Not Finished Yet - I Am a Work In Progress - Be Patient With Me

We live in a society when many are possessed with their possessions. There are many teachings on how to protect, invest, and how to increase your possessions. But there is a good chance that many will never possess their possession because they are not taking charge to go and get it.

Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the LORD, the God of your ancestor, has given to you?” – Joshua 18:3

God promised the Israelites that he will give them victory over nations and give them the Promised Land. Yet, the Israelites still had to go out and fight their enemies to possess the land. When the walls of Jericho collapsed, they had to march straight into the city and finish the war: capture and destroy everyone and everything. Every time they went in the battle against a city, God already promised them the victory, yet they still had to go out, put on their armor and fight, to take over their possessions. Once they destroyed the cities, they had to rebuild them to become their livable personal possessions.

Do you recognize that the above mentioned verse clarifies that God has already given them victory. It’s already theirs, it’s their possession, it’s their land, their territory – yet there is still one more fight ahead of them – to go and take possession of the land.

Why would they not want to possess their land?  Why would Joshua need to prod them?  Probably because these people had not lived in permanent dwellings for more than a generation, and they were afraid of something new, even if it was good.

We are confronted daily with decisions that must to be made; sides to take and we try our best to examine the facts laid in front of us. We try hard to look to as much details as possible before we make our final decisions. We might opt to consult some of those people around us, who we think – they kind of know more than we do. But how often do we turn to God to consult him about the decisions we have to make.

“So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord" - Joshua 9:14 Read the entire chapter (Joshua 9) to really understand what just happened.

This one verse summarizes one of our biggest mistakes we can make. I already talked about, how our choices impact not only our future, but our entire family’s future – HERE

One of the most important things we must learn if we want to be successful, and be all that God made us to be, is to ALWAYS consult the Lord, in spite of how things might sound like or look like.

“I wanted them so much that I took them” – Joshua 7: 21 –THE CHOICE.

Achan knew the rules. “Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel. Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury” – Joshua 6:17-19

God gave special instruction to his people about Jericho’s destruction. Yet, while most of them where following God’s instructions, Achan SAW few things and wanted them so much … that in a moment he made a choice to take them. They are only few things. Who will notice anyways?

Well, God did and he brought trouble on the entire camp. Israel was defeated by Ai because of the disobedience of one man. But there is more than that.

“Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold (the three things that were stolen), his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. … And all the Israelites stoned Achan, and his family and burned their bodies” – Joshua 7: 24-25 – THE CONSEQUENCE

Brutal ending. And you might as well feel sick to your stomach.

Why Achan’s family – the sons and daughters had to be killed and be punished for their dad’s choice? Seems unfair, isn’t it? I totally agree with you. I found it even more unfair, because in the next chapter, God allowed the Israelites to keep the plunder and the livestock for themselves. So, if in the next battle they could keep the plunder, why in this battle not only Achan, but his entire family was killed for three objects?

Never confuse acceptance with approval. You can accept people without approving their behavior. Without accepting all we do, Jesus accepts all who come to Him. We MUST do the same. Some people just can’t separate the two. This was my latest facebook profile update.

What’s on your mind? - is the question on the facebook field where you can post what’s on your mind. Lately, as I am meditating on how Jesus lived His life, and I’m noticing how some of those who call themselves Christians live their lives - are two totally different life styles.

It’s easy to say: “I'm a Christian, I love people”, but do you? Do we really love people? I guess we do, UNTIL they behave and act the way we expect them to. How about when they stop living their lives as it should be “by the book”.

Are we capable to sincerely accept people just the way they are, no strings attached, EVEN if we do not approve their lifestyle? Jesus didn’t approve many of those lifestyle whom came across His way, yet, He healed them, forgave them, restored them – how? – By accepting them just the way they were.

After a fun filled Saturday at the pool celebrating the birthday of my twins we were ready to go home. The pain in my right ear becomes more and more unbearable. I felt like something is stacked in my ear and it felt like at any moment could explode. After finishing the cake and saying good bye to the friends who made the twins day absolutely memorable, we headed home. 

We had few kids who stayed for a sleep over. Once they opened their presents and decided to have a fight with their new nerd guns I realized that I need to pick up some milk and some grocery for next morning. On my way to the grocery store I made an extension on my way to check the walk-in-clinic. It was closed. 

As I turned around to go back to my car, a rather shaken looking young guy approached me and asks if I would be willing to drive them (the girl was few steps behind him) downtown. My first reaction was: do I want him in my car? Can I trust them? Full of piercing and tattoo with a strong smell of smoke. Then it hit me WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?).  So as he approached the car I clarified where exactly do they want to go and said yes. When she came closer to me I recognized her. 

As I drove to their destination the girl asked how my boys are. Told her that we just had their birthday party and I just run out to pick up few groceries. Then the most interesting thing happened.

I been listening to people’s stories as they share their lives and as I was reading the Fallen Pastor’s entry the same question occupied my mind and of course if you know me just a little bit, you know that I asked. The truth is before he even answered I knew the answer. You know why? I look back at my own life and I can tell you that it’s not about the circumstances of my life that made me decide the choices I made in different times but it was my relationship with God.

The choices I made over my lifetime directly reflected my relationship with God. I have no doubt at all and I can tell you with total confidence that our choices reflect our relationship with God! Our choices have nothing to do with our circumstances, its all about our relationship with God. The closer and more intimate my walk is with God, the better choices I made and make. The further I am from God, the worst choices I make.

We never just suddenly fall. Falling is the result from backing off from God. It’s start with little things like: not talking to God (praying), not sharing your pain and disappointments, not reading God’s word for yourself, not asking God to point out what’s wrong with you…oh no asking God to change the other person…because it’s nothing wrong with you…it’s everything wrong with them. Little-by-little leaving God out of our business, our marriage, our family, and our personal life.

The way we talk with people, the way we treat others, the way we choose our words, actions and our instant reactions all reflect our personal relationship with God.

Going to church will not give you a personal relationship with God.