Courage! - New marching orders

Joshua 1:1-9 (ESV)

God Commissions Joshua

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Moving on...Humansdorp, here we come!

Carols & Candles Christmas service

Carols & Candles Christmas service

at The Vine, 7 pm, Saturday, 24th December.

All welcome!

Advent fractals ~ Richard Lyall

Takeaway Tuesday - Celebration?

So yesterday I was watching the news. And I saw a whole bunch of people celebrating the reported death of Osama Bin Laden. Setting aside whether or not this is truth or not and whilst still deeply considering the gross atrocities cited against him, I was still left with a bad taste in my mouth. And I thought about this passage:

¹ Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:1-7, New International Version, ©2011)

As Christians we are called to be a peculiar people who live our lives to the praise and glory of our Father, God, His Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. And I had to wonder whether or not I'd be jumping up and down and cheering with that crowd. And in which option my actions would be considered loving and just by the God of Justice.

What's your takeaway snack from these thoughts?

Come as you are

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