Courage like A young shepherd boy.

“David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? ””

1 Samuel 17:26 HCSB

All the Isrealite armies where terrified of this bold Philistine named Goliath. He was big. He was loud. He kept insulting the Isrealite army. It seemed a lost hope. 

Then came David. A young Shepherd who had courage only given by God. He was after all a man after Gods own heart. He was shocked that these Isrealites were fearful of this man. After all hadn't God rescued them all time after time?  But fear had set in.

Fear is a tricky little visitor. Often he sneaks in when things are just rolling along smoothly then Wham! Comes some news, or something that throws us off our normal. Our brains start thinking...'this could be bad..' Our friends get in on the action and we all start talking about it...'I don't know if we are going to get out of this one this time...it's bad...'  The enemy seems pretty undefeatable.  

Then comes David. He hasn't been around all the chatter. He has been with God in the fields. David has been singing praises and trusting God to keep him and his sheep from the wild beasts. He remembers all the great things God has done. 

That gives him courage. 

So, you know the rest. David uses his sling shot and takes out this enemy with one try! 

Don't we have a great God!!!

Instead of listening to the chatter today, if it's with others or yourself, let's focus on God and all He has done. Read the Psalms, David wrote a lot of them, and rejoice with him about all the great things our God has done. THAT will give you courage. 

Blessings

Peace

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise — dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:4-9 HCSB

Peace. It is a treasure. What good can come from anything without peace. God gives us perfect peace. Not peace from an addiction. Not peace from a sinful desire but pure, perfect peace. 

I have experienced this peace in trials and difficulty. That is how I know it is possible. I am no more special than any other who has trials so I know this peace is for anyone who wants it. Gods gift. So take this peace today. 

'whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise — dwell on these things'

Let your mind praise the Lord. Sing hymns. Hum Psalms. Pray and praise the God who offers this gift. It's yours for the taking. 

Blessings. 

A future and a hope.

1 Samuel 15:24

.."I have sinned. I violated the Lords command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people so I gave in to them."  

Saul was once a humble new king, for a very short time. When Samuel first anointed Saul king he was hiding behind the luggage. God gave Saul the courage to lead His people. It wasn't long before Saul forgot to trust God and started listening to his own reasoning and apparently others. Maybe someone close to him said "You're the king!  Why do you have to keep waiting on that Samuel fellow?"  Saul began to believe his own hype. 

It's easy to listen to all the chatter around us. It's easy to think we need to keep up with everyone around us. Go all the places they go. Do all the things they do. Have all the stuff they do. But, God has a plan too. 

A better plan. 

Sometimes we might be anxious and not want to wait on whatever our 'Samuel' is. We can think, 'I am the king of my life'. We can give in to others ideas, or even our own. 

God often says 'wait'. So let's wait and see what wonderful things He has in store for us. It might take a while. God never seems to be in a hurry.   He already knows the plans He has for us. No need to rush. Let us just focus on the things He has told us to do, read Gods word, prayer, fellowship with other believers, share Gods message of Grace. I know He will take care of the rest. 

“For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Blessings

Waiting

1 Samuel 12 & 13

1Samuel 13:13

"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, He would have established your kingdom over Isreal for all time."

Waiting on the Lord can really frusterate our human flesh. We are people of instant gratification. We think it, we want it, we make it happen. We have all the good reasons for not waiting, just like Saul, but we lack wisdom and patience, and ultimately trust. Will God come through?  

God always comes through. 

It's just usually not how and when we think it needs to be done. So why is that?  God is capable, God loves me, God wants what is good for me....

That must be it!  God wants what is BEST for me. He alone knows what is best. We can't see it with our "I want it now' flesh, only when we rest in the Lord can we truly see what Gods best is for us. 

God has never let me down And I  have realized that usually it is me that God is changing, it is me He is working on. It is me He is growing so that I can become closer to Him. 

We can face anything in our lives if we just stay close to the Lord, our comforter, our wisdom, our strength. He will guide us. He will lead us. 

Let us be wise and not act on our own foolishness so that God will establish His kingdom through us for all time. 

Blessings 

Wisdom

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6 HCSB)

I love this story I read today at 'she reads truth' ( you can like and follow on Facebook) it is a great view on the story of Esther and how God works all things out for His (and thankfully our) purpose. 

Gods wisdom far exceeds ours. Trust in Him today. 

http://shereadstruth.com/2015/07/03/vashti/

God's presence is enough.

Genesis 28:15

I am with you wherever you go,and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. 

Sometimes all we can rely on are God's promises and His presence. We can feel alone in the great bigness of our lives. We may not understand our circumstances. It may scare us or confuse us. God may ask us to only trust and believe Him and just to rest in the promise of His presence. 

There are things in our lives we are powerless to fix. We must at that time pray and lean on the Lord. 

Thank you Lord that I am not God and that I don't have to figure out my tough circumstances in my own. 

Blessings

The truth about boasting

John 2:15-17

"...for everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust in his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. 

This is a great reminder and confession point for me. We should only boast of what God has done for us. Period. No grey area here. 

But why?

I believe it keeps us humbled before the one whom all good blessings flow. If we are a child of God (or really even if we are not) every good and perfect gift comes from God. It is all a gift from Him. No matter how hard we worked to get here it is still all a gift from God. No matter how much time, energy, effort we put into it all that time, energy and effort was from God as well. 

It is really simple. It ALL comes from God

It all belongs to God. We only persevere through it all by the help of the Lord. Truly boasting about anything is foolishness. Let's praise Him from whom all blessings flow. Boast on all His mighty works. That is the truth and the truth will set you free from your chains. 

Blessings

Connected to God

1Samuel 2:13

For I told him that I would judge his family forever because if the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible and he failed to restrain them. 

My child is beginning to enter those wonderful teen years. I love watching him turn into his own individual, becoming independent, growing in courage. I desperately want him to grow in the Lord. I know what is ahead of him; decisions, temptations, struggles and opportunity. I want him to know that only by following God, reading His Word and prayer will he be able to navigate this season of His life successfully. 

This verse reminds me that it is also important that I stay connected to God-in His Word and prayer-to help him navigate and be his boundaries for this season of his life. Only God can help me do this. I can only see this tiny picture of our lives, however I know a great God who can see the whole big picture why not trust in Him to guide us both?

I think this is a good reminder for any season of our lives. 

Blessings

Tell your story

Tell your story. 

God has put in you a story. You have many ups, you have many downs. God has chosen you to reside in so that the world might know Him. We don't have to be perfect or really even pleasant, pleasing or anything!  God made us all to tell our story-several stories-many stories!  Stories of tradegy. Stories of struggles. Stories of great victory. Tell your story. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit your story will point back to Gods amazing Grace. No need to rehearse it. God has got this!  Trust Him who pulled you from the pit and placed you beside the streams of cool water. He wants to shine through you!  Just tell your story. 

God is always the victor. The Lord deserves all the Glory!!!