Rumination Journal

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.  — Joshua 1:8 With the death of Moses, Joshua prepared the children of Israel to enter Canaan. God counseled Joshua by telling him to be strong and courageous, to meditated on God's commands and to do them. The people knew Joshua was the right man to lead them. In the past, Joshua had proven his trust in God. When Israel's twelve spies were sent to quietly explore Canaan prior to the Israelites' entry, most of the spies were afraid the Canaanites would defeat them, even going so far as to describe the inhabitants as giants. Only Joshua and Caleb expressed confidence that God would assure their success in taking the land (see Numbers 13-14). All of Israel must have remembered the trust of Joshua and Caleb on that day, beca...

Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, "Rejoice!" Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 4:4-7 WEB Here is a prescription for living, written by the Apostle Paul: All day, every day and in every thing, we should celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ--really celebrate Him! We should make it clear to all that we support them and want to help them in any way that we can, remembering that Jesus is with us always, and that He is returning soon--perhaps today! We should not fret or worry about anything. Instead, we should pray. All of our joy, our sorrow, our concern, and our gratitude should be conveyed to God in an ongoing conversation of prayer. In this way, the fullness of God's peace will come to us,...

Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:13-14 WEB Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. — Acts 20:32 WEB Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” — John 8:31-32 WEB "I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,—the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you." — John 14:16-17 WEB Regardless of your past, today can be...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. -- John 3:16-17 WEB God does not love the corruption in this world. But He does love His creation. He loves the people, each and every one. But do we? Do you ever get fed up with people? Do you get tired of their lies and selfishness? Do you ever encounter people that you think are so terrible that maybe everyone else would be better off that person just went straight to hell right then? God does not think that way. God loves the people in this world. He loved them enough to die for them. And He has never changed His mind. Remember this the next time you are having difficulty with someone. You are dealing with someone God loves, a child of God, though they may not realize it or accept it! No matter how you classify yourself, whether...

A flatlander was invited to preach in a Baptist church set in the mountains. He was worried, remembering that the people in this region despised educated preachers and were known for their fundamentalism and simplistic approach to the gospel. He preached with masterful command if allegory and hard truths veiled in simile. At the close of his message he gave the normal invitation. He was amazed to see that an old gentleman in starched overalls responded. Thinking he'd made an impact on the man's heart, he approached him. However, the old man came forward and whispered in the minister's ear, "Young feller, just because the water's muddy, don't mean it's deep! I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not list...

Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb. Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: he will make your righteousness go out as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun. Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land. For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there. But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance ...

Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?  Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in Yahweh's house all the days of my life, to see Yahweh's beauty, and to inquire in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the covert of his tabernacle he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock. Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh. Here, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me. When you said, "Seek my face," my heart said to you, "I will see...