Wandering to Wonder - Joshua 4:21-24

Recently, our (21-month-0ld) son has been entertaining us by putting his blanket over his head and "wooo-ing" like a ghost. If that isn't funny enough, he will sometimes come walking down the hall with the blanket over his head, not knowing exactly where the walls and corners are. So, on occasion, when he does this, he'll smack into a wall or a corner. Of course, he's not going fast enough to hurt himself. Other times, he'll just walk around in the living room, bumping into things before he tries to "scare" us by being a ghost or one of the Backyardigan episode characters, the Moose of the Mist.

As he wanders around and makes us laugh, I wonder how many times that God may be laughing at us as we wander around. I think of my son as being silly; God must look at us and think we're being silly. Specifically, pertaining to the situations where we are making choices that may cause us to wander around a little more before we realize we need to take the blinders off to know where we're going.

Can you imagine what it would have been like to wander around in the wilderness for forty years? This wasn't that big of a place, but imagine walking all over the United States (or your country) for forty years. Don't you think you would have seen quite a bit of it in that amount of time? The area where they were at was not nearly as big as the United States, so they probably were seeing some similar areas more than once.

Yesterday, we looked at the text where the Israelites finally were able to cross over to the Promised Land. The Land was not without it's fair share of challenges. As we'll see, there are battles to confront. However, they finally were able to go over to this Land that they'd been wondering about for quite some time. Now is that time. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week as you try to relate to going from 'wandering to wonder' with the Israelites...

1. All came to an end - When we're involved/caught up with something that seems like there is no end in sight, it is nice to know that we've gotten through to the end. If you're in the middle of a situation, there will be an end to it. Hopefully you won't have to be in it for 40 years! If you've been able to get out of a situation, tell God "thanks" for getting you through it and for the lessons you learned.
2. Passing over isn't always easy - Why did God choose for the Israelites to have to pass through water, again, to get to where He was wanting them to go? Here's a possibility, He doesn't want us to have such an easy victory that we don't remember Him. I think we need to see Him as we pass to a place of 'promise'. God didn't lead His people to a place and then tell Joshua, "You're here now, this is it". The journey needed to come with dependence on God. God told the people the Promised Land is on the other side of the Jordan. "Ok, how are we going to get there?" God receded the waters, gave them the Ark (of the Covenant) to look at - reminding them of Him - and they proceeded to trek across. Your journeys may be intermixed with a message of "here's a river to cross". Where you must put your trust in Him to get you across it. He will, and most likely give you dry land to do it, just like the Israelites. However, if you have mud to trudge through, maybe that is a reminder to think about Him in your slowed journey across.
3. Wonder, wonder, wonder - It takes my attention away from my difficulties or stresses when I begin to wonder how God is going to use me today. In what situation, with whom, for whom, etc. Be a light to someone and show them who lives in you!

Forty years are finally over. The Israelites are able to be in the land Yahweh had promised. They can put these recent years behind them. The Israelites are going to "take the land" that God has promised...victory is theirs! By the way, it is also ours!...cool, huh!?

Are you going around with a blanket on your head? Take it off and open your eyes to the wonderments of God!

Opening my eyes to the possibilities!

E-mail Encouragement:: Keeping the Door Open

The other day when Aubrey and I were praying together she prayed concerning open doors, being used, etc. Within ten minutes I received a call asking if I would consider speaking at this year's baccalaureate. It wasn't the biggest invitation, nor did it have to be, but it was God's way of saying, "Here's an open door." God works. Whether it was ten minutes or ten years, He works. We must be ready for those opportunities...which brings us to this week's quote to think about...

The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience. ~ Emily Dickinson

Knowing that "ecstatic" was something good, but not knowing exactly what it meant, I decided to look up the definition. It's root word means "unable to stand". Your experience causes you to feel like you have to sit down. To me, this is just another branch to the definition of how God surprises us with putting people in our path that we can help connect with Jesus. So...

The next time you are wondering what "ecstatic experience" is coming your way, be prepared for something that you didn't expect. Don't ever close the door on an opportunity to do something good. Look for ways to provide others with an "ecstatic experience", too.

Keeping the door open ~

E-mail Encouragement: Passion Meets an Open Door

Just today, actually a few minutes ago, I heard "I hate tests!" from a student who was struggling with his test. Most of us have had that feeling. Very few like tests. The only tests I have ever "liked" are the tests which I was very prepared for and it was easy. Practically speaking, we are tested each and every day. It informs the "teacher" or "Master" if we understand the concept. Will we stop at the stop sign, will we give back the extra change, will we turn the other cheek, etc.

A different type of test comes when our Creator wonders if you will use what you are passionate about to share the Good News with someone. The test shows up with an open door...will you walk through it or not...that is what this week's quote is about...

God will use you in big ways when passion walks through the open door! ~ J. K. Spencer

I believe that God will use us in big, huge, incredible, astronomical ways when what we are passionate about walks through the open door. I've had a good week of God's surprises and open doors. As much as it energizes me, I hope that you will be infected and blessed with the feeling that comes from the surprises of God. I hope you will be brave and bold enough to walk through the open doors that God puts in front of you.

Let me hear of your "surprises".

Have an "open door" filled rest of your week!

Happy Easter!

Anxious about where the next door will lead ~

E-mail Encouragement: Becoming a Prophet

Some may define it as a pessimist, where others, a realist. Either way, unfortunately, I tend to look at some things in such a way as to not get my balloon popped. I am thankful that my wife is an optimist and can keep me from being a rut when it comes to goal setting.

With that being said, this week’s quote hit home with me…

If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of becoming a prophet. ~ Isaac Bashevis Singer

Recently, I gave a group of people an article that starts off with the sentence “Fear kills vision!” When it comes to doing things for God, if we have fear about it, then we will stop looking for the possibilities it will bring if we do it. If there was someone you were wanting to share Jesus with, but you kept saying negative things about trying – you wouldn’t have the vision to see past your fears. It would also make you a pretty good prophet – because you would talk yourself out of trying.

Who will be in your path today that you can share Jesus with (in whatever way)? The answer for most is “I don’t know.” The response, then, is to pay attention to everyone you come in contact with – they may be the one you were meant to share with that day. But, if you say bad things about sharing with someone, then you will most likely, and unfortunately, become a prophet!

Especially in this case, don’t become a prophet by saying negative things about the opportunities God gives to share about Jesus! Instead, say positive things about those opportunities, and become a prophet that way!

May God richly bless the end of your week!!!

Looking forward to today’s open doors ~

Walked Through the Door...Though Hesitant

Yesterday, I had another opportunity to be a substitute teacher. Last week, a kid asked if being a sub was "degrading". I told him, "No, not at all". For me, I really enjoy teaching and I have another job, so this is just a great opportunity to be around people I don't normally get to be around. All the while, sharing and showing Jesus to them! Now back to yesterday...

I had subbed in this class last year and remembered that there was a class in which they normally had a lot of discussions. But when there is a sub, it is a time to study. Feeling comfortably nervous (if you will), I decided to have a discussion on Love and Respect. (This is a title of a published book, but it is also a logical relationship concept from the bible) I had the boys make a list of five things that annoys/bothers them about girls, and I had the girls do the opposite.

It was funny when one girl said to the group, "Only five?" They couldn't do anything that was inappropriate or about someone specific (like in a recent breakup, etc.)

I then took the lists and read the boys, one at a time, sometimes asking the boys to defend their reasoning, and then discussing what they wrote. Then, I did the same with the girls' list. It went really well. They laughed, yet saw truth. One boy turned around two different times to calm some of the guys who were talking because he wanted to hear what I was saying. Then, a few classes later, a girl that was in that discussion came in for a different class and asked if they could do it in the current class. I said she already did it and she responded by telling me that "it was fun."

God opened a door. I was a bit hesitant to walk through it. I wasn't real comfortable doing a lesson in someone else's classroom, but I did walk through the door and God surprised me! God is good...!

What doors will God open for you, today?

Have a great day!

Checking the knobs for open doors ~
Jarrod