tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199367098526365458.post8429714719639697920..comments2023-07-15T05:00:09.606-07:00Comments on Bible Book Club: Joshua 8 - The Conquest of Ai God's WayCarol Ann Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13676125721105006155noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199367098526365458.post-62441964112355589142023-04-29T05:18:15.098-07:002023-04-29T05:18:15.098-07:00It is so wonderful to reflect on all of this. I kn...It is so wonderful to reflect on all of this. I know I am in God's sweet spot, and I have been for many years. One thing I do now is say "NO" to people's vision for me in order to say "YES" to God's! Just yesterday, someone said, "Oh Carol, could you please do _____________." I had stepped in on a ministry because no one else was doing something, and the leader was appreciative of it, but now she is thinking that is my job in her ministry. It is a somewhat administrative thing she is asking me to do, and I could do it, but that is not the place where God has called me specifically. I don't want to get sucked into something that would take me away from the good work that God has for me. Was I wrong to help out when I saw a need? I don't think so, but I need to be clear that I cannot be the administrator for the group. That is not my calling. I often go into something just to participate, and they make me a leader (sometimes with asking if I will do it). I was in an eight-week workshop, and we broke up into small groups, and I kept wondering why the leader was not leading (I picked who looked like the oldest person in the group - turns out I was the oldest, LOL), and then I realized, "OH, I think I am the leader! So-and-so forgot to tell me I was leading the group!" Oh well. <br /><br />All that to say, I need to be clear on God's direction for me, not other people's direction for me. Carol Ann Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13676125721105006155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199367098526365458.post-73300214848409161572008-07-15T10:41:00.000-07:002008-07-15T10:41:00.000-07:00Praying it goes well for you, Nikki!Praying it goes well for you, Nikki!Carol Ann Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13676125721105006155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199367098526365458.post-76006329604279944222008-07-14T07:17:00.000-07:002008-07-14T07:17:00.000-07:00This chapter is very timely. I'm working on a sma...This chapter is very timely. I'm working on a small project (but bigger than me) that I thought God was nudging me forward on. Along the way, there have been some little obstacles, but this week, there have been some major obstacles. I read this chapter the day before yesterday, and it occurred to me that perhaps I had made the same error- perhaps I had been given the charge, but perhaps I neglected to check in with God enough along the way to see how He wanted it done. Or maybe He was pulling away the resources, like He did in some of Gideon's? battles so there would be no mistake that He is the one who is working on this project. Or maybe, I jumped ahead of Him altogether and this wasn't a project He had slated. I'm still not sure, but yesterday when I was contemplating cancelling the project altogether- it felt wrong and hugely uncomfortable, and when I contemplated continuing to push forward in faith, there was more peace in that idea- even though there were literally not enough resources to do the project which begins Thursday. Last night, after I had admitted my utter inability to know what to do or to pull this project off, a couple of key resources became available. And so it looks like we're moving forward on it. God in the lead and the rest of us working on this project right behind Him, I hope.Nikki Stauberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04898319311706981993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199367098526365458.post-40845326378321803092008-07-11T14:50:00.000-07:002008-07-11T14:50:00.000-07:00I think we usually initially pray and God give us ...I think we usually initially pray and God give us directly, but we sort of "add to" what God has said. That is what I do. I add more of what He requires of me instead of staying dependent on Him in ever little nook and cranny kind of decision. I sort of fly off in my own balloon. I needed to stay tethered to the group and His grip. I think emotionally, it starts getting over stressful. That is one way I know it. Sometimes, it is the enemy who is causing that stress, but sometimes it is my zeal causing the stress, and I am able to dialgue with God "as I go" about where the stress if coming from. Does that answer your question?Carol Ann Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13676125721105006155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199367098526365458.post-72773405411175577162008-07-10T06:35:00.000-07:002008-07-10T06:35:00.000-07:00Carol, how do you know something is what God wants...Carol, how do you know something is what God wants rather than a result of your own zeal? Can you give some specifics? (I know that might be hard.)<BR/><BR/>With the Israelites and Ai, I think it's made clear that they didn't inquire of God and that's why they got into trouble. They were doing it in reliance on their own strength. (Maybe they forgot that Jericho was a result of God's strength, not theirs?) <BR/><BR/>I love your point about not giving up and playing it safe! I am convinced that we are not to play safe as we follow the LORD.Dancingirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00400203620215712439noreply@blogger.com