Cheerleader for life!

Proverbs 12:25

Worry weights a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

I found a quote on worry from one of my favorite authors ~

"I am an old man and I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened" - Mark Twain

I read one time the statistic on worry and all the things that you worry about never happening and it blew my mind. It also made me mad, after all I spent all that time worrying about it and then it wasn't going to happen? WHAT?

Thank goodness those things don't happen to us. I spent much of my life in a state of worry. I worried about health of family members, I worried about money, I worried about who was mad at me, I worried about the weather, I worried about the next Dr. visit, I worried about …well everything. I was quite the QUEEN of WORRY. You didn't know that I was royalty did you? Well, I was at least in the WORRY ROYAL FAMILY! It just didn't get me anywhere. It brought me down. IT brought me way down. I pretty much stayed in the bottom of the pit, because it brought fear along with a short temper along with depression.

One day I finally realized it was hurting me. The worry wasn't getting me any further in life and it was definitely harming me and my relationships. Kenny often told me that I was absolutely living in fear and that he didn't understand. God changes things doesn't HE? Thank Goodness!

God showed me that it was much easier to let Him handle all the stuff of life and to encourage others to do the same. Once I began to take this approach to life things changed! Cheering another person on is so much more uplifting than sharing the worry and woe to me and bringing everybody down…So, encourage someone today! Cheer another person on! I always wanted to be a cheerleader and now I am!!!

Cheering,

Debbie

Need refreshment?

Proverbs 3: 21 – 22

My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.

When you were growing up, did you often here it's okay honey you have common sense? Well, I really wasn't sure, if that was good or not. The older I get I realize that indeed it is good to have common sense sometimes rather than all the brains in the world. Don't get me wrong we indeed need the folks that are brilliant after all they find cures, invent things, solve difficult engineering needs and the list goes on and on, but I believe this proverb proves we need those of us with common sense too.

Remember really hot summers growing up? What did you want to refresh your body? Did you reach for a cold lemonade? A nap in the hammock? A dip in the pool? Playing in the sprinkler? The ice cream truck with all of those goodies? I tried all of these and more! The proverb tells us that common sense and discernment will refresh your soul. I agree. I think back over my journey and things that have happened in my journey and my soul indeed is refreshed when I am able to discern that God is working in my life or I use common sense to figure out the next step that God desires for my journey. It is just as quenching as the lemonade on a hot summer day and they are indeed just like the diamonds that I treasure that are family treasures. The times that I know God refreshed me and renewed my spirit are moments that I treasure more than all the jewelry in my jewelry box. The God moments in my life are way more valuable in figuring out the next step to take or the things that matter….

Proverbs is indeed full of wise advice for the fools of this world and indeed I've been called one of those too…Proverbs 3 closes with The wise inherit honor, but fools are put to shame! Let's all learn from the wise and let the fools be put to shame. So …

Pick up the Word, Talk to the LORD, and we will be able to use common sense and discern our steps on the path of life!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Building

Psalm 127: 1

Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.

Isn't this so true? I think of things that I've tried to build on my own and what a failure they end up being. I think back over the years and realize the times that I just proceeded forward with the latest whim that went through my mind and then when I would tire of the project and quit. I always wondered why I couldn't go any further with the idea. Now I realize they were my idea and they were not a part of God's plan.

Many of you know that I lost my home a little over two years ago. At the time it burned it was such a difficult time. The pain of losing things that I treasured pictures, my wedding dress, our wedding portrait, a piece of the Berlin wall, autographed treasures from people I admire, old family memories…the list goes on. I decided they were still just things that day and knew that one day I would have left them behind anyway. I was getting dry run for the day I leave this earth forever. After all we don't take things with us on the next journey.

During the entire building time I saw God at work in our rebuild. It was amazing the different things that I would find that I know God placed for me to find from Him. I would find pages from the old family bibles with words of wisdom for me and they would fit the days ahead exactly. Truly an amazing time in my life was the time I spent rebuilding my home. The Lord did rebuild our home and it is the most beautiful home because I see His work everywhere.

He sent amazing people to work on our home and rebuild it manually. The men are amazing Christian men and they spent many hours sharing their gifts of building making my house a home. I had an amazing woman named Janet that took her God given talent of decorating to add color, textures, and things that just spoke about my walk with the Lord. Butterflies are everywhere! My friends that were continually God's hands throughout the experience ~ definitely God built my home!

Thank you God for building my home!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Nothing too hard

1 Kings 10

She came to test him with hard questions…

Solomon had answers for all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.

Praise the LORD your God who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD'S eternal love for Israel, he has made you king…

Do you remember when you were in school and you would have had homework from the night before and one other student had all the answers? Did you think perhaps that know it all, she is always showing out for the teacher? Did you exclaim wow God delights in her?

Not me. I was the one thinking about what a know it all she was…Sad, but true! I just imagine this queen and we need to keep in mind that she was a queen, herself. Very in tune with people thinking she had answers and she had come to hear Solomon. She had some pretty tough questions in her royal treasure chest, but he knew all the answers.

Solomon was wise and God provided the answers. He provides the answers to the toughest test we may take and it isn't always one we signed up for, but He goes right along with us. He helps hold us up, He helps to comfort us, He gives us wisdom beyond our own understanding because He delights in us just like He did Solomon!

Wow, nothing is too hard for us because of the LORD! So next time, take the hard questions and remember nothing is too hard for the LORD and He is standing right beside you…

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Praise and worship

"He is good!

His love endures forever!"

 

The worship that must have been taking place! 2 Chronicles 5:14 goes on to tell us that the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God. Wow! I was picturing ~ the priests, the Levites who were the musicians and listen to the music performed by the cymbals, lyres, and harps and then an additional 120 trumpets.

The temple, the beautiful temple was complete and now they were worshiping and praising the Lord with all their might. Praise and thanks to the LORD raising all of their voices, and instruments to praise the LORD. What a beautiful scene and when they were truly worshiping and praising the LORD showed up!

Do we worship like we should? Do we have the instruments, the praise at the top of their voices? Wow, what a moment it must have been for everybody…The temple is complete and they are worshipping in the temple.

Today is the Lord's Day so worship and praise and remember that He is good! His loves endures forever! INDEED! INDEED!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Set Free!

Luke 13:10 -13

I know this isn't our reading today, but I read this in addition to our reading and felt I was suppose to write about this writing. So, please take a moment here and read this passage.

Imagine this woman. A woman bent over for 18 long years. The sky was not in her sight walking along the paths. The beautiful clouds and stars were not a part of her walks. She only would only have the dirt of the path in her vision.

We all have days that we moan and groan about the things that we have to deal with throughout our day. When I read this story it spoke so loudly to my heart about all of us when I reached this verse ~ Woman, you are set free from your infirmity. Picture this little lady that had suffered for 18 years, suddenly to be straightened up and praising God. She was dancing and lifting her hands to the beautiful sky (at least in my imagination)!

What caught my attention was the words Woman, you are set free…So, place your name in front of you are set free….Debbie you are set free! Whether you are physically down or it is a choice that we have made ourselves Jesus will set you free. I am so moved that Jesus noticed this woman, just like He notices you and me. She may have come to see Him, but He made the move to her.

My prayer for you is that you will be set free from whatever is holding you down looking at the dirt rather than the beautiful stars and sky above. Lord, I pray that women will be set free by taking the step towards you and giving you whatever is holding them bent over in bondage. Thank you, Lord for setting me free. Amen

 

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Wisdom and Awe

1 Kings 3:26

…"Oh no, my lord! Give her the child-please do not kill him!"

Wow, what a way to get to the truth. Here bring me a sword I'll just cut him in half. Imagine it – two women fighting, tugging on the baby and the King on his throne. The pure wisdom shown by asking for a sword to cut the child in half was shown by Solomon. We all know that a mother that loves her child isn't going to allow this to happen. The mother would rather walk away alone and give her child to the woman that lied.

We might to get to the truth in a lot of situations, if we used the Wisdom of Solomon. Today, we worry more about being politically correct than what is wise. Solomon caused others to be in awe of his wisdom. I was trying to remember the last time I was awed by the wisdom shown by people in leadership. It's been awhile. Oh to be awed again.

Wise is defined as the power to discern to make judgment. Definitely Solomon was wise in how he handled this situation. Awed is defined as the overwhelming feeling of admiration, reverence. I was recently in church the last time I was awed. A pastor stood in the pulpit and cried about the lost souls that he came in contact with every day. You could feel his pain and I admired his honesty. I came away believing this man to be a wise man that was trying to make a difference. I knew this man did not care how many times his phone would ring the following day because of his honesty. The pastor cared more about helping others get to heaven than whose toes he might be stepping on.

One day maybe someone will compare you to Solomon with your wise choice and others will be in awe. Situations sometimes call for us to try to discern the right choice and we will be wise, if we learn from The Word that we are reading daily. If we call on the Lord to guide us along this journey, we will grow in wisdom.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Grasping the Word

1 Kings 3:12-13

I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for – riches and fame!

 

Many times in my prayers I feel like God is in a big room with soooo many requests, soooo many demands, soooo many I promise this - that I don't request. I realized a few years back that God is so much bigger than I can comprehend that I needed to take me out of my prayer life. I needed to talk to God about everything. I needed to talk to Him about my dreams, my concerns, my thoughts, my everyday life just like I do everybody else that I love. Did you catch that? Talk to Him just like everybody else that you talk to…He wants a relationship, so we have to talk …we have to whisper, we have to share…we have to ask…

Don't you ask things of your family? Friends? People you work with? Then, why would we not ask God? After all, out of the list of people you talk to and request things of isn't God truly the one that can give you what you need and desire?

Today, I was reminded of the scene from God Almighty with the yellow post-it-notes all over the room of people's prayers. The only difference is that God can handle all of those sticky notes and so many more!

Solomon requested wisdom and understanding, which is amazing that he was wise in his request and then God went overboard and gave him more. God is so gracious and we have a tendency to try to put Him in our little boxes, because that is all that we can handle…HE CAN HANDLE ANYTHING and it is time we try to grasp that fact!

 

Trying to grasp,

Debbie

Shine on Us Father!

Psalm 80:3

Turn us again to yourself, O God.

Make your face shine down upon us.

Only then will we be saved.

Does anybody else hate to turn on the news? I absolutely cannot stand to turn on the news to all the hate, awful words, the terrible things happening and yet I feel like I don't know what's happening, if I don't listen. I don't watch like I did because it is never anything good. I need hope and it is not found on the evening news.

I've decided that no news is good news. I've decided that I don't worry as much if I just don't watch the commentators interpret the news for me. I know how I stand on issues and most of the time it's not with the commentators…I know how the Bible instructs me to believe and most of the time it's not with the anger, the awful fights, the judgment calls that are made on the news or anywhere else. Judgment is not ours to make…

I turn to God to interpret the news. I've learned that just because I don't believe that something is right that it is my place to judge someone. I still believe that God's word is how I should decide my values, but God's word tells me to love others. I was reminded of the story of the woman that is thrown before Jesus for judgment. He responded, "if anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." The same is true of us and yet we are ready with our stones….

So today when I read this beautiful verse and it was indeed my prayer Please Father, turn your face to us again. Let us see your light shine on us and let us be saved from ourselves. Amen

 

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

God Deeds

Psalm 77:11

But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.

I was reminded this morning in the reading to share what I am doing Debbie. It isn't just long ago it is now and why aren't people talking about it more?

So, I must share about Sunday with you. Sunday I got up and did my reading and began to write the blog and writing about calling on the LORD. Out of nowhere the words kept coming about BE Still…Be Still. So it was written in the blog that day about sometimes when I am not still to listen how I don't call on Him. I finished writing and went to work on Bible study and you guessed it what was the lesson on? Be Still..Now that isn't all…I was riding listening to my praise and worship and again the same message. Yes, I did get His WORDS for ME!

Our Father talks to us daily. He loves us and wants to share things with us now. He does some really amazing things that He wants to show us and then we talk about with others. People want to call them coincidence, but they are God Winks, God Moments, God appointments.

I have a really amazing story of a time I was very stressed at a conference for women. I decided to take my shower and let the hot water relieve the stress and when I threw back the shower curtain on the mirror written is the word Happy…Now I know I was given that room, so that I would receive this awesome message reminding me to be happy in what God called me to do, but also to share how I was in that room to receive that message.

So are you in the room ready to receive? Watch for Him, Listen for Him. We don't ever know who He placed in our path to give us His mighty message. Don't miss it, Be watchful and share the deeds and also do remember HIS MIGHTY DEEDS of long ago…

Remembering,

Debbie

Slippery feet

Psalm 73:2

But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

Do you remember times like these where you almost were lost? You were half way into the fall and you felt God pick you up and place you right back on the right path?

Oh, I think I remember on the way down in the fall crying out Help me Lord and that was all it took was remembering to cry out LORD, help me. How often is it our own fault that we do fall, because we forget to cry out for help? I imagine it is more times than any of us care to imagine…

The Word this morning was pretty plain we imagine and judge others and it causes us to fall. Oops, watch that step Debbie it will cause you to fall every time! I loved verse 23…yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. The only reason I don't fall more is you have my right hand keeping me up on the path. You guide me when I call out to you.

Thank you Father for loving me and for holding my right hand!!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Still

Psalm 145: 18

The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

If you continue reading, the Word tells us that He Grants, He protects, He destroys. The key is calling on Him in truth.

I amaze myself at times with what I think I am hiding from the LORD. When I speak with women not a lot of them will admit that they try to fool themselves with the fact that they try to hide anything from the LORD. Maybe they don't, maybe I am alone in admitting that I still (grown woman and all) try to think I might hide something from the LORD. I fool myself into thinking that He doesn't see something and that I can take care of it on my own. Second mistake….First mistake was thinking I can hide anything. I don't think we grow up in this area though…we get better, but do we totally realize that God knows all, so just call on Him to begin with??? Is it our human nature to try to handle things on our own? Is it a woman's nature to call her bbf first and then call on the LORD?

The Word tells us to call on Him and then He will take action. Wow, why is it so hard for us to make this call at times? Is it admitting our own weaknesses? Is it fear? Is it we might not like HIS answer?

I am learning the older that I get it is the best step to make the call. I still falter at times because of the fact that when I go I do want to go in total truth and I am afraid of His answer. I sometimes think if I just don't approach Him then I can do things my way. It doesn't work that way, I still end up approaching Him because in the long run it will be His Way ~ Not Mine.

You would think at 50…I would know this. I do, but I am still a fool at times…I am still growing…I am still weak…I am still fearful…I am still…

Did you catch it? When I am still…I finally realize who I need to call…Sometimes, I just don't let myself get still to know…

Be still and know that I am God…Psalm 46:10

So I am reminded this morning to be still and call the one who knows!

Still,

Debbie

Content like a baby

Psalm 131

Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty.

I don't concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp,

Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother's milk.

Yes, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother's milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD- now and always.

I love the imagery of a content baby. When you watch a baby that is taking a bottle and the happy expression when they are full absolutely nothing is better to witness. You realize that a baby is totally content and happy just like we should be…

We should wait with hope in the Lord, because we trust in the LORD. We are content with who we are in the LORD. Because of the LORD we are content and filled with hope.

Next time you see a happy full baby, smile and know that we are allowed the same feelings of this baby through the LORD. Smile and give praise for the Hope that is ours because of the LORD. Accept that we don't have to understand everything. Accept that we have the gift of hope provided by the LORD.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Sing Praises

Psalm 103

Magnify all the LORD works!

Praise!

He forgives!

He redeems!

He fills my life with good things!

He is compassionate!

The Lord is like a father to all his children!

He knows when we are weak!

He loves forever!

He saves!

The LORD creates…

Praise the LORD always!

 

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

ONE DAY

Psalm 66: 4

Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs.

Reading this morning, I was reminded of times that I've watch crowds of people shout Hail to the Queen, or words to the President and thought in reality they are just people with a title. We should be shouting and singing praises to the KING of KINGS. I've stood in the crowd at Buckingham Palace and watched the guards perform their duties with honor. What about us? Do we perform our duties with the same honor that these guards do for their queen? I know this is a strange thought, but that is what hit me. Do we honor OUR FATHER with pomp and circumstance that HE deserves? We do honor our leaders and are so excited to be close and watch these ceremonies take place, but what about the true KING?

One day everyone will worship Him and the praises will be shouted and the songs will be glorious all for Him. One day HE will get the honor that only He deserves and just imagine the beautiful music that will be in the air in worship to OUR TRUE KING. We will finally worship all together one day and oh what a glorious day it will be together without walls that we build…

Finally it will be all about HIS KINGDOM and HIM! Worship together in HIS Honor it will truly be a glorious eternity….

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Hope always!

Psalm 37:34

Put your hope in the LORD. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.

I've heard the word hope talked about a lot lately. How do you find hope? How do you help others have hope? Hope! Hope! Hope!

You turn on the television and the news isn't good. You listen to the people around you and they don't offer much hope, so what is the answer?

THE LORD. The Lord is the same today, tomorrow, and always. We must stay the course always and forever with THE LORD. How you may wonder?

Share what He is doing with everybody. He is doing some amazing things in your life and those around you share them. Look for HIM daily and know that it is Him working. Share your "Divine Appointments" with others and watch their eyes light up, watch their face shine and watch the hope grow…

Always keep your eyes focused on the ONE above and HOPE is born!

Full of Hope,

Debbie

Fools?

Psalm 14

Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God."

They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.

 

 

David they think wrote this about the time of Nabal. Remember the story of Nabal refusing to help David and without Abigail David would have killed Nabal and all that lived at his home. David was about to be a fool himself, but God placed Abigail in his path to keep him from making a huge mistake…

Today we turn on the television and many people proclaim the words there is no God…Do we turn our televisions off? Do we think well it's okay we live in a society that is politically correct, so we need to accept their feelings or do we cry out to the LORD?

God must me very sad when He looks at the World today. If they were fools during the times of David what would we called now? I hear people openly admit to not believing and I am appalled it is like they wear it as a badge of honor. Are we believers trying to truly make a difference? Are we walking the talk in such a manner that they see "the light" in us? We might need to take a good look at ourselves and see what do they see…why do they not want what we proclaim to have?

Today let's search our hearts and pray that God shows us how to be the light..in this dark, dark world. Pray that they see The Lord in us. Pray that we will be His Hands and Feet today and help that hurting neighbor. Pray that this is the way that they become a believer by us being what we need to be in the world and that they only see The LORD in us.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Certain of the ONE that rules!

Uncertainty

 

Are you uncertain about the future? Does your mind wonder what shoe is going to fall next? Do you worry about how you are going to pay the next bill? Do you worry about what the Doctor is going to tell you about the tests? Do you worry about will we ever see peace again? Do you worry about where the next tornado is going to hit?

Uncertain times are all around us. We live in a world that is filled with anger, intolerance, war, illness, destruction and it seems never ending, but in Psalm 11:4 this is what we are certain about

But the LORD is in his holy Temple;

The LORD still rules from heaven.

He watches everyone closely,

Examining every person on earth,

The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked.

He hates those who love violence,

He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,

punishing them with scorching winds.

For the righteous LORD loves justice.

The virtuous will see his face.

The Lord does rule and He is watching and this brings great comfort when the things that surround us in this world become too much cast your gaze and focus to the ONE that saved us a long time ago…Keep your eyes focused on things above and the other becomes bearable because of the one that bears our burdens!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

A Passing Shadow

1 Chronicles 29:15

…Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.

Have you ever had thoughts like it seems like yesterday that I was 10…sweet 16…21…so on? Do you remember the adults in your young life telling you - don't wish your life away it goes quick enough on its own?

Today reading about David praying before the assembly and sharing praise and worship I was hit by the fact that even David who lived a life of a shepherd, a warrior, a husband, a father, a king felt life went by really fast. David had thoughts of his life being gone without a trace. If the man that was after God's own heart (Acts 13) felt life was like a passing shadow, it's pretty normal to have thoughts like these.

What did David do to help with these feelings? He rejoiced, He gave praise, He worshiped the LORD and he bowed low and knelt before the LORD. David knew the time was near, but he worshiped.

How are you going to spend your days? Will they be gone without a trace? David taught all of us how we should spend our days, which choice will we make?

Praising God,

Debbie

Intimately

1 Chronicles 28:9

…learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

Intimately. When I think of the word intimately, I think close, like no other, special, unique, love, understanding, acceptance are these words that would describe how you know God?

Truthfully, until I began to spend time in God's word I didn't know God. I thought I did, but what I knew was what other people thought and from studies that I would grab a little bit here and there, but until I read the Word for myself daily I didn't know God. I am amazed daily at the different things I find with God now…I find humor, I find amazing, I find surprises, I find love, and I find all the words above, but so much more.

Wise words that David gave his son learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. A man that knew God so well and a man that God loved so much just like He loves us…we are all given the choice to know Him intimately for ourselves. Which choice are you going to make let others tell you about God or let Him teach you all about Himself?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Praise GOD

1 Chronicles 23:5

…and 4,000 will praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have made.

Praise and worship is so important and I don't think I truly grasp this fact until recently. I've always loved the music, but 3 or 4 songs is enough and let's be done was my thoughts.

Until one day God placed it on my heart that it wasn't about me. Imagine that! It was very loud and I was becoming very ready to sit and receive and it was as if God said no it's not Debbie…it's about worship and that is all about me! Now what I mean is I was ready to receive my word from God and that meant sit down and take rather than give to God what HE SO DESERVES our worship!

I was so ashamed. I've always enjoyed the music, but enough was enough until one day when God reminded me that it is very important to HIM to praise Him with music! Today when I was reading it was a wonderful reminder of how important it is…4000 will praise the LORD with instruments and they would accompany God's messages with lyres, harps, and cymbals! They were to stand before the LORD to sings songs of thanks and praise to HIM.

When was the last time you truly praised God in worship? When was the last time that you gave thanks and praised HIM with all your being? Have you ever praised God in such a manner? I heard of a church just yesterday that the Pastor felt the Spirit move him to step aside and not give the message to only praise God…imagine a pastor that actually listened to the Spirit change the plans for worship on Sunday and then to actually follow through with the Spirit's guidance! Wow! I'm not a member of the church that did this, I've only visited it a few times, but it speaks volumes to me about where this pastor gets his messages from and it is not the members – his messages are from above…Only a man that listens to the Spirit would step aside and give God the praise that ONLY HE DESERVES!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Mercy

2 Samuel 24: 14

"I'm in a desperate situation!" David replied to Gad. "But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands."

David had the choice of famine, battle or plague. Wow, what a choice! Pondering and thinking about this famine David knew he would still be okay, he was wealthy and he had the means to take care of himself and his family. Battle again he knew he would be okay. He had men to fight the battles and die for him, he didn't have to enter the battle the only choice that would be fair was the plague. David knew that he would suffer along with his people. He would be equal to his people. After all, it was his choice to count the people. It was his ego that wanted to count the troops and see how he stood.

Once again, I love David. David trusted in God's divine goodness and decided to trust God. He even begged let your anger fall against me and my family these people are innocent. It makes me think about our leaders today. How often do we hear our leaders want to take the fall? When I turn on the news all too often it is pointing a finger at the other guy and never being man enough or woman enough to take the blame. I would respect our leaders so much more, if they would say I goofed up… I made a mistake…just like David did!

What a choice David had to make, but oh what a choice he did make – one that spoke to David's heart and the reason God spoke of David as the man after his own heart…

Sweet blessings,

Debbie