“I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (NRSV)
These words are God’s to Joshua. Do you think that commandment was only for Joshua, or could it be for you? Are you strong and courageous? Is the Lord your God with you wherever you go? Can such faith keep you from being dismayed or discouraged?
The following story is called “Satan’s Garage Sale” and was sent to me:
Once upon a time, Satan was having a garage sale. There, standing in little groups were all of his bright, shiny trinkets. Here were tools that make it easy to tear others down for use as stepping-stones. And over there were some lenses for magnifying ones own importance, which, if you looked through them the other way, you could also use to belittle others, or even one's self. Against the wall was the usual assortment of gardening implements guaranteed to help your pride grow by leaps and bounds: the rake of scorn, the shovel of jealousy for digging a pit for your neighbor, the tools of gossip and backbiting, of selfishness and apathy. All of these were pleasing to the eye and came complete with fabulous promises and guarantees of prosperity. Prices, of course, were steep; but not to worry! Free credit was extended to one and all. "Take it home, use it, and you won't have to pay until later!" old Satan cried, as he hawked his wares.
The visitor, as he browsed, noticed two well-worn, non-descript tools standing in one corner. Not being nearly as tempting as the other items, he found it curious that these two tools had price tags higher than any other. When he asked why, Satan just laughed and said, "Well, that's because I use them so much. If they weren't so plain looking, people might see them for what they were." Satan pointed to the two tools, saying, "You see, that one's Doubt and that one's Discouragement -- and those will work when nothing else will."
Maybe God was telling Joshua not to be dismayed, frightened, or discouraged because those are the things that will most quickly bring anyone down. Joshua had a lot on his shoulders, leading the people after Moses, and God knows we have a lot to deal with too. Doubt and discouragement always creep in when things get hard. “Can I do this?” “How much more can I take?” Mother Teresa once said, “I know God won’t give me more than I can handle, I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.” I think sometimes we all feel that way. Still God says, “Be strong and courageous, for I am with you wherever you go.” Sometimes we need to hear it again.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Showing posts with label strong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strong. Show all posts
Friday, March 4, 2011
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
When We Are Strong
I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.” So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me… Because when I am weak, then I am truly strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NCV)
In what ways are you weak? What problems do you have? Have you seen Christ in your weakness? If so, in what way? How do you believe God’s power is made perfect in your weakness? Who have you met who is weak, but is somehow strong?
The following story is found at: http://www.wow4u.com/weakness/index.html
This is a story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move. "Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?"
"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the Sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the Sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the Sensei intervened. "No," the Sensei insisted, "Let him continue."
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and Sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the Sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boy’s greatest weakness had become his greatest strength!
Often times we are weak when we try to be strong on our own. Those moments where our own strength is not enough, when we cannot keep on going another day, those are the times God steps in and we discover God’s timeless truth, “little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong!” Let us take heart while we are weak, when we cannot figure out how to continue, and when it all seems wrong, for when we rely on the Lord it is only then we are truly strong!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
In what ways are you weak? What problems do you have? Have you seen Christ in your weakness? If so, in what way? How do you believe God’s power is made perfect in your weakness? Who have you met who is weak, but is somehow strong?
The following story is found at: http://www.wow4u.com/weakness/index.html
This is a story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move. "Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?"
"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the Sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the Sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the Sensei intervened. "No," the Sensei insisted, "Let him continue."
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and Sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the Sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boy’s greatest weakness had become his greatest strength!
Often times we are weak when we try to be strong on our own. Those moments where our own strength is not enough, when we cannot keep on going another day, those are the times God steps in and we discover God’s timeless truth, “little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong!” Let us take heart while we are weak, when we cannot figure out how to continue, and when it all seems wrong, for when we rely on the Lord it is only then we are truly strong!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Lord's Goodness
I truly believe I will live to see the Lord's goodness. Wait for the Lord's help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord's help. – Psalm 27:13-14 (NCV)
Do you believe you will see the Lord’s goodness? What is God’s goodness like? How does one live who waits for the Lord’s help? How can we act strong and brave in the midst of all of life’s trials and tribulations?
We live in interesting times. Many believe that things are getting worse all of the time. It is easy to believe this when we see our savings dwindle, our friends, our family, and sometimes ourselves unemployed. The media addresses our fears by showing us that our fears are well founded. We live afraid.
Fear does an interesting thing to us, it causes us to live lives where we are on constant vigil to see how much worse it is going to get. We become pessimistic and use it as a coping mechanism. When things get worse we feel justified in our pessimism, saying to others, and ourselves “Look I was right, things are awful.”
It is no wonder that recent studies have declared less people are attending church now. The one place God has called to a beacon of hope in a world of distress has allowed itself to become boggled down with despair. Often churches contain members and ministers who act just as pessimistic as the rest of society.
Sermons become soliloquies of depression, members bemoan a loss of Christian values, and all the while we never realize that our actions demonstrate a lack of faith in a great God!
Where is the hope unless it abides in us? Where is the joy unless we live into the joy of the Psalmist who proclaimed during a stressful time, “I truly believe I will live to see the Lord’s goodness.” Things may be bad, but we have a faithful God whose help is on the way. We help others by being strong and brave in the midst of the storm believing in the promises of God.
Jesus said, “I have appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last…” Our fruit will last when we abide in the love of Christ, and stand strong in the midst of life’s storms. When we, with faith, wait for the Lord’s help, we become a beacon and hope and joy in world that needs hope and joy! Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Do you believe you will see the Lord’s goodness? What is God’s goodness like? How does one live who waits for the Lord’s help? How can we act strong and brave in the midst of all of life’s trials and tribulations?
We live in interesting times. Many believe that things are getting worse all of the time. It is easy to believe this when we see our savings dwindle, our friends, our family, and sometimes ourselves unemployed. The media addresses our fears by showing us that our fears are well founded. We live afraid.
Fear does an interesting thing to us, it causes us to live lives where we are on constant vigil to see how much worse it is going to get. We become pessimistic and use it as a coping mechanism. When things get worse we feel justified in our pessimism, saying to others, and ourselves “Look I was right, things are awful.”
It is no wonder that recent studies have declared less people are attending church now. The one place God has called to a beacon of hope in a world of distress has allowed itself to become boggled down with despair. Often churches contain members and ministers who act just as pessimistic as the rest of society.
Sermons become soliloquies of depression, members bemoan a loss of Christian values, and all the while we never realize that our actions demonstrate a lack of faith in a great God!
Where is the hope unless it abides in us? Where is the joy unless we live into the joy of the Psalmist who proclaimed during a stressful time, “I truly believe I will live to see the Lord’s goodness.” Things may be bad, but we have a faithful God whose help is on the way. We help others by being strong and brave in the midst of the storm believing in the promises of God.
Jesus said, “I have appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last…” Our fruit will last when we abide in the love of Christ, and stand strong in the midst of life’s storms. When we, with faith, wait for the Lord’s help, we become a beacon and hope and joy in world that needs hope and joy! Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
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