Never Been That Way Before

The devotion I am sharing today comes from the book of Joshua.  Specifically from the chapters describing the crossing through the Jordan River.  Keep in mind what the Jordan River represents and how it relates to your life as well.  The Jordan is what separated the Israelites from the Promised Land.  During the time of the crossing, the river was at flood stage.  Simply put, crossing the Jordan River was an impossible task. 

Right now and even in your foreseeable future do you see the impossible?  What is it that you believe is an impossible obstacle in your life that keeps you from moving forward in your faith and even your relationship with God?  For me I see a lot of things.  Financial struggle, medical bills, Huntington’s disease, doubts, fears, and random life circumstances.  For you maybe it is the same things or other things like addictions, anger, broken relationships, etc... Only you know for sure what your Jordan River is.

Just prior to crossing the impossible, Joshua instructed the Israelites to wait.  They were to wait for the Levites to go before them with the Ark of the Covenant and then follow.  Why?  Well because they had never been that way before.  They needed to be led so that that would not stray and go the wrong direction.  They were also instructed to stay back a ways from the ark.  Another way to put it; they needed to keep the ark before them and not pass it up or get ahead of it. 

Have you ever stopped to think and realize that none of us have ever been on the path that God has planned before us?  Sure others have gone before us in the faith and service.  But just like a finger print God has a path, a specific plan, for my life and yours.  It is just as special and unique as your own finger print.  Sure there is a common goal and that is to grow in our faith, make disciples and glorify God through service and worship.  However each one of us has a unique set of gifts and life circumstances. 

If the Israelites did not follow the LORD what would they have done when they reached the Jordan?  I’m sure they would have stopped for sure.  Would they have waited for the floods to recede, turned left, turned right or even turn completely away?  Either way, they would have missed out partially in experiencing God if not completely missing out. 

May I encourage you to face your Jordan River by keeping the LORD before you as you follow Him.  In my walk with Jesus Christ, He has parted many impossible rivers and has faithfully delivered me to the other side. 

I took the picture in 2001 during a flood on the White River in north Arkansas.

 

Joshua 3:3-4 giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it."

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ’s love!

God Makes the Implausible Totally Possible

Things, stuff, garbage always happens that place a sense of urgency in your life.  Most of the time is has to do with something out of your control.  Things like tragedies, natural disasters, accidents, illness, disease and such.  When life altering life changing events happen, your perspective on life changes rapidly as well.  All of the sudden there is a sense of urgency, a desire to move and act quickly.  There is that "Oh wow! Now what do I do moment."  Huntington's Chorea disease was one of those things for our family. 

We were just trotting along in life and smelling the roses, when all of the sudden "BAM!" "Your family has Huntington's disease."  Now what are you going to do about it?  Our trotting along became a trap and our roses all became rotten.   This is not just a season or an event that will pass, it is now the rest of our lives. 

A sense of urgency is an understatement.  We wanted to scramble and act fast.  However, that was not possible.  There was absolutely nothing we could or can do about it. It is during this kind of crisis that you actually have two choices.  One is to surrender, suffer and let it takes its course.  The other is to fight like there is no tomorrow. 

We chose to fight.  By fighting, we surrendered our lives to Christ and gave the battle to Him.  In exchange, we were called to fulfill the great commission, reaching the world for Christ.  Reaching the world for Christ always starts in your own life and spreads from there. 

In the spring of 2007, an opportunity came up for a mission trip to Satu Mare, Romania.  My immediate reaction was this: "We can't afford it, there is no possible way."  Carri's initial reaction was, "I am going."  I was the doubter and Carri was the believer. 

While we were out jogging one morning, Carri abruptly stopped and said, "If money had nothing to do with this mission trip, would you go?"  "Of course I would go."  "Who do you feel should go?"  "You, me, and Mackenzie without a doubt should go."  "Then what is the problem?"  "I'll pray about it." "While you are praying about it, I'm going to sign us all up."

May of 2007, Carri, Kenzie (oldest daughter) and I went on our first foreign mission trip to Romania.  The cost was nearly $6,000.  The out of pocket expense for us never amounted to more than a couple hundred dollars.   God said go, we said yes, and He provided the means. 

We are so blessed that we chose to fight and not surrender to Huntington's disease.  God has taken us to places physically and spiritually that Huntington's disease would never have allowed.  What should be implausible, God has made totally possible. 

When God says go somewhere, do not doubt Him.  Why would He tell you to go if He really did not want you there to begin with? 

The picture is the yellow brick road in Satu' Mare, Romania.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ's love!