THE ART OF FILMS AND JOSHUA

The art of movies is able to rise up in a viewer a wide range of emotions.  As a good boyfriend does, I recall watching the notebook with my soon to be bride as she wept and sighed over people she never knew, and that weren't real for that matter.  Can you remember the outrageous laughter of a young teen who is enthralled with Monty Python's "Search for the Holy Grail" during the first of many viewings?  Whatever the film, the big screen has the capability of digging in deep to pull out a heart felt response as unique as the viewer itself.

The action packed, romantic drama that is recorded for us in the writings of Joshua have been increasingly tugging at something deep within myself...in a way that few storylines have been able to.  For your encouragement as well as my own, I will share with you what I've experienced as the storyline plays out...

Leading God's People.  Part 1.  Joshua 1:1-6
Many of us in leadership know the all too often used "everything rises and falls on leadership" quote from John Maxwell.  Well as Joshua's life unfolds through the pages of Scripture we see just how relevant leadership is in the life of God's people.  Joshua was a leader of leaders and had a list a mile long to speak of his reputation and qualifications...

Joshua's leadership began as "encourager" despite "discourgaers."  (read Numbers 14:5-10)
  -  Discouragers create doubt through why and why nots
  -  Encouragers generate courage to fulfill God sized visions
There are enough discouragers in this world telling you why God's vision for your life won't work.  I don't know if my 7th grade basketball coach was a Christian or not, but he knew what Joshua knew when he told us, "Excuses are like a rear end, everybody's got one and they all stink." (phrase cleaned up for the purpose of my readers)
God's people are living full of fear while they should be the boldest and most courageous in all the world...let us be generaters of courage through our words.

Reasons for courage:
  -  When God's people pursue God's purpose, they enjoy God's provisions (Joshua 1:3)
  -  God's promises are not if...they are when (Deut. 7:9, Romans 8:28)
     ...every place your foot WILL TREAD upon I HAVE GIVEN to you...
          I'm not English major, but it appears as if God put the cart before the horse...
          victory was won before the battle started according to His promise!
  -  God visions are not limited by man's ability (Romans 8:31)

I'll keep you in the loop as the plot thickens and the story unfolds.