POSITIONED - Can I get a Witness?

"No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them." Joshua 1:5-6

Did God speak audibly to Joshua, or was this an impression from the Spirit?  Did the people hear when God charged Joshua to lead, or did he speak directly to Joshua?

Scripture does not say that the people heard the charge to Joshua. What we do know is that Joshua knew the Lord was speaking to him. Whether the voice was audible in the company of witnesses or an impression in the quietness of Joshua’s heart, his obedience was confirmed as Joshua moved forward. He knew God had spoken.

Was it hard for Joshua to move without knowing that the Israelites had heard God's charge over him? Would they listen? Would questions arise whether he was properly trained? Would he be compared to Moses? So many questions that could have halted his calling. When God speaks to us, we must take him at his word and move!

Moses heard his charge at the burning Bush. He moved by faith. Later, the people heard God speaking in the pillar of cloud, a confirmation of his calling, but was it necessary for him to obey?

The birth of the calling is sometimes spoken to the individual. Whether the calling comes in the witness of many or when you're by yourself, our response must be to approve, surely God is in this place.

David was anointed and called before the witness of his brothers and father. “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.” (1 Samuel 16:13)

It may seem easier when the charge comes in front of the witness of others. We may conclude that because others hear God's charge, the task will be smoother.  The people will respect us and know the calling God has spoken. People will encourage us. People will come alongside us.  People, people, people…a dangerous thing we lean on.  Ask King Saul!

Moses' charge was later confirmed, but the road was not smooth. They grumbled against Moses. Opposition was often Moses's companion.

David’s challenges came from his own family and from the King whom he would ultimately replace.

God speaks! Often, he speaks quietly when we're by ourselves. The Holy Spirit has a way of speaking impressively, so we know that He is speaking.

In Genesis 28, Jacob had an encounter with the Lord. He was alone. God spoke to him in a dream and promised him that his descendants would be like the dust. No other witness except the conviction and presence of the LORD, YAHWEH.  When Jacob awoke, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” (v 16)

As I read Joshua 1, I see the charge placed on Joshua. We don't read of any witnesses acknowledging that Joshua heard correctly. We don't know if the voice was audible or just the impression of God’s Spirit upon Joshua. What we know is that Joshua was charged to do as God said. Verse 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.” And Joshua obeys!

Faith is an interesting position to be placed in. Faith is an action. By faith, we embrace the charge, or we may say the calling. As we wait, it's in a position of faith. Faith does not come with a crowd of witnesses; it does not come with a pat on the back; it comes with the assurance that God has spoken.  Our entire life's position as a follower of Christ is a walk of faith.

Is God speaking to us? Yes, he is speaking. We walk according to this gift we call faith. God is Good!   Sometimes he’ll send us confirmation, known as witnesses, that spur us on to continue the good work. But whether he does or does not, we must obey.

I know the charge placed on my life. I know the gifts that he has placed in me. Over time, in his grace, he has sent those who have confirmed my calling.  I have submitted to obey Him as long as I live. 

This life of redemption was purchased by Jesus.  He gives us directives, he orders our steps, and the amazing thing is that he is already going before us!  I’ll follow his footsteps.

What is He impressing you to do?  What glory is your life displaying that honors God? We do have a Witness, it’s the Spirit of God!  Now let’s walk and obey. 

God bless you!~Liz

THE HOLY SPIRIT WARNS

I assume the year was 1997. I don't recall, but what I do know is that the movie Titanic was on the big screen. We had just finished celebrating my friend's birthday. I remember leaving the theater, and as we pushed through the theater doors, the heavens had opened, and torrential rain was pouring from the sky.

It was a cold November night. We rushed to the car and began driving back to our home. I was in the passenger seat. My husband was driving, and my son was in the back seat. There was an uneasiness in my chest as we traveled. Perhaps part of it was the darkness and rain. I recall sitting quietly just talking to the LORD.

My prayer went something like this, “LORD, keep us safe; bring us home safely.” The Holy Spirit was about to teach me that He communes with us and that he also warns!

After what seemed like an eternity in this short 30-minute drive home, I began to converse with my husband. We were on the NYS Thruway, driving northbound on the left lane. I couldn't fully explain to my husband the images that were flashing through my mind, so I just asked him if he could kindly move over to the right lane. When he inquired why, I began to share a feeling of warning that was sitting in my chest.

I continued to pray, and by now I was praying in the Spirit. We came to our exit and stopped at the light. My husband made a left turn to continue home. To the right, another vehicle stopped and then continued to drive as if we were not on the road. The car proceeded to turn onto oncoming traffic, US!! We made full contact! Screeches and skid marks filled the air. My son ended up on the floor of the vehicle. My husband's knees and chest went into the dashboard of the car. My seatbelt kept me in my seat; however, the impact thrust me forward, causing my belt buckle to “punch” me in my stomach. Immediately, my husband looks over at me and asks me if I'm OK. The impact left me with no breath, so I could not answer him. As I regained my breath, I motioned that I was safe. Praise God, my son was OK except for a few bruises.

My husband exits the car and approaches the other vehicle. The vehicle’s safety bags had deployed. The woman was bleeding but would be OK. The ambulance took us all to the hospital to have us evaluated, minus my husband, who refused medical attention. Later on, the pain would settle in on his knees and chest.

Why tell you the story? The Holy Spirit warned me as we were driving. I did not fully understand where the danger was. As I sat in the car, I assumed the threat was on the highway. The accident happened just as we exited the NYS Thruway.

Sometimes we don't understand all that the Holy Spirit is ministering to us. I truly believe that his warning allowed me to commune with God and simultaneously share with my husband the warning He had been given.

It could have been a lot worse. It's been 28 years since this incident. I have learned that the Holy Spirit intercepts and intervenes in the affairs of men. He has taught me how to recognize when He is speaking to me through His Word. He has given me promises that have come to pass. He is always speaking! I’d love to testify that I always get it right, but I don't. I am forever His student.

God bless you!~Liz

Broken Benefits

As I was going to bed, I didn't even finish the verse. The word benefits prompted my heart to think about all the "benefits" of God. The well of God is deep! So, as I began to pray, I whispered aloud the benefits the King had given me. The list became an opportunity for declaration and Thanksgiving.

· Because my soul belongs to God, I am no longer dead but alive.

· God is my healer, so whatever my body is going through, Christ

can restore. He is my resource!

· As a child of God, I am a co-heir with Jesus. I lack nothing. He's in

charge of my welfare.

Every request was interwoven with Thanksgiving as I was reminded “not to forget all his benefits.”

Yes, don’t forget, He is our help, our comfort, and our support!

Like a little sparrow eating seed out of our hand, God’s hand is extended to us with every imaginable supply for this life. In this fallen world, he is the light amidst darkness.

DON’T FORGET HIS BENEFITS!

So, what request do you have that you can turn into Thanksgiving?

* Broken, God restores.

* In need, God supplies.

* Future unsure? He orders our steps.

* Your walk seems shallow. He wants to go deep and reveal himself to us in unfathomable ways!

* Crooked roads become walkable.

* The impossible becomes possible.

When the weight of this world and the heartache of life visit,

HE remains.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul. (Psalm 103)

God bless you!~Liz

More than Conquerors!

As a young girl, I remember watching cartoons on my dad's small TV. There's this one line I'll never forget. In the Looney Tunes cartoon, Tweety the yellow bird is often found running from Sylvester the cat. Sylvester would love to have him for lunch, literally! However, this little yellow bird knows how to escape his grasp.

Tweety’s famous one-liner, “I tawt I taw a puddy tat!” is his translation of “I thought I saw a pussycat.” The statement is usually echoed with the response, “I did, did taw a puddy tat.” It’s almost like Tweety is speaking to himself. Or maybe he is talking to the intruder? Either way, he is not letting “what he thinks he saw” escape him.

Why bring up this one-liner today?

Have you ever thought you saw something, but second-guessed yourself? Today, I walked into my bedroom and saw two of my cats playing very aggressively. I didn't see anything strange, but something was not right.

My first thought was, “I thought I saw a mini mouse,” and I’m not talking Disney World.

I quickly ran and got the superhero of the house (my husband) and explained my concern.

Well, a quick check around and all seemed clear.

Cats are very impressive. Two of my three cats continued to roam my bedroom like inspectors on the prowl. I encouraged them with my own chant, “get’em girls!” I’m not even sure if there was anything to get or chase, but I put the charge in.

About 45 minutes later, I heard the ruckus again. This time, I got up and insisted that my superhero come back to the room.

As my husband began to walk, I could see from the corner of my eye something that resembled a mini mouse, but my cats don't have those kinds of toys!

I exclaimed, “I did, I did see a mini mouse.” Then I left the room!

Well, let me end the story with another quote, “I pity the fool,” who entered my sanctuary while three mighty lions roam my premises.

The demise of the intruder was quick and swift!

My superhero and the valiant lions took care of the unwanted trespasser.

Why tell this story?

As the redeemed of the Lord, we have an enemy that roams and scurries, trying to ruin our lives. He no longer has authority over us; death has been conquered, so he tries to unleash discouragement and fear among other tactics.

Well, I have a Father who watches over me. He is jealous for me! His love is immeasurable. There is nothing he won’t do to keep me close to himself. He will give up his royal rights, clothe himself with humility, and fight for my redemption!

Jesus has done it! It is finished.

He has left us the “Sword of the Spirit”, the Mighty Word of God.

We will fight while we remain. The victory has been won!

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” ~Psalm 91:14-16

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. ~Psalm 34:4-7

God bless you!~Liz

Filled With Gratitude

He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around. ~Mark 8:24

Here are five verses that give me hope and an opportunity to praise God: Mark 8:22-26, Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida.

What do you read when you go through these few lines of scripture? I see a man begging Jesus to heal him. Actually, scripture says he wanted a touch from Jesus, which is synonymous with healing, because he knew that the moment Jesus intervened, something would happen.

When was the last time you called on the Name of the Lord to intervene? If you're anything like me, it was probably a few moments ago. I'm always asking God to step in.

As I call on His Name, I cultivate my heart to engage in Thanksgiving just like the scriptures teach me. I know that something beautiful is going to happen as I invoke my Savior's Name, so I thank Him before I see the change, and I praise Him before my moment catches us up with His reality. God is always working!

“He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” (v23)

That is an excellent question. As we wait on the Lord and pour our hearts out to him, I think it's OK to ask ourselves, “Do you see anything?”

Mark 8:24 reads like this, “He looked up and said, 'I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

I'm going to be asking and answering that question more often as I call on the Name of the Lord.

The blind man said he saw something that looked like trees. His sight had not fully been restored. But in the scriptures, this man begins to give glory to God immediately! He acknowledged there was a change!

Jesus intervenes again, and as he touches the man's eyes, they open, and he is fully restored.

Practicing gratitude. Believing God's Word and allowing faith to arise.

Psalm 50:23, “He who offers a sacrifice of {Praise} thanksgiving {Todah} honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.”

What I learned from this line in scripture is that my heart must be cultivated in Thanksgiving and gratitude. Here, the Psalmist begins to give thanks to God before he even sees an outcome!

The blind man acknowledges that he sees something. He wasn't fully healed, but acknowledged that Jesus was doing something. God’s intervention had and was changing the tomorrow, the future, the landscape of the blind man's life.

Today, let's be like the Psalmist and the blind man. You may not see the full answer; nevertheless, we are called to thank God for the intervention that is occurring, even if we don't fully see it.

“Even when I don’t see it, you're working, even if I don’t feel it, you're working, my God, that is who you are.”  Lyrics from “Way Maker” by Leeland

Worship the Lord! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJCV_2H9xD0&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD

If God is for us - who can be against us! I trust in you, LORD!

God bless you!~Liz

Amazing God

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Genesis 9:13-17)

Today I saw the most amazing rainbow I've ever seen. The rainbow illuminated the sky for over 35 minutes. It was absolutely beautiful!

Of course, who can see a rainbow and not remember the promise that God made in Genesis as he dialogued with Noah? We see God’s mercy preserving life as the fall of man gave way to a sin-ravaged world. A world that lost its identity in a whirlwind of sin!

I was leaving the hospital after a visit that concluded with prayer as we called on the Name of the Lord. I had anointing oil with me, and now the room was filled with the scent. The beautiful thing was that the fragrance of the anointing oil remained on me. The bottle read, Oil of Gladness, Anointing Oil.

As I drove, this wonderful sign of God’s promise continued before me as I went home. No matter where I drove, it seemed that the rainbow was right above me.

Wow! I was so full of JOY, I began to praise and worship the Lord! Prayer, joy, laughter, tears, and shouts are echoing in my car. It was like God was saying to me, “No matter where you go, I am always with you.” I know that is in His Word, but today it was a beautiful picture that God painted over me!

I was surrounded by God’s presence! What a beautiful moment to experience. I picked up the phone and began to testify. I just rattled on about God’s goodness! What a glorious conversation with God.

He is Amazing!

Can you imagine what heaven will be like?  Read it for yourself.  Revelation 21

God bless you!~Liz

HUSH

 “In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.” (1 Kings 6:7)

Take a moment, as you begin to read, to stop and listen. What do you hear? No, don’t rush. Just be still.

I like my environment to be quiet. Oh, I am a people person. Invite me to the gathering, and I'll be there! But when I'm alone, I love the quietness of the moment. There is such peace and opportunity for clarity to be born in my mind. I can go for hours just having nothing in the background except my heart speaking to the Lord, or more importantly, allowing God to speak to me.

When the temple was being constructed, scriptures say there was an absence of hammers, chisels, and other iron tools on the temple grounds. You may ask why? According to the book of Joshua, instructions were given through Moses to build the altar for burnt offerings and sacrifice with uncut stones. This seems like such a minor thing, but there was to be no defilement in the building of the altar of the Lord. The altar of the Lord was to be different than the altars built for false worship all around them.

King Solomon established this act of worship as the temple of the Lord was being built. No hammering, not chiseling or any other defilement is how I read it.

In the New Testament, we are reminded by the apostle Paul that we are the temple of the Lord. God, the Spirit of the Living God, lives inside of us with all power and authority! How can I hear if I'm constantly talking? How can I listen if I welcome every morning like the world does?

The world calls it the hustle and bustle of life. The phrase itself sounds noisy! I grew up in NYC. That phrase reminds me of yellow cabs and horns! “Get your paper here, get your paper here.”

The God of the heavens and the earth desires time with me. “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:147)

Reverence is a word we should use when we think of our God. That’s what God deserves.

What can I learn from scripture as I read the history of how the house of God was being built? Reverence. Respect. Worship God according to His Word.

Take a peek; the temple is being built according to God’s plan. No chaos. What we see is the unfolding of God’s instructions. What we hear is awe and respect.

“He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” ~Psalm 46:10

Feeling frazzled? Does it feel too noisy? Go, hide quietly in the presence of God. He still speaks today and desires some quiet time with you!

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” ~Romans 12:1

HUSH. It's time to worship the Lord.

God bless you! ~Liz