MARCH 20, 2022

  “Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” 

― John C. Maxwell

JOSHUA 1-3

7“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8Keep 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. 9Have 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.”(1:7-9)

LUKE 1:57-80

76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

77to give his people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

78because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

79to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80And the child grew and became strong in spirit^d ; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

JOURNAL 

Joshua becomes the leader of Israel after the death of Moses. Joshua will have many battles and many trying times but he succeeds in leading the people into the promised land and setting up the establishment of Jerusalem and God's kingdom. Fear and Courage really are the two defining characters within these first 3 chapters of Joshua. God commands the Israelites to be courageous while the people of Jericho are "melting in fear". This fear proves to be their undoing.

John is born and it is prophesied that he will prepare the way for Jesus. The verses contain promises that resonate...

 78because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

79to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

                                         to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Not a person knew the path or way it would all play out but God made promises that he has kept. It is within these promises that I find courage to face all challenges.

Looking back 2 years now...the anxiety and fear were deep and extreme...amazing to see how we persevered how things actually turned out...such a lesson in how to live each and every day!

Day 5...as more are confirmed with the virus, this new reality seems to only be getting started. The prognosticators really get to me at times. Predictions about the end of the United States, about how this will go into next year, online school from now on...Reality is NOBODY KNOWS. Reading scripture I can take comfort in that neither did most in the Bible. God promises that we will never be alone and that he loves us. God promises that in the end all will be made right and all the righteous will be restored. That's really about all we get and it really is enough. I definitely want more and throughout each day I battle the desire to know how this is all going to play out...but that's not what I get. I do get the promise that God will never leave or forsake. Courage not fear!

As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6Be 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