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.

Raising Amazing Kids Part 5

I couldn't say all I wanted to say during our 4 part sermon series "Raising Amazing Kids" So here is a little extra.

4 ways to communicate with children.
1. Don’t feel like you have to say anything.
-Just hold them, be there, it can change moods
2. Don’t always say no or stop
-Look for a way to say your no more positively
-Say we will see
-Don’t say no we have to have lunch
-Say yes we will after lunch
-Look for times to say yes
3. Wave my magic wand.
-If I could wave my magic wand I would make a box of cheerios appear, unbreak the toy
-I would accommodate you if I could
4. Admit a task is difficult.
-Sympathetic.
-It’s tough to talk off your socks, sometimes it helps to pull down from the back instead of pulling the toes
-Geometry is hard, but I know you can do it, how can I help
-"Sometimes it helps" is a good phrase.

(The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin, pg 99 para 1-4)