Numbers 13- Will you love God more tomorrow than today?

This is where we are seeing the leaders of Israel take off and begin to spy out the land of Canaan to see what was going to be given to them.  They scouted for 40 days, and in Numbers 13:25, we see this: 

"²⁵ At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.

Report on the Exploration

 ²⁶ They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. ²⁷ They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. ²⁸ But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. ²⁹ The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan."

 ³⁰ Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

 ³¹ But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." ³²And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. ³³ We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

So these spies come back, and there are two of them that say "we can do this. Let's go." Joshua and Caleb, but the other 10 look around and say, wow these guys are huge. We cannot take them- lets be responsible, we cannot win this thing.  And all of the people followed these 10.  So everyone is discouraged, everyone stopped believing, and in chapter 14 God responds in verse 26. 

"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: ²⁷ "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. ²⁸ So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: ²⁹ In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. ³⁰ Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. ³¹ As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. ³² But you—your bodies will fall in this desert. ³³ Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. ³⁴ For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.' ³⁵ I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this desert; here they will die.So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it- ³⁷ these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD. ³⁸ Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived."

Clearly, the Lord was not pleased. He has never been pleased with us who are cowards. He has never been pleased with people who believe He can't do what He says He can.  

As you read this story, my question to you is, who are you? Are you one of the 10? or Are you Joshua or Caleb? Are one who believes God is so mighty and you are 100% confident that He can do anything He says? Or do you often find yourself struggling to believe in the power of God? Remember when you first accepted Christ, and you knew how powerful God was.  You knew that God was so big, He could do anything.  You were so confident that God could use you.  You were Joshua, you were Caleb.  However, as you've gotten older, and more mature, you've become one of the 10.  You've lost hope. You've become more logical, and less spiritual.  You've become comfortable.  You've become calm, mellow about your faith.  But I believe scripture calls us to be bold, to be courageous, to be INSANE about the Gospel.  I believe too much is at stake for us to be calm, and be scared.  Ya see, my favorite part about this story is that it doesn't end in Numbers. My favorite part comes 45 years later...in Joshua 14. 45 years later and Caleb is still alive just like God said. 

"⁷ I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, ⁸ but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. ⁹ So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' ^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]}

 ¹⁰ "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! ¹¹ I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. ¹² Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."

How amazing is that? This man is 85 years old, and he is more passionate about the Lord today than when he was 40.  He is just as strong, if not stronger than when he is 40.  He stands on the PROMISE of God. It's never been about us. It's always about the PROMISE of God. He will always be with us.  He will always lead us. I want to be one of the two.  I want to be the 85 year old who believes, and loves God more then than now.  I want to be closer to Christ then than now. 

Where are you? Will you love God more when you're 85 than you do today? I hope and pray you do! 

Be Blessed,

Toe's

One life to live.

Today was a crazy day, but I wouldn't have spent it doing anything else.  A wise man once told me, "I've got one life to live, and I'm going to give it all to God." 

The simplicity of that statement amazes me.  It is so simple, yet so life changing.  We do only have one life to live.  For some of us, we are extremely lucky to literally get a second chance at life, but most of us have one life to live, and one life to give.  Ya see, I feel like we get so caught up in the day to day drag of everyday life that we forget to focus on the things in life that truly matter.  We almost treat each day as a "trial run" of life, and then when it starts to count, then I'll start to give everything to God, but for now- I am too busy...how many have said that? We say, for now, I'm going to do it my way...and eventually we will get around to God's way.  

I want to encourage you, as you read this, remember, no one is promised tomorrow, no one is promised their next breath, and so do not take it for granted! Remember, we truly do only have ONE life to live...and ONE life to give to God. What is holding you back from giving everything you have to God? The Bible says in John 10:10, "the Devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus says, "I have come to give YOU LIFE, and life to the FULL."  Jesus wants you to take the one life you have been given and return it back to Him as an offering to Him, and He promises us that in return, He will give us life to the FULL.  It's the promise of God. 

The next breath you are about to take is sacred, treat it that way.  The next day you are about to live is precious, treat it that way.  The ONLY life you have is precious and sacred, treat it that way. Praying for you. 

Be Blessed,

Toe's 

Wherever He leads...I'll Go!

Today is a strange day...but I know God is in total control- This past weekend we took 11 junior high students to CIY'S Believe Conference in Anderson. It was amazing- God showed up and in the lives of many- One of the songs that they sang, I had never heard before, and it hit me right where I am. Isn't it awesome how God always seems to meet us right where we are at! I wanted to share the song, and lyrics with you because they are so powerful. The Song is Wherever He Leads...

"Take up thy cross and follow Me," I heard my Master say;"I gave My life to ransom thee, Surrender your all today."Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.He drew me closer to His side, I sought His will to know,And in that will I now abide, Wherever He leads I'll go.Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.It may be thru' the shadows dim, Or o'er the stormy sea,I take my cross and follow Him, Wherever He leadeth me.Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.My heart, my life, my all I bring To Christ who loves me so;he is my Master, Lord, and King, Wherever He leads I'll go.Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go,I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.

They added a bridge to the song that says, "Take up my cross and follow Me"

Will you take up HIS cross today?

Be Blessed,
Toe's

God is so good.

It is such a simple sentence with magnitudes of power.  God is so good. How often have you said that just because it was the "nice, or right" thing to say.  What a sentence that unfortinately, we, as His children throw around like its no big deal.  But the truth of that statement holds an unbelievable amount of power and truth.  

I am probably going through one of the hardest things I have ever faced in my life and it has never hit me more at how good God is.  He gives us strength that we do not deserve.  In our biggest hurts, Christ shows up the most.  In our biggest fears, Christ shows up the most.  A song that has really hit me lately is by Chris Tomlin, it is called "This is Our God" check out these lyrics... 

This is the One we have waited for
This is the One we have waited for
This is the One we have waited for
Oh mmm this is our God

A refuge for the poor
A shelter from the storm
This is our God
He will wipe away your tears
And return your wasted years
This is our God
Oh mmm this is our God
Oh mmm this is our God

A Father to the orphan
A healer to the broken
This is our God
He brings peace to our madness
And comfort in our sadness
This is our God
Oh mmm this is our God
Oh mmm this is our God

A fountain for the thirsty
A lover for the lonely
This our God
He brings glory to the humble
And crowns for the faithful
This is our God
Oh mmm this is our God
Oh mmm this is our God

THIS IS OUR GOD. WHAT A GOOD GOD HE IS!! :) Praying for you. 

Be Blessed,

Toe's 

Passion Week...

This week, in the church is more formally known as Holy Week. However, recently I heard something that made so much more sense to me and that was "Passion Week." It's not that I do not believe this week isn't Holy, it is just that I believe that this week was all about the Passion Jesus had for us. Ya know, we as followers of Jesus, want others to characterize us as passionate. Well during this week, we see an amazing example of Jesus' passion for us. This week is characterized by a few major events, if you do not already know this. Maundy Thursday is the night before Jesus' crucifixion, and He provides the Last Supper for His disciples. Obviously, on Friday, Jesus carries His cross and is crucified and three days later, He defeated the grave and rose into His rightful place in Heaven.

Now these events are all good and well, but do you really understand the passion that Jesus showed for us through these events? Jesus did not want to lose all of His friends, He did not want to be beaten and bruised. He did not want to be crucified. I mean really, who would want to be crucified? This was an amazingly hard time at the end of His life, however He knew it was the will of His father. The tricky part in all of this is we often miscontrue this and believe Jesus was only thinking of God and Himself. Y'all, if He was thinking of Himself, He would have taken Himself out of all this pain before it even started. He was 100% divine, He could have gotten Himself out of this, and logically, if it was one of us, that is probably what we have done. Indeed, He was thinking of His father, and God's will, but it is clear, in all of this Jesu's passion for US came through. HE THOUGHT OF YOU.

Let me ask you this, when you go through a tough time, when you have to ENDURE something, who do you think of? Do you think of yourself? Do you think of God? Usually we think, aw crap, why is this happening to me? Where are you in this God? Some of us might even curse God, turn away, forget Him. Let me share with you a verse that describes how Jesus felt during this Passion Week...and especially on Passion Friday...

Hebrews 12:2 says, Hebrews 12:2 “ Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Okay, so follow me here...Jesus ENDURED...he didn't enjoy the pain or the crucifixion, obviously, who would? He despised the shame. This was not an easy situation for Jesus!! He was in a really tough spot, and what we need to remember is that HE THOUGHT OF US.

And then what a glorious thing to know the power of the Resurrection of Jesus CHrist!! Without the resurrection, the cross is dead but thanks be to GOD for the SAVING power through the RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST!!!

This is an amazing weekend of events in the life of our Savior...events that radically transformed time, and our life. As you attend services this upcoming weekend remember that this week was about how passionate Jesus is about YOU. :)

Be Blessed,
Toes

The Iniquity of Us All

I was feeling a bit burdened by my sin as I was reading the Word tonight and thinking of how often I let down my Savior, and every time I feel that way it is quickly the Lord who encourages me through His Word. We truly serve a God who meets us directly where we are at! I love this passage in Isaiah where he writes...

Isaiah 53:5-6 (New International Version)

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

There is so much truth and good stuff in this scripture! It presents the beauty of what Christ did for us in a way that is redeeming!! It just really captures what Christ did for us, HIs children. Think about these words in the way we use them today- first the word pierce: we use that to describe something painful, for example if there was a piercing noise- it is a painfully scratchy or screechy noise! Or we say, "he pierced her ears" which describes the event of puncturing or creating a hole in the flesh which is exactly what happened to Christ! He had painfully taken punishment for our transgressions!! The second word- crushed: we say crushed if someone got dominated in athletics, or crushed if something got trampled on or something...once again the punishment Christ took upon Himself for us was to be crushed for our sin, for our iniquities. WoW.

Then it continues to say the punishment that brought US peace was upon Him, He provided peace for us by taking our punishment that we rightfully deserve and because of HIS wounds, his scars, his bruises....WE ARE HEALED!!!!

Verse 6 is great as well! It reinforces the first part of verse 5, but first it makes it very clear to us that we ALL, like sheep, have gone astray meaning we have strayed from the way of Christ into our own perverse lifestyles...each of us has turned to our own way forgetting Christ, and God says...the Lord has laid upon Him, the iniquity of us all...He has laid upon Himself the punishment we deserve, the sin we commit is deserving of death, but because of Christ, we are forgiven and receive by the Grace of God eternal life!!!

What a great God we serve, what an encouraging verse, what a beautiful picture of Salvation!!! Praise the Lord!!

Be Blessed,
Toes

The Motions...

I do not want to live my life going through the motions wondering what If I had given everything! I want to live everyday, giving everything I have for the Lord. There is a new song out by Matthew West, and it is called "The Motions," and I want to post the lyrics, and challenge you to truly think about them. Enjoy!

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way ('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)
take me all the way (I know I'm finally feeling something real)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way (I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go)
take me all the way (through the motions)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions