by Joyce
As I prepare to start anew, I need to clean out , discard, throw away. For as the saying goes, “less is more.” If I am going to begin again then I need to relinquish my excess baggage. How many times in life do we try to start afresh or do we wish to create a new start; but in so doing we lug around all of our yesterdays with us. We pack it away — we store it — we build bigger barns!
In the books of Joshua and Judges we read time and time again where the Israelites were commanded to go forth and take possession of the land; but in so doing they were given specific instructions to destroy the false gods completely once they had taken possession of the land given to them by God. How many times did Israel go in and take the land but they did not remove or destroy all of the false gods / idols from the towns and villages where they were to dwell according to God’ plan?
So it is with us. We make well - intended plans to move forward — start afresh — but we continue to carry our old baggage - our yesterdays around with us. You know — just in case….
We need to clean out — cast aside — get rid of — give away — throw away — break free from the bondage’s of the past that have such a strong hold on us. Take some time and read through the books of Joshua and Judges and see for yourself how holding on to what God commands us to clean out and get rid of — see how it keeps us from having a truly meaningful and lasting and life-altering relationship with Him. See how it keeps Israel from having blessing upon blessing from God from being poured out on to them.
God is watching us and He wants to bless us over and above our wildest dreams.
Judges 10:16 Then they (Israel) cleaned house of the foreign gods and worshipped only GOD. And GOD took Israel’s troubles to heart.
We Americans have so many foreign / false gods — we just don’t realize it. Look around your home — really take a good look — what is holding us from having that total and complete relationship with our Maker? I know where I am headed; I am back to cleaning out and throwing out and removing those false gods — as for me “GOD is my GOD and GOD takes Joyce’s troubles to heart.
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….
by Joyce
Is this any way to run a country? Listening to the news this past month or so, one couldn’t help but hear the choice of verbiage (slang words) our top seated Politicians of the U.S.A. freely chose to use during their public appearances and speeches. I guess I wasn’t aware that all of the gentlemen and ladies of the United States of America had left the country.
Everyday we are given opportunity to repent and change of our ways and turn back to our Maker. Let us continue to pray for the leaders of this great nation — may they remember “The Maker of Heaven and Earth” “That God Rules” “He is King of Kings” “He is Eternal”and that they (the politicians) like we (mere men and women) are but dust and it is to dust that we shall return. It is only through Jesus Christ that we have salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and the gift of eternal life. To purposely chose to live a life without our Maker — one will find that answer in the Bible.
Psalm 58:1-11
Is this any way to run a country? Is there an honest politician in the house? Behind the scenes you brew cauldrons of evil, behind closed doors you make deals with demons. The wicked crawl from the wrong side of the cradle, their first words out of the womb are lies. Poison, lethal rattlesnake poison, drips from their forked tongues — Deaf to threats, deaf to charm, decades of wax is built up in their ears. God, smash their teeth to bits, leave them toothless tigers. Let their lives be buckets of water spilled, all that’s left, a damp stain in the sand. Let them be trampled grass worn smooth by the traffic. Let them dissolve into snail slime, be a miscarried fetus that never sees sunlight. Before what they cook up is half-done, God, throw it out with the garbage! The righteous will call up their friends when they see the wicked get their reward, Serve up their blood in goblets as they toast one another, Everyone cheering, “It’s worth it to play by the rules! God’s handing out trophies and tending the earth!” (The Message)
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….
by Joyce
Martha! Martha! Luke 10:41
That’s me. I am a Martha. The business or busyness of the day crowds in and then in turn crowds out my life of service to God. My scripture reading, meditation, prayer time, and walk with God goes by the wayside.
I enjoy my life, my husband, my family, my work, my hobbies, and the day to day activities; but I love and I need God. So how can it be that He (GOD) gets crowded out?
There seems to be so much to do and accomplish during a day that the time in the day just runs out — like a race against the clock. Then there are times — after a full day — I grow weary and tired and I need to rest and sleep. Demands from responsibilities and life’s obligations take precedence and the day goes by, the week goes by, and my time with God gets passed by.
Is anyone out there relating to this? Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-18
I pray to God that He protects me and guides me along with all of you who are living a Martha! Martha! lifestyle. Protect us and guide us and draw us in like a Mother Hen who protects her chicks under her wings. ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….
