the true designs of the masters of Hell, as well as the frailties of the human psyche that they seek to exploit in their attempts to gain a convert for their side. Paperback.

Today is the day.

Do you want to know what a total nerd I am? I love summer reading. Not that reading is at all nerdy. But, I love the summer reading book lists to be more exact. Not that I ever had one – in the dark ages when I was in high school, summers were supposed to be fun - a complete break from school. I never saw a book list, but if I had I would have loved it and definitely read every single book. In college I had one class with a full book list – Children’s Literature. Oh boy, you can imagine – things like all the Chronicles of Narnia. Heaven.

So, you’ve probably figured out – I’m launching The Coffee Tea and Thee Summer Book Club.

Here’s how it works. Tomorrow six books will be posted on the blog. They are all highly recommended books by outstanding Christian authors. Three are classics and three are at-the-moment current. Vote for your choice either by a comment or by emailing me. I will give you a week to vote, so you will have plenty of time to investigate your choice. I’ll tally the votes and on Monday, June 7, announce the book we will read. Then we’ll take another week for everyone to get the book. I’ll give a schedule for reading and book discussion. All summer the blog will cover lots of things in general, but every Thursday we will have CT&T Book Club. We’ll talk about each chapter, the author, the book’s influence and our lives. And whatever else God puts on the table.

I’m so excited! All God’s idea and He heard my heart… I’ve been hungering for a Christian Book Club for a very long time. See you tomorrow.

Memorial Day Weekend

Two recipes from our Wednesday Girls end-of-year luncheon that you might want to make for the weekend...

Barbara's Black Bean & Rice Salad

2 -14.5 oz. cans chicken broth
1/2 cup water
2 cups long grain white rice
2 bay leaves
2 -15 oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1 small bunch cilantro, chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
3 TBSP frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
2 TBSP red wine vinegar
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder

In a large saucepan, bring chicken broth and water to a boil. Add rice & bay leaves. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until liquid is absorbed, approximately 20 minutes. Transfer to large bowl, discard bay leaves, and fluff with and fork; allow to cool to room temperature.

Prepare dressing by combining orange juice concentrate, vinegar, oil, and seasonings in a jar. Shake well.

Toss cooled rice with black beans, peppers and onion, cilantro and dressing. Chill. Serves 12


Chris' Tomato Basil Pie

1 Pillsbury pie crust (in red box)
4-5 fresh tomatoes, sliced
2 cups mozzarella cheese(kraft-in pkg)
1 cup fresh basil, chopped
4 cloves of minced garlic (refrig. kind in jar)
1 cup mayo
1/4-1/2 cup parmesan cheese (kraft-in pkg)
1/8 tsp white pepper

Slightly roll out crust and put in a pie plate- poking holes inside with a fork. Bake pie crust as directed on box (425-450? for 9 min). Sprinkle bottom of cooked crust with 1/2 cup mozz. then let cool. Slice tomatoes and let drain on paper towel. Mix together garlic and basil in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine 11/2 mozz, mayo, parmesan, and white pepper. Once pie crust is cool, then layer tomatoes and basil mixture. Spread cheese/mayo mixture on top. Hint: this mayo mixture is thick--you may add more mayo to loosen but may have to spread with fingers or spatula!

Bake 325 for 20-30 min

Be safe and blessed and see you Sunday!

And This is Victory...

If I had to say the #1 lesson from Joshua, it would be: settle the sin. If I had to say the #1 warning from Joshua, it would be: expect battles. Yet, Joshua is a book of victory. It is crossing to new land, getting into the place God wants you to be, winning battles (you and I now know how to win a battle – we might not be doing it yet, but we know how), going from victory to victory. Just so we’ll know it, just so we’ll recognize it when it comes… this is what victory looks like.

Land still…
To our dying day we will have land still to win for God, and in that land enemies reside. Knowing that enemies reside and not running from it; we expect it… this is not what defeat looks like – this is what victory looks like.
Giants removed…
A different kind of enemy, giants are connected to our fears. As you and I identify our giants, if the next thought is how to walk into our God-given land and route out the giants once and for all – then we’re beginning to think victory!
Seasons of rest…
I love these verses… then the land had rest from war, Joshua 14:15 and the Lord gave them rest on every side, Joshua 21:44. In the midst of winning the land, in the struggle, after the battle, after the giants were removed… God gave rest. And God does the same for us. Find your home base and get some rest.
Shelters throughout…
48 cities were given to the Levites and six were cities of refuge. The city gates were always unlocked just as the arms of Christ are opened wide to anyone who will come.
Rev. 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
We know His protection, we begin to live and breathe and work from under His protection. We know God and we know ourselves, where we flee for safety, our refuge and our strength, shelter from the storm. When we begin to find our shelter and safety in God and none other, we are walking in victory!
Many Gilgals…
Gilgal… home base; God graciously letting you and I do it over again. Instead of looking at a do-over with frustration, try seeing it as a unique opportunity, a privilege, to do it again, this time for God. This indeed is victory!

My last word on this season, on Joshua commentary, on the past off-the-chart weeks of Crossings is this: you are more prepared than you think you are to cross into new land. And, if you begin to process what victory really is, my guess is that, in some ways, you are already walking in it.
Amen and Amen.

Giants in the Land

Remember way back when in Exodus, Moses ordered the twelve men to go into Canaan and survey the land? Remember they were so terrified, and ten of the twelve made a decision that would cost them their lives – they would not go into God-given land? Remember the reason for their fear? Giants.

It’s true. There really were giants in the land. A clan of men of legendary size and strength lived in Canaan near Hebron. They descended from Anak, hence called Anakites. They were real, fierce and powerful. By the time we get to Joshua 14, Israel was at the end of a seven-year winning streak. So, forty seven years later, the giants are still there.

There are all kinds of enemies in our land. There were Canaanites of all kinds.
The Canaanite clans were Sidon, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites. From reading Deuteronomy 18, we can safely assume that every abomination mentioned was practiced by the Canaanites.
But, Canaanites were not Anakites. Anakites were the giants.

Giants are a different kind of enemy - something bigger than big, something scary, and something that makes our hearts melt in fear. Giants make us feel small, insignificant, as if there is no solution – we will be swallowed up, it’s the end of us. A giant can be… in a physical place, a person or persons, something that keeps coming back into our lives. A giant can be fierce, stubborn, embedded, a sin, evil. Giants are connected to our fears.

Joshua’s best friend, Caleb, wanted Hebron. In fact, God had given it to him when he first laid eyes on it all those years ago. So, what does he do? He goes into the land and removes the giants. He drives them out. He keeps them out and he sets up housekeeping for God. Talk about a do-over!

Have you identified a giant in your life? You want a clue? It’s probably associated with a great fear in your life. As you and I identify our giants, if your next thought is ‘God gave this land to me and I’m going to take it!’, then you’re beginning to think victory!

Deceived, Outnumbered and Overwhelmed

No experience in Christian living is so full of danger

as the flush of victory.

Alan Redpath

In Joshua 9, Israel, coming off a major victory, was tricked by the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites, wearing old clothes and carrying worn wineskins, led Joshua to believe they were from a land far away and aligned with the One True God. Israel was deceived. Sadly, we can be deceived. We can be lied to by those close to us. We can fall for a ruse. We can be caught off guard and blind sided. We learn to trust our instincts and listen to our ‘gut’, but our instincts prove faulty. Where do we turn, who do we trust, and how do we battle deception? As we study these verses, we find Joshua did not ask God or seek His counsel; there is no mention of prayer. The sooner we realize that we cannot trust our instincts, the stronger our battle strategy. We trust the Holy Spirit and prayer is our number one weapon against deception.

In Joshua 10, Israel is outnumbered. Is there anything more defeating than looking around and everyone is against you? What did Joshua do? And what battle strategy can we put in place? He marched all night; so when God wakes you up in the middle of the night…pray. Joshua planned a sudden attack; so take your enemy by surprise. Joshua cries out to God; so let your tears fall to Him. Joshua asked something preposterous – for the sun to stand still; so ask boldly. And Joshua believed God could do what he asked; so believe all you know about God and take up your shield of faith.

And when we are worn down and there’s no fight left, just on the verge of giving in… do just as the Lord commanded. These words were Joshua’s secret. He obeyed God consistently, thoroughly, solidly, methodically; step-by-step he just did the thing. Totally destroy your enemy – don’t let any sin settle in or stick around. Return to home base and get your strength back. Don’t be intimidated by something new like chariots; be prepared for that last-minute attack. Walk in and possess your inheritance! God gave it to you a long time ago.

Precious Stones

This coming Sunday, May 30, our summer study will be announced. So this marks our last week of remembrances from Crossings. Going back and reflecting on the lessons God has taught me has been invaluable. Eight weeks ago I was unsure of my new land. Eight weeks ago I had not moved to Gilgal. Eight weeks ago I had no battle strategy. Eight weeks ago I had not contemplated removing giants from my land. They aren’t gone yet, but I have resolved to get them out of my life once and for all! Today, I pray God has deeply rooted these lessons in my heart and yours. As I continue to work on my timeline/lifeline, I’ve added another stone of remembrance… Crossings 2010.

The last day of class I took home precious stones of remembrance. Pictured below are pages from a book put together by the Wednesday Girls. Each page creatively highlighted the ways God has worked in their lives through Crossings. Pages were decorated, water-colored, scrap-booked; and messages were warm, touching, funny and gave God Glory. I cherish each one.

A special shout-out to Jan who water-colored the green cup. I love the green cup! It says to me, ‘come and sit with me, and have coffee or tea and let’s talk… love Jesus’. I sold the original green cup years ago to a precious friend, Belinda, who gave it to her daughter, Amy. I’ve thought about painting myself another one, but God stepped in and gave me something beyond my expectations. Jan, I love the art and the artist! A big hug through the wires to all the Wednesday Girls! I miss you every Wednesday.

Jesus and Joshua

Before we leave Joshua 7, let’s be reminded that in the Bible Joshua is a picture of Christ, called a ‘type’. The man, Joshua, portrays Jesus, the Son of Man.
Their names are the same. Both names, Joshua and Jesus, are from the Hebrew ‘Yeshua’, which means, "he will save."
Their men number the same. Joshua appointed twelve men, one from each tribe; Jesus appointed twelve disciples.
Their hearts are fashioned the same. Grieved over sin, Joshua falls face down and carries out the judgment of God; Jesus came first as Savior, "and call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins" and will come again as Judge.
Joshua led the people into the Promised Land of Canaan; but Jesus, not only leads us into victory in the land of the living, He is the Only One who can lead us into heaven – into salvation – the greater Promised Land.
Jesus is our Joshua, but a better Joshua.

Thinking along those same lines, here is what one Crossings class member wrote to me:

Dear Suzanne,
I've been thinking a lot about Achan after our small group earlier today. One woman in particular was struggling with "That is not the God I know. A God who would punish innocent children because of the sins of their father - and not only punish them, but allow them to die."

Your reminder today that Joshua is a "type" of Jesus led me along this path of thinking. What if I were to think of Achan as a "type" of Adam? Adam like Achan was one who KNEW what God had commanded, willfully chose to disobey and took what God had forbidden him to take and then tried to hide. The wages of Adam's sin was death - not only for him - but for all of mankind. Our sin nature is a direct result of Adam's disobedience - because of his sin, each of us is sentenced to death. Because of Adam, we live in a fallen world. We are like Achan's family. Then the other part of struggle - would the God "I know" allow an innocent child to die because of the sins of someone else? The answer is YES!!!! He who knew no sin became sin. God allowed His precious child Jesus to take my place - the innocent lamb of God died, so I could live. I'm not so sure that Achan isn't with the Lord. In the end, he confessed and he believed and his honesty glorified the Lord. - isn't that the conduit for grace?

Quite a bit of food for thought. It is so good to walk throught these lessons once more. Take time to process... I'll give you a rest over the weekend. Be blessed!

Sin in the Camp

I’m mentally and physically (as in pounding on the keyboard) tracking my way through Joshua as a means of reflection. Today I’m stopping at Chapter 7 again. It is the turning point of the entire book. After a miraculous, mighty victory at Jericho, Israel was solidly defeated in battle at Ai. Joshua was dismayed, devastated, and fell in grief before the Lord. Was it over-confidence; was it lack of prayer, both clear possibilities? No.

The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned… You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. Joshua 7: 10-11, 13

God says Israel has sinned and they will not move ahead until sin is removed.
There is sin in the camp.

Israel was stopped in their tracks. The same thing happens with us. There are times when, no matter how hard we try, we are going nowhere. There are times we cycle in and out of the same circumstances of defeat. We analyze, we look at the situation from all angles, we review a hundred reasons, but at some point we get it. Sin. If there is unconfessed sin in our lives, it will eventually trip us up every time. We discover that we, like Israel, have sin in our camp and our spiritual progress is halted. Sometimes everything is halted.

Have you ever been so frustrated, wondering what was holding you back? If we really want to know the truth, we must be willing to ask ourselves the hard question. Is there sin in our camp? Is this what is holding us back? Is this our point of defeat? Is this the reason we’re stuck? Settling our sin with God is the only thing that will get us back moving.

Backwards Battle

To my knowledge I have never had a consistent battle strategy in my life. Oh, I’ve put on the armor from Ephesians 6, sometimes quite rusty, but never have I had a strong studied strategy. I’m getting one now.

That’s why I can’t quit thinking about the pre-incarnate Christ meeting with Joshua just before the first battle at Jericho. It is a Theophany in Scripture - a manifestation of God that is tangible to the human senses, often in human form. Jesus shows up on the pages of Joshua (chapter 5) with two penetrating lessons that preface all our battle plans and form the foundation to a real battle strategy.

The first – He is Commander of the Lord’s Armies. Make sure it is His battle.I have gone into many battles backwards. What I mean is that I either angrily walk into a battle unprepared, or I’m blind-sided by a battle, or I’m reluctantly forced into battle. Then, in the middle of the fight I tire, I lose my focus, or I get scared. At that point I run to God begging Him to join my fight and let me win. Is anybody with me on this? We’ve got it backwards. We rally God for our own causes; we claim God for our side. Jesus makes it perfectly clear: the whole point was not for Joshua to claim God, but for God to claim Joshua.

The second – He is Commander of the Lord’s Armies. Look for the army.He has an army. He makes sure we know there are unseen invisible armies battling for God’s causes. God’s children are God’s causes. I needed to be reminded of that today. Some days my greatest comfort is that I have God’s army around me and the Commander of that army ahead of me.

For the last six weeks I hope I’ve been building a strong foundation for a battle strategy. Psalm 84 in the NLT has been a delight to me and a place of prayer. The psalmist cries out to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies for strength. From my heart to yours, here it is...

Psalm 84

(New Living Translation)
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the LORD.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises.

5What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
8 O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob.

9 O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the one you have anointed.
10 A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The LORD will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
12 O LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you.

The Scarlet Thread

I have already written about Rahab (see April’s post titled, For One Woman), but if I had to narrow it down to two things from Crossings that I can’t quit thinking about, it would be Rahab and Gilgal. I’ll get to Gilgal later. Today I’m reliving Rahab one more time and letting each lesson sink in.

The spies did not need to go into Jericho! Joshua did not need any of the information they provided. Not really. The more I have studied, the more apparent it is that God sent them in for one reason only – to save Rahab.

Wow. What Love. And get this… when Rahab placed the scarlet rope in her window, the sign that would save her family when Jericho fell, unbeknownst to her, that scarlet rope continued a scarlet thread running through the entire Bible. The scarlet thread representing the shed blood of Christ. Beginning in Genesis when God slew an animal to provide a skin to cover Adam and Eve, the scarlet thread continues in Exodus as the Hebrews took the blood from a spotless lamb and placed it on the doorpost to save their family. And now a scarlet rope hands out of a window to save Rahab and her family. All the way through – pictures of Christ and his blood shed in my place and yours, so that we could be saved. What Love.

Timelines and Inheritances

Hi everyone! This is Shay thinking out loud and writing as I think. Suzanne has been sharing some things she can't stop thinking about and I'm right there with her. I have lots of things that are hanging out in my mind concerning our study of Joshua. So much to think about! But I'll just share about a couple of big things for me: (1)our timeline and (2) the potential inheritance that I can leave my children concerning my land. The timeline was from one of our lessons (Joshua 4) and the inheritance concept was from a recent lecture Suzanne did on Wednesday morning. (Joshua 11:23)

I have already shared about my timeline with some of you and I loved hearing about yours. We were asked to put those stones of remembrance into each decade of our lives on a written timeline. I was overcome with emotion as I started to see how God had graciously equipped me in my 30s in preparation for the testings of my faith in my 40s. It's not like I'm saying that my 40s were so horrible! But I did experience and face huge obstacles and hard times in my 40s like I had never faced before. There would have been NO way that I could have come through this time if God had not laid a spiritual foundation of equipping in my 30s. I truly can say that I didn't come through all the tests with flying colors. But I did try to draw on the resources of my 30s to help me depend more, in my 40s, on the strength of the Lord and His love for me.

The second thing I'm thinking about is the word inheritance. I need to go back and count the number of times that word is in Joshua! Suzanne talked about this word in her lecture from Joshua 11. She said just as God gave the land as an inheritance to Israel, OUR land can be an inheritance to our children. Wow! Never considered that. When our family of 4 was called to the Budapest, Hungary, mission field in 2004, I never thought that the physical land of Budapest could one day be an inheritance to my two daughters, Olivia and Meredith. Remember, Suzanne has said that our "new land" could be an actual physical place. Those years in Hungary were full of joy but also full of struggles and hardships. Could God actually use those times as "an inheritance" to pass on to my children? Apparently so. Today, both my girls view their time on the mission field as a time of great importance in their life. As their mom, I'm seeing how that season in Hungary is continuing to shape their thinking and the paths they are choosing to take. So, as I cross into new land in my life, I want to pray more about how that new land could affect my children and the generations to come as an inheritance. "So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel...."Joshua 11:23

The two pictures in this blog are from our early days in Budapest. Thought you might enjoy seeing them but don't laugh at my awful hair!!!

Wednesday Wrap-Up

Yesterday the Wednesday Girls ended our wonderful year with a bountiful luncheon. Plenty of green on the table and in the fashions. What a year we have had! I praise and thank God for the paths we have traveled together this year. He has been so good to us and taught us so much! Now we have the summer to process.

You crown the year with your bounty

and your carts overflow with abundance.
Psalm 65:11

Low Points

I can't quit thinking about Joshua after Moses died. Surely this had to be one of the lowest points in Joshua's life. I think the absolute lowest point was after the defeat at Ai when 36 men were killed and Israel was run all the way back to camp in utter defeat. But right after Moses died - that low point had to be right up there.

I wonder how many of you have been in a place like that. Not necessarily a Moses, but someone moves out of the picture, and it becomes your task to move in. You didn't feel ready, your heart wasn't in it, you were still grieving - but God said so, so you did.

I don't think Joshua thought he was ready for the task God set before him. Yet, when God handed over the reins, Joshua obediently took them. Terrified, discouraged, shaky, with little strength - we hear no complaint from Joshua; the only dialog is deep encouragement from God. There is no one else in this exchange – no Caleb, no family member, no officer or soldier. Just God and Joshua.

From this study, I have started looking around at Bible study and at church and in meetings, and listening more intently on phone calls and through texts and emails - noticing the Joshua's. Those who I know are at low points in their own private struggles, yet simply and quietly cling to and obey God. I'm thinking more and more about the Joshua's in my life. I want to know what you are thinking about....

Three Moms

A shout-out to three mothers today – two on this earth and one in heaven. I want to officially, on-the-record, thank God for giving me my mother and my mother-in-law. As we wind up our Joshua study, we are doing a lot of talking about inheritances. I began thinking of things my mother left me. Everyone says I have her smile, and I got my blue eyes from her too. Here are a few others…

• we became Christians at the same time (another story) and I got a dose of her faith which inspires me even today



• I got the ‘Green gene’ which is a pouch of tummy fat, which never goes away no matter how little you weigh, and unfortunately my girls got it too



• somehow I got how she took the good with the bad



• I got her unbelievable recipe file stuffed to the gills and her address book that had more notes, prayers and grocery lists in it than addresses



• I got a good array of her little sayings, like ‘stuffed to the gills’ and ‘laid out among the sweet peas’ and ‘pretty is as pretty does’, but there’s no way I could ever remember them all



• I got some of her loyalty; that you stick by people you love and ‘blood is thicker than water’



• I got her pointy finger and mouth full of opinions



• I got a box of handkerchiefs my father brought her from all over the world

Mom, I hope Jesus tells you that I love everything I got!

And my mother-in-law, Bee, leaves me little tidbits every time I talk to her, such as…

• her dedication to family and how she hangs in there with all of us and love us no matter what



• her interest in the everyday things like good books and hair cuts and clothes and what’s going on in Bible study



• her utmost loyalty to Big Ben and how she has always put her marriage first



• I want her prayer life – for putting off sleep each night to pray for all 26 of us



• she taught me that ‘it’s all about the food’ and once you get the food figured out and if it tastes good, you’ve got it made



• I will never forget that God put me with her on the very day He called me out from a 14-year teaching ministry – she knows my heart



• and her clothes – I love it when she raids her closet and some end up on me!









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  I said three mothers. A big shout of praise for you, Molly. Mother of this angel.
  
  
  And for all the Wednesday girls who are mothers of young children. I love to watch you and listen to you. I love how you make it a top goal to be a good mother; how you sacrifice everything, especially your hearts; how you take pictures and videos to preserve the memories; how you let your little ones be themselves instead of what you think they should be; how you read stories and get in the floor and play mamma and baby shark; how you empty your pocketbooks; how you climb into bed only to get up in the middle of the night continually; how you rack your brain to think of birthday party ideas; how you say their prayers at night then fall asleep praying for them…

I could go on and on... what is one of your favorite things you got from your mother?

A great big shout out today to mothers – be richly blessed, for you are such a blessing!!

Holding Down the Fort

I can't quit thinking about Joshua as a young man in training under Moses, and how Moses would meet with God at the Tent of Meeting. Then Moses would go back to the camp, but Joshua would stay at the Tent. Partly to hold down the fort... remember that lesson? I know there are quite a few of you out there holding down the home fort, prayer fort, work fort, financial fort - and you just may feel as if life is passing you by. Believe me, I've been there. But life is not passing you by - God is training you, and powerful training it is!

But I digress... Joshua mostly was staying by the Tent because God was there. He simply learned as a youth that being near God was his comfort zone. And it keeps cropping up over and over in his life, through all the battles fought and won, through all the land gained, Joshua keeps returning to Gilgal. Home base. The place where the Tent of Meeting was. The place where the Ark of the Covenant was. Home base. The place where God was.

I want to know what you can't quit thinking about...

Things I Can't Quit Thinking About...

Okay, I’m going all the way back to Joshua Lesson 1 and revisiting one more time the life lessons I learned and the one’s I didn’t but want to.

I’m starting with what Crossings are. The times in our lives we cross over into new land.
Have you discovered your new land yet?
Land is the place God has for us – where God wants us to go.
a new place – a physical place; another place you are supposed to be, the physical land of the mission field or a move to a new city, a move from city to country, from country to city, a new house, moving home, leaving home…
a new stage - another task you are supposed to do, a change in career, retirement, a new ministry, another direction for your family, new place your marriage is to be, a new horizon of health, the ‘sandwich’ generation, the land of financial freedom, a change in career, a change of direction, a change in status…
a new heart - renewed hope, renewed obedience to God, forgiveness, bondage broken, grief healed, a place of contentment, a spiritual discipline, a call heard, a call confirmed, a call obeyed…

I want to know what you can’t quit thinking about…

The Great Exchange

Chapter 7 is the turning point in the Book of Joshua. The reason: we are confronted head-on with sin. We can’t get past it. Try as we might, we are stuck until we deal with it.

In every life there is a time when sin is settled with God. One way or the other. It is either laid on us or laid on Jesus. At the cross God placed all sin on his Son. Jesus took our sin, became our sin; our sin was transferred to Him. He died with it. And rose without it. We, in our minds and hearts, go to the cross and give all our sin to Him. He takes it and removes it (as far as the east is from the west) and God accepts His taking and we are saved. It has been called the Greatest Exchange that has ever occurred. Sin forgiven and sin removed. He gets sin and we get salvation. A crossing at the cross.

As this is the greatest exchange known to man, we certainly ought to know if, in our lives, this exchange has occurred – do you? If so, that settles sin between you and God. If not, you can go to the cross any time, any place, in any circumstance and make this exchange. What a relief it is!

We still have some lessons to get under our belts about battles and daily sin and how to get to victory, but nothing, not one, is as important as this one!

Crossings: The Blog Study

Some random thoughts about the Crossings study on the blog…
You do not have to have the lectures to do the study! The blog study stands on its own. I’ve heard from some of you and you are enjoying the study using the lessons, blog commentary and map. Wonderful! I don’t know when I’ll have all 6 lectures taped. That is up to God.
The study is easily done in a small group! At least that is what I’m hearing. Get a couple of friends together and start. You can go at your own pace, in your own homes, with your own format. If you need any ideas just let me know.
The 6 Crossings lessons and map will be on the blog through May. Print off the lessons for your small group or individual study. Of course, whenever you do your study, you will be able to find all the Crossings commentary on past blog posts.
Upcoming blog commentary will be more useful for the bloggers. I started this as an experiment and I’m realizing that the majority of readers are not in the Wednesday Bible Study class. So, for all of you out there, bless you! More of the comments will be directed to you.
After May, stay tuned for a new study and a new direction. I wish I could announce right now what the Lord has put on my heart for June. But, I’ve still got 2 more weeks of writing to complete Crossings. I have to rein myself in and stay focused. But, I’ll say this… it’s going to be fun!