Be strong and courageous!

"BE STRONG AND VERY COURAGEOUS. BE CAREFUL TO OBEY ALL THE LAW MY SERVANT MOSES GAVE YOU; DO NOT TURN FROM IT TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT, THAT YOU MAY BE SUCCESSFUL WHEREVER YOU GO. DO NOT LET THIS BOOK OF THE LAW DEPART FROM YOUR MOUTH; MEDITATE ON IT DAY AND NIGHT, SO THAT YOU MAY BE CAREFUL TO DO EVERYTHING THAT IS IN IT. THEN YOU WILL BE PROSPEROUS AND SUCCESSFUL. HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU? BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. DO NOT BE TERRIFIED; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO" ~JOSHUA 1:7-9

It amazes me to see how easily people are swayed to the latest book or diet trend. People including me, when I am not seeking God and His Word, daily. The latest news flash is that Oprah along with some guy is starting this class online about a New Earth. I am thinking, what about the earth right now. You know, the one God created! I have only read bits and pieces of it on Amazon, but lets just say it was enough to ignite a fire within me. I cannot allow people I know to be fooled by this. God's Word is REAL and is the ONLY thing we need. God is the same yesterday, today and will be tomorrow. After Moses died, God appointed Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promise land. These people were stubborn and God knew He would need to prepare Joshua and encourage him. He told him to be "strong and courageous" over and over in this chapter. To not be distracted by other things but keep his eyes on the task. And in order to be "prosperous and successful", God doesn't say read the latest book or you have to follow this tradition or talk like this or that. He says"meditate on my Word day and night". All of this is temporary...we must not get distracted. People are being deceived into thinking that this is it. God wants me to be prepared to give an answer to what I believe. There is no time to waste. This encouraged my 'mommy' heart as well. Sometimes it feels like I am Moses or Joshua trying to direct my boys into the promise land, but they are being stubborn and don't want to go! I was reminded this morning that God knows and not to be discouraged and that He will be with me. Ahhh...thank you Jesus!