Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25

This verse reminds me to keep my eyes on the Lord. It is when they are NOT on the Lord that we begin to wander aimlessly into strange places. When we are not focused on our destination, on our goal, how are we to get reach it? If we claim to be God's Children, why are we not looking, gazing, straight ahead at Him? This is the burden of ALL Christians; to focus on the Lord when we want to look around at the scenery, and set off into unknown places that beckon us. But when we are on the trail, what happens if we see a cliff right in the trail's path? We may run into the wilderness and get hopelessly lost. Too bad we did not trust the Guide enough to find out it was only a small boulder that could easily be jumped over. When we are not looking at our goal, not following the Trail set out for us, then certainly, we will be wandering off on every little branching path. Maybe we have convinced ourselves that the Trail is dull and boring, yet the Trail will take us over rivers which we will discover we can ford, into valley's lonely and lush, through forests, dark yet safe and finally up to the Mountaintop, which is our goal. When we arrive, we will find the Guide there, and will be sorry for all our meandering side trips. When you find yourself on a strange trail, call out to the Guide to bring you back. Focus on Him, and the Final Goal- the Mountaintop of His Glory.

This day’s thought reminded me immediately of this little section in the book of Joshua. Forty years of wondering had passed along with almost all the Israelites who had been brought up out of Egypt; they were dead as well as Moses, Aaron and Miriam. Now their children were about to enter the Promised Land with Joshua as the leader. In these short 5 verses I think we have the key to what you are talking about, Blyth. Making our way through this world with sense and purpose, satisfaction and even success.

Joshua 3:1-5 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from ****tim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it. "Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."

The younger folk were brought to a place of rest before the next great move. There is a progression of order to the events from rest to seeing God do “amazing things before you”.

We see the necessity of consecrating ourselves to God. God is looking for serious, thinking people who have determined that they will follow Him and His ways. Consecration is just one of those theologian words that means to me conscious dedication. I truly believe that God is looking for people who want to follow Him, love Him for who He is and not merely for what they can get out of Him. (John 6:25-29)

“When you see the ark of the covenant”, not any old promise and way that may bring some temporary means of satisfaction, knowledge, even life but the very promise of Jehovah Elohim.

When you see the ark lifted up, collaborated by priests-- God’s people and officers, God’s word, God’s own Spirit in you, then you are to move out. I am reminded that concerning God’s ways that at least two witnesses are necessary to make a thing sure, three even better.

“Take up your positions”, like the 12 tribes made up of clans and families and even order within the individual families we all have a distinct place and position that is ours in God’s heavenly kingdom on earth as well as in heaven. These positions are not unlike the 12 tribes; when at camp each tribe had a place that was there’s to camp around the tabernacle and an order to the march. God was in the center of it all and leading them all. Without recognizing that first we are the creator before the Creator and then made His children by believing the shed blood of His Son we are bound for nothing but conflict and sorrow. If we can’t stay in the position we have been given there is little more than grief ahead.

“But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark”, most of all keep your cotton picken hands off the Ark, touch the thing and your dead. In a word Joshua tells them don’t even think about it by getting too close. Protocol; there is an order of necessity and a way that things must be done in order to make any lasting progress. These are not the things of a harsh puny minded God but the reality of the Eternal Living LORD God who is holy and does know it all. We are not to handle God’s promise, we are not to work God’s promises, Sarah tried it and wound up with conflict and sorrow as well as Hagar and her son. (Gen. 16) Rebecca also tried it and wound up not seeing her son Jacob for many years until she died and a grievous wedge was built between her twin sons Jacob and Esau (Gen. 27).


Yes, there is a certain and peculiar way to follow God’s ark of promise in order to make any lasting progress through the wilderness of this foreign land. And since I haven’t been this way before operating within God’s grace and promise I must endeavor to keep my thoughts and eyes fixed upon Him. (Heb. 3:1; 12:2)


Deb's jar>
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2Cor. 4:7

Excellent Deb,
The definition of consecrate:

con·se·crates
1. To declare or (set apart) as Sacred: consecrate a church.

To Dedicate Solemnly to a service or goal. Dedicated to a Sacred purpose; Sanctified.



Quote from Deb:

"Joshua 3:1-5 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from ****tim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: "When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it. "Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."

Not only were the people to be consecrated or set apart for the work of the Lord, but they were commanded (Ordered) to be on the ready at any moment to move out as the Ark was going before them. In the same manner today we are to be gathered together as One Body in Christ, (like Israel) ready to be led by the move of the Holy Spirit.

Israel was not sitting around doing their own thing, but was on the move as the Lord led them to take the inheritance that was given them, one nation at a time, little by little.

We are to be as every bit prepared today as if we are the army of God, to go into the world and take by Faith the Inheritance we have been given by the Lord. We are not only to be prepared to preach or share (Sow the Word)the Gospel in season or out, but we are to sow the seeds of Righteousness in the earth to be a witness to the lost. If we follow the Lord and don't lead and expect Him to follow our will, we will see a tremendous move of God in our day, just as in the days of Joshua where the people conquered all the giants in the land and all their enemies round about, so that everywhere they put their foot, it was theirs. The Lord is calling His people to do the same today! Everywhere we go, everywhere we place our foot, we are to claim for God's kingdom.

We no longer have to keep our distance from the ark either (THE LORD), but have been given entrance into the Holiest place. Actually we ourselves are a type of the Ark of the Covenant now that the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us. We are to let Him lead us into all the places which He would have us go and then we will see our God do amazing things in our Lives and as a Testimony to the world.





Character is much easier kept than recovered.
- Thomas Paine


IT'S A LOVE THAT NEVER ENDS
TRET FURE

>>We no longer have to keep our distance from the ark either (THE LORD), but have been given entrance into the Holiest place. Actually we ourselves are a type of the Ark of the Covenant now that the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us. We are to let Him lead us into all the places which He would have us go and then we will see our God do amazing things in our Lives and as a Testimony to the world.<<

The point of access is well taken; there is no partition between our personal access with the LORD but when it comes to walking by faith it is still necessary that I do not try to work a situation in my own strength. He is the Vine and I am the branch


Deb's jar>
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2Cor. 4:7

by the way it seems the pics are not showing, photobucket seems to be having problems again LOL



Deb's jar>
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2Cor. 4:7