Our country was founded on freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. -j l falwell
loving with the love of God. through Him, all things are possible. this is a video on a couple who display a true and beautiful marriage. when we love the Lord, we find a true love that is unmatched around the world! here you can see that love in action.
This is a devotional I wrote for my middle school girls. I thought I would share it here too :)
Idols.
You may remember Joshua. Joshua was a prophet in the Old Testament, he even has a book named after him! In fact, that is where I am going to send you right now.
Check out Joshua chapter 24. Put your finger or a bookmark there because that will be the main spot where we will be studying.
Now flip to Joshua 1:1-6
Let me give you some background. Joshua was one of Moses’ helpers. When Moses would go to talk to the Lord, Joshua would be right there. He was sort of in training throughout his youth to be a spiritual leader for the people of Israel. When Moses died, Joshua took his place and grew in his relationship with the Lord. Like Moses, Joshua also talked to God. He spent his entire life learning from the Lord and advising his people.
OK, now go back to chapter 24. This chapter is the last chapter in the book, Joshua dies at the end of this chapter so this is the last lesson he gives to Israel. You see, the Israelites have been unfaithful to God. I don’t know if you remember, but they have a pretty rocky past with idolatry. In fact, when Moses first brought God’s commandments to them he came to find them worshiping a golden calf. So Joshua is addressing this and reminding them of all that the Lord has done for them. You can read the entire chapter if you want, but right now, I really want you to focus on the middle: verses 14-15. Joshua asks the people to make a choice:
Serve the Lord, or serve idols and other gods other men have made.
We cannot both worship the Lord and worship our idols. It is all or nothing. When you put all your energy into an idol (anything that takes a priority above the Lord) you aren’t giving God your best.
In verse 19 Joshua says “You are not able to serve the Lord, he is a holy God; he is a jealous God.” Joshua questioned weather they would really be able to worship the Lord because they were so consumed with their own gods.
It’s a hard lesson to learn, but Joshua had to lay down the law and share the hard truth. Back then, before Christ, they had no way but their own sacrifices to gain favor and forgiveness from God. Because they sacrificed so much to their gods they didn’t have much left for the Lord. They had to choose.
Thankfully, Christ made the sacrifice for us. But that doesn’t mean we can stop worshiping the Lord. In fact, this should make us worship Him more! The Lord is jealous for you. He loves you so much and wants to see you love Him, but when you love something more you can’t fully understand His love.
Look at your life. Evaluate yourself and your passions. It is ok to have hobbies, to work hard at something, but is it taking the place that the Lord should have in your life?
Exodus 34:14 says “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
Let the Lord teach you about His love, and let Him take the first priority in your life.
the winter air enchanted the trees.
when they stripped themselves of their leaves
their nakedness exposed the secrets they hid.
. . .
the forrest leg go of her veil.
she bore unknown beauty
to those who would search her hills with their fingers.
. . .
i will trace the lines and ridges of the stones,
caress the cool granite and limestone,
and become one with the complexities of the mountains.
don’t stop.
im so tired, but so wide awake…
i’ll make you proud.
its so easy to get caught up in running longer or faster. my young track career ended because i was too consumed with time. i started running distance a couple years later because i just wanted to get out of my dorm and get outside. this video is such a great reminder to me that i started running again because of the love of adventure.
