SOAP- Nahum 3:1

S- Nahum 3:1What sorrow awaits Nineveh, the city of murder and lies! She is crammed with wealth and is never without victims.

O- Nahum one of the 12 minor prophets of Israel is a short, 3 chapter book, that is very challenging. Nahum writes about the sins of Nineveh, that at one time Nineveh had repented of during the time of Jonah, but are now going to be judged for them. Judgment is not easy to read about, but is even harder to go through. Nineveh was filled with lies, murder, and they used their wealth to victimize people. If our hearts are full of those dark sins, judgment will follow.

A- I must repent of my sins and receive the grace of God.

P - God forgive me/us of my/our debts, as we forgive my/our debtors.

Be Not Silent

Psalms 83:1 O God, do not remain silent

-Last night during our Wednesday night prayer service, Psalms 83 guided our time of prayer. God's Holy Spirit filled the service in a special way. Over every need that was presented we asked God to be not silent, but to speak into every situation.

-God visited us with the spiritual gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues. The message he spoke to us was, "I want to know more of you and I want you to know more of me."

-So God we ask that you continue to "Be Not Silent" and speak into our lives so we can no more of you. We will be silent before you so we can here your voice at times. At other times we will raise our voice, crying out to know you.

-Today I read Joshua chapter 6 and saw Israel marching around Jericho in silence and then when it was the right time they broke the silence and shouted the victory. Silence and timely speaking have rattled around in my soul since last night.

-God give us wisdom and show us when it is time to just listen and remain silent. To observe everything you are doing. Like when the army marched around Jericho in silence.

-God teach us when it is time to speak, the ways to speak, the tones to speak in. Like when the single was given, it was time for silence to be broken, the shout of victory was given, and the cursed enemy stronghold crashed down.

-But most of all, I ask that you be not silent. Speak and sometimes even shout the victory into our lives.

In Jesus name, let it be so.

5 Reminders When Crossing Rivers

-Read Joshua Chapter 4

-Joshua 4:10 Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over

1. No matter how many bodies of water you cross, it is always a challenge. Whether it's the Red Sea or the Jordan River. Whether it's leading a group, nurturing your family, or dealing with a crisis, crossing rivers is always daunting.

2. God parts rivers we cross rivers. Do not try and reverse roles.

3. I usually will try and run really fast through a difficult challenge. But when God is holding back the river their is no rush.

4. When the challenge is hard it is easy to halfway do things. But when God is holding back the river I can be use due diligence and gather ever stone that I am suppose to. Slow down, do what's right, don't be panicked, trust God for the outcome.

5. God parts rivers to let those around us know He is powerful. God parts rivers so we will come to give Him the reverence He deserves.

You Have Never Been This Way Before

-Read Joshua chapter 3

-The verses that stood out to me tonight were verses 3 and 4.
3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits[a] between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

1. You have never been this way before.

-I many times feel like I am going in a direction I have never been before.

-That is a little bit scarey, many times confusing, and worrisome.

-The good news is you are not bored at all, the bad news is you can't stop yourself from thinking about the uncertainty that lies ahead.

2. Follow the Lord.

-The people could not move until the ark moved, thus the focused presence of God moved.

-I am glad I don't have to make the first move.

-It is critical I read the Word daily.

-It is critical I have silence during the day in God's presence.

-It is critical I pray the prayers(spontaneous prayers, the Psalms, and even pray the prayers that are well written like from The Book of Common Prayer.)

-If I don't do what's critical when I have never been in that direction before, then I am moving ahead of the ark and the Jordan will not part.

3. Stay humble.

-Keep a distance between you and the ark, don't go near it.

-This is not easy, I like to be out front, I think most people do.

-I want to be seen leading the charge.

-God made Joshua great, I dare not try and make myself great.

The Sleeping God

Mark 4:35-40

The storm is raging
God is asleep
I am afraid
Maybe I should wake God up

The storm is crashing
God is asleep
I am panicked
Why doesn't God wake up?

The storm is screaming
God is asleep
I am terrified
That's it, I am waking God up.

Peace
Rebuked
What did I do wrong?

Oh, I did not realize
That sleeping God
Was never not in control of the storm

Daily Living God's Word-II Kings 19:14

Scripture: II Kings 19:14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.

Observation: Life can be hard, even if you are a king like Hezekiah. Hezekiah was under attack from Assyria, who was stronger and more powerful. He did not know what to do and he took this threat on his life very seriously. He knew Assyria would destroy his nation. So Hezekiah took the written threat from Assyria and presented it before God. I can see him kneeling down in prayer and rolling out that death threat letter before God. He asks God to listen to the threats. He asks God to see the threats. He asks God to act upon these threats. Assyria had destroyed other nations, burning their gods. But Hezekiah said those other nation's gods were not real and could not fight back. He said God you are real, all powerful, and can fight back. God certainly did, 185,000 Assyrians were put to death by the angel of God and the Assyrian king was killed by his own sons.

Application: I will roll my problems out before God. If someone I care for is sick, I will take their picture unto my time of prayer. If it is financial, I will take a pay stub into my time of prayer. I will ask, believe, and wait to see what God can do.

Prayer: God as I think about my stepfather, Olin, being sick I bring him today before you. You are in control, not this sickness. I bring this to you. Listen, see, and act my Lord. In Jesus name, let it be so.