Fighting for the land

Joshua 14:6-15 and 15:13-19 has an awesome story. The main character, other than God, is Caleb.

Caleb had received a promise from God years ago. In fact he says when it was: 45 years ago. This promise had his name on it; it was specifically designed for him, promised by God –the One who doesn’t break promises.

The interesting part is that Caleb goes to Joshua, the leader after Moses, and tells him essentially: “Give me the land God promised me.” Before that he explains that even though he’s 85 years old, he is as strong as when he was 40 and can go and war to get the fulfillment of the promise –the land.

It amazes me what he says next: “if the Lord will be with me, I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.” The “if” lets me know that he knows he cannot do it without God’s help, but with it he knows it’s a given. I love the fact that it hasn’t happened yet. Caleb can’t see the future. He just has a promise with his name on it. 

Another point that caught my interest is that I had wrongly believed that Caleb got the land because God gave it to Him, in other words, that He had dropped it on his lap. I somehow missed the part that he had to fight for it. 

The land was already his in light of the promise and the promise-Giver, but God expected him to go get it. It was already his but he wasn’t going to enjoy the land, taste its fruits, and see his children run and play in it and sleep under its trees until he had fought for it.

And there’s more. When Caleb goes to Joshua, he says: “So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke that day. For you heard then how the [giantlike] Anakim were there and that the cities were great and fortified; if the Lord will be with me, I shall drive them out just as the Lord said (Joshua 14:12).” The Amplified version helps us out with a fact we would miss if we’re not consciously remembering the rest of the story (found in Numbers 13:27-33): there were giants inhabiting the land!

Conquering giants isn’t easy. It’s already something to fight for the land, but what if giants are protecting it? “Oh boy, and you say the land is mine?” I would be tempted to say in Caleb’s place. But Caleb didn't think so. He fought those giants and won with God's help and asking others to help him do it (Joshua 15:16-17). 

I love the fact that he couldn’t do it alone, even though he had faith that God would do it because he had a promise with his name on it. I love it because it shows a bit of God’s heart: He’s all about relationship. 

I think that to fulfill His promise to Caleb God wanted Caleb first to stick to Him for help, advice and courage, among a million things he’d need from God. And secondly, He wanted Caleb to establish bonds with others. Essentially, I think God likes showing us that we can’t do it alone so that we’ll ask for help. His help most of all, but also the help of those around us. He’s a God that loves relationship, community and knows that the best stories one can live are shared.

I’m learning so much from Caleb’s story. As a way of recapping, I think Jesus teaches me these things through Caleb:

      God has promises with my name on them.

      Even though what is promised is mine I still have to fight to get it.

      God's promise normally looks impossible, like conquering giant dwellers in the land that God said is mine.

      The fight includes getting God’s help for it, sincerely believing He will come through and being willing to ask for others’ help.

      This creates a story of the kind God likes: where faith, courage to take action and relationship are keys to make it happen.

However I'm struck again by the point about going to claim the land and fight when I read: "And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?" 

The question I'm left with is, what promises has God given me that I'm being negligent to claim and fight for? 

Warrior, I invite you to think on the answer as well. 

If you want to read the whole story about the promise, 

you can find it in Numbers 13:27-33, chapter 14 and in Deuteronomy 1:19-36.

What to Do When You May or May Not be a Control Freak

Ann Voskamp invited Mark Buchanan to her farm's porch and I would love to share with you what she shared here:

“Like a city whose walls are broken down, is a man who lacks self-control.”  (Proverbs 25:28)

I was in a coffee shop the other day and a mom announced to her little guy – maybe 2 and a half years old – that it was time to leave.
Little Guy didn’t want to leave.
At first he ignored her, then he defied her, then he assailed her.
To her credit, she remained calm.
She spoke quietly. She stood her ground. She didn’t bargain.
In the end, magnificently composed, she carried Little Guy out the door, a wild banshee of a boy, thrashing and wailing as he went.
It got me thinking about the difference between control and self-control.
These two things – control and self-control – stand at opposite ends of the maturity spectrum.
The toddler was a live-action reel of a fierce effort to control his mother.
And he was a spectacle of immaturity.
The mom was a breathtaking portrait of impeccable self-control. And she was the epitome of maturity.
Toddlers brim with the impulse to control (even as they bungle the execution). A 3-year-old will resort to wild-eyed tantrums, incessant whining, ear-piercing screams, coy manipulation, and flat-out demand to try to get their way: to control their parent, or sibling, or playmate, or the situation at hand.
But as the toddler’s attempts to control things escalate, his ability to control himself deteriorates. His need to be in control makes him more and more out-of-control. The results are not pretty.
This all looks different in adults – usually.
Of course, we’ve all met 28- or 33- or 59-year olds (sometimes in the mirror) who, in an increasingly desperate effort to control people or situations, throw tantrums, power up, make threats, emotionally blackmail, withdraw into icy silence, and so on.
But most of us, by age 19 or so, have an epiphany of sorts: that the louder we shout, the less others listen.
That the more we manipulate, the further others back away.
That the more we toss a fit, the more others look at us and think, “What a sad strange little man,” or, “What a drama queen.”
That’s the epiphany.
But what we do with it matters a great deal. It determines whether we really grow up or not.
The truly wise become deeply humble. They realize that the only kind of control the Bible endorses – indeed, commands – is self-control.
The New Testament has 16 separate exhortations to be self-controlled. It’s a major theme.
So the wise heed that, and work with the Holy Spirit to get a grip on themselves. They receive the comfort, the rebuke, the strength, and the instruction of God himself to discipline their thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and actions.
They give up trying to control others and step up being in control of themselves.
The lovely irony is that the self-controlled exert wide influence. People listen to them. Heed them. Seek them. Follow them.
In other words, the self-controlled accomplish the very thing the controlling desperately want but only ever sabotage.
Here’s what I’ve learned: Every impulse to seize control — is the Holy Spirit’s invitation to practice self-control.
Every nerve jolt to freak out, melt down, start yelling, fly into rage or panic is a divine cue to slow down, breathe deep, start praying, and lean into God.
Every instinct to control something is God’s nudge to control myself.
I don’t always get it right. When I don’t, I not only lose self-control: I lose influence. I lose respect. I lose dignity.
When I do get it right, I gain all around.
Lord, help me get a grip on myself.

"Every impulse to seize control — is the Holy Spirit’s invitation to practice self-control."

He and I are gonna live a great story together

Guys you gotta give yourself this gift, watch this video.
You know what my thoughts are as I finish it? Well, some are these (the truth is I'm thinking many more, enough to reflect on every day from now on and I really want to!):
Jesus wants me.
What makes my heart light up, He knows cause He made me that way, just that way.
And He wants to do it with me.
And He wants me to believe who He says I am and be fearless cause He's my Dad and Lion of Judah.
And we're gonna write a story together, He and I.
That's the plan. Not the ones I have in the night and then forget about in the morning. That's the plan that He laid out before I was born (1). Crazy huh? Could I be that important to be so well-thought of? So important that my journey is something God has personally reflected on, designed and brought to life?
I just have to believe Him so that we can live the story that He has made me for from the beginning.
And you know what? I love being me. And the best part is that God really wants me to love that, and even better than that, He loves me being me even when I hate it.
I love having a Papa like that.

(1)Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)

With new eyes

I feel like a little girl with new eyes.

Because I've got glasses with new lenses!
Everything looks sharper, clearer and even colors look brighter.
It reminds me how much I want a better, richer perspective.
Positiveness is so much better!

A very wise Vietnamese said:
"You can use your life in a very useful and intelligent way. You can very well transform negative energy into a positive energy that empowers you and makes life meaningful -and here Steph smiles real wide-." -Thich Nhat Hanh.

"Some people are unbelievably cheerful in the midst of difficulty or obstacles; others bemoan the slightest inconvenience. Those who look for the upside of any trouble are the ones who come out ahead in quality of life. And the radiance of their positive attitude sheds light on the paths of others." -Chloe West

To me, it's worth fighting to be one of those people.

My two pockets

There is a happy soul whose home is the Other End of Nowhere. He has two pockets. One has a hole in it and the other is carefully watched that no hole develops in it. Everything that he hears of a hurtful nature--insult, cutting remark, gossip, unclean suggestion, or any such thing--he writes on a piece of paper and sticks it into his pocket with the hole. Everything which he hears that is kind, true, and helpful, he writes on a piece of paper and puts it in the pocket without the hole.
At night he turns out all that is in the pocket without the hole, goes over all that he had put into it during the day, and thoroughly enjoys all the good things that have come his way that day.Then he sticks his hand into the pocket with the hole and finds nothing there, so he laughs and rejoices that there are no evil things to rehearse.
Too many of us reverse the other, putting the evil things in the pocket without the hole so that we can mull over them again and again, and the good things in the pocket with the hole so that they are quickly forgotten. Paul's way was: "Whatsoever things are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, whatever is admirable ...think on these things." (Philippians 4:8) -F.W. Boreham

I need to put things in the right pockets...take out the scissors to make the hole in the right one.

Remember

Mottos for Success 3
If you don't have it, get one!
If you have one, enjoy it -It's great!

A quote that stroke

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."—Mark Twain

Mountain

Lovely darling, I love how these pictures came out.

There's something very particularly thrilling and liberating about being in mountains, away from the city noise and life, going up higher, leaving things behind, enjoying the great fresh air.
I've fallen in love with the mountains here in Morelia. Right now everything is green, and months back tall pink wild flowers sprouted there and anywhere where man couldn't ruin them.
Taking hikes up the mountain gets me feeling so renewed and peaceful.
Like taking a soothing bath after a long, bad day and the water washes away the sticky, gross feelings. Things outside the bathtub are the same. When I come down the mountain, nothing has changed. Except for me. The world is still in its regular motion; the sun shines again every morning telling me that even if I feel I have no control over my life, there is Someone who does. And it's better if it stays that way, cause He's mighty good at it. He's the only one that can make things work right -also when it doesn't seem like it-, the One that makes the wind blow and the flowers grow.

Squint and you'll see Sandy and I talking away like never before, like always.

I don't know what I'd do without any trees in sight. I'm probably not made for the big cities where they chop everything down. We need good oxygen ppl. Love the trees!

"There is more light on the mountain. Long after the valley is in darkness, you can still see the sun. The valley is almost always dark—full of people and things, but usually in darkness. The mountain is windy and cold, but thrilling.

If you're going to climb a mountain, you have to have the feeling that it's worth dying for. Any mountain—the mountain of this life, the mountain of accomplishment, the mountain of obstacles, of difficulty—has to be worth braving wind and cold and storm, symbolic of adversities.

Only pioneers climb mountains—people who want to do something that few have ever done before, ­people who want to get above the multitude and go beyond what has already been accomplished. Pioneers must have vision—vision to see what no one else can see; faith—faith to believe things no one else believes; initiative—initiative to be the first one to try it; courage—the guts to see it through!" -David Brandt Berg

Adrian took this picture, wonderful no?

Lemonade

-David Komic's creation

A smile to remember

I remember that in Mérida, a city where I used to live in, there was a man that would stand on the sidewalk, holding a sign with a bible verse written on it and would simply smile.
That was all. He'd stand there, hold the verse and smile.
Whenever I'd go to that particular part of town, amidst all the shopping places, the bustle of the city, the people passing, he'd be there. There wasn't anything very outstanding about his appearance -he had a little moustache-, but his smile, that was radiant!
If someone didn't know how to smile, I'd send them to him.
People probably thought he was nuts to just stand there everyday. I don't know about that. But I can't begin to imagine what a difference he made in people's days. If it wasn't the verse that he held, then definitely the smile would do it! It did it for me. It did brighten some of my days, and to think how selfless he was in trying to cheer people up.
Sometimes there are pretty simple things we can do to make life better. Maybe not standing beneath the beating sun smiling. How about...hugs, kind words that you mean, smiles given left and right? Simple things, you see? Just be spontaneous.
No one needs to remember how difficult life is, how bleak and boring it can get, how tiring it can be.
I remember that while out on a walk my mom and I found that there were stick-notes on the sidewalk. Separated by a few meters, they read: "Have a great day". It was done for someone in particular I'm sure, but it probably cheered up someone else in the process.
If you have lips, a brain and a heart that beats -no matter in which state you think that is- you can make people incredibly happy. And when you do, well...they say you end up being happy too. I'm sure of that.
We all want to be happy after all.

Do it anyway

(This is often attributed to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, as a copy was found on her wall, but it was written by Kent M. Keith when he was 19)
Who was Kent? A dude who found the way to live right, to live to the full; the simplistic way, though tough and difficult. The way that brings the most happiness.
We could try, and find out for ourselves.

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, others may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is all between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

W-W

A Wisdom Wallpaper for you!

...Just be happy.

A loser?

Losers let things happen; they’re merely creatures of circumstances.

Winners make things happen; they’re creators of circumstances.—David Dean

Be brave

While you're at it, remember to not pee in your pants, smile, and be sexy!

Everyday

"Everyday can be like Christmas". I used to hear that quote plenty as a child.
...I know that talking about Christmas doesnt really apply with the times.
But in truth, if we´re being honest with ourselves, keeping the love and joy of Christmas is possible all year round.
Imagine a Christmas without the hectic days, the stressed people, the unnecesary decorations everywhere, the long lists of things to buy and do before it´s all over again.
The joy of Christmas is in reality as magnificent as the star of Bethlehem.
Do we really need a Christmas tree and a manger scene if front of our noses to remember love supernatural? Who needs to go around buying presents? - it´s proved that genuine love is far more precious. Can we look for despairing faces in need, give a helping hand and dedicate time to others only on Christmastime? And you know that brightening a scrooge´s day can only make yours better.
So when sick of boring, monotonous, draining days, pretend it´s Christmas day.
Your day will surely improve. Mine did.

Mocking misery

There is no reason to be miserable.
I have too many things to be happy about. The type that don´t change, that are unmovable, and also the type that are only enjoyed once, just like a real good hug -the rest will all be different- :D
I know there are some people that have a big dislike for those that try to cheer them up unsuccesfully. It´s almost irritating, believe me, I know.
Perhaps I have no idea about your misery. But, if you feel a little bit down or like the shades of blue have turned amazingly horrifying then take a minute to read these:

"The best way out is always through."
-Robert Frost

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another."
-Charles Dickens

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."
-Sir Winston Churchill

"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars."
-Og Mandino

Dead by midnight

"Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster. Your life will never be the same again."
- Og Mandino, The Greatest Miracle in the World

"If you knew that your time left on Earth with your loved ones, or those you live with, was short, how would you act? What would you say? How much concern and unselfishness would you show others? How much love would you give?"
-Jesus

I remember hearing a grown-up talking about this when I was a little girl , and mostly my imagination got the better of me and I would end up scared thinking that I would loose dear people around me.
But if you can control your imagination better than a six or seven year old, then I assure you you´ll learn to be grateful for this wisdom. It´s sobering, but true.
An extra "I love you" was never known to kill anybody. And a concentrated effort to stretch ones patience to its limits and beyond, has only made the person stronger and more lovable in the long run, which are only positive side effects.
That last one was for my personal benefit. I let the world know now, that I´m making a concentrated effort to become more patient. It has dawned on me that it´s what I need to do if I really want to show my love to some of those that I love the most in the world!

Cheers to Patience?!

See it through

By Edgar Guest

When you're up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it's vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!

Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don't let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you're beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don't give up, whate'er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!

To all soldiers

How would you like a surcease from battle, a reprieve from all sacrifice, a break from the suffering, a time off from the battleground?
There is more than just a need to rest from the fight in a soldiers life. The soldier needs faith, endurance, conviction, courage and a will to not let up the fight. He will encounter all manner of foes, because the possibilities of confrontation are endless. There will be need to get up and counter another blow when he is already tired and wounded in heart and body.
That is why not many are soldiers, and why you are so precious, a rare breed in great demand. That is why our human history remembers great fighters. And that is why we live and die everyday to complete what they began. That is why the records of universal history will honor your name, because you won´t put your weapons down.
There is no glory in spilling blood, but there is glory in bringing to an end the reign of Satan. We don't carry the flag of any earthly nation, not even the the flag of aliens -to those who believe in their existence. We carry our personal flags of Victory, and the banner of Heaven stands high over the defeated armies of Hell that keep retreating in terror and utter confusion.
You feel confused? They're ten times worse.
You feel defeated? They don´t have a chance to triumph.
You feel alone? They shriek in fear knowing what you alone can do to them.
You feel tired? They are more than spent, and will soon shout helplessly their surrender.
You feel weak? They don´t have a back up strength that is sufficient to win every battle -you do.
Carry on!
I´m honored to fight along your side, and I´ll do my best to cover your back, uphold you when you´re wounded, strike a blow to your aggressor, help you out of a tramp, raise the flag of your victory, and give my life for you; because I know you'd do the same for me.
Lets learn from the greats, shall we? Lets learn from battles past and from wars fought. One thing they all have in common. Whether there was a stronger side, whether extra help was given, whether the times sent a turn of events, or whether they were all helpless, the victors always were the persevering, enduring ones -no matter what the rest of their condition looked like. Their cause was worth it.

By the way, I just finished watching "The Patriot", and I couldn't restrain myself from thinking about my own life as a soldier, and of those of you who fight with me.
And just for the record: Your name will be written next to the fighters of old, the great warriors of the past, the soldiers of the cross, under the title "Victors of the Lamb", because you are still here, because you're a soldier.
with love, a fellow comrade in arms.

"You hold the victor’s flag, and thus you shall not fail.

You hear the victor’s song, so let your faith be strong!
Raise your voice, lift your eyes, step forth with heart of praise!
The battlefield is yours to conquer, so let your flag be raised!"
-Jesus.

Inconveniences

"Inconveniences are a fact of life; learn to smile through them."
-Jesus

Which includes...
Smiling when the glass of water shatters, when your hair is having a bad day, when the person who said they´d be there aren't, when you wash the car and it rains, when your ice cream melts too fast under the blazing sun, when you trip while carrying a stack of books, when someone sits on your glasses or mp3, when the loud chatter doesn't let you sleep, when you run out of matches or can´t find toilet paper while sitting in that blessed bathroom, when you can´t make it to a party, when the meal you cooked burns, when you find unwanted little visitors in your bedroom; I´m sure the list is endless if you add your own. The simple but hard lesson: just smile.
If it helps to convince you (also talking to inner self), there are already too many grumpy, negative and unhappy people on the planet.