Jordan River Moments

I was reminded this week that we all need to grasp onto moments in our lives where God was faithful in order to help us through the trials/struggles we will face in life. In Joshua ch. 4 there is a story about memorials/reminders. Just after crossing the Jordan river the Lord instructs Joshua to select 12 men-one from each tribe to gather a stone from the middle of the parted river and take these 12 stones and to place them where they stayed that night on the other side. It was to remind future generations of God's faithfulness to Israel during the journey to the Promised Land.

When have you last thought of your Jordan River moments in life? Those events/circumstances that occurred that demonstrate God's faithfulness personally. These are part of our blessings. Things we can reflect upon during our doubts, trials, temptations and fears. We can use these to help us endure, strengthen and look to the future with joy. I tend to live too much in the past sometimes, when the issues I now face did not exist in my life-this is a joy robber for now and the future. One passage that has helped me tremendously is from Romans 5:3-5; "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." The scriptures are filled with comfort from our Heavenly Father( James 1:2-5, 1 Peter 4:1-2 are a couple more that have helped me).

What are your Jordan River moments? Blessings in your pursuit.......TO

Letting Go/Reconciling Wrongs

Have you been wronged by someone? Or, have you hurt another? Most of us probably have had the misfortune of this experience. If left unresolved, it can devastate us emotionally, physically and spiritually. God instructs us to reconcile-even if we have been the victim. It is called humility/humbling ourselves towards our adversary and our God. In Matt. 5:23-24 we read of the importance/urgency God places on reconciliation. It reads, ”If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, First, go and be reconciled with your brother, then come and offer your gift”. This is serious business! This demonstrates that we cannot worship God effectively as He desires until we have mended any unresolved issues with another-WOW! You may say, “but the other person was in the wrong”. God says to humble ourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up(James 4:10) . Matt 6:14-15 states that unless we forgive others, we will not be forgiven by our Heavenly Father. Only when we have at least attempted to reconcile can we maintain true fellowship with God. How can we effectively accept God’s reconciliation towards us/mankind through His only begotten Son-Jesus Christ, if we are not ministers of reconciliation ourselves towards one another? Our unwillingness to restore broken relationships can and probably will negatively affect our relationship with our God. Blessings in your reconciliations/pursuit…….TO.