As we come to the end of the book of Joshua, Joshua asks the people how long they are going to wait before they settle into the new territory. He chides them to take the land, build it up and get busy living.

We talk about the cities of refuge, the cities for the priests and Joshua meeting the complaint of the men of Ephraim who say they don't have enough land. If you don't, then go and take some more!

Our takeaways include:
1. Making a house of worship a priority. When you move to a new area, go to college or are just doing life, make having a place of worship a priority. Seek a church that teaches the Word in its truth and purity; a place where your gifts will be used, and where there is a focus to reach the unchurched.

2. Get busy living: Stop somedaying! Do what needs to be done. Fix and clean the house, garage, yard; get the will made; travel while you can; be about the Father's business because right now is when you are alive and right now is when you have the opportunity.

3. Ask God to have the same mercy and compassion that he has. He sees the big picture. He knows your heart. He sees and knows your weaknesses and fears and he's already taken them into account.

4. Thank God for godly leaders and the people who share their faith, mentor you, walk with us.

Blessing: Go and do whatever God puts on your heart with all the energy he provides. Make worship a priority and ask for a heart of compassion to bless the people God brings your way.

David and the Levites finally bring the ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem.

David attempts to bring the ark back to Jerusalem, but things go very wrong. David is left angry, and very afraid of God.

Topics include: the ark of the covenant, anger and having a healthy fear of God.

In this episode we're reminded first, that most of us can not pronounce the names in the bible and that's OK.

Second, Caleb went after the land and got it. Even as an old man, Caleb went into battle bravely.

Third, when it came time to give his daughter to a man in marriage, Caleb wanted his future son-in-law to be a brave man who trusted in God to bring him to victory, so he set up a challenge promising his daughter to the man who conquered a certain territory.

Fourth, Caleb's daughter reminds us that it is good and wise to ask! Don't be afraid to ask God for more.

Fifth, stand on the promises of God!

Sixth, the importance of stepping up and stepping into all God would do for us.

The takeaways include:

1. Choose your spouse wisely. And if you are married to an unbeliever, stay in the marriage, (assuming you aren't being abused and there aren't biblical reasons to leave), pray for your spouse and love them well. If you are unmarried, be very choosy about who you marry.

2. Ask! Go to God in prayer. Don't try to get through the tough stuff of life on your own!

3. Don't give up or shrink back when things get hard. Remember why you are fighting.

Blessing and commission: Keep going. Keep praying. Keep contending for what is good.

It really is amazing what a list of names can teach.

Here we are at the end of 1 Chronicles 12, and the chronicler is showing us the men who came to make David king over Israel. It's a grand list with plenty to learn: a lot of times we have to wait for the things we want, not because God is slow, but because he's often waiting for us to be ready.

And when we finally have all we've been praying for, we can lose it all if we fall into sin. So much better to get the safeguards in place and deal with sin as it comes up.

In this episode we talk about some of the ironic situations in the bible. The first verses of chapter 12 bring us to one of those situations.

We also talk about angels, the army of God and being brave.

Today as we look at 1 Chronicles 11, we are reminded that our friends matter and not to mess around with temptation. David's mighty men were exemplary in their devotion to David and the battles he led.

Our friends will be similarly important: to lead us into or away from battles.