We are all broken...

1 Chronicles 20:1, 2 Samuel 11 and 12: 1-25, Psalm 51

Reading today, the thought "yes indeed we are all broken"!  Even the man, King David.  Yes, the man that fought the giant and loved God so very dearly was broken.  

I was reminded of Holley Gerth's writing this week about the broken water jug and the perfect water jug and why the lady didn't worry about the broken water jug because of the water seeping through and the beautiful flowers getting much needed water.  Beauty comes from those broken places.

Imagine, King David stooping so very low that he took something that wasn't his and then to protect this secret he committed murder.  Yet, God still loved David in all of his broken places just like God loves us in our brokenness.  It is so true that God broke Jesus who was perfect, so that we would be forgiven for all our our broken places.

Psalm 51 speaks so beautifully to broken places

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.  Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

Wash me clean from my guilt.

Purify me from my sin.

For I recognize my rebellion, it haunts me day and night...

Yes, Lord have mercy on all of us.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Collected tears

1 Samuel 26, 27, 28, 29 ~ 1 Chronicles 12:19 ~ Psalm 56

Are you struggling?  Do you wonder does anybody see my pain?  Well, today's reading finds David struggling.  Once again we find Saul tracking David down.  We see David asking him, "Why are you chasing me?  What have I done?  What is his crime?  Don't you know this hurts David?  He was close to the king now he wants to kill him.  Relationships hurt at times, don't they?  

Saul is torn apart from jealously and the evils within himself.  He consults a medium.  He is in pain, but turning to a medium rather than God.  Then we have David getting reject by the Philistines.  Once again, David is sent packing.

After all the rejection we read Psalm 56 which some think is about this time in David's life.  Some commentators say that this is about David wandering around like a fugitive and knowing in his heart that God knows his pains and that God is taking note of it in the book of purpose.  He is keeping a record of David's pain and of ours....

Today, treasure this verse from Psalm 56 and know that God knows your pain, He knows your struggles...

You keep track of all my sorrows.

You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book.

My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.

This I know:  God is on my side!

I praise God for what he has promised;

Yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised.

I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?

What can mere mortals do to me?

Indeed, find comfort and claim these verses for your journey!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Timing

1 Samuel 23: 13 - 29, Psalm 54, 1 Samuel 24 -25

Today's reading is all about timing!  Not ours either ~ God's!

Throughout the reading today, the thought it is all about God's timing kept coming to my mind.  Look at the reading found in 1 Samuel 24 with David cutting off a piece of Saul's robe.  He was so close to do way more than cut off a piece of the robe, but it wasn't God's timing.  Saul was chasing down David to kill, but David only cut off a small piece of his robe.  David looked to God for direction of his steps, not Saul and not himself.  I also thought about the pain that David had to be going through knowing that Saul went from caring for David to wanting to kill him.  

Next the story of "foolish" Nabal...David was on his way to kill him, when Abigail (his wife) interceded with accepting blame for David being mistreated.  It wasn't the time or place for David to take this action and Abigail knew it.  She reminded David that he was fighting the Lord's battles and had done nothing wrong.  David praised God that Abigail was sent to stop him from taking this action.

God is acting in our journeys.  Are we listening when He sends people to intercede for us?  Are we listening when He tells us not yet?  It's not about our clocks and calendars ~ it's all about His!

I have to tell you that being a planner this lesson is difficult.  I am one of those ladies that makes a list and checks off each item, but I am learning to toss the calendar away and let God!  When I do allow God to direct my path it is a much better plan!  Yes, this from a calendar obsessed woman!

So, I encourage you to allow God's timing into your journey!  His appointments rock!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Who are you confident in?

1 Samuel 22 - 23: 1-12,  Psalm 57, 142, and 52

Today, I am reminded that in all situations we should look to the LORD!

Today's reading opens with David hiding in a cave, then hiding his parents in Moab to protect them from Saul, the killing of the priests, so many bad things.  Sound a little bit like today?  I mean we have people hiding away from terror groups, we have people being killed for no good reason, lots of bad stuff happening, so where are we looking?  

It is my prayer that yes we are demanding action on our leaders part, but most of all we are praying to God. We are lifting  all of this  up to God for His protection and for Him to be guiding the leaders in this world.  Let's look at the words of David found in Psalm 57 written while he was hiding in a cave...

My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident.

No wonder I can sing your praises!

Wake up, my heart!

Wake up, O lyre and harp!

I will wake the dawn with my song.

I will thank you, LORD, among all the people.

I will sing your praises among the nations.

For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.

May your glory shine over all the earth.

Yes, things are bad around us!  Yet, we need to learn from David.  It doesn't matter how bad things are we should wake praising God and give God the glory for all that He is...Sing HIS praises among all people everywhere!  He is indeed the answer to all that hurts in this world.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Praise the LORD at all times.

1 Samuel 20 - 21 and Psalm 34

When I am in the mountains, I feel God everywhere!  I turn and I see Him in the sunrise, the sunset, the surprise of an animal, the setting, the people...everything!  So when I read this morning Psalm 34 it really struck a chord with me ~  I will praise the LORD at all times.  I will constantly speak his praises.  I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart.  Come, let us tell the LORD's greatness; let us exalt his name together.

Indeed, we should praise HIM at all times.  Even in the ordinary, everyday moments driving to and from work, making dr. appt.'s, grocery shopping, getting our hair done, EVERY moment, but I fail in the everyday moments at times to remember to praise God.  I am improving, but I do fail.  When I am here in my special place it's easy, but it should be easy everyday and in every moment, but honestly it's not...

It takes me back to the last few days of reading and the fall of Saul, David killing the giant, and Michal, the daughter of Saul that loved David.  I think I pondered on her all day yesterday trying to grasp; why didn't she go right out the window after David knowing that God would take care of them?  Also, why did she grab for an idol to place in the bed?  Why did she have an idol in her home? 

 David told the giant these words ~ You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven's Armies-the God of the armies of Israel and I will kill you and cut off your head.  David knew who was going to kill the giant and it was God.  He declared it loudly for all to hear, so how could his wife have an idol in his home and then place it in his bed?  After all, an idol is something that you show devotion to other than the One True God.

I pondered it all day long and didn't really come to any great conclusions other than this morning when I got to this verse...I will praise the LORD at all times.  Had Michal forgotten to praise God at all times and this lead to her eventual sad journey?

Don't forget PRAISE GOD AT ALL TIMES!

Praising God,

Debbie

Legacy ~ Does it matter?

1 Samuel 15 - 17:31

Today, I was reminded of what matters to God.

Look at chapter 15:22 what Samuel says to Saul ~ 

"What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice?

Obedience a word that is so difficult for a lot of people today.  Yet, it is so very important to the LORD!  It should matter to all of us as well.

If we aren't obedient, what will happen with our legacy?  No big deal?  Well, today we read about Saul fighting the Amalekites and he doesn't follow the LORD'S instructions.  Saul was suppose to completely destroy this nation of people for opposing Israel.  Well, Saul doesn't kill the king.  He spared the king's life and he kept the best of the animals for himself.  He only destroyed what was worthless or of poor quality.  God didn't mention any of this in His instructions.  HE said ALL.

Well, the LORD rejected Saul because he didn't obey the commands.  Samuel rejected Saul.  Samuel completed God's instructions by killing the king and never saw Saul again.

Saul did not complete his instructions and we see again in the book of Esther where Esther and Mordecai have to deal with the evil Haman, son of Hammedatha, the Agagite.  Mordecai did not like this man from the beginning and now I understand why.  I had never tied these two things together before reading the wonderful book by Tommy Tenney ~ "Finding Favor with the King."  I was so excited to tie something else to the story of Esther that indeed puts God imprints all over this story.

Mordecai remembered the stories he had heard about these people ~ the Amalekites and he did not forget!  He knew they were evil and that they did not like the Israelites even when they came from Egypt.  Legacy matters.  Mordecai had listened and learned from His people.

The things we teach our younger people matter...Do we teach them it does matter to follow the rules or go ahead do whatever you want is okay?  Obedience does matter.  Listen to these words that Samuel continued with in chapter 15:  Listen!  Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.  Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshipping idols.  So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

Powerful words for all of us to ponder and follow.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Awesome Read ~ Finding Favor With the King by Tommy Tenney

I loved this book!  I was given this book by Bethany House Publishers to review and may I just say I learned a lot and enjoyed every moment of the learning process.  If you are like me and enjoy, learning more about scripture this book is for you.

Esther comes to life in a whole new way!  It begins a year before Esther goes to the king and we learn about the whole process through what Mr. Tenney calls the "Twelve Protocals of the Palace."  I have often times heard people discuss whether Esther should even be in the Bible because God isn't mentioned by name anywhere.  I've always been one that sees God in the whole story with His timing, His love, and His amazing grace and His name doesn't have to be mentioned.  After reading this book I am even believe it more!

We learn about the process of Esther going to the spa for a whole year.  Well, not exactly like we do..it wasn't always fun!  Smells, yes smells I found this fascinating how Esther would have just oozed with fragrance.  I loved how Esther was a listener and learned how she needed to grow to prepare for her moment with the King.

Esther was seeking the king not the surroundings or the palace.  I mean by this she wasn't worried about the jewels, the palace, the things, she wanted to treasure her moments with the King.  A lesson that each of us need to learn about how to prepare and treasure our moments with the King!  Mr. Tenney does an amazing job of teaching us how we might learn through Esther to prepare for our special moments with the KING!

Amazing 5 star read!  Love this book and I will be sharing portions of this book in upcoming days with our year through the Bible lessons writings.  It's awesome stuff!

Order this book today through Amazon.com or any other site you order books or purchase books!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Focus

1 Samuel 9 - 12

1 Samuel 9:20 ~ ...And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel's hopes."  

The word "focus" caught my attention this morning.  I kept coming back to this word, so I looked up the original Hebrew meaning for this word and learned that in this context it means the inner man, understanding, will, heart.  Isn't that what matters in life?

Look around at television commercials is it the inner or outer man/woman that is always the focus?  Well, not the inner for sure.  We focus way too much on the outer appearances and we miss so much of the real meaning of life.  Don't get me wrong it's important to take care of ourselves, but we can take it way too far at times.  Our hope ~ don't you think if we focused more on understanding the shoes others walk in, we understood that times were hard for our fellow person, we truly cared with our hearts that some of our problems might be taken care of?  Also, I think that understanding that we don't all believe the same and understanding that is how the world goes around.  Don't take away our hearts by trying to make us believe or me trying to make you believe my way...Encourage one another to read God's Word and let Him show the way.

My beliefs are just as important to me and yours are to you and I appreciate and understand that...It doesn't mean that I don't care about you and I hope the same is true about you!  Let's begin today with pondering the word focus and allow it to provide hope in our world today by understanding and heart.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Stay or run

Pondering thoughts from the book of Ruth...Things got tough and Naomi's family moved to a foreign land.  Remember the old saying "when things get tough the tough get going."  Do you think we always run away when things get difficult?  Don't get me wrong God uses all our choices...just like He did with the family of Ruth.

I was pondering this story and the morning of the reading these mountain goats ran so fast from one mountain to the other running from something.  (according to my hunter husband Kenny)  I've never seen them move so fast across the mountains.  It was fascinating watching them keep their footing in the most unlikely places.

It hit me that we do that and the family of Naomi did that...rather than trust God in the difficult moments, if possible we run.  Some situations we can't run from illness, difficult diagnosis, car wrecks, loss of jobs, some things we can't run from...but we still try at times.  I know over the past year, I've wanted to run at times from situations that truly I have nothing to do with, but they affect me.  God continues to tell me to trust Him, but that doesn't take away that urge deep down to run just like these goats are in the photo, but we must trust!

Trust God in every moment, in every situation, and know that He is going to handle things.  I also trust that in those moments that I do run, He is already in that moment as well.  He will use my mistakes or my good choices for His glory!

Think a moment on your own journey.  When you trust and stay in the situation ~ Do you feel close to God?  Do you feel Him doing His thing is a whole new way?  Have you read the book by Barbara Taylor Brown ~ Learning to walk in the Dark?  I think that is the name.  I've read it and I also turned on Oprah to hear a story on her discussing the dark moments of life and how if we trust and embrace the dark we will grow.  Don't be afraid He is with us in the dark as well!

Today, are you going to stay strong in the dark moments or run?  If we run, remember that our situations will more than likely go with us and we will probably add to it, but we are never alone! Trust Him with each moment, each situation, and in every step of your journey!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Yes, I know today's reading is 1 Samuel 1 - 4 and what got my attention is that Eli is so far from God himself that he doesn't recognize the pain of Hannah.  No, he views it as having too much too drink.  When is our view so distorted, because we moved too far away from God?

I...is way too important

Judges 7 - 9:21

In conversations today, what do you think is heard the most?  Think about it a little bit...I did this or I did this...or I want this...or I need this...or I ?  Our world is caught up in what we do, what our opinions are, what we think and yes it all matters, but we have gotten it so out of perspective.  Do you think it might be we  have forgetten the real order of how things are suppose to be?

I was reminded early in the reading today who truly matters...In chapter 7 of Judges, Gideon got the army up early to fight Midianites.  The Lord stopped him and told him he had too many warriors and that if he let them fight the Midianites, the Israelites would boast to God yes God that they saved themselves by their own strength.  Here is the verse: If I let you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.  So what did God do?  He told Gideon to send home those afraid or timid home.  So 22,000 left.  Which left 10,000, still too many.  God finally got the warriors down to 300.  God is very creative with the widdling down process.  He wants no doubts about Who truly wins the battle!

We forget who wins the battles.  We forget who decides the path that will bring victory.  We think we save ourselves.  Our society is so caught up in #1 that we forget the correct order.  God is #1 and He is who wins the battles.  The victory was achieved in this battle, because God did His thing.  God's ways are never our way...How was it achieved?  God had the enemy fight amongst themselves.  They were confused and pulled the swords on themselves.

I doesn't matter when it stands alone.  I matters when it's with the Great I Am.  Today, ask God which battle to fight and which one to ignore.  Remember, where the I really needs to be, when you begin a battle.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Covered in dew

Judges 3 - 6

So many powerful stories this morning for all of us to ponder.  God is indeed Mighty and if we allow Him to work through us...so are we!  We must make the choice for Him to use us.  Will we allow Him to work His Wonders through us?

We have Deborah and Gideon both in today's reading.  A woman named Jael who took things into her own hands and that's a whole story in itself to look deeper into for fascinating thinking, but what caught my eye today was Gideon.

Gideon wasn't being especially brave when the LORD came to him.  He was actually hiding in the winepress threshing the wheat, so that the enemy would not spot him.  Not a really brave hero hiding so nobody would spot him, but the Lord found him.

I love the Lord's words to Gideon in verse 14, "Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites.  I am sending you."   Here is a man hiding in a wine press from the enemy yet the Lord picks him.  Gideon tries to explain he is the weakest among his family, his people, but God sees more in Gideon.  God sees more in you and more in me than we are capable of ...Do you see the words go with the strength you have?  God will use what we have.  If we see ourselves as the weakest, HE is still able to provide what we need.  If we see ourselves full of strength, He will provide the needs as well.  Why, because HE is sending us!

What is it that God is calling you to do?  Be brave, step out, and move.  After all, God is the one truly doing the work...not us!  Are you hiding?  Well, God sees you and is calling you to move.

God even allowed Gideon to test Him.  Remember the story of the fleece?  The fleece would be wet my morning?  Well, then the next time let the fleece be dry and the ground wet with dew?  Well, God is the same Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  Believe it!  Everything else may change, but God remains the same!

He believes in you!

Believe today that God believes in you.  He loves you and wants to use you, but only if you respond with YES!

Yes, 

Debbie Covington