"Unconquered Lands"

Just above Joshua 13 is a editorial subheading called "Unconquered Lands."  Joshua 13:1 says this "Joshua was now old, advanced in years, and the LORD said to him,  'You have become old, advanced in years, but a great deal of the lad remains to be possessed.  This is the land that remains:' "

For many of us the youthful glow of our 20s and 30s have "glowed" out and are gone.  Ouch! That hurts to say.  Many of us are in the 40s and above decades of our lives.  We may not be old, but we are "older" than we were.  As we embark on a new decade of life we realize that there are many "territories" for us to still conquer.  I had a conversation with myself today.   If you have time and nothing important or slightly important or even laundry to do you can read this insightful conversation with myself:

Todd:  You do not have any children to care for and contend with.
Me: Yes, that is right.
Todd:  So what do you do with the extra time that you have that would be spent / invested in a child or children?
Me: Well...(sigh)... that is a good question, I don't really know. 
Todd:  Well, I have observed this and here is what you do.   You do Facebook, sitting on couch and watching TV and you dream.   In fact if sitting on a couch and watching TV was an Olympic event  you could bring home the gold for the US every time.
Me: Thanks,  wait.....
Todd: Point is you have a lot of time to invest.  Ill say it again the key word is "invest."
Me: OK, point taken, but in what?
Todd: What are you passionate about?
Me: I love theology, history, archeology...
Todd:  What are you gifted at by GOD?
Me: (sigh) eating, watching TV, making excuses...
Todd: No seriously, what has He given you abilities in?
Me: OK, (so I scratched out a list on paper)
Todd: GOD has given you an education, time, passions, gifts and opportunity.  So what have you done with this?
Me: ........................................... (sigh)!
Todd: Exactly!  So why don't you start?
Todd:  Well??????
Me: What if I fail?
Todd: Remember what Tillin Tchividjian said last Saturday? " Because Jesus is strong, I can be weak.  Because Jesus loves me it is OK to not be loved or accepted by others.  Because Jesus won for me I'm free to loose.  Because Jesus succeeded I'm free to fail."
Todd:   Well ????
Me:  OK! I will. Did anyone tell you that you are bossy and opinionated?
Todd:  Yes. All the time :)

I told you, if you had any thing slightly important to do, to do that.  You were warned.  So back to the subject of Joshua 13.  What unconquered territories are there in your life?  Even in the territories that you have been given by GOD, Joshua 15, have you, have I fully cultivated these areas?   Have I explored the territories, have I tilled the soil, have I spent time with the Father in these areas asking Him to lead me to cultivate, conquer and work it.  Am I listening when He says "there are some rocks you need to clear out and weeds to pull."  Am I getting off the couch and going into the fields of life He has given me?  When I leave this Earth may it be said of me what the missionary William Borden wrote when they found him " No retreat, No reserve, No regrets."  LORD help me every day and every hour to inhabit the territory you have given to me and to take new lands all and only for You, in Your Son's name I ask, Amen.

Grace,


Merka Man