Dinner anyone?

O LORD my God, Save me! They will maul me like a lion?

Have you felt this way before? Your enemies did you feel like they were tearing you to pieces?

Look at Psalm 7 ~ this is called a shiggaion which is a song or elegy. This word comes from the verb shagah ~ which means "to reel through drink". Well, David was upset people were after him, he felt attacked and he might have been having a little drink to help matters along. David was afraid I think and he was sharing it maybe because he had been drinking. After all, David was a mighty warrior and fear was not something he showed a lot. He felt persecuted and he wanted God to be the judge.

Look at verse 14 ~ David states they were making evil and giving birth to trouble and lies. We dig the pits deep ourselves and then we fall into it, don't we?

Our own choices cause things to come back on us don't they? Look at verse 16... We pay the price ourselves. It falls on our head. Remember Absalom yesterday??

The verses 14 -16 are all about sinners, like me. The choices that I make and the pits that I fall into all causing my problems. Who do I go to from this point?

Verse 17 -- tells us to praise the Lord because he is just; Sing praise. Yes, Lord because of your Mighty grace by sending us your son, Jesus, we are forgiven.

Ever felt like you were going to be eaten by the lion? Take it to God now, don't make a wrong choice, let God help you with the decision and miss that pit that we dig for ourselves.

Blessings,
Debbie

Peace in the midst of a storm

Psalm 3
1-2 God! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms,
Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery:
"Hah! No help for him from God!"

3-4 But you, God, shield me on all sides;
You ground my feet, you lift my head high;
With all my might I shout up to God,
His answers thunder from the holy mountain.

5-6 I stretch myself out. I sleep.
Then I'm up again—rested, tall and steady,
Fearless before the enemy mobs
Coming at me from all sides.

7 Up, God! My God, help me!
Slap their faces,
First this cheek, then the other,
Your fist hard in their teeth!

8 Real help comes from God.
Your blessing clothes your people!

A year ago, February, God gave me this scripture the day my house caught fire! Yes, it was in a letter that survived the fire after I prayed God please show me you are with me! He showed up and gave me this scripture in a letter that survived and was laying in my driveway.

Folks, God is alive and well and at work right around us right now! Look for Him today! Ask Him which step you need to take and listen for His mighty answer.

God is amazing. Let Him fill you to the brim with His mighty works and let Him hold you tight during the most difficult of days! Ask him!

David did...His son made him run to the wilderness and David knew God would rescue him. He praised him...I have gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself. Oh what, powerful words when David was in the middle of his wilderness. He was hiding out and running from his own flesh and blood. Have we done that?

Absalom is a sad story. He let his unforgiveness become bitterness that would never be taken away. He let it fester until it was so big that nothing would heal his pain. Even in the heat of battle the thing that caught my attention was that his own hair(head) was his downfall. It tells us that he tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode underneath the branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in a tree. How often do we get caught by our own hair? How often do we let bitterness get the better of us? We become another person and not one that is well liked by others, even ourselves. Miserable..Don't you think Absalom was miserable? I do...

Today, I loaded two images one of peace and one of Absalom's monument? Which looks more comforting to you? The monument is still with us today, cold, hard, concrete and it was a monument in Absalom's honor, but it's a monument built by man. The dove is alive and soooo peaceful.. What choice will you make?

Choosing peace,
Debbie

Forgiveness or Not?

Forgiveness is so difficult, isn't it? Why is that? Do we have to be right is that the problem?

Why don't we let things go? Why don't we turn the other cheek? I read a quote that was good it said, "Forgive or relive." Isn't this true? We either forgive something or we continue to relive it until we do. We don't go around it or erase it we just continue to go over it and over it, again and again, moment by moment, year by year...yes years..Look at Absalom he would not forgive his father for his sister's wrong. He viewed it like His father David stood back and did nothing. Absalom killed his brother and still he did not forgive his father.

Look how many years went by and no forgiveness. No just more rebellion and lies. This family was in a terrible state because of unforgiveness. Who do you need to forgive? Why do we let it go on? Is it really easier to carry the unforgiveness?

Do you feel better, if you continue to carry this load? Sooner or later, your heart grows hard, your health fades and you are alone with your pain. Others move on and forgive and forget, but the hurt is still with you.

Today, turn the other cheek and move past the hurt. After all, it is probably only hurting you. God forgives us and He paid the ultimate price for us, all we have to do is turn the other cheek with the one that hurts us. Don't let it fester, it only gets bigger....

Forgiving,
Debbie

God doesn't sweep life away!

Do you like to sweep things away? Do you like to think that by getting rid of them they don't exist?

Well, this morning I was so excited when I read from 2 Samuel 14 that God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him!! Hallelujah! Amen!!!

God takes the time to devise a way to get us back to him!!!! Ladies, think about it when you are running just as fast as you can the other direction away from God. He is working on bring you right back to him. He is figuring out a way to hold us close to His heart, not separated ladies. Isn't this awesome?

It doesn't matter what you have done, He wants you back!!! Take comfort ladies and know He is running after you. Yes, He let's us make choices and bad ones at times, but He still loves us. He stills wants us right with Him. He doesn't want to sweep the bad things away He wants to use them!!

Let God use them..don't use the broom on them ladies. Let God use them to glorify His mighty name. Let people see the changes in you because God wanted you back!!!

Celebrating God's love,
Debbie

God still sees us! (Even at a ballgame)

Wow! What a game!

I'm not really talking about the baseball game either...It was like I was watching a television show. One without editing. One without everybody knowing the camera was on them.

The behavior was terrible and I'm not talking about the kids!! I'm not a parent, I'm an aunt. I was sitting watching and the longer the game went on the worse the whole game became and it wasn't a pretty picture.

I listened without comments. (which is hard for me at times) I hate it when we the ones who are suppose to teach kids how to handle something and we (adults) are acting worse than the kids.

I was reminded of the scripture from Romans 12:2 and I love it from the Message.."Take your everyday ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life- and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without thinking...Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed inside out....Well, we failed a big one yesterday folks. We didn't place ourselves before God as an offering. We acted like the world around us rather than the other way around...

My nephew got in the car with me yesterday and made the comment Dede nobody was acting like they say they are Christians. The words, the actions, none of it was representing being a Christian. The words of a young man that was watching from his place in the game all that was going on around him. He didn't think the players, the coaches, or the fans were acting like we all say we believe.

We never know who sees us...our nephews, our friends, those that go to church with us..But I know for sure and certain that God does see us even at ballgames!!! We really do need to remember WWJD

Listening and watching,
Debbie

Willing to look foolish!

God you are amazing!

Reading this morning God spoke to me in a very powerful way. I worry about the thoughts of others way too much. I am a people pleaser or let's reword that I try to be a people pleaser. Which is truly what we are doing, because it is their choice if we please.

God reminded me in reading this morning that He is the only one to please. In 2 Samuel David made the connection of all that God had done for him ~ making him leader of Israel, the people of the LORD, so yes I celebrate the Lord. Yes, I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even humiliate myself in my own eyes for the Lord!!! What about you will you be like David?

Do you remember sitting in church and perhaps watching someone else worship and you wish that you could do that without be self-conscious? Why don't you? Remember all the Lord has done in your life and what He will do! Worship the Lord and remind yourself just like I will that it doesn't matter what others think only what The Lord thinks..

We each worship in our own way and that is what truly matters. Just remember to worship The Almighty!

Praising God,
Debbie

Sounds like marching feet in the poplar trees!

In 2 Samuel this morning, David asked the LORD, "Should i go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" Isn't it amazing, how the Lord gives us scriptures that truly speak to our hurting hearts?

I was hurting this morning and wasn't sure if I had done or said the right thing. Probably didn't say the right thing, but I do feel that the Lord affirmed that I was right in my thinking. I felt the Lord telling me yes, you are right and I will hand them over to you. In fact, I will go ahead of you and when you hear the sound of the wind in the trees it is me going before you.

It hurts when you are trying to open your heart and explain why you feel the way you do and none of the words come out right. You let your hurt speak and then it gets in to something totally different than you intended.

Why aren't we able to explain with all honesty and walk away? Why can't we just know that if we are being truly honest with your feelings that the other person will see it? Wouldn't it be easy if they could see our hearts? If the pain we feel they could feel or we could feel theirs when they hurt...

Sometimes, I'm reminded of the movie of Love Story and the words that Ali McGraw said, Love means never having to say you are sorry...or something like that...is that not the biggest joke? Love does mean saying you are sorry..You must or the hurts never go away...

I'm sorry that maybe I didn't explain my heart in the right manner or that my heart isn't visible so you can see my feelings. It would help if I could open it up without opening my mouth up...

Thanks Father for giving me Your Word always to help with this journey...What do people do without your Mighty Word to get them through?

Listening to the Wind,
Deb

Jury Duty!

The day we all dread. You open your mailbox and inside is the letter.. The letter that you must report at such and such time at the courthouse. JURY DUTY!!!!

We all gripe about it and then we gripe because we don't think the justice system is taking care of its responsibilities! I wonder why?

It couldn't begin with the fact that we don't want the letter to begin with ~ could it? We don't want to do the right thing...

Well, today I report in for jury duty. I don't know what it will be like, but I'm headed to the courthouse for my duty call. I have a book, chewing gum, and pens and pencils to keep me busy.

I think that days like this worry me, because I don't want to vote whether somebody did something or not. I don't want to be the person that might make the wrong choice. It could hurt that person for the rest of their journey on earth. Pray for me today as I step out and do my duty that I make the right choice and that person or persons that I'm hearing about knows The Lord or will come to know the Lord one day. Pray for the women and men that have made a bad choice and then pray for the women and men that didn't make that choice, but have to make one now because of the first choice made.

Choosing,
Debbie

Share and Share alike!

It's mine, no it's mine. Do you remember these pull and take sessions with your siblings? What about with a friend?

It's hard with those we love sometimes, isn't it? What about those that we feel don't deserve for us to share with them?

David reminded his troops in the reading today from 1 Samuel 30, that we are not to be selfish with what the Lord has given us. Pretty much everything right? Does it leave anything out? Nope, because the Lord gives us everything we have...

We share and we share alike - those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment. It was followed that day and is still followed today. It says so in 1 Samuel 30. Do you think we are sharing and sharing alike? It's not easy to share with those that we judge they don't deserve it, isn't it? I hate it when God reminds me of things I know, but don't like to remember..sometimes...

It is difficult during hard times to not hold on tighter and tighter, isn't it. It is a show of faith to continue to share and share alike - I believe. So continue to share even during these difficult times for this is the right thing to do.

It's the right thing!

Trying to do the right thing,
Debbie

Good vs. Evil

Do you turn the other cheek? Do you remember to be the bigger person?

It's hard to be good, sometimes...isn't it?

Is it just me or sometimes do you just want to say wait just a minute!!!

Or even something worse?

In my reading today David showed us the right way to go..He spared Saul's life. He had the opportunity to kill him in the cave, even encouraged by his men to do so, but he couldn't do it. Saul didn't even know he was there. It was in a cave it was dark and David got close enough to cut a piece of his robe off and Saul didn't know it.

Not until they were both outside in the light...David hollered and told him Why do you listen to those who say I want to harm you? See for yourself that it isn't true.
I would never harm the king.

Saul began to cry and answered him with you are a better man than I. He made David promise to not harm his family when he was gone and David promised. I wonder how they both felt when the encounter was over.

Do you think Saul felt relief or anguish for his actions? Do you think that he truly might have felt regret realizing that David could have killed him?

It is better to way on the side of good and turn the other cheek, but it isn't always easy is it?

Trying to turn the cheek,
Deb

Beneath the shadow of your wings

Where do I run to Lord when I am afraid? Where do you run when you are afraid?

We all like to say that we go to the Lord, but do we?

As the fear builds do you go to the Lord with your problems?

Do you run to the phone and call a friend?

The Lord reminded me this morning once again that He is the one to protect me. When David ran from Saul and he wrote Psalm 57, he sang to the Lord that he would hide beneath the shadow of His wings. Oh what an image and what protection you feel just saying the words. David was before Jesus and he knew to run to God! We have Jesus and still at times forget to run to God to hide beneath His mighty wings!

Just like David in this Psalm, I am also confident in the Lord! He is mighty and ready to save us, we just have to ask. Why are we so stubborn?

Praise the Lord and hide beneath that Mighty wing!!!

Hiding,
Debbie

Faceless and homeless

Have you ever felt like nobody saw you today? You think did anybody notice me all day long?

Well, we have people around us that think that all the time. Sometimes, I think we tend to act like they aren't there. Why? Because it's easier for us, if we pretend they don't exist. They do exist.

I heard a beautiful young woman talk last night, named Cassie. Cassie works with the homeless and knows that God called her to notice them. To take the time to let them know that they do indeed matter and that they are loved. She meets needs. She doesn't preach at them all the time, she helps to meet the next need.

You see peace in her face and she exudes love when she speaks! God is definitely using this young woman to be His mighty hands and feet in this world.i am using this blog to request prayers for Cassie and her team. They are about to take a huge step of faith and they need to be surrounded by prayers and love. Please lift them up for safety and that they be covered with God's mighty armor.

She is stepping out in faith to an area of town that is not safe, but she knows God is calling her to go into it. I know after hearing her speak that this is true and that we must pray for Cassie and her team. Also, we must pray for the people that are on the streets that we may not see, but they are there.

In our city, we have between 800 and 1200 every night in the street without safety, without umbrellas when it rains, without a blanket to cover when it is cool, or without any cool breeze when it is hot. These folks may look a little different or even smell a little different, but they are not different than you and me...they are God's children and He loves them just as much as you or me...

Praying,
Debbie

The Giants in Our Path

What Giants lay in your path? Is it something you helped to get yourself into or something you had no control over? Are you ready for the battle or do you want to run the other way?

In my reading this morning the thing that struck me first was that David immediately said, "I'll go fight him." No concern about the giant or the battle ~ why? He knew that God was going to fight the battle, not him. Yes, he would use David, but it was God doing the fighting.

Why don't we remember that God is fighting the battle, if we let him? I think the key word is if...How often do we get in the way even when we are in the battle of a lifetime? We think we can handle it...how absurd are we? or should I say am I?

The giant is in the path right ahead of me and I think okay I think I'll turn right and avoid the giant. Avoidance doesn't work! Or I decide to turn around. Postponement doesn't work! The giants in our life don't go away by themselves!!!!

David proclaimed that Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you....Isn't this true? If we ask God to conquer He will and then he will use us in the battle...

We need to remember that we also must wear our own clothes that God gives us to fight these battles. He provides for each of what we need to fight our battles ~ not the clothing of anybody else!!! He gives each of us what we need. He loves each of us in our own uniqueness that He gifted us with and wants each of us to use these gifts in our battles. Don't try to wear anybody elses! It just doesn't fit the same ~ imagine going to battle in high heel shoes that are 2 sizes too small!!! It just will not work! Wear your own battle shoes!!!

Battling behind the Lord,
Debbie

Ha! Ha!

Ha! Ha! I did it and you didn't!!! Remember, those times?

Painful childhood memories that one child treasures and the other needs a band aid for the heart. Taunts from our friends or not friends.

Well, reading recently I was reminded of the story of Hannah and Peninnah in 1 Samuel. Where Hannah's heart is broken and rather than help another woman in pain, the other woman taunts her that The Lord had kept her from having children.

It brought back painful memories. Yes, I am past childbearing years, but some memories remain in your heart forever. The question that every infertile woman hates to hear ~ so when are you going to have a baby?

Like you aren't doing everything in your power to make that come true...an innocent question that I myself would ask people until I knew that sometimes that was a very hard question. Not a taunt? well when you are the one in those shoes it feels that way at times. You see everybody around you having a baby very easy and for you it doesn't work that way.

Hannah went to The Lord in prayer and he answered her prayer. He answered mine as well with a different answer than Hannah's. Today, I understand not that I still wouldn't like to call a child my own, but God had other plans for me. I accept His answer. Which doesn't mean that we always like the answer He gives us, but I do know that God loves me His plans weren't mine at the time.

Next time, remember careful when asking questions. It may seem like a taunt to her, if she is in pain.

I know that God has plans for me just like He tells us in Jeremiah.

Waiting on the next plan,
Debbie

Storms in Our Life

Last night I laid in bed and listened to the storm raging outside. I was reading and watching the tv updates about the storm that was headed to my part of town.

Slowly, my body began to tense with each sound that the storm was closing in around my home. I was feeling much like the scripture in Psalm 55: 7 -9 (The Message) My insides are turned inside out;....

My dogs both wanted to sit in my lap because they feel safe from the storm in my lap. A beautiful reminder that I needed to sit in the lap of my Savior. I went to Him in prayer and the peace began to take over the uneasy feelings surrounding me. The storm was still brewing, but I was more at ease. Again, like the verses from Psalm 55: (the Message)Get me out of here on dove wings; i want peace and quiet. ... I'm desperate for a change from rage and stormy weather.

At 10:00 the news told me to take cover. We (my dogs and me) took a pillow, my flashlight, a book and each other. We gathered in a bathroom in the inside of the house and waited. The cell phone began to beep. Friends checking on me and watching the storm. Updates on tv and The friends told me it is safe now to move out it moved past you. The stillness after the storm was so peaceful just like when I finally climbed into my Savior's lap for the peace from the storm.

Resting peacefully,
Debbie

Praise the Lord!

You have just received word that someone you love is in trouble. You just heard that you lost someone you love. Do you immediately bow in worship?

Reading this morning in Judges, I was reminded that Gideon was about to go to battle and he worshiped before the Lord! Wow, he was praising God just moments before a big battle.

We should immediately go to the Lord in praise and worship, shouldn't we? We should praise and worship God at all times, but do we?

Reading this story this morning it reminded me that all too often we go to those around us with our prayer concerns and we don't take them to The Comforter, The Great Physician, The Almighty we take it to those that are around us in body form. The bible does tell us that where 2 or more are gathered I am there, so it's okay that we turn to our friends, but...maybe I forget to go to the Almighty at times.

Next battle I am going to be reminded to praise and worship The Almighty! The Lord will give us our answers and get us through the battle. We may not receive the answer we desire, but we will be carried through the battle by Our Lord.

Thanking God that you always remind me of things I take for granted!!!

Praising the Lord,
Debbie

But Lord, How can I?

Have you ever questioned the Lord? How can I Lord?

Days go by and you think God made a terrible mistake and suddenly you realize God doesn't make mistakes. You just didn't trust what He was telling you.

Well, we aren't alone. This morning I was reading from Judges when Gideon becomes a judge. Imagine, it was you in Gideon's place you were working threshing wheat to hide from your enemy. Suddenly, an angel, but you don't recognize this at first tells you the Lord is with you. Well, if the Lord is with me Why, does all this bad stuff keep happening? Why? Why?

Go with the strength I've given you and rescue the Israelites. I'm sending you!
Who me? Little old me? the smallest and the weakest? Me? How? I will be with you!

Ladies, what more do we need to hear than I will be with you? What other assurance do we need? Do you continue to question and put God through a series of steps, like Gideon? Sometimes, I think we do in our own ways.. We wait for another sign or another signal and God usually answers, doesn't He?

God is the Key to our Puzzles and yet we still question this in our journeys. We have the answers we just don't go to the right source. We ask a friend or we ask a Dear Abby column, or we go to someone else...all the time we have the ear that we need ~ patiently waiting on us yet again ~ to say ~ Lord, show me the way. After all, in this story he tells us once again ~ I will be with you. Yes, Lord! The Great I Am is with us and we need to ask him for the answers during this difficult time in our country! Yes, Please turn to the Lord and ask what can I do to help?

Asking,
Debbie