Technical Difficulties...
Time to play catch up! Here was my progress as of Sunny Saturday and then yesterday. I would have posted these sooner, but I've decided that my laptop is an old, menopausal woman trapped in a new laptop's body. I'm getting much farther, and still maintaining my sanity! I've been reading back and forth between Joshua and Deuteronomy these past couple of days, which I think are awesome passages of encouragement and strength :) The passages I want to highlight are Joshua 1:3, 5-7, 9, and Deuteronomy 7:17-19, 21, and 11:22-24. I started with Joshua 1:3-"Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses." That brought me to the cross-reference of Deuteronomy 11: 22-24, which says "For if you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do, loving the Lord your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours..." I love the phrase "holding fast" to God-when I read that, I think of perseverance, passion, trust, peace, and endurance. It makes me think of the loyalty of any member of the military, how giving up is never an option, and no man should ever be left behind. I think of the word "abide," and how that represents a dynamic relationship between us and Jesus. I also think of how much we need Him, and how richly He provides :) How great and mighty is the Lord, and how faithful and true that He alone saves and helps us through any situation, and helps us defeat every giant that tries to get in our way! Glory to God :) I was then brought to Deuteronomy 7: 17-19, and 21-
"If you say in your heart, 'These nations are greater than I. How can I dispossess them?' you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharoah and to all Egypt, the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So will the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God." <3
Joshua 1:5-7, and 9 refer back to what God did for Moses and the Israelites, and he repeats that he will never leave us nor forsake us, and to be strong and courageous. Three times in those 4 verses it says "be strong and courageous." Usually that means it's important! God is with us, and will never leave us. He will strengthen us, and is always watching over us. Just like my reflection after reading The Dream Giver, it is so good to count your blessings, and to remember all the great things God has done not only in your life, but also in the Bible. After reading several passages about God's provision for His people, I have a much greater peace in the midst of the chaos of finals, because I know whose I am, and He will take care of me. :)
