Hmmmmmm, where to begin. How's this for starters?
God loves Israel. He hates their disobedience. Moses is gonna be dying soon and he is recapping his years 'in office' as the leader of the Israelites. I love these words of the Lord as He talks about the Land of Canaan (that would be a really sweet kids name!) and how 10 of the 12 spies that went in to check it out did not want to take it over because the people were too big, the walls were too high and the nations were bigger than they were. In Deuteronomy 9, God says, 'Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. The people are strong and tall—Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: "Who can stand up against the Anakites?" But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
I love that! We don't serve a God of Reason... We serve a God of Faith! It does not make sense to try to conquer the Anakites. It just doesn't. They are Bigger. They are Stronger. But it does make sense if God tells you to do it. Go. Take it by force! I have already given you the land. Absolutely...
And in Deuteronomy 11, God reminds us with these thoughts...'Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the LORD's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. Cliff Notes version...Don't FORGET what I have done. Tell your children...
That's where we have fallen short. We have not told our children. Gone are the days when 'most' of our friends go to church. It's more like few of our friends go to church. No one knows what God has done. And no one seems to care. It truly saddens my heart. Lord help us...
Have we been enticed and turned away? That is exactly where we are at.
My Grandmother from New York came to Texas last week and Taylor and I got to go and see her and the family. It was such a sweet time. She is such a sweet, sweet lady. She is 88 years old. I am 32. She was married to my grandpa for 62 years before he died 4 years ago. We are not promised tomorrow...
Enjoy these pics. I will write more manana...
Taylor, Grandma Russell and me
Kris and Krystle Gutierrez (my best friend growing up in Lewisville) and their baby Katelyn Grace. We are claiming Katelyn as our own. You may have seen Kris or Krystle on Fox 4 News or Fox National News. They are movie stars! But SO Real and Genuine... Kris is a Dork!
Sadie, Kennedy, Katelyn, Taylor and Sydney. They belong to David, Wayne, Kris, Wayne and David, respectively...From Left to Right!
Group Russell Pic. Dad is taking a nap!
I thought this was a pretty sunset from David's front porch. God sure is an Artist!
Because High Schoolers are Worth It!
