Read 1 Sam. 17
We have all heard the story of David and Goliath. It is a childhood favorite. When I read it this time, I realized that David tried to encourage the warriors to go up against Goliath because God would be with them. When he couldn't rouse any of them, his fearless words were told to Saul. When Saul questioned his sanity, David told of his experience of fighting enemies - lions and bears, Oh My! David's experience was with God, not with his own strength. He knew that if God spared his life these two times against all odds, He could do it again. God never gets tired, sore, out-of-shape, or weak. He is always strong!
When Saul had David wear his armor, David tried it on out of respect, but soon realized this was not for him. It worked for Saul because it "fit" him. It did not "fit" David. Instead, David used the everyday things he had always used - his staff and his sling. He chose 5 smooth stones and went after Goliath. I don't imagine a strapling teenager without any armor and no sword was very intimidating. Goliath was sure fooled. He was even offended that they would send out such a feeble opponent. But God always hides greatness in humility. David knew how to fight with God. God was his weapon; He was his sword, spear, and shield, hidden in a rock. It only took one rock to knock Goliath out, but it took being struck by his own sword to kill him.
How about you and me? We all want to fight our Goliath's and win but are we hidden in the rock. We can be God's greatest weapon but we have to have on the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the helment of salvation, the belt of truth, and our feet have to be prepared for the gospel of peace. Our weapons are not flesh and blood but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. With God, we can use the enemies weapons against him.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tues. Devo - "Working His Way to First Chair"
Read 1 Sam. 16: 14-23
David did the same thing Saul did when he got told he would be then next king...nothing. He went back to statis quo and waited on God to bring it about. Only God could take a shepherd boy and make him a king. It is amazing how when we let God take over, He does just that. He brings everything to pass. It is, after all, His Word He is bringing about.
God takes his spirit of peace from Saul and gives him an evil spirit that troubles him. His servants know just the right cure - soft music. And they know just the right musician - David. There must have been thousands of harp-playing shepherd boys in Israel, but the servants recommended David. God knows how to orchestrate his plan! (No pun intended.) This David was not only a good harpest but a good warrior, an intelligent man, and good-looking.
Saul sends for David and when David meets Saul he immediately loves Saul. Saul likes him too and makes him his armour-bearer. David's music calms Saul's anxious soul.
Has God spoken things to you and you haven't seen the fruition? Don't lose heart, He is orchestrating things for your behalf. He is not doing it just for you, He is working for the whole so that many people will be blessed by what He is doing. Your job is to faithfully wait. While your waiting, you can work on your instrument of praise, your sword, your knowledge of God's Word and His ways, and your holy appearance. These are all important too. Let everything we do magnify You, Lord.
David did the same thing Saul did when he got told he would be then next king...nothing. He went back to statis quo and waited on God to bring it about. Only God could take a shepherd boy and make him a king. It is amazing how when we let God take over, He does just that. He brings everything to pass. It is, after all, His Word He is bringing about.
God takes his spirit of peace from Saul and gives him an evil spirit that troubles him. His servants know just the right cure - soft music. And they know just the right musician - David. There must have been thousands of harp-playing shepherd boys in Israel, but the servants recommended David. God knows how to orchestrate his plan! (No pun intended.) This David was not only a good harpest but a good warrior, an intelligent man, and good-looking.
Saul sends for David and when David meets Saul he immediately loves Saul. Saul likes him too and makes him his armour-bearer. David's music calms Saul's anxious soul.
Has God spoken things to you and you haven't seen the fruition? Don't lose heart, He is orchestrating things for your behalf. He is not doing it just for you, He is working for the whole so that many people will be blessed by what He is doing. Your job is to faithfully wait. While your waiting, you can work on your instrument of praise, your sword, your knowledge of God's Word and His ways, and your holy appearance. These are all important too. Let everything we do magnify You, Lord.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Monday's Devo - A New King; A New Heart
Read 1 Sam. 16:1-13
Samuel is lamenting over Saul. Did he annoint the wrong man? Why won't Saul follow God's commands and be a godly king? As he is pondering these things God comes to Samuel and tells him to stop mourning over Saul; God has gone on to his next plan....David. He tells him to go to Jesse and choose one of his sons to be the next king. (Isn't the kingship suppose to be handed down from one generation to the next? That would mean that Jonathan, Saul's son would be up for kingship after Saul.) Jonathan would have been a good pick. He didn't follow after his father and had a different spirit... but God didn't pick him. He chose David, the man after God's heart. God always looks at the heart. Look at the way he chose David. God told Samuel to have Jesse bring all his sons and he would tell Samuel which one to pick. Well, after 7 of his sons pass before Samuel and God says no to all of them Samuel starts to wonder.
"Are these all your sons?"
" No, there is the youngest who is out tending the sheep."
"Go get him."
Jesse sends for David and God says, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one."
With the anointing came the spirit of God on David.
To me the key verse in this whole reading is in vs. 7: "The Lord doesn't see as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
We are all guilty of looking at the outward appearance, after all, it is obvious. God always goes for the hidden, the things that these natural eyes can't see. He said he would give us eyes to see if we asked for them. Better yet, let's ask for a heart after God. He can give us eyes to see what He sees if we have His heart. So, that is what we pray for Lord, a heart after you.
Samuel is lamenting over Saul. Did he annoint the wrong man? Why won't Saul follow God's commands and be a godly king? As he is pondering these things God comes to Samuel and tells him to stop mourning over Saul; God has gone on to his next plan....David. He tells him to go to Jesse and choose one of his sons to be the next king. (Isn't the kingship suppose to be handed down from one generation to the next? That would mean that Jonathan, Saul's son would be up for kingship after Saul.) Jonathan would have been a good pick. He didn't follow after his father and had a different spirit... but God didn't pick him. He chose David, the man after God's heart. God always looks at the heart. Look at the way he chose David. God told Samuel to have Jesse bring all his sons and he would tell Samuel which one to pick. Well, after 7 of his sons pass before Samuel and God says no to all of them Samuel starts to wonder.
"Are these all your sons?"
" No, there is the youngest who is out tending the sheep."
"Go get him."
Jesse sends for David and God says, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one."
With the anointing came the spirit of God on David.
To me the key verse in this whole reading is in vs. 7: "The Lord doesn't see as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
We are all guilty of looking at the outward appearance, after all, it is obvious. God always goes for the hidden, the things that these natural eyes can't see. He said he would give us eyes to see if we asked for them. Better yet, let's ask for a heart after God. He can give us eyes to see what He sees if we have His heart. So, that is what we pray for Lord, a heart after you.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Saturday's Thoughts - The Snake is Slowly Leaving
Since it's Saturday I thought I would just blog....whatever that means. On our ski trip we had many injuries and sicknesses. We had planned and prayed about this trip for this for so long that it came as a surprise when we were attacked so heavily. I don't know why we were surprised since our enemy HATES us. (The feeling is very mutual.) So, Dave and I determined not to let him get us down. We prayed and layed hands on Daniel, and Dave's knee and that night I had a dream. I was laying on my side and my lower body was curled up in a box. I looked down and there was a huge snake curled on top of my knees. As I watched it slowly uncoiled and left. It never bit me and I was only a little afraid. After all, he was leaving.
I told everyone my dream the next day. Daniel, Josh, Dave, Charm, and I had all had knee problems on the trip. How appropriate was the dream since the snake was on my knees. I felt like the Lord was slowly delivering us from this curse.
Yesterday, Dave went to the Dr. to see about his knee since he was in pain when he turned his knee a certain way. We just knew he would have to have surgery. The Dr. said he tore his ekgh9islenkcme9j and it would heal itself in about 6 weeks!!! I call that "the snake slowly leaving"! We were ecstatic! I went to the Chiropractor because we were rear-ended the day before we left for Colorado and he is working on my neck and back. I feel better than before I had the wreck. God is putting everything back in its place. I am so grateful. What the Devil plans for bad, God turns for good, everytime....if you have eyes to see.
Lord, thankyou for your loving care and kindness. You never cease to amaze and captivate me with your love.
I told everyone my dream the next day. Daniel, Josh, Dave, Charm, and I had all had knee problems on the trip. How appropriate was the dream since the snake was on my knees. I felt like the Lord was slowly delivering us from this curse.
Yesterday, Dave went to the Dr. to see about his knee since he was in pain when he turned his knee a certain way. We just knew he would have to have surgery. The Dr. said he tore his ekgh9islenkcme9j and it would heal itself in about 6 weeks!!! I call that "the snake slowly leaving"! We were ecstatic! I went to the Chiropractor because we were rear-ended the day before we left for Colorado and he is working on my neck and back. I feel better than before I had the wreck. God is putting everything back in its place. I am so grateful. What the Devil plans for bad, God turns for good, everytime....if you have eyes to see.
Lord, thankyou for your loving care and kindness. You never cease to amaze and captivate me with your love.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Friday's Devo - Just Obey
We're back!!! We had a great family time. We love being together. It was not exactly as we had planned. Charm came sick and was feeling well enough to ski the first day. We all skied the first day. The second day, Daniel got a stomach virus, or altitude sickness and was in bed all day. That was the day Dave fell and hurt his knee. Josh also did something to his knee. The third day, only Caleb and I skied until Josh came and joined us for a few runs. The forth day I got the virus and Daniel, Josh, Caleb, and Charm skied. What a vacation! In spite of it all, it was a blast and we all came home glad we had gone. We played Charades at night, went to a movie, ate at some really unique restaurants, met some interesting people, and laughed a lot. What else can you ask for in a family vacation? It reminds me of the scripture: "How good and how pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Ps. 133:1
Now back to our study...
Read 1 Sam. 15
Saul has been king for a while and has shown himself to be impulsive, controlling, and egotistic. He meets Samuel who reminds him that he, Samuel, was the one that annointed him as king. Then he gives him an assignment, as if to say, let's see if you can do this right. He tells him to go and settle God's account with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came out of Egypt. The account is in Ex. 17. The children of Israel had just tempted God at the rock in Horeb. They had just come out of the wilderness and had no water. They blamed Moses, and Moses cried out to God. God told Moses to strike the rock and when he did, water came out. Their punishment for not trusting in God and blaming Moses came through the Amakekites. They came and attacked the children of Israel. Moses stood on the hill and watched. As long as he lifted his rod, the Israelites won. When he got tired and lowered it, the Israelites lost. It was so obvious that they took a stone and let Moses sit down and Aaron and Hur held his arms up. They overthrew the Amalekites and God said, 'write this down, one day, I will utterly blot out the name of the Amalekites from the earth.'
God has decided that this would be that day, so Saul gathers 210,000 men to fight them. When they came to the city of Amalek there are Kenites living with the Amalekites. The Kenites were Moses' father-in-law's people. They had helped the Israelites when they were in the wilderness. They even came and dwelt among the Israelites. Saul knows this and tells the Kenites his plan so they can leave and not get killed along with the Amalekites. The Kenites opt to leave. (Good choice.) Saul kills all the Amalekites except for the king, Agag. (Why can't Saul get this right?) He also spared the best of their sheep, oxen, lambs and all that he thought was good. All the detestable things, he destroyed.
So where's that mirror? This is a great picture of me compromising on what God has said. Me, thinking my wisdom is better than God's. Wait, God, I have a better way! When God tells us to get rid of something in our lives, he isn't kidding. He doesn't receive half-hearted attempts. We want the promises of God, but not the sacrifice of laying down our own wills. He sees the big picture and if we don't come up to the plate, he will find someone who will. Lord, help us to utterly destroy the things in our lives that you have told us to put away. We want to fight in your army and we want the victory to go to you!
Now back to our study...
Read 1 Sam. 15
Saul has been king for a while and has shown himself to be impulsive, controlling, and egotistic. He meets Samuel who reminds him that he, Samuel, was the one that annointed him as king. Then he gives him an assignment, as if to say, let's see if you can do this right. He tells him to go and settle God's account with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came out of Egypt. The account is in Ex. 17. The children of Israel had just tempted God at the rock in Horeb. They had just come out of the wilderness and had no water. They blamed Moses, and Moses cried out to God. God told Moses to strike the rock and when he did, water came out. Their punishment for not trusting in God and blaming Moses came through the Amakekites. They came and attacked the children of Israel. Moses stood on the hill and watched. As long as he lifted his rod, the Israelites won. When he got tired and lowered it, the Israelites lost. It was so obvious that they took a stone and let Moses sit down and Aaron and Hur held his arms up. They overthrew the Amalekites and God said, 'write this down, one day, I will utterly blot out the name of the Amalekites from the earth.'
God has decided that this would be that day, so Saul gathers 210,000 men to fight them. When they came to the city of Amalek there are Kenites living with the Amalekites. The Kenites were Moses' father-in-law's people. They had helped the Israelites when they were in the wilderness. They even came and dwelt among the Israelites. Saul knows this and tells the Kenites his plan so they can leave and not get killed along with the Amalekites. The Kenites opt to leave. (Good choice.) Saul kills all the Amalekites except for the king, Agag. (Why can't Saul get this right?) He also spared the best of their sheep, oxen, lambs and all that he thought was good. All the detestable things, he destroyed.
So where's that mirror? This is a great picture of me compromising on what God has said. Me, thinking my wisdom is better than God's. Wait, God, I have a better way! When God tells us to get rid of something in our lives, he isn't kidding. He doesn't receive half-hearted attempts. We want the promises of God, but not the sacrifice of laying down our own wills. He sees the big picture and if we don't come up to the plate, he will find someone who will. Lord, help us to utterly destroy the things in our lives that you have told us to put away. We want to fight in your army and we want the victory to go to you!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Saturday's Devo - We Will Follow
We leave today for skiing!!! I thought I would deviate from 1 Samuel and talk about Isaac. Genesis is my favorite book in the Bible. God lays down the whole plan for the rest of existance in Genesis. Today I was reading Gen. 24 where Abraham sends his servant to go find a wife for Isaac. This is a type of the Holy Spirit finding a wife for Jesus. When the servant asks Abraham if he should take Isaac with him, Abraham gives an emphatic, "NO!" I think he didn't want Isaac to see how easy life was back home and want to stay. He had left there to follow God and he wanted his son to follow this nomadic life walking the land he had been given by God. This wife had to have the same sense of adventure and faith. She had to be willing to leave everything to follow him. Before she even knew she had been chosen, she was given a test: would she served this man and his animals? Was she humble, gracious, giving, and not tied to her past? Would she lay it all down by faith and take a man's word for truth? She was all these things. She watered his cattle and invited him to her house to stay. After hearing the servant's intentions, Rebekah's father wanted the servant to stay in his house for 10 days so he could get to know him and trust him before he released his daughter to go marry a distant relative, but the servant needed an answer THEN. They asked Rebekah if she would go THEN and she she said, yes.
How about us? Are we willing to "water" the least, step out in faith and abandon all to follow the Holy Spirit? I wonder what she thought the whole way back to meet Isaac. Was she afraid of what he might look like or treat her? It doesn't say, but when she saw Isaac from a distance she got off the camel to meet him. It was not a disappointment. Isaac brought her into the household and loved her deeply and she was a great comfort to him. God is calling us to a "new land" this year and do something we have never had the faith to do. Test God's Word because it doesn't return void, but it accomplishes all it is sent to accomplish.
Lord, we want to be brought into the deep intimacy with you where you love us deeply and we are a great comfort to you. Give us faith to reach out into the unknown and trust Your Word.
How about us? Are we willing to "water" the least, step out in faith and abandon all to follow the Holy Spirit? I wonder what she thought the whole way back to meet Isaac. Was she afraid of what he might look like or treat her? It doesn't say, but when she saw Isaac from a distance she got off the camel to meet him. It was not a disappointment. Isaac brought her into the household and loved her deeply and she was a great comfort to him. God is calling us to a "new land" this year and do something we have never had the faith to do. Test God's Word because it doesn't return void, but it accomplishes all it is sent to accomplish.
Lord, we want to be brought into the deep intimacy with you where you love us deeply and we are a great comfort to you. Give us faith to reach out into the unknown and trust Your Word.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Friday's Devo - Don't Trip Over the Trip
Pro. 13:12 - Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
We leave tomorrow for Colorado. We are flying with our boys and Charm to go skiing. We will stay in a plush 3 bedroom condo, ski in-ski out, and eat in the restaurant of our choice. What a trip!!! I say all this to say this is all such a gift from God.
When the boys were young we rarely had the money to go on vacations. While all our friends were going to Disney World, skiing, etc. every year we were going to Toledo Bend for family reunions. Every now and then we took big trips but certainly not like those around us. It always bothered Dave that he couldn't take us on big vacations. A couple of years ago our niece was getting married in Hawaii. God blessed us with a large amount of unaccounted for money so we took the boys and Charm and went. It was so much fun and we decided to try to do it more often. Now our kids are at a great age to travel with. No one is asking, "Are we there yet?" It is just pure fun!
Last year I told Dave that we should take the family skiing this year. He looked a little apprehensive. He said it might take him more than a year to save for this. I told him not to worry, God was going to pay for it. He was relieved. Well, right after that we received some unexpected money and we knew this was for our trip.
I know this is a hard time in our economy, but we who know our God will prosper in hard times and do great things. Going to Colorado might not seem very spiritual to those who don't have eyes to see, but to those who do; it is! To us it is a tree of life!
We leave tomorrow for Colorado. We are flying with our boys and Charm to go skiing. We will stay in a plush 3 bedroom condo, ski in-ski out, and eat in the restaurant of our choice. What a trip!!! I say all this to say this is all such a gift from God.
When the boys were young we rarely had the money to go on vacations. While all our friends were going to Disney World, skiing, etc. every year we were going to Toledo Bend for family reunions. Every now and then we took big trips but certainly not like those around us. It always bothered Dave that he couldn't take us on big vacations. A couple of years ago our niece was getting married in Hawaii. God blessed us with a large amount of unaccounted for money so we took the boys and Charm and went. It was so much fun and we decided to try to do it more often. Now our kids are at a great age to travel with. No one is asking, "Are we there yet?" It is just pure fun!
Last year I told Dave that we should take the family skiing this year. He looked a little apprehensive. He said it might take him more than a year to save for this. I told him not to worry, God was going to pay for it. He was relieved. Well, right after that we received some unexpected money and we knew this was for our trip.
I know this is a hard time in our economy, but we who know our God will prosper in hard times and do great things. Going to Colorado might not seem very spiritual to those who don't have eyes to see, but to those who do; it is! To us it is a tree of life!
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