Praises to God

“Then King David went in, sat in the Lord’s presence, and said, Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?”

2 Samuel 7:18 HCSB

David was amazed at the LORDS goodness in his life. He was overwhelmed by the blessings bestowed upon him by God. He sang praises to the LORD and we get to hear it all these years later.

Have you ever looked back on your own life and all the ways you have been blessed by God?  Take the time to do that today. See all the times He has His mighty hand on your life. The times He has spared you from choices in front of you. The times He has protected you from injury. The times He has helped you make the right choice. Praise Him today for all His mighty works in your life today and rejoice in His goodness just like king David. Read his song of praise below. 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+7%3A18-29&version=NIV

Blessings

Continue On

“Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”

I Samuel 30:6 NKJV

Yesterday was a long day. A lot of my days are long right now. It is, as I like to call it, my busy season. Sometimes I am not sure God has really called me to all the things I have going on but either way here I am. Busy. 

I love all the things I get to do. They all involve serving people that I really care about. But sometimes I get tired. And then I get distressed. So I love this verse I read this morning. 'David strengthened himself in the Lord'!  

We have the same opportunity as David to get our strength for the things God has given us to do. He will refresh us, encourage us, give us the Hope to continue on. He will give us the direction we need to continue on. He will give us the desire to continue on in the things He has layed before us. 

I encourage you to find His strength today. Read His word and quietly spend time talking to Him. Let Him fill you with all that you need to continue on. 

Blessings. 

Quiet in the fight.

"But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.””

Exodus 14:13-14 HCSB

Summer is over. School begins Monday. Sports, homework, lesson planning, activities, choir, band....

Don't get me wrong. I love all the opportunities we have. I love our school. I love where I work. I love all the people in my life. I am blessed. I am a homebody though. I am. I admit it. I love the stillness. I love the quietness. I love not driving over the bridge at least 4 times a day. 😉. 

God reminded me today about one of my favorite verses. The Lord is with me. I must be quiet. I can be quiet. Even in my business. In this verse the Isrealites were fighting a great battle!  God tells them to be quiet!  

I can be quiet in the morning and read His word. I can be quiet and not complain (even inside myself where most of my complaining happens). I can be quiet and look for those times of blessings instead of focusing on all I have to do. I can be quiet. Even in my busyness. God says I can. If the Isrealites could be quiet in battle well so can I!!!

What is your battle today?  Can you quietly trust that God is fighting for you too?  He is. Trust Him. He's got this. 

And summer is right around the corner again. 😀

Blessings.  

Love one another.

““For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 HCSB

“Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.”

1 John 4:11-12 HCSB

““I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””

John 13:34-35 HCSB

God tells us to love one another as He has loved us. Let's do that today and see if we can make a difference. 

Blessings. 

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