Wednesday Worship Playlist

Captain Hillsong // WATCH CLIP HERE
Today reflecting on life and leadership, I see the beautiful imagery of a boat sailing on the Sea of Galilee.The reflection of the many times Jesus encounters the Sea of Galilee and his ministry around and on. 

The boat is the life and leadership that is me, and the captain is non other than the Lord. God gives the boat a map to follow to the mission he is navigating to. Using the compass of the spirit directing the  voyage. 

This makes me worship today as God has us all on a voyage of mission to see girls lives transformed. We all have the same map, but the compass direction will be culturally relevant to the girls we lead in our area and state. As we journey in the boat, may we all follow the same map as we use the compass God has given us to tailor to the girls and women we lead in the great commission. 

Today worship for he is the captain that directs our compass. 

“Captain”
Through waters uncharted my soul will embark 

I’ll follow Your voice straight into the dark

And if from the course You intend

I depart, Speak to the sails of my wandering heart
Like the wind

You’ll guide

Clear the skies before me

And I’ll glide this open sea
Like the stars

Your Word

Will align my voyage

And remind me where I’ve been

And where I am going
Lost in the shallows amidst fear and fog

Your truth is the compass that points me back north

Jesus

My Captain

My soul’s trusted Lord

All my allegiance is rightfully Yours
Like the wind

You’ll guide

Clear the skies before me

And I’ll glide this open sea
Like the stars

Your Word

Will align my voyage

And remind me where I’ve been

And where I am going

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Preparing for Victory

As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”

3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt.

5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised.

6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD; the LORD swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.

9 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. – Joshua 5:1-9

Preparing for Victory

Arriving and seeing Gods power displayed, my thoughts would of been that God has promised, now was the time for Joshua to mobilise the army and attack Jericho.

The people were united and unified in following the Lord, the kings and kingdoms were melted with fear, now is the time for victory.
But God ways and throughs are higher and it wasn’t the right time to claim the victory. The background of this passage is that in which the nation crossed into the land on the tenth day of the first month (Josh 4:19). The event described in our passage took at least 10 days and then the people marched around Jericho for six days.

God waited over two weeks before giving His people their first victory in the land. There is something to say that Gods timing is perfect in the battle plan of victory.

“God’s people must be prepared before they can be trusted with victory”. God wanted the conquest of the land to be solely the victory of Him, not the victory in mans flesh.
God had a three step preparation plan that was the defining moment to then give his people victory.

1.Renewing of the Lords covenant 5:1-9

– restoring the covenant of the abrahamic promise.

– Restore their covenant relationship 

– The symbol of “marked people” that belonged to the living God

– Test their faith. V’s 8 this faith walk would disable every male in the nation and opening up venerability of attack. This was the making of faith that solely relied on Gods defence.

– To remove their reproach v’s 9

2. Rembering the Lords goodness 5:10-12

“Forgetting those things which are behind” Philippians 3:13

Never forget the redeeming power of God through the Passover – set free by the blood of the lamb.

3. Reaffirming the Lord’s presence 

In leadership there is an element of loneliness that can be disturbing and depressing as you realise how much your decisions affect the lives around you. God promised to be with Joshua, to be the captain directing his compass in the victory of the map.

We see in this chapter a real significant in what God calls his people to do before victory is won. 

1. Humble worship

2. Holy walk

3. Heavenly warfare 

Bowing the knee, summiting to a holy walk, then outward battle the energy in the power of the Lord. Joshua met the Lord and he knew the deep truth that “the battle was the Lord’s.” That he had already overcome the enemy, his role was to prepare before the Lord.

Reflecting in you life and leadership

Q. What renewal of the Lords covenant do you need to do today?

Q. How can your remember the Lords goodness?

Q. What is God reaffirming in the presence of himself in your life and leadership?

Q. What victory do you know God has that you just need to kneel and submit the holy walk?

When we look into Gods rich truth of victory we see the power of the cross and resurrection. God has conquered the victory, you just have to be prepared in this season to walk in the light of this, helping other to find hope in a hurting world.

Application questions to journal with:

 What do i make of all of this?

What do i feel God is saying to me?

What do i need to take from this?

What changes do i need to make?

 How can i share this with my leadership team verbally and practically

Resources from:

“Be strong”, Warren.W.Wiersbe commentary 

God’s Power Displayed

Joshua ch 5:1  As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

The waters have opened, salvation was shown, the power of God was displayed and the favor was on the people as they built the stones of remembrance.
Now they nation had moved so far forward, more than any other generation before claiming the promises of God, it was the time to now not retreat backwards. After the salvation experience time to move into the provisions of the promises of God and stand firm.

A new footing in Cannan, now time to apply what courageous journey they have been on to conquest the land. We see in vs 1 Gods power was displayed and how the whole kings and kingdoms around knew if this miraculous moment of time and they melted in fear. News spread like wild flowers, and this came as a great alarm to the kings of the kingdoms of Canaan.

Their hearts melted like wax before the fire, neither was there a spirit in them to stand against. This verse imitates what was previously in Joshua ch 2:9 within the Rahab moment. This moment the connection was that God of Isreal will do what he said. This faith/fear moment was the knowledge of acknowledging that their cause was over and was about to be taken over by Israel.

Gods almighty power was in 2 fold…

1. To show the nation salvation

2. Other nations to see the salvation of The Lord in action

– When God calls us to step up and out in his leading it is always a two fold impact and display

– God goes before, behind and through all he has promised to do in his missional work

– We just follow, he displays the power, then all see. It’s through God that lives become transformed

Application Joshua 5:1

– what power of God has been displayed in your life?

– Do people around you see the display of God in your situation, leadership journey, vision, mission

– What God displays in your life and leadership is to enrich gods world.

– What he promises to do, he follows through, and others see the glory of God.

Application questions to journal with:

What do i make of all of this?
What do i feel God is saying to me?
What do i need to take from this?
What changes do i need to make?
How can i share this with my leadership team verbally and practically?

Wednesday Worship Playlist

Once For All // WATCH CLIP HERE

Reflecting on Joshua ch4 the symbolism of the crossing referring to salvation, God spirit opens my heart and eyes to see the imagery of the link between Joshua and Jesus. Jesus that bridged the great divide, that allowed us to cross in salvation, from death to life. 
Do we take time daily to sit in the salvation that we have and the power that lies within that? The crossing from death to life, the encounter of the victory of the power that has been won on the cross?

So many times we don’t live within the power of salvation and the victory that Jesus won. The curse was broken when he was nail on that tree, through dying and then the victorious rising from the grave.

Reflecting on this, worshiping through this song… Today I fall to my knees in worship, because of Christ offering, Christ sacrifice. I have crossed the river in true salvation in victory and power.
 No fear in life, no sting in death, for Christ has overcome, and this is the power of Christ living in me.
The true courageous is Christ in me.

“Once For All”
Our God He bridged the great divide

 To offer us eternal life
Sending hope within a Man
Oh His love it never fails and His love it never end
He came in flesh to fight our cause

With power to tame the oceans roar

Taking on our sin and shame
He has opened up the way, He has overcome the grave
Once for all,

 our King has paid it all 

All the glory to His name
By His blood, the curse of man undone

All the glory to His name

Now we live forever free

Because of Christ, the offering
No fear in life, no sting in death
For our God has come for us and our God has paid the debt

Standing In The Gap

Standing in the gap // Joshua ch4

The nation was called to courageously cross the Jordan river. We see in ch4 where 12 priests/men was called to stand in the gap to be used with Gods power. Where their feet touched the stones in the Jordan, Gods power was seen by the river holding back so the nation could cross. This was the first time this generation saw the parting of the waters, as the old generation had passed that saw Gods power in the crossing of the sea when they left Egypt. These men had to stand in obedience to the task God called them to lead.

In their obedience of standing in the gap, Gods power was seen as the whole nation could cross with safety. Once crossed we see God giving clear instructions asking for 12 men from 12 tribes to go back and retrieve the stones to create a “stone of remembrance”. Having to go back, stand in the gap in a new way this time to retrieve the stones the priests stood on with the ark of the covenant, and carry them over to the promise land side.

The stones of remembrance were to be a sign of Gods great power and the remembrance of obedience. Those who stood in the gap, now those who follow because of the obedience get to make the memorial so that generations to come can see Gods faithfulness and also the people’s obedience to God. Notice it isn’t the priest that had to go back to retrieve, their role of that time frame of standing in the gap was done, and now new men are called to be obedient.

The nation obeyed, the men were obedient, the time was now to glorify God with a memorial that all could see. V’s 14 we see that Joshua the leader was exalted in the eyes of those he lead and the revered him. The confidence they had in the leader was strong because he was faithful and obedient to God.

So what can we learn from this passage?

1. Standing in the gap is a calling of leadership:
– Obedience
– Faithfulness
– Endurance
– Cost : length of time

2. Seeing Gods power:
– In holding the waters back 2 times
– The nation crossing ( symbolism of salvation)
– Promise coming to fruition

3. Stones of remembrance:
– Testimony to the great God Jehovah
– Glorifies the great God Jehovah
– Exulted in the eyes of those you lead

So how can we apply this to our life and leadership journey?

1. What is God calling you to stand in the gap for? Has he placed in your heart a task to lead courageously that involves you going out into the unknown and standing in the gap?
2. Who is God calling you to stand in the gap for? Has he placed a nation, a state, a girl you lead to go and stand in the gap for, so they can pass through the waters of salvation to their God given destiny?
3. What will standing in the gap cost you? What things will you have to let go of to go and do the calling of God in your life and leadership? What is he calling you to move on from? Have you counted the cost in following Christ’s calling in your leadership?
4. What stones of remembrance is God calling us to honor? Is he calling you to build remembrance so generations to come can see the power and glory of God in your life and leadership journey?
God calls men and women to be bold and courageous that will go into the unknown of leadership, stand in the gap so those they lead can cross into the destiny God has for them. Yes it has a cost, but the cost far out ways the glory and power that is seen from our amazing Jehovah shows.

Application questions to journal with:

What do i make of all of this?

What do i feel God is saying to me?

What do i need to take from this?

What changes do i need to make?

How can i share this with my leadership team verbally and practically?

Courageous Moments

” A courageous person unlocks the courage in others ”

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.” – Joshua 1:9

How courageous are you in your personal walk with God? He wants to unlock your full potential to then lead others.

Wednesday Worship Playlist

That Same Power // WATCH HERE

Facing trials?? Know that the power that rose Christ from the grave lives in you. This same power enables us to face anything and overcome. Jesus leaves us with a bold statement in that we have been given the authority to overcome.

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. – Luke 10:19

Today worship the father for the power he is, and praise for the spirit that lives within you to help in any trial or temptation.

Know the power and ask God to realese this within your mind, heart and soul today.

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. – Romans 8:11

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Courageous Communications

Throughout the book of Joshua we see the constant communication relationship between God and himself. 12 times we see in the text say ” The Lord said to Joshua”.
God is a God of order, nothing is random or choice, but of symbolism and completeness.

We see the number 12 as a symbolic number for God It is the number of perfection. It symbolizes Gods power and authority as well as serving as a perfect governmental foundation. The number also shows completeness and an image of the nation Israel as a whole. 12 is also the number related to an anointed service and Gods word.

It’s interesting we see that 12 times It is written “The Lord said to Joshua” and shows that God spoke to Joshua the anointed leader to go and speak Gods words of direction. We see that Joshua each time listens to God and courageously obeys to deliver the direction of Gods plans and leading to the nation. As a leader Joshua’s relationship with God and the close communication was essential to leading the nation. If Joshua wasn’t closely connected to listening to God in communication the nation would be in a different direction to Gods plans.

Like Joshua, Jesus always took time daily to seek God for the connection and communications in prayer. He waited on God for his direction to tell the same nation many generations later. Jesus always lived and lead with close communication to God.

How do we hear God speak to us daily?

1. Through his word – 2 Timothy 3:16 God speaks to our hearts, soul and mind through the word of God. This is the solid reliable way God speaks to us clearly. Sometimes whispering, sometimes shouting giving us instructions and principles for life and leadership.
Through his son Jesus Christ – Hebrews 1:1-2 it’s through the gospel that we hear God speaking to us the love, mercy and grace that he shouts to us. His Son intercedes for us on our behalf to the father.

2 Through nature and Gods creation – Romans 1:2 Through the intricate details and magnificent beauty of all that God has made, we can “hear” His voice.
Through other believers – James 3:17 God uses others to help navigate Gods word and voice by them speaking truths into your life. Using the word of God we can see if their words line up with Scripture?

3. Through music – 2 Chronicles 20 we can hear the voice of God through worship in song and praise to our Heavenly Father. Singing praise to our father empties ourselves and focus our hearts and minds on God. In this God speaks through lyrics, connections and also praise.

4. Through circumstances – God uses moments and circumstances to speak to us. Like Moses and the burning bush, the plagues to the King and many more moments in the bible we see God using circumstances to speak to his people.

5. Through his Spirit – John 14:17, 1 Corinthians 3:16 Some may call it “God’s whispers,” while others say, “God’s still, small voice.” We are made in the image of God, and when we confess Jesus and follow Him as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit comes to live in us. God’s Spirit speaks to us through our conscience, helping to make the right decision. When we’re tempted, that same Spirit warns and nudges us to do the right thing.

6. Through prayer – Romans 8:26-27 Each way I’ve shared that God may speak to us today meshes into the other. God often speaks to us through His Spirit, through prayer. We may not know how to pray, but God’s Word tells us His spirit makes intercession for us. Often through a combination of fasting and prayer, our minds become clearer and our hearts are more sensitive to God.

To be courageously connected in communication it requires:

– space to listen to God. Time developing your relationship with him.Spending time and quality time in the word of God and praying.

– A heart that is open to listening. Developing a spirit that is connected to the heart of God.

-Becoming In tune with God to know how he speaks to you.

-Being still and knowing that he is God. Not always doing the talking, but having the time in silence knowing that he is God.

Just like Joshua you to can be in close communications with God. It starts with you connecting to God. How dose God communicate to you? When has he communicated to you in the past. Is it that you hear God communicating most to you when your close to him? What do you need to do today to respond to God communicating to you? Develop a real soul connection to God today so you can courageously be in communication with him as you lead others in their spiritual walk with God.

Application questions to journal with:

What do i make of all of this?

What do i feel God is saying to me?

What do i need to take from this?

What changes do i need to make?

How can i share this with my leadership team verbally and practically?

Wednesday Worship Playlist

All For Love Hillsong // WATCH HERE

The Love of God is so deep and wide that he sent his only son to be the price that needed to be paid,  so you and I can be made in a right relationship with him. Gods grace is what overflowed when he sent his son to this earth to die on the cross for mankind’s sin. Gods grace is what overflows today and everyday continual to sanctify us, equip us, empower us and enable us. 

Today I worship for the amazing grace that found me when I was lost. The amazing grace that brought me to my knees asking for forgiveness. The amazing grace that sanctified me through Jesus blood on the cross. The amazing grace that daily renews me and the relationship with my God. The amazing grace that helps me through trials, testings in life. The amazing grace that supply’s all my needs. 

1. Grace that is found strong in Christ Jesus 

2. Gods grace supplies all our needs. 
3.  Grace finds you when you need it. 

What grace moments have you see God work in your life? 

How do you receive the gift of grace in your life?

How can you show grace to others today?