Celebration

We enjoyed a time of celebration with Kristi and Brian. 

 They were married a year ago.

More on Joshua 1

 Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Jim Stevenson, pictured with his daughters, Hope and Heather.  He spoke from Joshua 1: 1-9 --- that's two weeks in a row on the same passage --- God is TELLING us something! 
We all wish everyone a "Happy New Year"; how about greeting everyone with a "Prosperous New Year" instead?  We find a promise of prosperity, albeit a conditional one, in verse 8:

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Meditation on God's Word is the key.  We must feed on His Word, obey His Word, speak His Word.  It is the source of our prosperity, spiritually, and in all other ways.


Related Passages --
2 Chronicles 26: 3-5:

 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

Deuteronomy 30: 10-14: 

If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

Mr Stevenson's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD.  Please see Romy.

We welcome our guests from California, Joel & Smitha

Joshua 1

Our Speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Steve Modrzejewski. We are starting a new year. For our encouragement, he based his message on Joshua 1:1-9 --Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

 ²Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

 ³Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

 ⁴From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

 ⁵There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

 ⁶Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

 ⁷Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

 ⁸This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 ⁹Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

In summary: From the above passage we learn that we are to be God's witnesses--His COURAGEOUS witnesses.  We can be courageous because of:

(1)  God's promises (see verses 3, 5, and 6)

(2)  God's Word (see verses 7 & 8)

and, (3) God's presence (see verses 5, & 9)

Thus, focus and meditate on God's Word each day. Don't be boastful, contentious, or proud. Use your successes to encourage others. 

Mr Modrzejewski's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.