'David said to the Philistine: “You come
against me with a dagger, spear, and
sword, but I come against you in the
name of Yahweh of Hosts, the God of
Israel’s armies — you have defied Him. '
1 Samuel 17:45
https://my.bible.com/bible/72/1SA.17.45
Life is so tough. Yes, I am blessed and have been given more, much more, than I deserve. I am not sure we really understand the grace we are granted every single day. But, this world is falling further and further from the Lord. On a broad scale, the LIFE GOD HAS DESIGNED is under attack. The clear line of right and wrong is being erased every day. We are living in a time when the Bible is under attack and anyone that follows its clear principles are also under attack.
It would be so easy to crawl under a rock and hide. It would be easier to isolate ourselves from the growing sinfulness all around us. OR we can attack!
David saw his nation under attack. But, he did not see a dagger, a sword, a spear, or a behemoth of a man. He only saw the attack on the Lord. He knew the power of his God and knew there was nothing impossible for him as long as he followed the guidance of the Lord.
I can not even imagine facing Golliath. I can not imagine facing such a formidable foe with such power and grace. David had such confidence and power, not of his own strength, but of the power of God!
We need to face this world with the same power. We need to have the same confidence in the power of a God that sent his son to save us. We need to attack the enemy with our sling and stones, realizing our REAL WEAPON IS THE ONE AND ONLY GOD!. There is nothing in life that can defeat you. There is nothing in life that will defeat you. As a follower of Jesus Christ, dedicated to him, you have already won the battle. VICTORY IS THE LORD's. Praise God he loves us so much that we can live life in PEACE every day.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Keep the Flock!
'One of the young men answered,
“I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem
who knows how to play the lyre. He is also
a valiant man, a warrior, eloquent,
handsome, and the Lord is with him.”
Then Saul dispatched messengers
to Jesse and said, “Send me your
son David, who is with the sheep.” ' 1 Samuel 16:18-19 https://my.bible.com/bible/72/1SA.16.18-19
Guess what David did after he was anointed King?
He went back to being a shepherd.
I'm not sure about you, but that is amazing. He did what he knew how to do best, SERVE and PROTECT his sheep!
God's timing is perfect and his wisdom is beyond our comprehension. Saul was chosen by GOD to make a point to Israel. They were being punished because they wanted a King instead of trusting in the Lord. He knew that Saul, who had such promise, would stumble terribly. He would lead Israel away from him. He let it happen. BUT, all along he had David in mind. David was the perfect choice for King. He wasn't a perfect person, but a perfect choice because he followed the Lord, even through his failings.
David was a true servant leader. He was valiant. He was talented. He was a warrior. But, most importantly, he loved the Lord. Even through his list of talents, David was dedicated to taking care of his sheep and the Lord knew he would give that same dedication to his people.
All of us are given a flock to watch over. We all have a family. Some of us are given others to watch over. We are leaders of Churches, MC groups, mission teams, or leaders at work. Our number one goal is to watch over, keep, the flock. Even if we are "annointed king", our number one goal is to protect our sheep. We can only do that with the help and direction of the Lord. God gives us the skills to watch over our family, friends, and co-workers as long as we follow him. We are not perfect leaders but we follow a perfect God and THAT IS ENOUGH!
Dear Lord, we come to you in prayer for our families and friends. We are not always with them but we know YOU are and pray you watch over them throughout every moment of every day. we know YOU are the answer to life's questions. We know that letting YOU lead and guide our path is the only way to travel the life you have granted. We love you Lord. We love you more than anything in our lives. We praise you for the grace you provide us and are humbled that you, the creator of all things, choose to spend time with us. Amen!
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Do or Do Not. There is no Try!
'Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take
pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord ?
Look: to obey is better than sacrifice,
to pay attention is better than
the fat of rams. ' 1 Samuel 15:22 https://my.bible.com/bible/72/1SA.15.22
I am a huge Star Wars fan and I just love this quote from Yoda. It matches, in a powerful way, the message from Samuel. God wants your OBEDIENCE. Nothing else really matters. Church is important, prayer is important, studying the Word is important, worship is important, bringing other believers to the Lord is important, work is important, family is important, service to others is important.
NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD!!!!!!!!!
Saul followed PART of the commands of the Lord. He was NOT all in! He was so proud of himself for defeating the Amelekites. But, he did not follow through with ALL the orders of the Lord.
YOU CAN NOT BE PARTIALLY FOR THE LORD.
So many people believe being a Sunday Christian is good enough. Some people believe be a GOOD person is enough. Their Monday - Saturday life completely ignores the Lord. Their prayers include a list of needs and wants and don't center around knowing the Lord's direction for their lives.
We must listen and THEN follow. We can't pray for guidance without DOING what God has asked. We can't read his word without DOING what it commands. We can not truly worship the Lord unless we OBEY him every moment of our day. We either follow the Lord DOING HIS WILL or we DONT. There is no in-between.
DO or DO NOT! There is no try!
Friday, February 21, 2020
First Things First!
'“Let’s go across to the outpost of those
pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor
bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us,
for nothing can hinder the Lord . He
can win a battle whether he has
many warriors or only a few!”' 1 Samuel 14:6 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.14.6
We live in such a FAST-PACED society. I am so thankful that retirement and spending time as a "Snow-bird" has given Stephanie and I SOME time to rest. It has been great for us to have at least a LITTLE bit of a slower paced life. During our time, we have been able to get plenty sleep, time in prayer, and more time to study God's word. We have been praying earnestly for our families and for Gods plans for us. We don't want to jump into anything that is NOT the will of our Lord. So, we have been taking our time putting plans together for this upcoming year.
Saul's son Jonathan sets a great example. He and his buddy were about to attack the Philistines, on their own. That was a crazy thought. But, he knew if the Lord was with him, NOTHING would be impossible. He prayed about it AND he left the final decision to the Lord.
'Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will
pass over unto these men, and we
will discover ourselves unto them.
If they say thus unto us, Tarry until
we come to you; then we will stand
still in our place, and will not go up
unto them. But if they say thus,
Come up unto us; then we will go
up: for the Lord hath delivered them
into our hand: and this shall be a sign
unto us. ' 1 Samuel 14:8-10 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/1SA.14.8-10
Saul on the other hand always thought of asking God as an AFTER THOUGHT. He made some crazy oaths. He starved his troops out of selfishness and he nearly killed his own son because of his pride. He relied on his own wits and skills over the power of the Creator of the Universe. If it weren't for faithful followers like Jonathan, Israel would have been slaughtered. He went to God first. He didn't let the rush or the stress of battle to keep him from consulting GOD. He only wanted to take actions that were BLESSED by the Lord.
What about you? Are you taking time in prayer? Do you consult the Lord BEFORE al your decisions? If you truly have turned your life to him, how do you make decisions without his wisdom. Never make a snap decision without God. Never make plans unless you have gone to him in deep prayer. Don't rush your way through life. Put FIRST THINGS FIRST. God should be your ONLY THOUGHT, not and AFTER THOUGHT.
pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor
bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us,
for nothing can hinder the Lord . He
can win a battle whether he has
many warriors or only a few!”' 1 Samuel 14:6 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.14.6
We live in such a FAST-PACED society. I am so thankful that retirement and spending time as a "Snow-bird" has given Stephanie and I SOME time to rest. It has been great for us to have at least a LITTLE bit of a slower paced life. During our time, we have been able to get plenty sleep, time in prayer, and more time to study God's word. We have been praying earnestly for our families and for Gods plans for us. We don't want to jump into anything that is NOT the will of our Lord. So, we have been taking our time putting plans together for this upcoming year.
Saul's son Jonathan sets a great example. He and his buddy were about to attack the Philistines, on their own. That was a crazy thought. But, he knew if the Lord was with him, NOTHING would be impossible. He prayed about it AND he left the final decision to the Lord.
'Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will
pass over unto these men, and we
will discover ourselves unto them.
If they say thus unto us, Tarry until
we come to you; then we will stand
still in our place, and will not go up
unto them. But if they say thus,
Come up unto us; then we will go
up: for the Lord hath delivered them
into our hand: and this shall be a sign
unto us. ' 1 Samuel 14:8-10 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/1SA.14.8-10
Saul on the other hand always thought of asking God as an AFTER THOUGHT. He made some crazy oaths. He starved his troops out of selfishness and he nearly killed his own son because of his pride. He relied on his own wits and skills over the power of the Creator of the Universe. If it weren't for faithful followers like Jonathan, Israel would have been slaughtered. He went to God first. He didn't let the rush or the stress of battle to keep him from consulting GOD. He only wanted to take actions that were BLESSED by the Lord.
What about you? Are you taking time in prayer? Do you consult the Lord BEFORE al your decisions? If you truly have turned your life to him, how do you make decisions without his wisdom. Never make a snap decision without God. Never make plans unless you have gone to him in deep prayer. Don't rush your way through life. Put FIRST THINGS FIRST. God should be your ONLY THOUGHT, not and AFTER THOUGHT.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Panic!
'The men of Israel saw that they were
in trouble because the troops were
in a difficult situation. They hid in
caves, thickets, among rocks, and in
holes and cisterns. ' 1 Samuel 13:6 https://my.bible.com/bible/72/1SA.13.6
As I grow older and older and older and older and ....... (you get the point), I am less prone to panic. I'm not perfect by any means. I still have times I rely on MY OWN STRENGTH instead of the power of my wonderful LORD. But, I am better today than I was yesterday. I will continue to learn more about the perfect power of the Lord and the wonderful plan he has for me.
These men of Israel were really thrown into a MAJOR PANIC.
Why?
Well, the Philistines were ruthless. SO much so that they controlled all the Blacksmiths and Iron in the area. The Israelites were fighting with nothing. They literally had NO weapons,
OR DID THEY?
This continuing saga between the Philistines and Israel was set up to be a great VICTORY for the Lord. INSTEAD, panic was everywhere. Even Saul, the King, panicked. Samuel had told him he would be there to pray for the Lord to intervene. He couldn't wait. He decided to go against the Laws of the Lord. In all his fear and worry, he did NOT trust in the Lord. His faith was SO WEAK!
I have to admit, I also have been thrown into a terrible panic. I have OFTEN relied on my own strength and power to get myself through tough times. I have lost my patience with the Lord. I am so thankful he has not abandon and given up on my lack of faith. This past summer when we lost the motor in our truck and our vacation with our Granddaughter was in jeopardy, I tried everything I could. But, it was the Lord that put everything together, in his timing. We have had life or death situations where we eventually had to throw up our hands and trust the Lord. The events did not work out as I had planned. It WAS all in God's timing and the older I get, the more I am ok with that.
God has a wonderful plan for each of us. When things go against us and everything looks hopeless, WE MUST RELY 100% ON THE LORD!!!!!!! He alone can defeat any enemy. He provides weapons WAY BEYOND swords and knives. When he fights our battles, WE WILL WIN an OVERWHELMING VICTORY!
Can anything ever separate us from
Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we
have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry,
or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the
Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed
every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” ) '
'No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is
ours through Christ, who loved us.
Romans 8:35-37 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/ROM.8.35-37
We will earn OVERWHELMING VICTORY if we just let the God of the Universe be OUR GOD.
Trust in HIM!!!!!
DON'T PANIC!!!!!!!
in trouble because the troops were
in a difficult situation. They hid in
caves, thickets, among rocks, and in
holes and cisterns. ' 1 Samuel 13:6 https://my.bible.com/bible/72/1SA.13.6
As I grow older and older and older and older and ....... (you get the point), I am less prone to panic. I'm not perfect by any means. I still have times I rely on MY OWN STRENGTH instead of the power of my wonderful LORD. But, I am better today than I was yesterday. I will continue to learn more about the perfect power of the Lord and the wonderful plan he has for me.
These men of Israel were really thrown into a MAJOR PANIC.
Why?
Well, the Philistines were ruthless. SO much so that they controlled all the Blacksmiths and Iron in the area. The Israelites were fighting with nothing. They literally had NO weapons,
OR DID THEY?
This continuing saga between the Philistines and Israel was set up to be a great VICTORY for the Lord. INSTEAD, panic was everywhere. Even Saul, the King, panicked. Samuel had told him he would be there to pray for the Lord to intervene. He couldn't wait. He decided to go against the Laws of the Lord. In all his fear and worry, he did NOT trust in the Lord. His faith was SO WEAK!
I have to admit, I also have been thrown into a terrible panic. I have OFTEN relied on my own strength and power to get myself through tough times. I have lost my patience with the Lord. I am so thankful he has not abandon and given up on my lack of faith. This past summer when we lost the motor in our truck and our vacation with our Granddaughter was in jeopardy, I tried everything I could. But, it was the Lord that put everything together, in his timing. We have had life or death situations where we eventually had to throw up our hands and trust the Lord. The events did not work out as I had planned. It WAS all in God's timing and the older I get, the more I am ok with that.
God has a wonderful plan for each of us. When things go against us and everything looks hopeless, WE MUST RELY 100% ON THE LORD!!!!!!! He alone can defeat any enemy. He provides weapons WAY BEYOND swords and knives. When he fights our battles, WE WILL WIN an OVERWHELMING VICTORY!
Can anything ever separate us from
Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we
have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry,
or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the
Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed
every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” ) '
'No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is
ours through Christ, who loved us.
Romans 8:35-37 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/ROM.8.35-37
We will earn OVERWHELMING VICTORY if we just let the God of the Universe be OUR GOD.
Trust in HIM!!!!!
DON'T PANIC!!!!!!!
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
It's a sin NOT to pray?
'“As for me, I will certainly not sin against
the Lord by ending my prayers for you.
And I will continue to teach you what is
good and right. ' 1 Samuel 12:23 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.12.23
This is an interesting verse. I have never thought of NOT praying as being sinful. But, here it is. Samuel confessing that even though he might have thought about it, he was not going to SIN AGAINST THE LORD by not praying for his people.
Stephanie and I have been spending much more time in prayer together over the past two and a half years. We personally believe it has changed our lives. Sometimes we get busy (like a lot of you) and we forget. Our list of those we pray for just seems to get larger all the time.
This world needs people to pray. Yes, I would feel WE have some responsibility as this world falls deeper into sin. I know that we do not pray as we should. I know that many times we feel awkward, especially asking others if we can pray for them. I see so many people respond on facebook, or other social media, they will pray for someone. Do they? We should ALL be in DEEP PRAYER for this world. We owe it to our families, our friends, our communities, our governing officials, and YES our entire world. We ALL need to be in prayer to the Lord for this sinful and fallen world.
Dear Lord, Please forgive us that we do not come to you in prayer more often. We know that you alone are the answer to all of our problems. We also know that if this world would turn to you, our lives would be eternally blessed. Forgive us Lord for our sins. We Love you and want only to serve you. Amen!
the Lord by ending my prayers for you.
And I will continue to teach you what is
good and right. ' 1 Samuel 12:23 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.12.23
This is an interesting verse. I have never thought of NOT praying as being sinful. But, here it is. Samuel confessing that even though he might have thought about it, he was not going to SIN AGAINST THE LORD by not praying for his people.
Stephanie and I have been spending much more time in prayer together over the past two and a half years. We personally believe it has changed our lives. Sometimes we get busy (like a lot of you) and we forget. Our list of those we pray for just seems to get larger all the time.
This world needs people to pray. Yes, I would feel WE have some responsibility as this world falls deeper into sin. I know that we do not pray as we should. I know that many times we feel awkward, especially asking others if we can pray for them. I see so many people respond on facebook, or other social media, they will pray for someone. Do they? We should ALL be in DEEP PRAYER for this world. We owe it to our families, our friends, our communities, our governing officials, and YES our entire world. We ALL need to be in prayer to the Lord for this sinful and fallen world.
Dear Lord, Please forgive us that we do not come to you in prayer more often. We know that you alone are the answer to all of our problems. We also know that if this world would turn to you, our lives would be eternally blessed. Forgive us Lord for our sins. We Love you and want only to serve you. Amen!
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Hiding in the Baggage?
'So they asked the Lord , “Where is he?”
And the Lord replied, “He is hiding
among the baggage.” ' 1 Samuel 10:22 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.10.22
There are some things in the Bible that just make me chuckle! So just after God chose Saul to be the FIRST King of Israel, they took a vote (by casting lots) for Israel to choose their first King. Believe it or not they ALSO chose Saul to be their King. Saul was a big guy and handsome.
They went to find the King and he was cowering in the baggage. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I am wondering how many wanted to take their vote back? It just strikes me as hilarious to think of Saul hiding from this huge honor.
God has called Stephanie and I to serve. Right now we are serving through CMA. We love serving CMA and having a small role in bringing others to the Lord. We are in no way chosen to be KING, but we DO feel so honored to serve wherever the Lord calls us. So many people say we have given up a lot to do what we are doing, traveling the country as FULL-TIME RVers. We just don't feel like we have given up anything. As a matter of fact, we are a little embarrassed how blessed we are. God is using us and we sit back and think, WOW! We can't say we think we are special. We were working a motorcycle event last night and I have to admit I didn't ask as many people as I could about praying with them and blessing their bikes. We are not perfect! We don't always listen to the calling of the Lord. I just feel so sorry for people like Saul. I feel sorry for Christians that NEVER stop "hiding in the luggage". I feel sorry for those that never listen to the guiding of the Holy Spirit.
Dear Lord, continue to give me a boldness and a supernatural power to get out from behind the fears and worries that keep me from sharing your love. We want nothing more than to serve you and your kingdom. Guide and direct our steps today and every day. Amen!
And the Lord replied, “He is hiding
among the baggage.” ' 1 Samuel 10:22 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.10.22
There are some things in the Bible that just make me chuckle! So just after God chose Saul to be the FIRST King of Israel, they took a vote (by casting lots) for Israel to choose their first King. Believe it or not they ALSO chose Saul to be their King. Saul was a big guy and handsome.
They went to find the King and he was cowering in the baggage. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I am wondering how many wanted to take their vote back? It just strikes me as hilarious to think of Saul hiding from this huge honor.
God has called Stephanie and I to serve. Right now we are serving through CMA. We love serving CMA and having a small role in bringing others to the Lord. We are in no way chosen to be KING, but we DO feel so honored to serve wherever the Lord calls us. So many people say we have given up a lot to do what we are doing, traveling the country as FULL-TIME RVers. We just don't feel like we have given up anything. As a matter of fact, we are a little embarrassed how blessed we are. God is using us and we sit back and think, WOW! We can't say we think we are special. We were working a motorcycle event last night and I have to admit I didn't ask as many people as I could about praying with them and blessing their bikes. We are not perfect! We don't always listen to the calling of the Lord. I just feel so sorry for people like Saul. I feel sorry for Christians that NEVER stop "hiding in the luggage". I feel sorry for those that never listen to the guiding of the Holy Spirit.
Dear Lord, continue to give me a boldness and a supernatural power to get out from behind the fears and worries that keep me from sharing your love. We want nothing more than to serve you and your kingdom. Guide and direct our steps today and every day. Amen!
Friday, February 14, 2020
I don't want to be like them!
'“We want to be like the nations
around us. Our king will judge
us and lead us into battle.”' 1 Samuel 8:20 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.8.20
This is so 21st Century. The Church and followers of Christ
are struggling with being in THIS WORLD. The issues of
abortion, gays, wealth, and politics are tearing the church
apart right before our eyes. Satan is loving it. In all reality,
things have not changed since the time of Samuel. Israel
had judges to help "rule" their nation of tribes. The Lord was
to be the center of their lives. HE WAS THEIR KING. In all
fairness to Israel, the memory of being defeated by the
Philistines was still fresh in their minds. They thought
the only way to be STRONG was to have a King.
They were wrong!
The loss to the Philistines can be directly related to their
DRIFT from God. This stubborn people just couldn't see
the "forest for the trees". They saw the Philistines with
their Kings. They saw other Nations with their SUPREME
RULERS. They just had to be the same as the rest of the
world. What a slap in the face to the Lord!
We are doing the same thing right now. The world is
"slapping the face" of the God of the Universe. Instead of
looking directly into the word of the Lord and clearly
reading his stand on the issues of our day, we create our
own truths. We look at the WORLD for advice instead
of trusting in the clear word of the Lord. Even Christians
are trying to reach the world by being LIKE THE WORLD.
What does it hurt? Doesn't it let us reach the lost if we give
in a little? The truth is certainly, NO. We must live as the
Lord has designed. We are NOT to live as members of this
world. We are called to live as children of the MOST HIGH.
Instead, We are rejecting GOD! The consequences are
eternal.
As followers of Christ, we are NOT to follow this world.
We need to take a stand regardless of the consequences.
We are called to transform NOT conform. We are called to
follow the PLAN of the Lord. Dear Lord help us!
around us. Our king will judge
us and lead us into battle.”' 1 Samuel 8:20 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.8.20
This is so 21st Century. The Church and followers of Christ
are struggling with being in THIS WORLD. The issues of
abortion, gays, wealth, and politics are tearing the church
apart right before our eyes. Satan is loving it. In all reality,
things have not changed since the time of Samuel. Israel
had judges to help "rule" their nation of tribes. The Lord was
to be the center of their lives. HE WAS THEIR KING. In all
fairness to Israel, the memory of being defeated by the
Philistines was still fresh in their minds. They thought
the only way to be STRONG was to have a King.
They were wrong!
The loss to the Philistines can be directly related to their
DRIFT from God. This stubborn people just couldn't see
the "forest for the trees". They saw the Philistines with
their Kings. They saw other Nations with their SUPREME
RULERS. They just had to be the same as the rest of the
world. What a slap in the face to the Lord!
We are doing the same thing right now. The world is
"slapping the face" of the God of the Universe. Instead of
looking directly into the word of the Lord and clearly
reading his stand on the issues of our day, we create our
own truths. We look at the WORLD for advice instead
of trusting in the clear word of the Lord. Even Christians
are trying to reach the world by being LIKE THE WORLD.
What does it hurt? Doesn't it let us reach the lost if we give
in a little? The truth is certainly, NO. We must live as the
Lord has designed. We are NOT to live as members of this
world. We are called to live as children of the MOST HIGH.
Instead, We are rejecting GOD! The consequences are
eternal.
As followers of Christ, we are NOT to follow this world.
We need to take a stand regardless of the consequences.
We are called to transform NOT conform. We are called to
follow the PLAN of the Lord. Dear Lord help us!
Thursday, February 13, 2020
What do YOU worship?
'Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you want to
return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of
your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your
hearts to the Lord and obey him alone; then he will
rescue you from the Philistines.” '
1 Samuel 7:3 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.7.3
When the Israelites lost the Ark it was because THEY left the Lord. They tried LIFE ON THEIR OWN. My experience tells me, THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA. As a matter of fact living life without the Lord is not life, it is DEATH. These lost people took the Ark and hid it away after the Philistines returned it (quickly -- it seems mocking the Lord can be painful and disgusting!). For twenty years the Isarelites had no idea what to do with the Ark. They possessed it but they did not give it AND their Lord, the worship he was due. It wasn't the power of the ARK that had failed. It was the trust of people who had forgotten the Lord. Then Samuel, a great leader, finally told them how to return to the Lord. They did everything he asked and AFTER turning back to the Lord, LIFE WAS GOOD.
Really our message is the same. If we really want to return to the Lord with all our hearts, we need to get rid of our FOREIGN gods. I don't see many graven images in our society. I don't see golden calves. But, we DO worship foreign gods. How many people do you know that WORSHIP their favorite sports hero. How many worship their cause, money, success, material things, people, TECHNOLOGY, or a place?
Worship is the act of ADORATION or DEVOTION. What amount of time do we give the THINGS I just listed compared to God. IF we truly are DEVOTED TO THE LORD, shouldn't he receive our devotion? Shouldn't we give him our TIME? Instead we spend all our time with anything BUT the LORD. We treat our Bibles like the Ark. We hide them away because, frankly, we don't understand the power unleashed when we dive into God's word. We are embarrassed and feel the Lord won't let us return. NOT TRUE. TURN BACK TO THE LORD NOW. GOD WILL ACCEPT YOU WITH OPEN ARMS.
In the past 6 months, Stephanie and I have worked hard to devote MORE time to diving into the WORD of the LORD. For nearly two years, we have devoted more time in PRAYER. I do not say this to BRAG. I say it to implore YOU to do the same. We have seen AMAZING BLESSINGS and when we have had issues come forward, we have been able to face them with more confidence than ever before. We feel more at peace and are so excited to see the Lord use us in everything we do. THE LORD WANTS OUR DEVOTION!
TURN YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD and OBEY HIM ALONE. He will rescue you!
return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of
your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your
hearts to the Lord and obey him alone; then he will
rescue you from the Philistines.” '
1 Samuel 7:3 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.7.3
When the Israelites lost the Ark it was because THEY left the Lord. They tried LIFE ON THEIR OWN. My experience tells me, THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA. As a matter of fact living life without the Lord is not life, it is DEATH. These lost people took the Ark and hid it away after the Philistines returned it (quickly -- it seems mocking the Lord can be painful and disgusting!). For twenty years the Isarelites had no idea what to do with the Ark. They possessed it but they did not give it AND their Lord, the worship he was due. It wasn't the power of the ARK that had failed. It was the trust of people who had forgotten the Lord. Then Samuel, a great leader, finally told them how to return to the Lord. They did everything he asked and AFTER turning back to the Lord, LIFE WAS GOOD.
Really our message is the same. If we really want to return to the Lord with all our hearts, we need to get rid of our FOREIGN gods. I don't see many graven images in our society. I don't see golden calves. But, we DO worship foreign gods. How many people do you know that WORSHIP their favorite sports hero. How many worship their cause, money, success, material things, people, TECHNOLOGY, or a place?
Worship is the act of ADORATION or DEVOTION. What amount of time do we give the THINGS I just listed compared to God. IF we truly are DEVOTED TO THE LORD, shouldn't he receive our devotion? Shouldn't we give him our TIME? Instead we spend all our time with anything BUT the LORD. We treat our Bibles like the Ark. We hide them away because, frankly, we don't understand the power unleashed when we dive into God's word. We are embarrassed and feel the Lord won't let us return. NOT TRUE. TURN BACK TO THE LORD NOW. GOD WILL ACCEPT YOU WITH OPEN ARMS.
In the past 6 months, Stephanie and I have worked hard to devote MORE time to diving into the WORD of the LORD. For nearly two years, we have devoted more time in PRAYER. I do not say this to BRAG. I say it to implore YOU to do the same. We have seen AMAZING BLESSINGS and when we have had issues come forward, we have been able to face them with more confidence than ever before. We feel more at peace and are so excited to see the Lord use us in everything we do. THE LORD WANTS OUR DEVOTION!
TURN YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD and OBEY HIM ALONE. He will rescue you!
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Your Best
'“What sort of guilt offering should we send?”
they asked. And they were told, “Since the plague
has struck both you and your five rulers,
make five gold tumors and five gold rats,
just like those that have ravaged your land. ' 1 Samuel 6:4 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.6.4
I read this verse last night and got a little bit of a chuckle.
The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant
because Israel went to war without God. They had NO IDEA
what they had gotten themselves into. SO, they started developing
tumors and rats infested their towns. God was going to let them
know HE WAS GOD and the gods of the Philistines were NOT God.
The Philistines had been ruthless in their attacks on Gods people.
Sure God was upset with Israel, but letting the Philistines MOCK
the God of the Universe just could NOT happen.
It took the Philistines 7 months to figure out they had made a huge
mistake and they needed to take action. But, again, I was shocked
at what they chose to "sacrifice" to the Lord. What were they thinking?
"Five Gold Tumors, Five God Rats?"
Are you kidding me? Is this the BEST they had?
As the Israelites knew, God demands REAL sacrifice in our lives.
God demands UNBLEMISHED sacrifices. He demands the
BEST OF THE BEST. The Philistines sent a TOKEN sacrifice to God.
God wants REAL Sacrifice. He wants to BE OUR GOD. He wants
us to genuinely love him.
Our dedication and commitment to the Lord must be real. God
can not be mocked. We can't just SAY we worship the Lord while
not spending time in his word, in regular, deep prayer, or REAL
worship. The Lord knows our heart. He knew the Philistines were
just going through the paces. He knew they had NOT come to
worship the Lord, they only recognized A God among their Gods.
They did not recognize THE GOD as the one and only God, creator
of the universe. God set the greatest example. He gave his BEST
when he sent Jesus to die for you and your sins. He gave his best.
Should we do LESS?
Please search your heart. Ask THE LORD to enter into your life.
Dedicate your life to serving him and growing in your knowledge
of the Creator of all things. Give the Lord YOUR BEST. Give him
ALL THAT YOU ARE. WORSHIP ONLY HIM. MAKE YOUR LIFE
A LIVING SACRIFICE!!!!!!!!!!
they asked. And they were told, “Since the plague
has struck both you and your five rulers,
make five gold tumors and five gold rats,
just like those that have ravaged your land. ' 1 Samuel 6:4 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.6.4
I read this verse last night and got a little bit of a chuckle.
The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant
because Israel went to war without God. They had NO IDEA
what they had gotten themselves into. SO, they started developing
tumors and rats infested their towns. God was going to let them
know HE WAS GOD and the gods of the Philistines were NOT God.
The Philistines had been ruthless in their attacks on Gods people.
Sure God was upset with Israel, but letting the Philistines MOCK
the God of the Universe just could NOT happen.
It took the Philistines 7 months to figure out they had made a huge
mistake and they needed to take action. But, again, I was shocked
at what they chose to "sacrifice" to the Lord. What were they thinking?
"Five Gold Tumors, Five God Rats?"
Are you kidding me? Is this the BEST they had?
As the Israelites knew, God demands REAL sacrifice in our lives.
God demands UNBLEMISHED sacrifices. He demands the
BEST OF THE BEST. The Philistines sent a TOKEN sacrifice to God.
God wants REAL Sacrifice. He wants to BE OUR GOD. He wants
us to genuinely love him.
Our dedication and commitment to the Lord must be real. God
can not be mocked. We can't just SAY we worship the Lord while
not spending time in his word, in regular, deep prayer, or REAL
worship. The Lord knows our heart. He knew the Philistines were
just going through the paces. He knew they had NOT come to
worship the Lord, they only recognized A God among their Gods.
They did not recognize THE GOD as the one and only God, creator
of the universe. God set the greatest example. He gave his BEST
when he sent Jesus to die for you and your sins. He gave his best.
Should we do LESS?
Please search your heart. Ask THE LORD to enter into your life.
Dedicate your life to serving him and growing in your knowledge
of the Creator of all things. Give the Lord YOUR BEST. Give him
ALL THAT YOU ARE. WORSHIP ONLY HIM. MAKE YOUR LIFE
A LIVING SACRIFICE!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Rhoadzie's Daily Blog: Do you worship your Family?
Rhoadzie's Daily Blog: Do you worship your Family?: 1 Samuel 2:29 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 29 Why, then, do all of you despise My sacrifices and offerings that I requ...
Do you worship your Family?
1 Samuel 2:29 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
29 Why, then, do all of you despise My sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship? You have honored your sons more than Me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of My people Israel.’
I definitely love my Family. They mean more to me than nearly anything on this Earth. BUT, I certainly place my relationship with the LORD above my family. My priority is serving the LORD first and above all else. Satan tries to confuse me about this. I was just reading the story of Eli and his sons. He certainly loved his sons and he loved the Lord. His actions demonstrated his priority was NOT the Lord. He knew they were doing wrong, he approached them about it, but then threw up his hands and ignored it. On the other hand Hannah, the mother of Samuel, put the Lord first. So much so that she gave up her one and only son to serve the Lord.
(Wait, that sounds a lot like what our Father in Heaven did for us!)
When she gave up Samuel to live a life of service, she was blessed abundantly and Samuel flourished in his role. Hannah got it! She had her priorities right.
(Wait, that sounds a lot like what our Father in Heaven did for us!)
When she gave up Samuel to live a life of service, she was blessed abundantly and Samuel flourished in his role. Hannah got it! She had her priorities right.
Many people put their families above all else. They dedicate every waking moment serving their family. Many Christians justify this through their faith. Most will SAY the Lord is number ONE, but their actions show otherwise. Their busyness taking care of their families prevents them from prayer time, studying God's word, and worshipping. They build FRIEND RELATIONSHIPS with their kids instead of holding them to a high standard. They don't want to punish, just like Eli, because they dearly love their kids. Eli gave "lip service" in his dedication to the Lord. But, when it came down to the tough decision, his family was first.
I pray we all can get our priorities straight. I believe the Lord will honor our dedication to him by BLESSING OUR FAMILIES beyond our wildest expectations. Hannah ended up with a house full of kids. Her sacrifice to the Lord and placing HIM above all else made her life full of joy and laughter. Praise God for my family and above all the Love of My Savior Jesus!
I pray we all can get our priorities straight. I believe the Lord will honor our dedication to him by BLESSING OUR FAMILIES beyond our wildest expectations. Hannah ended up with a house full of kids. Her sacrifice to the Lord and placing HIM above all else made her life full of joy and laughter. Praise God for my family and above all the Love of My Savior Jesus!
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Your Faith Family and Prayer
I have come to realize how important my Faith Family is in my life. Stephanie and I are so blessed to have a group of Christ followers that love us, pray for us, and encourage us on our path. Yes, I also have a great biological family that also does these things. It is just UNDERSTOOD that they are an important part of my life. I think people often take for granted or don't even use the power of their faith family to walk through this life. In 1 Samuel, Hannah really needed encouragement. Her husband Elkanah was oblivious to her troubles. She was barren and wanted a son so dearly. Her husband truly loved her, but did not understand the tears and deep anguish. (1 Samuel 1:10) Finally, when things got particularly bleak, Hannah cried out to the Lord. Her prayer was overheard by Eli. He saw her pain. He was touched by it and gave her great words of encouragement;
'Eli responded, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition
you’ve requested from Him.” 1 Samuel 1:17
Eli had no idea how his kind words affected Hannah. She poured out her heart to the Lord and he sent Eli to affirm her. Hannah was so distraught before her prayer that she couldn't even eat. After her prayer and the gentle, kind words of Eli, she began to eat and was no longer sad. Praise God for Eli and his willingness to serve the Lord.
We often do not realize how important we are to our Faith Family. We need to put real effort in listening to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to be open and transparent together. We need to spend time ENCOURAGING, NOT offering advice. Eli and Hannah weren't particularly close, but Eli heard her prayer. When he finally realized what the prayer was about, he didn't offer advice. He didn't come up with a plan to cure her pain. He supported her and extended her prayer to the Lord.
I am so thankful for my Faith Family. I am thankful for their genuine love and kindness through all of the good times and the bad. I hope and pray I can be there for my faith family.
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