Backpacking Through Joshua, Week 3

This week's assignment focuses on Joshua 3, where God leads Josh and peeps across the Jordan river.  Will they trust and follow (obey) His leadership?  Spoiler alert:  they do.  And, similar to how the Red Sea was parted, the Jordan River was stopped in it's tracks flow, and the folks ambled on over the river bed and through the woods to Grandmoth... to the Promised Land.  Amber encouraged us to think about what might be standing in our way from truly believing in and following God as our leader.   

Is it hot in here?

Our "putting it out there" questions for this week are:

1. Are there some areas in your life in which you allow God to lead more than others?
2. Tell of a time you followed God's lead into an unfamiliar territory.  If you don't have a particular experience, talk about why you think that may be. 

Again, I ask...is it hot in here?

1. To this, I answer...unfortunately..."Doh!"  I allow God to lead me in just about everything that seems to feel logical and comfortable.  Previous sentence strikes me as so arrogant (I allow God...hmm).  When things are a little or a lot uncomfortable, uncertain, scary, and painful, I tend to show my very human colors and...balk.  Stick my heels in the sand (or my head, either one).  Fortunately God is THE expert at working with blockheads like me and Charlie Brown, and while I'm not perfekt at trusting Him, His work in me, despite my own wisdom and plans, is maturing some fruit.

2.  As I've mentioned before, last year, God led me in producing the musical "Annie" at our church.  I had to trust Him when:  few men auditioned, no dogs showed up to an open audition for "Sandy", I had more production spots to fill than people to fill them, I was tired, discouraged,  I was often disappointed with the lack of support from of folks I had wanted to count on, sets weren't finished the day before the show, mics weren't working the day before the show, lights weren't working after the first weekend of shows.  You get the idea.  For this recovering control freak, my world was blown open with a myriad of situations outside my control.  Ooooh, do you see how many times I used the word "I" above??? (very telling) It was uncomfortable. And, at times when I forgot to trust in Him, and used my own resources, I admit I wanted out.  Wanted Xanax.  But God led me to allow Him to lead.  Allow Him to fight the fires.  Allow me to rest in Him (if I would).  He had a plan.  He used the broken, the imperfect, the grumpy, and the worn out.  And gave us a show.  An amazing show in which I hope and pray He was glorified and smiling at its final curtain.

So...I'm not where I want to be...but I'm getting to where I want to go (Phil 1:6; Hebrews 12:1-3) .  Many folks have talked about their "word of the year", and as I muse over this, I think the one most on my heart is:  obedience.  I DO have faith that God is my Husband, my Savior, my Redeemer, and my Father.  I DO believe the Holy Spirit indwells me.  I DO believe that Jesus hung on the cross for my sins--past, present and future.  And finally, I DO believe that in order for Him to lead my life, I must surrender it to Him and obey.  Thank You, Jesus, for Your infinite patience and love for me.  In Your name.  Amen.

Once again, a huge thank you to His Girl for all her hard work and faith in action in leading our trek.  Blessings all.