Listen

2 Samuel 5:24

When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army."

Wow, do we listen for our signals from the LORD?

God wanted to be sure that David remembered who was going to win this battle. He wanted David to have no doubts or to do the human thing and begin to puff up in his thinking about who won the battle…

What about us?

I sit here reflecting this morning thinking about David and then Debbie, David and then Debbie and here is what so far I've seen in Debbie while reflecting about David…

1. Obedience – am I being obedient to God like David
   
2. Listen – am I listening to God's desire for my life like David
   
3. Pride – am I keeping my pride out of the picture like David
   

What about you?

Reflection is good for us. We need to look in the mirror and take a good look, so that we are reminded who is going ahead of us and winning the battles! We need to listen to the instructions that God is giving us and we definitely need to remember who is truly winning the battles!

Listening,

Debbie

So Thirsty…

1 Samuel 23: 16

So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem and brought it to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD.

The price was too high. The Lord alone is worthy of the sacrifice of blood that was shed to get this drink. So David poured it out. Awesome!

I studied this today with a thought – you cannot drink alone when so many are in want…So many desire the LORD and don't even realize what their hunger is about or for whom it is a hunger. How do we help? How do we help the people find the water?

Today, I was in the airport line the flights cancelled and listened to the people around me. The anger flying, the clerks who had nothing to do with the flights cancelling and the frustration of flying today and the tension mounted. The situation was so sad. I sat over to the side of the airport and I literally burst into tears. I am not a crying person in public. I cry alone. I didn't today and truly I believe God was showing me a bigger picture. I watched and felt helpless.

I prayed and it was so obvious that Lord was changing my plans along with all of these other people. I had looked so forward to this trip and yet I knew it wasn't the right timing. The peace that came over me was amazing. I got back up stood back in that line and cancelled my trip. The lady thanked me for being nice..for being nice isn't that something?

I sit here after reading thinking about this scripture and know in all my heart that God is sadden with the thirst around this world. He provides the water and yet so many would rather not drink. What do we do?

We let the LIGHT shine through us into this dark world! We are the nice ones in line that remind the people behind the counters that it isn't their fault and who knows why we aren't flying on that plane…maybe safety is an issue…I don't want a plane with mechanical issues flying me! We smile when it is hard to smile, we give a hug when we might not feel like hugging, we supply the water in a very thirsty world. We share The Word of God by walking the talk and remembering the sacrifice that Jesus paid for us! When you here sacrifice mentioned in today's world remember what it truly means and know that Jesus is the one that sacrificed – not us!!!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Nothing missing

1 Samuel 30:19

Nothing was missing; small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back.

Not one thing was missing. Not one small piece in the puzzle was gone. God is amazing!

A few verses down they come upon the men that could not continue to fight the battle and immediately some of the battle weary men want to turn on the ones that did not fight. Imagine how tired David was the weight of everything was on him and yet HE remembers – Don't be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us.

I am reminded on the bone weary days that God fits every piece of the puzzle together not me! I am reminded that God is the one that will fight the battle for us, if we allow Him in to fight for us. Or we can get all puffed up in pride and think in our own little minds that we had something to do with the victory and then defeat will happen because of our bad choices.

David knew who won the battles!

Blessings,

Debbie

Collecting our tears

Psalm 56: 8

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

David is wandering and misses where he belongs. Don't you feel it in this Psalm? He is under constant attack, they put words in his mouth that aren't his, they spy on him and he muses Lord you are keeping a record - aren't You?

Lord, you are writing down all of these trials and trips that I am taking for you? You will remember all the tears that I've shed along this journey?

In ancient times it was a custom in Greek and Roman cultures to collect tears shed during a time of death and to place them in a phial and bury them with the person. David knew the custom and he knew that God knew his feelings and He knew that God loved him, so ….He believed that God would keep a record of his tears and keep them in a book of purpose. God knew the big picture and David was so obedient and trusted God so much that he could cry out to God – I know you are keeping track of all my sorrow. I know that I can call on you God for you are on my side. I know your promises God and I trust you, so why would I ever be afraid? What can these mere men do to me?

Wow…I just love David and I feel the peace in his heart that his relationship with God brought to him. I love that God does care about our tears and record them in His book. He so loves each of us and He does collect our tears along this journey.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie