His final words to his family catch my attention.
“Remember Joshua 1:9.”
I've already been trying to remember them all week.
It is this week’s memory verse, mine and Jenna's.
A mother and her daughter.
Now I notice them anew.
Derrick Mason, 37-years-old, was about to die.
By a lethal injection of drugs into his veins.
These are the words he was leaving for his mama Thursday night:
Joshua 1:9.
His mom's words, as she watches?
“Take him, Jesus.”
Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
~ Joshua 1:9
Another mother, the mother of Angela Cagle, is also watching.
Angela was murdered by Derrick 17 years earlier.
Her mom’s words?
“We will miss Angie until we see her in heaven..ripped from our lives but never from our hearts.”
Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
~ Joshua 1:9
Today I meet a daughter. She asks me to paint a heart on her arm. In the center she wants “MOM.” She says, “I’ll surprise her. She’s right over there!”
I look.
It is her foster mother.
Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
~ Joshua 1:9
Another daughter today is having her 8th birthday. She is also at our event with a foster mom. Her biological mom lives in New York. She said she sees her twice a year.
I don’t ask if her mom has called to say, “Happy Birthday.”
I don’t want to hear, “No.”
Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
~ Joshua 1:9
I am a mother.
I have daughters.
What can I say?
I'm memorizing Joshua 1:9.
Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
~ Joshua 1:9
28 comments:
Powerful words indeed Lisa!
This is one of my key life scriptures too.
In fact, as writers we need all the courage we can hld on to as we bare our hearts in words.
I remember tweeting with Billy Coffey about this same passage and decided as writers we needed to form the Joshua 1:9 Coffee Club!
Are you in?
“courage to bare our hearts in words” – I used to not really understand that. Now I do.
Count me in a Joshua 1:9 Coffee Club! And I love the words of Billy Coffey too. :-)
Isn't the body of Christ amazing.
You have featured mothers and daughters and I feature my daughter. I often find that what I write about, others write similar at the same time. God bless your sharing. I enjoyed reading everything here.
Be couragous. Blessings to you. xx
Love this post. I needed the reminder of those precious words within the scripture.. Be strong and courageous. Have a blessed Sunday.
A compelling post!And how precious the promise in this verse!
Thank you for your nice comment on my blog, and thank you for a great
verse!
Blessings on you and yours,
Shirley
This is good. All walks of life, every situation, every disappointment. God gives us this guideline.
We had a couple of foster children earlier in our lives. They carry so much more baggage than anyone young or adult should have to carry.
Count me in on the Joshua 1:9 club. There are time when I haven't pursued certain avenues because of the lack of courage.
Great post!
I'm thankful I've proven this verse since childhood. He's with me -- always!
Beautiful writing.
Blessings,
Pamela
This is Sandy (your sister)....I really, really needed this message this morning. I'm crying because I so need to be more courageous and less fearful, more trusting in God, and I struggle, oh how I struggle, even at age 51 after all these years of being a Christian. I wonder what is wrong with me that I can't have the faith and the peace others seem to have. I worry about my daughters and I want life to go a "certain way' for them (don't we all), but I have a difficult time giving them and every plan of mine to God. I do, that's the truth. Please pray for me. I'm somewhat in a depressed mode right now. Thanks,
Sandy
this is incredibly powerful. I'm gonna write out Joshua 1:9 and posted it in our kitchen....and give it to my daugthers.....and hold it in my heart. Thank you Lisa....thank you for sharing this powerful word. ☺
Very powerful words Lisa as we visualize each situation and the brokeness of each...the LOVE in each...God with them in each..
A wonderful verse to memorize ~ Thank the Lord, He is always with us. Blessings ~
This brought me to tears. Almost seven years ago my only daughter (I have three sons) and her unborn baby were brutally murdered.
Her killer was never found.
I pray for justice. Yet, I also pray for her mercy that her killer come to faith in Christ and find His forgiveness.
We never know when we will need those words. They have become my "life verse."
Memorizing them can do nothing but serve us well.
Thank you.
Deni,
I’m not sure I knew this story of pain in your life of your daughter and grandchild’s murder. I was aware of your physical pains, but this open wound must be so heavy too. Now I have another friend’s face to put to this verse when I review it. Thank you for letting me know that Joshua 1:9 has ministered to you.
I join you in praying for justice. And for the grace you’ve learned to tap into.
Lord, help us all!
Lisa,
Thank for for such a compelling post. I am memorizing Joshua 1:9...right now.
One of my verses that led us through a near church split. Courage to see it through--even when we ultimately had to leave.
And a beautiful capturing of how that verse resonates in families. As a former foster care worker, your word pictures got to the heart of me. Thank you.
Stopping by from Marriage Monday over at Chrysalis. Blessings!
You so spoke to this mother's heart! Both the heart that mother's my sons and the heart that so wants to reach out to the motherless.
The twin scripture to this is Deut. 31:6 - it is on my Scripture Collage for my Soldier in Training:)
What a great post. Yes, this verse is applicable in so many ways to so many situations!
Such heart-breaking situations. I can't fathom being either mother mentioned in the first situation. But I am so thankful for God's grace for both, for all you mentioned.
Normally I am probably too much anchored in this world -- while looking forward to heaven, not really in a hurry to get there. :-) But when I think of all the hurt and pain in this world, I do long for that place where there are no more tears, sorrow, or pain.
Thank you for this wonderful reminder. What an important scripture to remember especially in difficult situations.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Good words in bad situations! Just goes to show that God's Word is powerful in any circumstance we will ever face!
Such a poetic demonstration of claiming Words of Life in "real life" situations throughout the day.
Awesome! What more do we need in life but this simple but profound passage?
Very powerful words here, my friend.
Thanks for joining us for Marriage Monday today, Lisa.
Blessings, e-Mom ღ
I have a daughter. I'm going to memorized that! Thanks. I needed that today!
Simply put, profoundly felt as I read this. Thank you!
Beautiful...such poignant pictures, Lisa, and a powerful reminder for all of us moms.
This was excellent! thank you for posting....Joshua 1:9 is always one of my faves!! in fact, I 've been meditating on it lately....
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