DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR TUESDAY MARCH 9:
WORD OF WISDOM
IF IT'S NOT YOURS, DON'T TAKE IT. IF IT'S NOT TRUE, DON'T SAY IT. IF IT'S
NOT RIGHT, DON'T DO IT.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Committed Faith
"They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the
sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute,
afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in
deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these
all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:"
Hebrews 11:37-39
Faith is easy to maintain when things are going well-when we're in good
health and the bills are paid and we are seeing results from our work. When
things are going wrong (according to our perspective) it is much more
difficult to continue to trust in God. He has called on us to have a
committed faith that is just as certain when we are suffering as it is when
we are rejoicing.
Charles Spurgeon said, "I would recommend you either believe God up to the
hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter
of it, or else reject it. There is no logical standing place between the
two. Be satisfied with nothing less than a faith that swims in the deeps of
divine revelation; a faith that paddles about the edge of the water is poor
faith at best. It is little better than a dry-land faith, and is not good
for much."
James 1:6 tells us that, when we pray, we are to "ask in faith, nothing
wavering." So many times we miss what God could and would have done for us
simply because we allow our faith to be shaken. Like Peter when he walked on
the water we take our eyes off Jesus and begin to focus on the wind and the
waves. And like Peter we sink. God will not fail you today. He never has,
and you are not going to be the first of His children to be abandoned. Trust
Him fully.
Do not allow anything to shake your faith in God today-He knows exactly what
is best for you.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Joshua
Joshua 1 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
God Chooses Joshua to Lead Israel
1 Moses was the Lord's servant, and Joshua son of Nun was Moses' helper.
After Moses died, the Lord spoke to Joshua and said, 2 "My servant Moses is
dead. Now you and all these people must go across the Jordan River. You must
go into the land I am giving to the Israelites. 3 I promised Moses that I
would give you this land, so I will give you all the land wherever you go. 4
All the land from the desert to Lebanon all the way to the great river (that
is, the Euphrates River) and all the land of the Hittites will be yours. And
all the land from here to the Mediterranean Sea in the west (that is, the
place where the sun sets) will be within your borders. 5 Just as I was with
Moses, I will be with you. No one will be able to stop you all your life. I
will not abandon you. I will never leave you.
6 "Joshua, you must be strong and brave! You must lead these people so that
they can take their land. I promised their fathers that I would give them
this land. 7 But you must be strong and brave about obeying the commands my
servant Moses gave you. If you follow his teachings exactly, you will be
successful in everything you do. 8 Always remember what is written in that
book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can
be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and
successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong
and brave. Don't be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go."
Joshua Takes Command
10 So Joshua gave orders to the leaders of the people: 11 "Go through the
camp and tell the people, 'Get some food ready. Three days from now we will
go across the Jordan River and take the land that the Lord our God is giving
us.'"
12 Then Joshua said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of
Manasseh, 13-14 "Remember what the Lord's servant Moses told you. He said
that the Lord your God would give you a place to live. So he has given you
this land east of the Jordan River. But now you must help your relatives get
their land. Your wives and children can stay here with your animals. But all
your fighting men must prepare for battle and lead the men of the other
tribes across the river. 15 The Lord has given you a place to live, and he
will do the same for your brothers. But you must help them until they take
control of the land the Lord your God is giving them. Then you can come back
and settle here on the east side of the river. This is the land that the
Lord's servant Moses said would be yours."
16 Then the people answered Joshua, "We will do whatever you command us to
do. We will go wherever you tell us to go. 17 We will obey whatever you say,
just as we obeyed Moses. We only ask that the Lord your God be with you just
as he was with Moses. 18 Then anyone who refuses to obey your commands or
turns against you will be killed. Just be strong and brave!"
