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Lessons from Joshua
by Lisa Zulke
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
The words from Joshua 1:9 have been a saving grace these past few weeks. A reminder that I (you, we) are never, ever alone. God is near and wants us to sense his presence. He called us to follow him, not for selfish gain, but for the good of others. He has prepared good work for each of us to engage in.
I long for places where the veil is so thin that I can’t miss that he is right there with me. Author Barbara Brown Taylor was asked to share her learnings as she sought the presence of God with the question, “What is saving your life right now?” This feels like a veil-thin question to me.
The question reminds us that our salvation is not a limited, one-time event. God’s nearness and presence literally save me regularly. In my hustle-bustle, willy-nilly, way-to-busy life I have to work to notice his saving grace. One of the ways I practice noticing is to make a list. I’ll offer my start below. Would you join me this week, as we ponder what being strong and courageous with our faith every day looks like and make your list, too?
What is saving my life right now…
- Joshua 1:9
- Veil-thin places like the woods, and the lake
- The full moon
- The changing colors of the trees
- Crisp morning air
- A walk with a friend
- Being able to help a woman in need
- Praying for the requests from Heartlanders
- Hiking with friends
- How my eyes adjust in the darkness and light breaks through the sky
- Livestreams from the Eras tour
- The joy of a friend experiencing something epic
- Joy and hope that rose from many places this Fall
- Connections with friends who write
- The advent study
- A KC strip with mac and cheese
- Watching football with family and friends
You see when we start noticing and naming where God is near and how he is saving us, we can then share our stories for the benefit of another person’s faith.
ADVENT NOTE:
The Journey team has been working on an Advent study that we will be sharing from December 1 – 28. Over those days you will receive The Journey Advent Guide as a daily email. We are super excited to share the stories and inspiration of 26 writers with you! If you know someone who would like to subscribe to The Journey email, share this LINK.
[Monday, November 18]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
What does it mean to “give thanks in all circumstances”? Make a list of things you are thankful for, including both big and small blessings, and the sometimes hidden ones.
[Tuesday, November 19]
Psalm 100
What are some challenges to maintaining a grateful perspective, and how can you overcome them? Spend time journaling about specific blessings in your life and how you can express gratitude for them.
[Wednesday, November 20]
James 1:16-18
How does recognizing that every good thing comes from God cultivate a grateful heart? What is the last good thing you have received that you can wholeheartedly say came from God? Consider that God views you, out of all that he created, as his prized possession. How does that make you feel? How can you respond to that kind of love?
[Thursday, November 21]
Psalm 107:1-3
We’ve been practicing giving thanks to God this week, and connecting the experiences we have to him. In these verses we are invited to consider how God redeemed us, to give thanks for that, and share it with others. Share how you were redeemed, reclaimed, or rescued? Who can you share that story with?
[Friday, November 22]
Colossians 3:16-17
How does Jesus’ message and wisdom fill your life? How can you move through your day as a representative of Jesus? Consider how expressing gratitude can strengthen relationships and build a sense of community.
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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