'Giants in the land' 

Numbers 13 & 14 

This story is a huge statement on leadership and accountability...it starts at home and the price of accountability extends to your grandchildren and great grandchildren. What will be the cost of your leadership to your great-grandchildren?

That's right...the leadership of parents will be reflected strongly for generations to come. Can changes be made by children, or grandchildren, to change the outcome of decisions made by previous generations? Certainly, although the likelihood of those changes happening diminish with each generation because of the strength of family systems and something called entropic effect.

In other words, the only real hope of a substantive change in future generations is the intervention of someone (probably an in-law) who will so drastically change the family pattern of values that your influence is no longer felt!

Feels like a curse when put that way, doesn't it?! It doesn't have to be a curse, it could be a tremendous blessing you are bringing to your children - it just depends upon how you view the 'giants' during your life.

Are you living a life of hope and expansion? Are you able to see God in the hills and valleys just ahead? Are you certain that God has in store for you a life with times of great joy and blessing, in spite of whatever setbacks and heartaches might occur? 

Or, are you typically looking at things past as being better than the view just ahead of you? Are you fearful? Would you rather stay in the comfort zone of discomfort than to wade in amongst the giants and risk being stepped on or walked over?

The choice is yours. One word of encouragement - if you will give your kids a good report of the opportunities ahead of them, and put a ring in the nose of the bullies in your own life, you might just raise a few generations of giant killers who can change their world!!

However, if you spend your time moaning and complaining - you will sink the ship and relegate your progeny to a life as bottom feeders. 

The choice is yours. This same Joshua who viewed the land with hope eventually came to the end of his life and challenged those around him to "choose this day whom you will serve..." His intent wasn't just for them to determine a 'Who' but with that a 'how.' Those three letters, w - h - o, regardless of order, must come out with the same force of vitality as the God WHO parts waters of seas and rivers - and makes ways through deserts.

He will bring you through and give you the land of the giants, but you have to want it and you have to go up into it! You have to take courage and be of good cheer. It is God who expects it of you - and your great-grandchildren are depending upon you.