Listening

1 Samuel 25:29

Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in his treasure pouch!

I love this! Secure in God's treasure pouch. Most people wear a treasure pouch the safest place on them and think about it David is safe in God's treasure pouch!

So are we!

Abigail was so smart. Two men that were reacting with pride and no thought were about to proceed in a manner that would not be good, but she steps down off her donkey humble to remind David of his role in the LORD'S PLAN. David knew immediately that she was right and that God sent her to remind him of his important role.

Again, it was David's choice on how to respond. He could still decide to go and ignore Abigail's words or to turn back without hurting anyone. How often does God place someone in our path with words that He knows we need to hear and it is our choice which path we take? Do we take the words and be reminded that we are secure in God's treasure pouch or do we react on our own? After all, if David had reacted on his own by killing Nabal things would have looked different. The same is true of us. Listen for the words that God might be sending to you from someone that crosses your path today. I will be listening!

 

Listening,

Debbie

Hunted down, but praising God!

Psalm 57:

I look to you for protection.

I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by…

My heart is confident in you, O God;

My heart is confident.

No wonder I can sing our praises!

David is so honest, so obedient he just says it like it is and I love that!

Here David is on the run hiding in the cave from Saul and he is being hunted and yet he knows where he is protected and by whom and he sings his mighty praises to HIM and HIM Alone! I think about myself during difficult times and I am sad to admit that I'm not usually singing God's praises. Oh I am talking to Him and sharing, but one part that I might leave out is the praise that should be shared even in those difficult times. It hit me that God never leaves me during those times and that is when the praises should be heard the loudest! After, all how would we get through these times without HIM?

The last several days of reading about David have been so wonderful. I haven't written, I've been caught up in the reading and pondering of the Word. I love when David goes to fight Goliath. Here is a brave man and the only reason is because he knows that The Lord rescues him from lions and bears, so why not this Philistine! Don't you love it?

David is a hero and the ugly head of jealously begins to rear its head with Saul. It doesn't matter how much David loves and cares for Saul the damage is done. Human flaws are once again at work.

What a beautiful story beginning with the friendship of Jonathan and David. The love Michael had for David and the way her father ruined her life from jealously entering the picture. Saul begins to try and murder David. David escapes. David runs and all the while he is praising God. Look at Psalm 34…I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises…

Today and everyday let's sing HIS praises all the daylong!!!

Praising God,

Debbie

Refreshed or not?

1 Samuel 14: 27

…he dipped the end of his stick into a piece of a honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt refreshed.

Jonathan had fought a great, daring battle and won! Why because God was on his side and Jonathan knew in his heart the reason for victory. Do we?

Saul gave the crazy order that no one was to eat before night fall. Imagine you are about to fight a battle and you are zapped before you even begin the battle due to not eating. When you head out for each day do you prepare yourself for the battles that you will face? Do you rest? Do you eat the proper foods? Do you spend the alone time with God to know how to handle the battle you face each day?

Jonathan did. Jonathan exclaimed that his father had made trouble for them in this rule. He went on to say don't you see how refreshed I am now? How often are we like Saul and we get in the way of the great plans the Lord made?

Who should we be more like to prepare for the battles we will face today? Saul or Jonathan?

Preparing for the battles,

Debbie

Grace of God

Hannah's story

I was so touched by Hannah's story. The story of desiring a child, longing for a child, my story just ended differently than Hannah's.

The first thing that caught my attention was that Eli watching her immediately assumed the worst. He thought she had been drinking. She was praying and sharing her grief with the one that could heal her pain and yet the priest automatically assumed the worst. Why do we do that? Oh Eli isn't alone, we all do this rather than think the best, we think the worst…Think back I don't think I'm alone in admitting this sin.

Anyway, Hannah is in such pain, but she went to pour out her heart The Word tells us in 1 Samuel 1. Where do you go to pour out your heart? Do you go the Lord or do you go to a friend?

What touches me the most in this story is that Hannah gives her son to the LORD permanently. She gave Samuel to the Lord at the age of 3. Imagine it…feel Hannah's pain she desired a child so bad that she is sobbing and begging the LORD for a child and during this she promises the Lord that he will be dedicated to the LORD for a lifetime.

When Hannah took Samuel to leave him at the temple, what did she do? She sang a hymn of praise shouting the LORD made her strong and that she was rejoicing that He rescued her. The LORD saw her and HE healed her. He even gave her more children. Hannah was obedient and remembered her promise to the LORD!

Hannah the name means Grace of God. Wow!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie