Good morning,

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

This was the position of Israel after the exodus from Egypt. They rebelled against God and God made them wander in the desert 40 years. Moses also rebelled and would not be going into the promised land.

God chooses Joshua to lead Israel into the “Promised Land”.

Moses and God each give Joshua a charge.

God then gives Joshua a promise, command, and warning.

This week we will look at each of these.

God’s charge to Joshua (Joshua 1:1-9)

Today we will look at God’s promise.

God’s promise (Joshua 1:1-5,9)

Land (1:1-2)

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,² Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

Every place your sole shall tread (1:3)

³ Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

I will be with thee (1:4)

⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

I will not forsake thee (1:5, 9)

⁵ There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. ⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

God gave the land to Israel.

When other people’s, countries, or nations, claim that Israel is not the rightful owners of their land, they are wrong!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

This was the position of Israel after the exodus from Egypt. They rebelled against God and God made them wander in the desert 40 years. Moses also rebelled and would not be going into the “Promised Land”.

God chooses Joshua to lead Israel into the “Promised Land”.

Moses and God each give Joshua a charge.

God then gives Joshua a promise, command, and warning.

This week we will look at each of these.

Moses charge to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1-8)

“And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.² And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.³ The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said.⁴ And the Lord shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.⁵ And the Lord shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.⁶ Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.⁷ And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.⁸ And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

There are two key elements here. First, God is doing this. See the action words telling what God will do. Second, because God is doing this, God commands Joshua to be strong, courageous, and not to fear. God assures Joshua that He will be with him and not leave him.

The same God that led Joshua into the “Promised Land”, is the same God that leads us. Are we strong, courageous, and fearless in the Lord? Remember what Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” We should be.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will end one year and begin another.

“Happy New Year” will be the greeting of choice.

How do we have a Happy New Year?

This week I will show you.

Today, we look at the word Year. Each letter represents an action we can take to have a successful 2019.

YEAR

Yield your members to righteousness. (Romans 6:11-16)

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.¹³ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.¹⁵ What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Exercise yourself in godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7)

“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

Aim at sinless perfection. (Hebrews 6:1)

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”

Redeem the time. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

CONCLUSION

Happy New Year

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will end one year and begin another.

“Happy New Year” will be the greeting of choice.

How do we have a Happy New Year?

This week I will show you.

Today, we look at the word New. Each letter represents an action we can take to have a successful 2019.

Then we will look at Year.

NEW

Neglect not your talents and opportunities. (Galatians 6:9-10)

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Examine yourself daily. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Work diligently for the lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

INTRODUCTION

HAPPY

Hold fast to your faith (Hebrews 4:14)

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”

Assemble with the saints (Hebrews 10:24-25)

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Pray earnestly every day. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

“Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Pray for great blessings. (Malachi 3:10)

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Yield not to temptation. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

NEW

Neglect not your talents and opportunities. (Galatians 6:9-10)

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Examine yourself daily. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Work diligently for the lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

YEAR

Yield your members to righteousness. (Romans 6:11-16)

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.¹³ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.¹⁵ What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Exercise yourself in godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7)

“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

Aim at sinless perfection. (Hebrews 6:1)

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”

Redeem the time. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

CONCLUSION

Happy New Year

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will end one year and begin another.

“Happy New Year” will be the greeting of choice.

How do we have a Happy New Year?

This week I will show you.

Today, we look at the word Happy. Each letter represents an action we can take to have a successful 2019.

Then we will look at New and Year.

HAPPY

Hold fast to your faith (Hebrews 4:14)

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”

Assemble with the saints (Hebrews 10:24-25)

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Pray earnestly every day. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

“Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Pray for great blessings. (Malachi 3:10)

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Yield not to temptation. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

What a contrast!

(“Every Day!” Author unknown, 1872)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way!” Psalm 139:23, 24

What a contrast there is between a man of this world–and a child of God! 

The one wishes to avoid the scrutiny of God–and the other desires and prays for it. 

The one loves sin, and cherishes it–the other abhors sin, and desires to be delivered from it. 

The one walks hand in hand with iniquity–the other grieves that he bears about with him a body of sin and death.

It is the earnest desire of all who are born of God, and made partakers of the Divine nature–to be delivered from the power of sin that dwells in them. They would have no lust spared–and no corruption unmortified. 

Chosen by the Father in eternity past, 
redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and justified freely by His grace
–they would also be sanctified by His Spirit.

They would be holy as He is holy–and their desires will eventually be satisfied! He who has begun a good work in them, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. He will present them “faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy!”

“Search me, O God, and try my thoughts,
 And make my heart sincere;
 Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
 And keep my conscience clear!

“Make me to walk in Your commands,
 ‘Tis a delightful road;
 Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,
 Offend against my God!”

“The desire of the righteous will be granted!” Proverbs 10:24 

    ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Do not reckon that God will give you a life without difficulty! 

(Charles Spurgeon)

“Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward!” Job 5:7 

“How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble!” Job 14:1 

“My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.” Psalm 31:10 

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous” Psalm 34:19 

David did not expect to pass through life without experiencing difficulties. He had many severe trials. He expected to have troubles, and he certainly was not disappointed. Nor will you be. 

Do not reckon that God will give you a life without difficulty!

 Tell me, if you can, of any child of His who ever had such a portion? He had one Son without sin–but no son without sorrow. No, that Son who had no sin, was the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. So you must expect the Lord to deal with you as He does with the rest of His household.

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” John 16:33 

“God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:10-11 

    ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

(Arthur Pink, “The Sovereignty of God”)

Too wise to err–and too loving to be unkind!

Because God is righteous–His judgments fall upon those who rebel against Him.

Because God is faithful–the solemn threatenings of His Word are fulfilled. 

Because God is omnipotent–none can successfully resist Him, still less overthrow His counsel. 

Because God is omniscient–no problem can master Him, and no difficulty baffle His wisdom. 

Faith endures “as seeing Him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27) Faith endures the disappointments, the hardships, and the heart-aches of life–by recognizing that all comes from the hand of Him who is too wise to err–and too loving to be unkind. 

So long as we are occupied with any other object than God Himself–there will be neither rest for the heart, nor peace for the mind. But when we receive all that enters our lives as from His hand–then, no matter what may be our circumstances or surroundings–whether in a hovel, a prison-dungeon, or a martyr’s stake–we shall be enabled to say, “The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places!” (Psalm 16:6). But that is the language of faith–not of sight or of sense.

There is no higher aspect of faith, than that which brings the heart to patiently submit unto whatever God sends unto us; to meekly acquiesce unto His sovereign will; and to say, “Shall I not drink the cup of suffering which my Father has given me?” Faith when it reaches the pinnacle of attainment declares, “though He slays me, yet will I trust in Him!”

“Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine!” Luke 22:42 

    ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Today is my birthday. I am 70 years old. As I reflect what God has done over this time, I move on for the cause of Christ.

Today I will share several significant actions God has done in my life. Some seemingly bad and some good. All were used to get me to where I am today.

When I was 11 my father did not come home. My parents were soon divorced and my life completely changed. This was 1960. Divorce was not common. My brother and I lived with my mother. I was a rebellious child and my mother could not handle me, so I went to live with my dad and his new wife. These events have shaped the way I see divorce and how to deal with it.

June 1968 began my relationship with the military that has never ended. I began my service career with three years of active duty (1 year in Viet Nam), followed by three years of duty in the Idaho National Guard, while going to school at Boise State. Nine years in ministry to soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Coast Guard. Then another twenty-three years on active duty with the Alaska Army National Guard. Followed by five years of being a military contractor.

April 20, 1971 changed my life forever. On that day I trusted Christ as my Savior and Lord. I embraced the fact that Jesus came to shed His perfect blood to pay for my sin debt. A debt I could not pay. Jesus died on the cross, was buried, rose again the third day, and being God, ascended to His rightful place in heaven.

I began to learn about Jesus from the Bible. This changed my approach to life. My life would now be directed from the pages of Scripture. My desires, actions, approach, and conduct would be dictated by the Scriptures. Decisions were based on what the bible stated.

July 16, 1983 God gave me my wife, Kathy. She has been my friend, companion, mentor, and help mate for the last thirty-five years. For all these years she has never wavered in her support and love for me. She is the greatest!

November 1, 2013, I began God’s next adventure for me. Chaplain at the Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc (WASI). What a privilege to serve our fine seniors. Even more when they minister to me. 

I have been given the opportunity to write a Daily Devotion on the WASI website. Preach and teach God’s word during a midweek Bible service. Minister to our sick in hospitals around the area.

Seventy and going strong.

God has allowed me to be here today. He still has something for me to do. I will continue to be about my Father’s business.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. ⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001