Joshua | Kristi's Morning Devotional

December 28, 2017December 28, 2017

Learning from a Master Craftsman

You ever notice how we gravitate towards people we feel have a special gift or knowledge that we desire. Dave & I have some friends that are master boot makers. We love going to their shop and watching them create a wearable work of art. We have other friends who are masters at the craft of leatherworking and silversmithing.

I know that at one point my mother taught a young girl how to knit. This girl saw all the beautiful sweaters my mom made and so she would come to our home and learn from my mother. My father was a master mechanic and worked on and repaired those huge dozers, draglines, and ukes. Others take computer classes to learn to be more proficient and still others will pay to attend seminars on financial planning, interpersonal skills or public speaking.

We all have a desire to learn from the best and to excel in areas that interest us. Then how come it seems so difficult to find time in the day to read and study God’s word? We have God’s promise that if we obey His word we will prosper and succeed in the things of life.

When Moses had died and Joshua became responsible for the nation of Israel; he would be leading them into the Promised Land. There would certainly be challenges and there were enemies to defeat. He needed a mentor, a counselor, an adviser.

“Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you. No one will be able to stop you all your life. I will not abandon you. I will never leave you.

6 “Joshua, you must be strong and brave! You must lead these people so that they can take their land. I promised their fathers that I would give them this land. 7 But you must be strong and brave about obeying the commands my servant Moses gave you. If you follow his teachings exactly, you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5-9

The Lord promised Joshua that he would be prosperous and successful if he obeyed God’s laws. God also told him to be courageous and brave – it wasn’t going to be easy – it never is when you take a stand for godliness. But taking that stand puts you in good company, “the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”! Now that certainly makes it all worthwhile.

Over the next few weeks we will be looking at Psalm 119. All 176 verses deal with the life changing impact of studying God’s word. I want us all to grow more and more dependent on God’s word and in turn become more and more successful in our daily lives.

I hope you’ll join me as we learn about life from the Master Craftsman.

December 10, 2017December 11, 2017

The Gift of Tradition

A big complaint that you hear this time of year is that Christmas is over commercialized and I certainly agree with that. My question is what are you doing about it? (I’ll pause for a moment to give you an opportunity to think about it).

When our kids were small Christmas wasn’t about them, it was about Jesus – His birthday was the focus of our celebration. Yes, they did get presents from family and friends but our hearts were set on giving. We would go shopping for dolls and trucks and then pack them in a big box and send them off to a ministry that gave them to orphanages. One year, our youngest, had a Christmas party inviting her friends and asked them each to bring a toy that could be given to Toys for Tots and our churches often had “Angel Trees” where we could chose to buy something for a child.

Another thing, we had a tree but it wasn’t our focus. The Nativity was the highlight of our Christmas decorating. It was large and filled a table top. Today it is still one of the first, if not the only, things that is placed when I decorate.

I told you a few days ago about the candy canes and giving them out while you were out doing your normal shopping. And of course, the first thing we do on Christmas morning is open the Bible and read the Christmas story. Even now when it’s just Dave and I we still read the Christmas story. One year we were streaming live with our kids and grandkids so that they could have Pappy read the Christmas story.

I encourage you to share with us your “Christ-centered” Christmas traditions. Tradition is good. It serves as a reminder of meaningful times. In fact the Bible is filled with traditional celebrations and the Lord said those celebrations were to be a reminder to His people of the way He provided for them in the past. We are the ones that must keep the true meaning of Christmas alive in our hearts and the hearts of our children and grandchildren.

” Then Joshua said to the people, “Now you have heard the Lord’s words. So you must respect the Lord and sincerely serve him. Throw away the false gods that your ancestors worshiped. That was something that happened a long time ago on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Now you must serve only the Lord. 15 “But maybe you don’t want to serve the Lord. You must choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who you will serve. Will you serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River? Or will you serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land? You must choose for yourselves. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” 16 Then the people answered, “We will never stop following the Lord. We will never serve other gods!” Joshua 24:14-16 ERV

September 27, 2017September 27, 2017

Over and Over!

Do you get tired of hearing the same thing over and over? You remember – brush your teeth, look both ways before crossing the street, put on your seat belt, don’t run with the scissors, don’t ride your bike in flip flops. The list goes on and on.

Most of the things were learned by repetition we didn’t have to learn by experience. You know the old adage – learn by my mistakes. And isn’t this the reason we are mentored or tutored? We learn from someone else by example and experience.

Sometimes when I sit to write in the mornings I find myself saying to the Lord “but I’ve already told them that last year, last month, yesterday. Do I really need to go over it again?” And then creation reminds me that we learn from repetition.

There are only 4 seasons. It doesn’t take long to learn what to plant when – time to get out the jackets and long sleeve shirts, that those are rain/snow clouds and this is going to be a warm day. Yes, we learn by repetition of natural events so we should also learn by repetition of godly principles as well.

“But you must be strong and brave about obeying the commands my servant Moses gave you. If you follow his teachings exactly, you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9 ERV

Study God’s word everyday. That means repetition! Go over it again and again. Stay with the things that work.

““Now, if you will be careful to obey the Lord your God and follow all his commands that I tell you today, the Lord your God will put you high above all the nations on earth. 2 If you will obey the Lord your God, all these blessings will come to you and be yours:

3 “He will bless you in the city and in the field.
4 He will bless you and give you many children.
He will bless your land and give you good crops…” Deuteronomy 28:1-4 ERV

There are a list of 12 verses of blessings in Deuteronomy 28 to those who learn to listen and obey the Lord. Repetition!

I had a woman ask me once how I study the Bible. I told her I found things that I needed in my life and looked up the verses that dealt with those issues – worry, fear, health, joy, marriage, children, peace – and the list goes on. I would find verses that helped with those areas and write them on an index card and I kept those cards with me all the time. They were in the truck, in my purse and on the tractor. They sat on my desk and in my kitchen. When I would feel overwhelmed in a situation I would grab the cards and read God’s word to myself, reminding me that God has a plan and He is working on my behalf. Over and over again – repetition.

“My son, pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my words. 21 Don’t let them out of your sight. Never stop thinking about them. 22 These words are the secret of life and health to all who discover them. 23 Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.

24 Don’t bend the truth or say things that you know are not right.” Proverbs 4:20-24 ERV

Find a modern version of the Bible if the King James language is too hard to understand and read what the Lord has to say about your situation. You don’t need to read chapter after chapter if you don’t understand it. Read a couple of verses and let them stick with you all day.

These truly are the words of life and we need to apply them over and over again!

August 31, 2017August 31, 2017

Cheerleading

Do you realize that this year is 2/3 complete? What goals are we accomplishing – what successes have we had so far? Do you know that our Father is gracious and loving and He has such big plans for us? Plans for our success and benefit? Oh my goodness – He is our biggest cheerleader! He is at everything soccer game, basketball game, swim meet, 4H and FFA event and on every shoot. He’s there cheering us on and He does it with a good attitude and doesn’t say bad words if the “ref” gets it wrong.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

I used kids’ activities as my examples because each of us as a parent has been there to cheer our kids on and to tell them they are great but God does it in a much greater way.

He also there in every prayer we pray over our kids, He’s in on every discussion we have with our mate, He attends every business meeting, goes on every trip, is there for every sale and training session. He’s not a dead beat or absentee Father! He’s involved in our lives as much as we allow Him to be. He’s there!

He’s written everything down that we need to succeed. It’s not a suggestion book or an advice column but He has given us what we need to succeed in every area.

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 NIV

Oh, He’s also given us a freewill. We can go out and try things on our own. We can fail, we can fall flat on our faces and He will be there to pick us up and set us on the right path once again. Don’t we do this with our kids? How our hearts break when they try to do it on their own and don’t listen to our instruction. We know what’s best and they ignore us – and we love them anyway. We reach out to hold them, to comfort them and then to give them instruction once again. Our Father is just like that – where do you think we learned it?

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

If this year hasn’t brought a life of victory, maybe it’s because we are trying to do things on our own without reading the instruction manual, or it could be that our enemy has devised a plan against us. If it’s the former, we need to get in the book and take it to heart – “lean not to our own understanding, in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths”.

And if it’s the latter, get in the Word and take the authority that has been given us by the Father and put the enemy in his place. Don’t quit, don’t give up but go forward in the power and authority that the Father has made available to us.

“We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4 God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.” II Peter 1:3-5 CEV

We have been given everything we need to live a life of victory – we have been given God’s great and precious promises! He’s cheering us on today! Listen for His voice and follow His words.