The Promised Land

As the memory of Easter Sunday fades I can't help but wonder, what must have been going through the minds of those early followers of Jesus.  Followers who had committed to travel with him all around the known world, listening to him preach and watching him perform miracles.  Followers who watched in disbelief as Jesus was arrested, tortured and put to death on a cross.  Followers who had given up hope, only to be overcome with joy over his resurrection, but then, as Jesus ascended into heaven, left to ponder life without their Savior.    

Can you at all relate to the roller-coaster of emotions this small band of Christians had been subjected too in such a short period of time?  If we're honest with ourselves, sometimes life's challenges can be overwhelming.  You want to remain faithful.  You want to keep up.  But life happens and you just have no fight left in you.  

The book of Joshua is in the Bible for seasons like the one I just described.  Join us for the next several weeks, as we walk with the nation of Israel on their journey from the arid desert of the wilderness to the fertile fields of the promised land.  Along the way, you may be forced to ask the question, "how would my life be different if I put aside fear and followed God's vision for my life?"  God has a "promised-land" vision for all of us, but it's up to us to take the first step.

In preparation for Sunday, I want to encourage you to read the first 2 chapters in the book of Joshua, especially focusing on verse 9.  Also, our theme verse for this series is taken from Joshua 21:43-45, where we read....

"Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers.  And they took possession of it, and they settled there.  And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers.  Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands.  Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass."

See you Sunday.

Pastor Doug