Joshua 8 - 10.18.24

Scripture ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭2‬; 34-35 NIV‬‬

”Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”“

”Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.“

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Observation:

Joshua has been told over and over again to be strong and courageous. I am thankful God knows our weakness and reminds us of the actions we need to take.  In this instance he had a reason to be discouraged, Israel had lost a battle resulting in lives lost. The cause was discovered and dealt with, more death. 

God told Joshua to go and fight Ai; they would be victorious. He also added another instruction, this time they could take items and livestock for themselves. So sad that Achin could not have waited. God planned to bless them when the time was right.   He gave a Joshua a plan. They were to set an ambush behind the city.  Joshua bravely carried out this plan and they were victorious.  Soon after he built an alter, inscribed the 10 Commandments in stone for all to see, and read all the words of the law to the people.  He recognized the importance of the people knowing God’s Word. 

Application:

God wants me and you to be strong and courageous. One mix up does not nullify God’s plan. There will be consequences if we disobey, but we can repent and move forward in victory.  God is there waiting to give us direction.  It is vital that we hear and know God’s word.  I want to seek God first for His will. Struggles will come, but He has a plan to defeat the enemy. 

What a great reminder as we journey through the 3-day Ascent how Joshua brought Israel together to hear the Word. God gives us all we need to be successful. It is important to take time out to seek Him. 

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I am in a season where I need to be strong and courageous. There are things I’m facing that seem impossible. Thank you for your words of encouragement. As I seek you, you give me a plan.  Help me learn from your creativity. Sometimes the key is to ambush from behind. 

Be with the DSC church family as they fast and pray. Help all who need direction from you.  Give us wisdom to follow your Word and correction where needed to get on the right track.  You have so many good things ahead. Thank you! Amen

- Cindy Howard

Romans 10 - 10.17.24

SCRIPTURE -Romans 10:13-15 TLB

ANYONE who CALLS upon the NAME of THE LORD—WILL be SAVED.

But HOW shall they ask HIM to SAVE them unless they BELIEVE in HIM? 

And how can they BELIEVE in HIM if they have never HEARD about HIM? 

And how can they HEAR about HIM unless someone TELLS them?

And how will anyone GO and TELL them unless someone SENDS him? 

That is what the Scriptures are talking about when they say, 

“How beautiful are the feet of those who come preaching God’s Good News!”

OBSERVATION 

Paul goes over the “How” Steps that Lead to Salvation:

Coming to a Saving Faith IN Jesus does not happen in a Vacuum.

There are intentional steps that take place AND these steps Are Part of God’s Plan.

We need to be willing to GO and TELL wherever “Go” is. Go can be at the Grocery, Work, Restaurant, our Neighborhood OR halfway around the World. Jesus is the ONE who SENDS-we are ALL SENT.

 God gives every Believer at least one and sometimes multiple circle (s) of influence. 

God’s word tells us, within these relationships, we will have opportunities to give a reason for the HOPE we have. If we pay attention-there are probably many more opportunities available than we realize to glorify God.

 “Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.” (1 Peter 3:15 TLB)

 Jesus has SENT us —Every single believer.

We are the ONES who are SENT.

So..what are we doing about it? Do we have—beautiful feet?

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring the Good News of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns. The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for right before their eyes they see the Lord God bring his people home again.” (Isaiah 52:7-8 TLB)

APPLICATION 

Spend Time at the Feet of Jesus

THEN-GO with Your Beautiful Feet and Share The GOOD NEWS -

Feet are Vital for pretty much everything we do in life.

The average person will walk between 75,000 to 100,000 miles in their lifetime. 

Our feet take us where we go and tell the story of our lives.

Where are your feet taking you?

Spend TIME at the FEET of Jesus 

“…Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what HE taught. 

But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. 

She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you 

that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? 

Tell her to come and help me.” 

But the Lord said to her, 

“My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 

There is only —ONE thing—worth being concerned about. 

Mary has DISCOVERED it, and it will not be taken away from her.””

(Luke 10:39-42 NLT)

Then Get UP on Your Feet and GO 

Beautiful Feet GO tell others the Good News about Jesus!

Beautiful Feet bring the encouragement of Jesus Good News and ALL that Comes with it:

·      Complete Forgiveness for every single sin you have ever committed

·      Intimate and immediate Relationship with Jesus

·      Permanent access to Jesus 24/7

·      Promise of Heaven for an Eternity with Jesus…and

·      His Holy Spirit Given to us as a down payment Guarantee that HE will do all HE has  Promised 

“How beautiful are the feet of those who come preaching God’s Good News!”

“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus

Thank YOU for sending Suzie who brought me to Church where I heard the Gospel Message. Thank YOU for teaching me LORD that we are ALL Sent ones. LORD, Give me Your guidance, strength, and filling to be all that You have called us to be in this season we are living in. A time when people are in such desperate need to Hear about the Love of Jesus. Your forgiveness, healing, deliverance. Give me a new fresh approach to reach people with this important message, Lord. Give me Your eyes AND Your heart. Here I am Lord, Send me. In Jesus Holy Name.

Amen.

Tina L Kudelka

Romans 9 - 10.16.24

Scripture

As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” (Romans 9:13, NKJV)

Observation

“Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated”, my mother’s voice resonated in my ears. Clutching my children’s bible to my heart, the 5-year-old me sobbed to God, “Lord do love my sister, but please don’t hate me”. I spent my early childhood in the country of Nigeria, as my parents were working in that country teaching college students training to be elementary school teachers. My mother would carve out time in her schedule to teach the Bible to me and my sister regularly. I remember the day she taught us the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, the cunning younger son who was the favorite of his mother, ended up inheriting God’s blessings promised to Abraham, his grandfather. In my mind, I was Esau the first-born, and my lovely and adorable younger sister was Jacob. I had no doubt that the younger one who is naturally cute and loveable, adored by family and friends, would be the favorite of everyone. God would be no exception. But I prayed earnestly with the innocence only a 5-year-old can have, that God would not pass me by while He blesses my younger sister. It took me many years to understand that this was not what God meant in this passage. 

We are the children of promise like Isaac. People like us, who do not have Jewish ancestry, were considered as “Gentiles” by the Jews. But the Bible says that the true inheritors of the promises of God are not the people of the Jewish bloodline, who tried to be justified by the law. Instead, the true inheritors of God’s promise are the ones who obtained it through faith (Romans 9:31,32). We are the children of promise to whom belong the promises of God. We are the children of the promise because we put our faith in Jesus and are saved through faith in Him. The promises God gave to Abraham belong to us (Romans 9:8). We see the same message in Galatians 3:29, which says “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”. God chose us before the foundations of the earth, and he has a purpose for each one of us (Ephesians 1:4).

Esau, the first-born represents the Jewish nation who are the physical descendants of Abraham. In the Jewish tradition, the first-born has a lot of privileges. The first-born inherits a double portion of the father’s estate. If there are only two sons in the family, the first-born would inherit two-thirds of the father’s estate. The first-born had a special role in family worship and sacrifices and was respected as the leader in the family. However, God chose Jacob the younger one to receive His blessing.  Jacob represents us, who do not have a natural right to the first-born privileges. However, God chose us and appointed us in his sovereign will to be the heirs of his kingdom and to become the children of promise and to inherit his blessings. He chose us, we did not choose Him (John 15:16).

Application

God in his mercy chose us, called us, and made us his children. Let us thank God for his mercy towards us. Let us choose to live a life worthy of his calling (Ephesians 4:1), abiding in the vine (John 15:4), and producing fruit worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8). Let us not grieve the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:30) by the choices we make. Instead let us do the good works that the Lord has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), living a life that pleases Him and fulfil His purpose in our life.

Prayer

Father, I want to thank you for loving me. Thank you for choosing me and making me your child. Help me to stay connected with you, so that you stay connected with me (John 15:4). Help me to abide in you, so that I will bear much fruit, and my fruit will remain (John 15:16). Please fulfill the purpose for which you have created me. May my life be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you (Romans 12:1). In Jesus’s name. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George