Nalo was admired for her beauty and grace, but even more so for her kindness and wisdom. She had a heart full of dreams and a spirit eager for adventure. Despite her cheerful demeanor, she often felt a sense of confusion and uncertainty about her future. The village elders often spoke of the great plans Jehovah had for everyone, but Nalo found it hard to see her own path clearly.
One morning, as the first light of dawn painted the sky in shades of pink and orange, Nalo sat by the river, lost in thought. She remembered the words of the elders, echoing a sacred teaching from the Holy Writ of Umoja: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
As she pondered these words, she felt a presence beside her. It was Elder Kofi, a wise and gentle leader known for his deep understanding of the spiritual world.
“Nalo,” he said softly, “I see the worry in your eyes. What troubles your heart, my child?”
“Elder Kofi,” Nalo replied, “I feel lost. The future seems so uncertain, and I do not know which path to take. How can I trust that Jehovah has a plan for me when everything feels so unclear?”
Elder Kofi smiled warmly, his eyes twinkling with wisdom. “Let me tell you a story, Nalo, a story of trust, faith, and the unseen plans that Jehovah weaves for us.”
And so, he began:
The Story of Amani and the Holy Writ.
Many moons ago, at a time when the world was still young, there lived a humble farmer named Amani. He was a man of great faith and believed deeply in the wisdom of Jehovah. Amani’s life was filled with hard work and devotion, yet he too often felt the weight of uncertainty about his future.
One night, as Amani sat by his small fire, the Spirit of Jehovah appeared before him. The presence was powerful and comforting, and in its hands was a beautiful book, intricately bound with symbols and patterns that seemed to move and shift in the firelight.
“Amani, my dear child,” the Spirit said, “this Holy Writ is a gift from Jehovah. It holds the key to your future and the answers to your deepest questions. But remember, its wisdom can only be unlocked through faith and trust in the journey it will take you on.”
Amani accepted the Holy Writ with reverence and curiosity. He gazed at it, wondering what secrets it held. The next morning, he took it to the village elder, seeking guidance on how to use this mysterious gift.
The elder told him, “Amani, the Holy Writ will guide you through a series of trials and challenges. Each one will test your faith and perseverance. Only by trusting in the wisdom of Jehovah and following the path laid out for you will you unlock its true power.”
Determined and hopeful, Amani set out on his journey. The Holy Writ led him to a dense forest, where the path was tangled with vines and thorns. He struggled through, often doubting his ability to continue. But each time he felt despair, he remembered the words of the Spirit and pressed on, trusting that Jehovah had a plan.
His first trial was to find water in a dry, barren land. With faith, he dug deep into the earth, and to his amazement, a spring of clear, fresh water burst forth. The Holy Writ glowed, revealing a new path.
The second trial brought him to a high mountain, where he had to climb to the peak. The journey was exhausting, and the path was steep. But Amani’s faith never wavered. He believed that Jehovah was guiding him, and with each step, he felt His presence lifting his spirits.
At the summit, he found a rare and beautiful flower, which he carefully placed inside the Holy Writ. The flower’s fragrance filled the air, and the Holy Writ glowed brighter, showing him the next part of his journey.
The third trial took him to a village plagued by sickness. Amani used the water from the spring and the essence of the flower to heal the villagers. Their gratitude and joy were boundless, and Amani felt a deep sense of fulfillment. The Holy Writ now shone with a light so bright it illuminated his path clearly.
Finally, after many trials and acts of faith, the Holy Writ guided Amani back to his home. It was there, in his humble abode, that he found his true purpose. The Holy Writ transformed into a radiant beacon, symbolizing the wisdom and blessings of Jehovah. Amani had discovered that his journey, with all its challenges and uncertainties, had been Jehovah’s way of preparing him for his true calling—to be a healer and a leader in his village.
Lessons from the Tale.
As Elder Kofi finished his story, he looked at Nalo with gentle eyes. “Do you see, Nalo? Like Amani, you too must trust in the wisdom of Jehovah. Your path may seem unclear, and the future uncertain, but Jehovah has a plan for you, a plan for peace and fulfillment.”
Nalo nodded, feeling a newfound sense of hope and clarity. She understood that the journey itself, with its twists and turns, was part of the divine plan. The key was to trust, have faith, and embrace each moment with an open heart.
Elder Kofi continued, “Remember these lessons, Nalo:
Number 1. God’s Not Confused, You’re Just Stressed:
Jehovah knows the plans He has for you. Even when you feel lost, He is not confused. Trust in His wisdom.
Number 2. Your Future:
Jehovah sees the path ahead, even when you cannot. Trust that He is guiding you to your destined place.
Number 3. Your Struggles:
Every challenge is known to Jehovah, and He is not worried. Your struggles are part of the journey, shaping you into who you are meant to be.
Number 4. Your Desires:
Jehovah understands your dreams and desires. He has placed these hopes in your heart for a reason and is working to bring them to fruition.
Number 5. Your Path:
Even if you feel lost, Jehovah has the ultimate guide. Trust that He is leading you with love and wisdom.
Number 6. Trust the Process:
Life’s process can be unpredictable, but Jehovah’s process is perfect. Let go of control and believe in His timing.
Number 7. Lean on Faith:
When overwhelmed, lean into your faith. It will anchor you in the storm, reminding you of Jehovah’s guidance.
Number 8. Take Action with Confidence:
Move forward with the assurance that Jehovah is guiding your steps. Do not let fear or doubt hold you back.
Number 9. Surround Yourself with Positivity:
Build a support system of loved ones who uplift you and remind you of Jehovah’s promises.
Number 10. Reflect and Reset:
Regularly reflect on your journey. Acknowledge your progress and reset your focus on Jehovah’s plans. Stay aligned with His wisdom and keep your heart in a positive space.”
Nalo felt a deep sense of peace wash over her. She thanked Elder Kofi and rose from her place by the river, ready to embrace her journey with faith and trust. She knew now that Jehovah was always with her, guiding her toward a future filled with hope and fulfillment.
And so, Nalo walked back to her village, her heart light and her spirit strong, ready to face whatever the future held with the unwavering belief that Jehovah had a beautiful plan for her life.
Top 56 Valuable Lessons from The 56-Year Marriage of Joyce and Dave Meyer – Part 2
The Marriage of Dave and Joyce Meyer has been for over 56 years. In their Video, Talk It Out, they share candidly about the highs and lows of their journey together. Joyce notes early on in their 5-date courtship, they didn’t truly know each other. Yet through divine intervention, they found themselves bonded for life.
Based on this conversation with celebrated life coach and bestselling author Joyce Meyer and her husband Dave, here are some Valuable Lessons from The 56-Year Marriage of Joyce and Dave Meyer. This is Part 2. Read Part 1 Here.
Forgiving Quickly to Avoid Strife.
29. Satan wants strife but God wants peace. Joyce shares how realizing this, and refusing to get offended has helped. Forgiving and letting things go is key to avoiding discord.
30. Joyce and Dave warn against expecting overnight fixes. Trials often intensify before peace emerges, so persevering shows faith in God’s unseen hand at work.
31. The key is learning to accommodate each other. For example, while Dave may think Joyce’s processing style is “just wasted breath,” refraining from dismissive comments and listening respectfully goes a long way. Likewise, Joyce can try viewing situations from her husband’s logical perspective, even if she needs further discussion.
32. With patience and compromise, couples can diffuse tensions simply by acknowledging how their brains work differently.
33. Holding onto offenses is one of the surest ways to damage a marriage.
34. Joyce shared how she struggled with this early in her relationship with Dave but realized harboring resentment only benefits the devil.
35. The sooner spouses forgive small slights and absorb the word of love from First Corinthians 13, the smoother their union will go. “Love keeps no record of wrongs” is a radical concept in relationships but brings tremendous peace when applied.
36. Forgiveness also requires making a daily choice not to dwell on past hurts.
37. As Joyce said, the more one ruminates on offenses, the deeper the roots of bitterness take hold. But nipping issues in the bud through quick forgiveness keeps relationships clean and harmony intact. This helped the Marriage of Joyce and Dave Meyer a lot.
38. With practice, this can become second nature for even the most sensitive partners. Remember – it’s not about condoning bad actions but releasing the right to retaliate so love can reign free.
Seeing the Best in Each Other.
39. Dave lets Joyce be herself fully. Joyce has learned to see Dave’s logic as balancing her emotions, not opposing her. They’ve found humor in each other instead of aggravation.
40. Beyond communication gaps, every couple has their endearing idiosyncrasies that can push buttons if left unchecked. The Marriage of Joyce and Dave Meyer indeed is a great inspiration across the world.
41. Joyce humorously pointed out little habits of Dave’s, like noisily eating cereal or purposefully banging dishes louder when irritated, that get under her skin. However, she realized God made them with these distinct traits intentionally, perhaps for their own amusement.
42. We must appreciate our spouses as whole individuals rather than demanding they change harmless peculiarities.
Prioritizing Safety in Toxic Situations
43. While God hates divorce, abuse is never okay. If danger exists, safety comes first by distancing oneself until help is found. Otherwise, prayer and God’s guidance are vital.
44. While the above advice focuses on minor marital tensions, dangerously toxic relationships require a different approach to prioritizing safety.
45. Joyce rightly cautioned those in abusive situations to remove themselves and children from harm’s way, as God never intended endangerment. Additionally, prayerfully considering counseling or legal protection may become necessary steps of wisdom.
46. The role of prayer cannot be overstated even in these dire circumstances.
47. Communing continuously with Christ brings His empowerment, perspective, and discernment for the next steps.
48. Rather than facing challenges alone in one’s strength, total reliance on God’s guidance through Scripture and stillness lifts the heavy burden.
49. His perfect love casts out all fear as His plan and protection unfold. With His intervention, seemingly impossible problems dissolve. Love is a constant factor in the Marriage of Joyce and Dave Meyer.
Applying God’s Love.
50. Focusing on patience, kindness, and protecting the relationship helps. Seeing each other through God’s loving eyes transforms perspectives.
51. His Word shows us how to think of our spouse and ourselves.
52. Joyce emphasized consistently seeking God first in all matters, from minor annoyances to profound crises.
53. His love far surpasses any human love and fills what is lacking when spouses apply it through obedience, prayer, and wisdom
54. Together with Dave for decades, she stands as proof of the peace and joy available when Christ forms the foundation of a union.
55. With His help, couples can rise above natural tendencies to impatience, resentment, or control
56. In summarizing this discussion on marriage, the key lessons are to go into marriage with clear communication about expectations, to accept your spouse for who they are rather than trying to change them, and to rely on God’s wisdom in navigating disagreements and difficult seasons
Conclusion
While differences will arise, focusing on each other’s positive qualities and prioritizing individual responsibility for happiness can help strengthen the bond. With patience, compromise when needed, and a commitment to a lifelong partnership, a marriage has the potential to grow deeper in love and understanding over decades.
Joshua and God also had their own adventures together! As we continue this series, we will be looking at the life of Joshua today.
After the death of Moses, the Israelites needed a new leader.
After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them- to give to the Israelites. (Joshua 1:1-2 NIV)
Moses died before he got to the Promised Land and God needed to fulfill His promise to Abraham. So, God chose Joshua to continue from where Moses had stopped. Since he had been an aide to Moses, he was the best fit for the job of leading the descendants of Jacob to the promised land. And so it became Joshua and God.
Joshua also fought many wars to win land for his kinsmen. God also showed and used His great power during this period. Through praise, he had the wall of Jericho fall down so that the Israelites could defeat the people of Jericho. The Jordan also parted for the Israelites to walk through it just like the Red Sea, in the time of Moses. The sun stood still so the Israelites could win their fight against the Amorites (chapter 10) and victories over many more battles. It was in Joshua’s time that each tribe of Israel received their portion of the land promised them by God. This is part of the adventures of Joshua and God.
God was with Joshua just like He was with Moses. He did everything He promised. He gave provision and protection as always. On any adventure, God always watches over His children.
An adventure is filled with many electrifying, great and interesting moments. There will be periods when the fun reaches sky-high and totally takes your breath away. And moments when you think this has got to be the coolest thing you have ever seen or experienced in your life. Much like how some cool people in the bible felt when they took an adventure with God.
Did I just hear you ask if God likes an adventure? He definitely does. What did you think happened during creation? God was on an adventure- He was creating experiences, things, animals, trees, people, the sun, moon and much more.
What if God had called you when He was about to create the world? How would you have felt if you were there when He was creating the world? How would you have reacted when He created the animals? If you were there, what would you have done? When you saw the sun and moon, how would you feel? What questions would you have asked Him? How would you feel on that adventure with God?
On the first day, when He created light, would you have asked Him why? When He rested on the seventh day, would you have asked Him why? And even asked Him, why He stopped at seven?
Going on an adventure with God can never be uneventful or boring. It definitely will be full of fascinating events, people and situations. Or what do you think?
In our new series we will look at adventures with God and how it turned out for the people that followed God.
May the Lord take you on adventures with Him. Amen.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for your love for adventure. As I read about some of them, help me to appreciate your mighty power. Adventure with God is my lot In Jesus’ name, amen.
Action point: Put on your power of imagination as the journey begins tomorrow.
