“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.”
7Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.(33:7-11)EXODUS 31-33
JOURNAL
Yesterday was a tough word and as tough as God is...scripture is just as full of his compassion, gentleness and understanding. Even though God is furious with the Israelites for making a golden calf...he continually engages Moses in a relationship, in conversation. He allows Moses to discuss his fears and his struggles and God actually appeases and changes his initial punishment.
This is the relational aspect that Jesus addresses and affirms with the Pharisees. God just wants our heart...and he wants us to love others with the same love. God has a standard of perfection but a heart of Love...often it seems that these two could not be reconciled in the same being. Yet that is the miracle and grace of God. This grace is found in the smallest moments as well as the largest ones...
Often I have wondered "what great cause am I fighting for in my life?" There are times when I wish I was in an EPIC moment of history. Sometimes the day to day seems trivial. I think that's why I love war movies. The struggle the loss, every moment seems important and often is, especially when it's life or death. One of the poignant moments in the movie "Darkest Hour", is when Churchill takes the train and converses with the "common" people. He is on the brink of making a critical decision on whether or not to concede...What he discovers is that the heart of the fight exists everywhere...even in the mind and speech of a young girl. Inspiration often comes from the most unexpected places. That scene reminds me of the poem by Longfellow 'A Psalm of Life'..."footprints that perhaps another, sailing over life's solemn main, a forlorn and shipwrecked brother, seeing shall take heart again."
That's the reason, everyday, every moment is important. I am writing history every single day. How I respond, how I fight, how I trust, how I persist will become the inspiration for someone, whether that be me, a friend, a spouse, a child, a student or even a stranger. How I handle smaller moments of adversity will be the example and the standard and the inspiration for how large moments will be tackled.
One thing I know for sure, the big Epic moments will come. However, the small moments and victories today, very well could be the inspiration that influences really important battles tomorrow. Whether that be fighting for a job, a marriage, a child, a country or life itself. Therefore no moment is trivial or meaningless. In fact every contest, every frustration, every engagement matters!!
Yesterday was a tough word and as tough as God is...scripture is just as full of his compassion, gentleness and understanding. Even though God is furious with the Israelites for making a golden calf...he continually engages Moses in a relationship, in conversation. He allows Moses to discuss his fears and his struggles and God actually appeases and changes his initial punishment.
This is the relational aspect that Jesus addresses and affirms with the Pharisees. God just wants our heart...and he wants us to love others with the same love. God has a standard of perfection but a heart of Love...often it seems that these two could not be reconciled in the same being. Yet that is the miracle and grace of God. This grace is found in the smallest moments as well as the largest ones...
Often I have wondered "what great cause am I fighting for in my life?" There are times when I wish I was in an EPIC moment of history. Sometimes the day to day seems trivial. I think that's why I love war movies. The struggle the loss, every moment seems important and often is, especially when it's life or death. One of the poignant moments in the movie "Darkest Hour", is when Churchill takes the train and converses with the "common" people. He is on the brink of making a critical decision on whether or not to concede...What he discovers is that the heart of the fight exists everywhere...even in the mind and speech of a young girl. Inspiration often comes from the most unexpected places. That scene reminds me of the poem by Longfellow 'A Psalm of Life'..."footprints that perhaps another, sailing over life's solemn main, a forlorn and shipwrecked brother, seeing shall take heart again."
One thing I know for sure, the big Epic moments will come. However, the small moments and victories today, very well could be the inspiration that influences really important battles tomorrow. Whether that be fighting for a job, a marriage, a child, a country or life itself. Therefore no moment is trivial or meaningless. In fact every contest, every frustration, every engagement matters!!
Your faithful encouragement is contagious thank you for articulating what we ‘feel’ and can’t quite express as well. God bless
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