Monday March 2, 2009 LOOK BACK AND THANK HIM!
A long time afterward, the LORD gave the Israelites peace with all their enemies around them. Joshua was old, near the end of his life. So he called all the leaders, chiefs, judges, and officers of Israel together. He said to them, "I am old, near the end of my life. You have seen for yourselves everything the LORD your God did to all those nations. The LORD your God fought for you! I have given you the territory of the nations that still remain as an inheritance for your tribes. This includes the territory of all the nations I have already destroyed from the Jordan River westward to the Mediterranean Sea. The LORD your God will expel them right in front of your eyes and force them out of your way. You will take their land as the LORD your God told you. Now you must be very strong to keep and to do everything written in the Book of Moses' Teachings. Don't turn away from them.One of you used to chase a thousand. That was because the LORD your God was fighting for you, as he had promised you. Be very careful to love the LORD your God. Joshua 23:1-6, 10-11 Okay, years have passed and he has completed the task God called him to do, enjoyed the harvest of that task, and is ready to go on to be with the Lord. Yet, he isn't quite finished teaching, these people have a few more things to learn. Since I am no theologian or Biblical scholar I have no clue as to the length of this period of time. However, I know myself. I know that from time to time I need to be reminded to look back at all the things the Lord has done for me - a time to reflect on His Providence. Recently - again - Roger and I found ourselves in a financial crunch. Since I don't have an income and Roger doesn't make an enormous salary working for a utility company, we literally live from payday to payday. As you well know, some paydays don't stretch far when there are unexpected expenses. Don't get me wrong - I'm not begging for money - I'm just sharing what God taught me. As I was getting ready to go somewhere I realized that most of my clothes were quite old, but that they weren't threadbare. Roger is the same way. He has five pairs of pants and six shirts and they aren't threadbare either. God has protected our very clothing through this wilderness period in our lives. I recognized right then and there that I had not thanked God for taking care of us. I repented. I believe Joshua knew that the people were beginning to take their new "rest" for granted and that they needed a gentle reminder of Who brought them where and how! Don't we all? Another thing Joshua taught them was that when they were depending on God one person could put a thousand enemies to flight. The Biblical mandate for that also adds that two can put ten thousand to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30). There is supernatural strength when we stand together and he wanted them to remember that too! Father, thank You for rolling back the curtain of our past from time to time as a reminder to thank You for Your provision and watch care of us. Help us to stand together and remind each other so that we won't become confident of ourselves, but keep our confidence in You. ******************************************* O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
