Be like Joshua

It’s MUCH Bigger than That.

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice

John 10:3-4 

 

I’ve written about this “Be Joshua” journey which I started in late October of last year.  God told me that I needed to first claim my territory in order to claim victory over it.  So I began walking around my block every morning for 7 days – just like Joshua and his army did around the city of Jericho.  As I walked, I prayed.  And in “I Got Your Back” and “Stop Being a Bush, Already” you know that those first 2 days brought their own gift wrapped moments.  But on the night of day 2 everything about this process was about to change.

I laid in bed, considering when would be the best time for me to walk our block the next morning.  Like you, extra time is not something I have in overflow and I needed to have a plan of attack for each day.  Before I’d even figured it out, the thought came to me:

“Your home is not your only territory, is it?”

And, right then, I knew that I could very easily define my territory as 3 places in Munich – My Home, My Church, and Stephen’s Work.

And then God said, “Alright then, Be Joshua there too.”

I was exhausted from a long day of chasing kids, obligations, laundry, cleaning….all the stuff that each of you deal with in your busy and over committed lives, as well.  I pushed that thought from my mind, turned over and went to sleep.  But when I woke up the next morning it was still sitting in my head like a DVD on pause, and I, rather purposefully, said to myself that I was not go to be doing this Joshua thing around all of these places, that is simply TOO MUCH.  God knows I don’t have time for this, and this is a whole new level of crazy – even for me.

Yet, as I prepared to make my morning latte, I had that old familiar feeling deep inside.  Regardless of how much I try to suppress this latest challenge from the Lord, I knew I would be driving to Steve’s work and our church and walking all 3 places that morning.  I skipped the coffee and went upstairs to get ready.

I very rarely go to Steve’s office.  He’s the CEO of a small biotech company and their building is situated in an area off by itself.   I was anxious considering how he would feel about me being there.  He didn’t know I was coming, and I did not intend to tell him.  Get in and get out!  That was my plan.

When I arrived, I parked off in a corner, hoping not be seen, and I started walking fast.  Half way around the building, I heard someone call my name.  It was Claus, Steve’s CFO.  I went over to greet him, and he asked if I’d come to see Steve.  Not knowing how else to explain my visit, I said, “Uh, yes…”  So he escorted me in the building to the receptionist, who welcomed me with a kind, if not surprised, smile.  She told me that Steve was in a meeting, but he would surely be out any minute and I’d be welcome to wait in his office.  I thought quickly about my options, and then told her I really didn’t want to disturb him if he’s busy, and I’d just see him later.  I could tell she was confused, but I got out of there and finished my walk, making it back to the car as quickly as I could.  It wasn’t long before Steve was calling my mobile to see if I was OK – as he was surprised to hear he’d just missed seeing me in his office.  “Yes, I said, everything is fine.  We’ll talk about it tonight…”

Now I was on my way to the church.  The whole drive I prayed out loud for all that came to my heart about this 3rd part of our territory.  Steve is the Head Elder, I’m a Deacon and the Worship Leader.  And we are heavily invested in this congregation in many additional ways too.  For me, a huge part of my purpose in Germany has been the task of doing this ministry for the past 4 years.  And there was lots I knew to be praying for.  I arrived, and, undetected, did my walking.

I drove home and did my walk around our block.  Three short walks, but, at quite a drive in between, it took nearly 90 minutes.  Still, the thought occurred to me, you’re in this now, Heather Lynn.  Today is already a waste if you don’t finish what you started.

When Steve got home I told him what was going on.  And, as is always the case, I wondered why I was ever afraid to tell him from the start.  He looked at me with those kind eyes and assured me that he was proud I was following through with what I was hearing from the Lord.  In fact, the next day was Saturday and he and the kids got in the car and did it all with me.

You can bet, that next week became one of the most monumental of my life.  There is a reason I am sharing this story with you, after all.

But here is what I want you to know today.  I’d been on a journey of seeking after the voice of the Lord hard in my life and, even still, I questioned this next bold move.

  1. I didn’t want to do it
  2. I didn’t have time to do it
  3. I didn’t see why I should be doing it

Yet, I KNEW that I was supposed to do this.

And you are going to question God’s voice in your life too.  Firstly, you will question if it’s really Him you are hearing from at all.  Then you’ll question if it’s really worth the effort, pain, embarrassment, or leap of faith that it will require to follow through.  If you decide to go for it, you will probably question “why” the whole time your doing it.  And, when you are done, chances are, you will question, once again, if you heard from God to start with.

You know what?  It’s called an act of faith for a reason.

Making this next step was a hard one for me, I’m not going to lie.  Yet, in hindsight, I can not imagine what my life would be like today had I chosen to suppress this particular move of “crazy” by being Joshua in all 3 of our territories.  I can tell you that not a single one of them looks the same as it did just 5 months ago.  Huge things have been happening and many are unfolding even as I write.

Search for Him.  After all, His sheep follow him because they know his voice.  

Do you?  If you’re not sure, ask Him to help you, and then START LISTENING because He WILL START TALKING.  Be brave.  It will be worth it.

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  • Charlotte Ventling January 12, 2015 at 10:20 pm

    Heather, please add me to your blog. You are a remarkable young woman and God definitely has his hand on your life.
    Your in laws live in the home my husband built for me in 1979. It was in that home God spoke to me about giving up our home and moving to a smaller home. That prepared us to be available when He called us to a full time ministry traveling across the U.S. volunteering to build churches when Dean retired.
    We are no longer traveling with our truck and 5th wheel but live in Fl. Dean and I spend the summers now helping our son at a Christian camp ground he directs in Indianapolis, Ind.

    May the Lord bless you and Steven as you make the move to relocate. I’m sure your in laws are so thrilled to have you back.

    Lovingly
    Charlotte Ventling

  • Heather Yoder January 13, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    Dear Charlotte, What an amazing honor it is to have you reading and sharing. Thank you! I would love for you to be signed up, unfortunately, I can’t do it for you though. You have to enter your email address under the section that says “Get Heather’s Latest Posts” (to the left of this screen). It just takes a second =). I can’t believe that beautiful home was built for you!! We love it there. It amazes me every time we visit, just how remarkable a setting they have. You sold it to the RIGHT family. They have lived in and loved it very well. Your life between FL and Indiana sounds like a busy but exciting was to retire. I imagine you have some pretty incredible stories of your own to share! Building churches, Christian camps… sounds like a huge sacrifice of yourselves (that, no doubt, has blessed the socks off of you). Thank you again for connecting. Are you on FB? You can find me at Heather Menges Yoder. We can be friends!

    • Charlotte Ventling January 13, 2015 at 9:43 pm

      Thanks for getting back to me Yes I am on face book and I would love to befriend you…