A sad ending…

 A sad finish…

When I was in women’s ministry and going to seminary in women’s ministry studies, one hurt that came up more times than I wanted was pornography…women’s husbands involved in this lifestyle….plus, in the town I lived in for a time had legalized brothels, gambling……

It is hard to imagine and see the heartache that the families, wives and even the men endured living with pornography easily accessible and the constant temptation…. Statistics at the time said that only 3% of marriages made it through these circumstances…the consequences were severe for all…

Reading about Solomon’s downfall to the love of many foreign women is a sad commentary of his fall…one who was so gifted, so blessed, so intelligent, so wise to falling into the treachery of idol worship and lust of the flesh…leading to the dividing of his nation …the consequences were severe for all…

 Hear instruction and be wise,and do not neglect it. 

Blessed is the one who listens to me,watching daily at my gates,waiting beside my doors. 

For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord,

Prov.8.33-35

Thank YOU….

 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

1Kgs.11.3-4

 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

1Cor.9.25

 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 

This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Jas.1.12-15, Jas.3.13-18

 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

1Cor.4.2

 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

1John.2.16

Psalm 59 in song…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ghnG6GtUhBg&pp=ygUNcHNhbG0gNTkgc29uZw%3D%3D

Teach us to pray…

 Teach us to pray…

Solomon’s prayer, prayed at the dedication of the Temple…

 “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, in accordance with everything that He promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He spoke through Moses His servant.  May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us nor abandon us [to our enemies],  that He may guide our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways [following Him] and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His precepts which He commanded our fathers.  Let these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, so that He will maintain the cause and right of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires,  so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else.  Therefore, your hearts are to be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as [you are doing] today.”

1Kgs.8.56-61AMP

God’s presence

Desire to do God’s will..

Help with daily needs

Obey

Spread the Word to the world…Bible Study notes…

Jesus’ prayer for the disciples…

 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”  

He said to them,“When you pray, say:‘Father, hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come. ‘Give us each day our daily bread. ‘

And forgive us our sins,

For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended or wronged us].

And lead us not into temptation [but rescue us from evil].’”

Luke.11.1-4AMP

Jesus’ prayer of the great Commission…

 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 

And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matt.28.16-2

 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.Heb.13.8

I love the similarities…over time…God wants the same for us as he did for  the Israelites so long ago…

Thank YOU…

Jesus loves me…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KXrC_uzsnsg&pp=ygU0amVzdXMgbG92ZXMgbWUgdGhpcyBpIGtub3cgZm9yIHRoZSBiaWJsZSB0ZWxscyBtZSBzbw%3D%3D

Nothing can contain YOU…

 Nothing can contain YOU….

“ is t it amazing that, though the heavens can’t contain God, he is willing to live in the hearts of those who love him? The God  of the universe takes up,residence in His people…” Bible notes…

God had given a certain set of rules concerning the moving and transportation of the temple furnishings…

 “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

Num.4.15

David, in his exuberance,  wanted to get the ark to a place in his city, but didn’t follow those rules and there were dire consequences…God is serious about obedience….

 He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. 

Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. 

David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals. 

When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 

The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. 

Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 

He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 

The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household. 

They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord.

2 Sam.6.2-11, 17

 But Samuel replied:“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrificesas much as in obeying the Lord?To obey is better than sacrifice,and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

1Sam.15.22

Solomon obeyed and was able to give ark its new home…

 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, and they brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. 

The priests and Levites carried them up, and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted. 

The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 

The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles. These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple. I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.” and said:“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today. “

But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 

May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 

Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. 

Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

1Kings8.8.3-118.11,21,.8.23,1Kgs.8.24,1Kgs.8.27,1Kgs.8.29-30

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart-and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.

Prov.3.5-6

Lord, you are…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3e2uTyQljo

I had this written yesterday and didn’t publish it and then we talked about the same thing in our Sunday School class…I love it when God weaves lessons together…

https://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/moving-the-ark-of-the-covenant/

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/things-you-may-not-know-about-the-ark-of-the-covenant.html

During the night…

 During the night…

Over the years, I have been awakened by ideas, some great and ones not so great…some worth carrying out and others not so much…

I know there are books and books about dreams and their meanings, and have known people who are really into that…I also know that God uses various means of getting our attention and works with us individually…

All through the Word, God has spoken to people during the night watches…I wonder if He can get their undivided attention during those  times…times of rest and quiet…when we are not dong our daily routines or surrounded by busyness…I imagine He was interested in their heart attitude than the time of day…

He came to Joseph, Jacob, Gideon, Daniel, Joseph, Nehemiah, Samuel, and others as well as Solomon…

 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. 

You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. 

For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 

So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 

Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. 

Then he gave a feast for all his court.

1Kgs.3:5-15

Solomon asked aright…as we can…

 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

1John.5.14-15

Again the verse from Matthew 6…

 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matt.6.33-34

From his night watch conversation, Solomon sought wisdom to lead the people rather than riches…

He wrote about wisdom many times in the book of Proverbs… 

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lordand find the knowledge of God. 

For the Lord gives wisdom;from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 

For wisdom will enter your heart,and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 

Discretion will protect you,and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,from men whose words are perverse, 

Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,from the wayward woman with her seductive words, 

Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 

For the upright will live in the land,and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land,and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Prov.2.1-6,Prov.2.10-12,Prov.2.16,Prov.2.20-22

James wrote …

 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Jas.1

We may talk to God any hour, any minute…He is there anytime, anyplace for us…seeking His wisdom which He gives generously…

Thank YOU…

Songs of wisdom…the God of the impossible…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY8nJ4KNRPkn

Passing the baton…David+

 Passing the baton…David+

I just thought these passages went together…those last words…encouragement…

 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matt.6.33

 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.

1Kgs.2.1-4

 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. 

Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

John.13.1, 12-17

Thank YOU…

Seek ye first…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsBpM9IcBts

Costly sacrifice…the Lord provides…

  Costly sacrifice….the Lord provides…

Our society thinks in microwave time…while God thinks in centuries, generations…infinite…eternity….

Decisions we make now do effect our eternity…

Thank YOU….

Reading about David and his desire to stay the plague upon his people, he built an alter on a place which has been designated the spot where Abraham  brought his son Isaac for sacrifice, saying that the Lord would Provide…

David offered a sacrifice for his people…

Later, David’s son, would build a Temple upon this spot, with materials gathered by his father…sacrifices would again be offered….

This temple would later be destroyed in battle…

This  is still the holiest place in Judaism…

“The Western Wall (sometimes called the Wailing Wall, or the Kotel, the Hebrew word for wall) is one of the last remaining walls of the Temple Mount, the elevated plaza in the Old City of Jerusalem that was the site of both ancient Jewish temples. It is the holiest site in Judaism and a place of pilgrimage and prayer.”

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/what-is-the-western-wall

 On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 

So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad.When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. 

Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”“To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.” 

Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king.” 

Araunah also said to him, “May the Lord your God accept you.” 

But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. 

Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

2Sam.24-25

 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” 

Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 

On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 

He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. 

As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”“Yes, my son?” 

Abraham replied.“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” 

And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. 

He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 

But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”“Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 

So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” 

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. 

Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Gen.22.2-18

 Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David. 

He began building on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.

2Chr.3.1-2

 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Rom.12.1-2

Living sacrifice…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUWiWzK0P24

Thoughts…

 Thoughts…

My thoughts have been tangled lately with criticism from a former friend…accusations I wasn’t aware of…and I keep dwelling on those thoughts…with conversations running through my head, wondering what happened…

So as I was rereading the devotional from years ago, getting ready for my husband’s funeral…the words written were, “listen to Me continually… I am training you to set your mind on Me more and more, tuning out distractions through the Help of My Spirit…listen to Me and live abundantly.”

Jesus Calling..

I so appreciate when God knows my thoughts and speaks directly to them…through His Word…and gives me the gift of His peace…

Thank YOU…

 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!How vast is the sum of them! 

Search me, God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts. 

See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.

Ps.139.17,Ps.139.23,Ps.139.24

 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Prov.19.21

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your waysand my thoughts than your thoughts. 

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desireand achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isa.55.8,Isa.55.9,Isa.55.11

 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John.10.27,John.8.36

Speak oh Lord…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aH1Wn4fTiBs&pp=ygUoYWxsIHlvdXIgdGhvdWdodHMgYWJvdXQgbWUgb2ggZ29kIGx5cmljcw%3D%3D

Songs of Easter…

 

Songs of Easter…from a list compiled by "Bible Study Tools”….

Christ the Lord is risen today….

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nzy7jFNUc3w&t=20s&pp=2AEUkAIB0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD

He lives…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6aBDS3drA&t=11s&pp=2AELkAIB

In Christ alone…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9-UNer6MQ&t=331s&pp=2AHLApACAQ%3D%3D

Because he lives…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4M-zwE33zHA&t=187s&pp=2AG7AZACAQ%3D%3D

The old rugged cross…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pClVtWjMBoY&t=7s&pp=2AEHkAIB

Crown Him with many crowns…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YuMh_ept-Js

Up from the grave he arose…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oN77HjfAc8k

Christ is risen, Hallelujah…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jwCxqna9gTM&t=8s&pp=2AEIkAIB

Jesus Christ is risen today…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r9a41CvVEHw&t=2s&pp=2AECkAIB

The day of Resurrection…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=49hPB6NTVEE

 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

1Cor.15.20-23

 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory?Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Cor.15.54-57

Drive through history…

The resurrection…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQU8UQM4_XI

 

Thank YOU…

Prophet and King….accountability partner…

 Prophet and King…accountability partner…

Jesus taught so much by parables, stories…they make the concepts memorable and teachable…

When reading 2 Samuel 12, that was my first thought…Nathan , the prophet, approaching David with the story the rich man and the poor man…he got his attention immediately and David was emotionally involved and when the story turned to implicate him, he was convicted and realized his sin against the Lord…

 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”…..

2Sam.12.1a

It was a reminder to me of what Jesus  said and we find written in John about the Holy Spirit…

 “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

John.14.25-26,John.15.26

 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John.16.13

 The Lord sent Nathan to David…..

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

2Sam.12.1a, 13

David wrote this Psalm after Nathan’s confrontation with Nathan…

 Have mercy on me, O God,according to your unfailing love;according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 

For I know my transgressions,and my sin is always before me. 

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight;so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 

Surely I was sinful at birth,sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 

Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 

Let me hear joy and gladness;let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 

Create in me a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,so that sinners will turn back to you. 

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,you who are God my Savior,and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 

Open my lips, Lord,and my mouth will declare your praise. 

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;a broken and contrite heart-you, God, will not despise. 

May it please you to prosper Zion,to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,in burnt offerings offered whole;then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Ps.51.1-19

Thank YOU…

Create in me a clean heart…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fVliokreqE

“Throughout Scripture, you will find that the kings had prophets that God assigned to them to be ambassadors of His truth. David had Nathan. Ahab had Elijah. Herod had John.”https://josiahkagin.com/2023/04/11/every-king-had-a-prophet/

What was the role of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament?

https://www.gotquestions.org/Spirit-Old-Testament.html

https://www.harvardbusiness.org/what-makes-storytelling-so-effective-for-learning/

What are we waiting for?

 What are we waiting for….

The room is filled to capacity….families gathered, rich or poor, all ages, men and women, various cultures…waiting…either this is their consult day, infusion day, radiation day, blood draw day…waiting still…those there to comfort, to be another ear, hold someone’s hand…waiting…some have hope of a good result, others there to hear the hard news…some  have hope of an eternity with Christ while others do not…waiting…that is what some of us face as we go to the cancer treatment center for our appointments…waiting…

Saturday after the crucifixion was a waiting day for some…it was a rest day, a Sabbath…I can only imagine what various people were doing…getting prepared to give Jesus a proper burial…chuckling that the rebel was finally taken care of…grief of  a mother, close friends….soldiers cleaning up the crucifixion site…

Waiting for the Sabbath to be over to get about their daily business….cleaning up after the earthquake….quiet exchanges of what happened on Friday…any number of things…life went on…

But, God ….had another plan…and He was waiting, too…He was working behind the  scene…His plan was much greater than man could ever comprehend…the infinite versus the finite…

 How great are your works, O Lord!Your thoughts are very deep!

Ps.92.5

 I wait for your salvation, O Lord.

Gen.49.18

  Wait for the Lord;be strong, and let your heart take courage;wait for the Lord!

Ps.27.14

 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,over the man who carries out evil devices!

Ps.37.7

 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lordmore than watchmen for the morning,more than watchmen for the morning.

Ps.130.5-6

 But as for me, I will look to the Lord;I will wait for the God of my salvation;my God will hear me.

Mic.7.7

 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Rom.8.25

Wait…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VicH_ic_hZI

Numbness…

 Numbness….

Last night our church held the Good Friday Service…

We entered a silent building, lights dimmed, curtains pulled, soft music playing, with scrolling Bible verses on the screen, quiet…

The choir, dressed in black entered silently, took their places…expectation…

Songs sung, words spoken of Jesus’ death on the cross…tears shed…

As this is also the anniversary of my husband’s death…it was a bit more touching…we knew he was on dying and the expectation was there…we just didn’t know how long he had or even what it would be like…

The crowd that gathered for Jesus’ death must have been numb, angry, celebrating…depending on which group you identified with…his mother watching as her son suffered…his disciples wondering what in the world is happening…the naysayers still saying “crucify him…” the military men, casting lots for the clothing…the religious leaders, finally getting rid of that rebel and trouble maker…a myriad of emotions…

Then the darkness, the temple curtain ripping , the earthquake, the thirst…the forgiveness…

The loud cry, “ it is finished!”, the final painful breath, the body relaxing in death…

 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,“They divided my garments among them,and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:23-30

Thank YOU….

Christ our hope in life and death…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OibIi1rz7mw&pp=ygUhQ2hyaXN0IG91ciBob3BlIGluIGxpZmUgYW5kIGRlYXRo

Living hope…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u-1fwZtKJSM&pp=ygUYbGl2aW5nIGhvcGUgcGhpbCB3aWNraGFt

Run to the Father…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CoPaP2yQLC4&list=OLAK5uy_k0FQzhoe271uCXWuRaC2GhPAmGxH6nnGY&index=2

God so loved…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jasoo3UDSwY

Man on the middle cross…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce5vYpRpK9U

 Dive through history…the crucifixion…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY0JARqa_gk

Falling short…

 Falling short….

James says we all stumble…no one is perfect…Except Jesus…

David, who was called a man after God’s heart, a great king, a writer of so many songs, a mere man….stumbled…just as mankind did before him and continues to do each current day…we have not changed…we sin, we stumble…

Many will say we are getting better and better, we care for people, we do good, etc…but just reading the paper every morning, the same things are going on as they have for centuries of time…we sin, we stumble…

David  focused on his own desires, tried to cover up…to no avail…he sinned , he stumbled…

There were consequences….

 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

Acts.13.22

 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Mark.14.38

 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Rom.3.22-24

 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

Jas.3.2

“To flee temptation…

1. Ask God in earnest prayer to help you stay away from people, places, and situations that may temp you…

2. Memorize and meditate on on portions of scripture that combat your specific weaknesses…at the root of most temptations is a real need. That God can fill, but we must trust his timing…

3. Find another believer with whom you can openly share your struggles and call this person for help when tempted…” Bible study notes…

Thank YOU….

Farther along….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wR29NCDR9o

 

Who am I….

 Who am I…..?

There  are times that God says, “no…” we may not like it, but He has a reason, a greater plan…and meant for our good…

David so wanted to build a temple, but God said no…

 “King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’”

1Chr.28.2-3

What follows after that “no”…was a heartfelt prayer…

Those first words, “who am I?”, touch my soul in deep places…through the valleys of life, the mountain tops of life, God is there…and I am so humbled and ask, “who am I “ that He should love me so?…God had such a greater plan for David, the temple was made of stone, by man’s hands, but God an eternal plan far greater than an earthly temple…and He has that for each believer…

 However, as it is written:“What no eye has seen,what no ear has heard,and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—

1Cor.2.9

 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human! “What more can David say to you? 

For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant. 

“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 

And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 

You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God. “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever. 

Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ 

And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight. “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 

Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

2Sam.7.18-29

Psalm 89

Who am I….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rT8Re1EIQc

Dancing in the streets…

 Dancing in the streets…. 

When I was growing up, the genre of the movies were great epic movies, westerns and musicals….Ben Hur, the Ten Commandments, How the west was Won….musicals of all kinds…dancing in ranch lands, ghetto streets, city streets, castle courtyards, the Alps, Jewish homes, etc…..

On the home front, there were ballet and tap dancing lessons, community concerts, square dancing , discos, after-game dances, after rodeo dances, proms, local Basque club dances, etc…

We don’t want for places to dance…as well as places to watch dancing…music and dancing were  part of life…celebrations, laughter, community and family life…

As I read about David and his celebrations of the Ark of the Covenant being brought to the City of David…his jubilation, his exaltation, his worship, his dancing before the Lord “with all his might”…with “shouts and sounds of trumpets”….how rejoicing filled their hearts…he couldn’t help but dance…

The Ark was “Home”…almost…God had blessed…

I hope we have days that we can “dance” before the Lord…days of praise that cannot be doused…I know I have had those…

Thank YOU…

 Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

2Sam.6.12-15, 17-19

 I will exalt you, Lord,for you lifted me out of the depths and  did not let my enemies gloat over me. 

Lord my God, I called to you for help,and you healed me. 

You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;you spared me from going down to the pit. 

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;praise his holy name. 

For his anger lasts only a moment,but his favor lasts a lifetime;weeping may stay for the night,but rejoicing comes in the morning. 

When I felt secure, I said,“I will never be shaken.” 

Lord, when you favored me,you made my royal mountain stand firm;but when you hid your face,I was dismayed. 

To you, Lord, I called;to the Lord I cried for mercy: “What is gained if I am silenced,if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 

Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;Lord, be my help.” 

You turned my wailing into dancing;you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Psalm 30

Dance with me….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEt6pEYKvbE

Training ground…

   

The training ground….

I heard the song the Reminder the other day…it fit this part of David so well…his years in training…the making , training of a king….

“THE TRAINING GROUND

David had been anointed king at the tender age of 17, but only sat on the throne at the age of 30….”web article..

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

2Sam.5.1-5

Various author suggest that Psalm 139 as written about that time as well…he was introspective in what Gods was doing in his life…

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;you discern my thoughts from afar. 

You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 

Even before a word is on my tongue,behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 

You hem me in, behind and before,and lay your hand upon me. 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;it is high; I cannot attain it. 

Where shall I go from your Spirit?Or where shall I flee from your presence? 

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 

If I take the wings of the morningand dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me,and your right hand shall hold me. 

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you;the night is bright as the day,for darkness is as light with you. 

For you formed my inward parts;you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,the days that were formed for me,when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them! 

If I would count them, they are more than the sand.I awake, and I am still with you. 

Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!

O men of blood, depart from me! 

They speak against you with malicious intent;your enemies take your name in vain. 

Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 

I hate them with complete hatred;I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts! 

And see if there be any grievous way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139

God didn’t just do that for David, He does it for each of us…lessons in faith, living, etc that build us day by day…there are so many time, I look back and see how some life event prepared the way for something else…or a faith lesson made the next trial a bit easier …line upon line, thought upon thought, moment by moment…we are in training….

Thank YOU…

The reminder…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q1yhpikV_Q

HOW GOD TRAINED DAVID TO BE AN EXTRAORDINARY KING

https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/god-trained-david-extraordinary-king/#:~:text=David%20had%20been%20anointed%20king%20at%20the%20tender%20age%20of%2017%2C%20but%20only%20sat%20on%20the%20throne%20at%20the%20age%20of%2030.

Death watch…

 Death watch…

Thirteen years  ago, I wrote in my journal, “ it feels like we are on a death watch, which we are, waiting, trust is hard…I have to do it because I have to. You are my refuge that the world offers not…no  trustworthy thing or person in which is eternal “.

My devo for that day was,”trusting Me is a moment by moment Choice…you must trust me when things go well…when things go wrong, your trust flow slows down and solidifies. You are freed to choose between trusting Me intentionally or rebelling: resenting My ways with you…this choice constitutes a fork in the road…choose to trust me in all circumstances…” Jesus Calling, Sarah Young…

People were coming and going, saying their goodbyes, encouraging, we wear writing a “program “ for Don’s funeral, I was looking at places for my next residence, but mostly waiting…watching, talking , listening….

“I designed you to depend on Me, moment by moment….

You are richly blessed when you walk with Me …” Jesus Calling…

 But I trust in you, Lord;I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands….

Ps.31.14,Ps.31.15a

 Look to the Lord and his strength;seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done,his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

Ps.105.4-5

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John.15.5

 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

 Col.3.23

Thank YOU…

Blessings…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQan9L3yXjc

Mourning…

 

Mourning….

About 9 months after my husband’s passing, I started attending a Griefshare group offered by my church…it was a 13 week commitment of learning about grief, working through grief, moving on with life…not that we hadn’t been working on it beforehand…death of loved ones is a tremendous bump in life’s pathway…it can bring anger, denial, bitterness, joy for some, plus a multitude of other emotions and reactions…

David heard the report of Saul and Jonathan’s death on the battlefield…and he was grieved…his king, his best friend….

“Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”

2Sam.1.11-12

David, the song writer, wrote a lament for their lives and deaths…choosing to remember the good of those men…2 Samuel 1: 17-27…

“It takes courage to lay aside hatred and hurt and to respect the positive side of another person, especially an enemy “ . Bible study notes…

 Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.

Matt.5.4

I thought of Jesus upon hearing of his friend Lazarus’ death…he called him out of the tomb …he told those around him that he, Jesus, was the life and resurrection…

 “After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 

Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 

Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. 

But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 

She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 

Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 

Jesus wept. 

So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” 

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. 

And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 

When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.””

John.11.11-44

Of course, David couldn’t do as Jesus did…but he could lament and mourn his friend… as we do our friends and family members…

But, we have hope in the resurrection of Jesus…

Thank YOU….

Up fro the grave He arose…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdQmQwvbc4Q

Verses on mourning…

https://www.openbible.info/topics/mourning

https://www.griefshare.org

A sad ending…

 A sad ending…

1 Samuel 31 is such a sad chapter….death, suicide, war…

In recent years we have seen death on the news ..parading of the dead victims on streets by barbarian victors, a show of power and pride…those pictures flashed through my mind as I read about the Philistines and what they did to Saul, his family in war…taking their bodies to their idol temple as victors …apparently people really haven’t changed over the years…the hatred exhibited…over and over again…

Saul the first chosen king, a half hearted leader, one whom people  thought was their “Saviour”, one whom they literally looked up to…one whom the people thought would solve all their problems and be like other nations…

But,  instead he was inconsistent, disobedient, ruled by self rather than God, took matters into his own hand to the very end…

“Heroic spiritual lives are built by stacking days of obedience one on top of the other. Like a brick, each obedient act is small in itself, but in time the acts pile up, and a huge wall of strong character will be built—-a great defense against temptation. We should strive for consistent obedience each day” . 

Study Bible…

Saul did not do that…his wall was not a wall of obedience…a sad commentary…about a life not well lived…

We build each day…what will it look like?

Thank YOU…

On Christ the solid rock I stand….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GswGE6rQhmE

 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. 

The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically. Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.”But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day. 

When the Israelites along the valley and those across the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. 

And the Philistines came and occupied them. The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 

They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 

They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. 

When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. 

They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them.

Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

1Sam.31:1-13

Last supper…

 last supper….

Thirteen years ago, our family had our last Easter with my husband….each meal was precious, not knowing when it was our last with him, as he was dying quickly of cancer…and then one evening it was his last supper…we talked as I fed him…everyday things…said , “I love you and prayed“ before we slept….he left this world two days later…

I thought of this as I read about Saul in 1 Samuel 28…

 The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

1Sam.28.24-25

I am not sure if this was Saul’s last supper, but he was going into battle…so it may have been…

We celebrate the Lord’s last supper monthly …with communion…the remembrance of Christ and his sacrifice for us…

 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

Matt.26.26-29

 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 

For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

1Cor.11:23-29

The disciples may not have known that this was Jesus’ last supper, but it became a memorable one …one which we still celebrate and commemorate…

Thank YOU…

Room at the Table…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGJ5675QY_s

 

Comfort verses … 20…

 Comfort verses… 20…

Whether in good days or bad, it is nice to read comfort verses…

Be enfolded by their words like a cloak warms us on cool days…sometimes it may be a poem, a word of encouragement from a friend or book…God’s Word has so many……He is that friend, He is that cloak who knows our heart and our needs…whether a comforting word, sometimes an admonishing word..but He discerns which…and you can see that throughout scripture…He builds up, bears our burdens or tears or even  joy…as He has given us the Holy Spirit, he is with at all times…speaking truth…

Thank YOU…

 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Rom.5.5

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Rom.15.13

“I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4 NKJV).

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves” (Zephaniah 3:17a NIV).

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18 NIV).

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 ESV).

“When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry’” (Luke 7:13 NIV).

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2 NIV).

 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

John.10.28-29

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18 NIV). 

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV).

Breath of heaven….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8_475FKJWQ

( I know this is a Christmas song…but the words are so beautiful, tender for those in wonder, need… as Mary was) 

Be angry and sin not….

 Be angry and do not sin…

When I was reading 1 Samuel 25, I thought about entitlement…both on David’s side and Nabel’s…both felt they were entitled to something…but, another lesson is really about revenge and anger…

Years ago, my husband and I sought counseling for anger management for our younger son…one of the statements the counselor made was, when a person is angry, their brain chemistry changes and they think differently, not rationally…the chemistry takes over…(have since read about it…)…

Reading about David in this portion of scripture brought this to mind…David became mad, did not consult the Lord as he had previously…and began to seek revenge for what he thought he was entitled to…

 “David said to his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. 

About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. 

David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. 

He has paid me back evil for good. May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!””

1Sam.25.13,1Sam.25.21-22

God sent a wise woman, Abigail to appease David as he set  out for battle…and David recognized God’s hand in this…

 “David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 

May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 

Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.” 

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.”1Sam.25.32,1Sam.25.33,1Sam.25.34,1Sam.25.39a…

We have choices to make about anger…we can let it change us…we can hold back and see how God works…anger can change into bitterness which eats the soul…

 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Eph.4.31-32

Thank YOU….

“Whether it's one of those minor daily annoyances or something much bigger, a lot is happening in your brain when you get angry. “When you are angry, your ‘fight-or-flight’ response is activated, and your heart starts to beat faster,” explains Noah Kass, DSW, LCSW. “Simultaneously, the part of your brain responsible for rational thinking—the prefrontal cortex—becomes less active.”verywellmind.com

 Tremble and do not sin;when you are on your beds,search your hearts and be silent.

Ps.4.4

 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. 

Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?

Eccl.5.6

 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Eph.4.26-27

 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Rom.12.19-21

If these walls could speak…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=CcQv2uwTFuE

Doing the right thing…

 Doing the right thing…

We are pressured so many times, in many ways to compromise…whether in personal life, public, hidden or in the open…

David had a choice to further his kingship along by killing Saul , but he chose to do the right thing…

 And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 

He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed.” 

So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. 

And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

1Sam.24.5-7

 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. 

For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? 

Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Matt.5.44-46

 But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him].  

For if you love [only] those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? 

Matt.5.44-46 AMP

 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Matt.5.44-46KJV

 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. 

For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 

Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. 

Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? 

Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. 

But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. 

For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 

Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 

For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Rom.13.1-7

Thank YOU…

All you’ve ever wanted…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea-uQFPcvaM

Finding the “right” group…

 Finding the “right” group…

Our family moved when I was in the 4th and 6th grades…the second one was the most traumatic…junior high years, secrets, hormones, class cliques, etc…etc…

We moved to a small town where friendships had long been established and new students were an oddity …consequently making new friends was hard…(although I established lifelong friends at that school)..the beginning was rough…girls that age have cliques which are hard to “break into”, hard to be “accepted “…there was no bullying that I was aware of, just finding your way into the “right” group, fitting in…add to that, I was shy, quiet…it took time to adjust, find the friends who I trusted…and the by the middle of year, I was  ensconced into a group…which changed the following year…

But, God used those times, those experiences, those people in my life… for good…

Thank YOU…

David,in chapter 22 of 1 Samuel, is establishing his “group”…his family, “all those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader…400 men…”What a group…to form into an army…

David, who wanted to serve the king…who served the real King…became an “outlaw”…

He wrote his “outlaw” psalms during this time…

Written about Doeg going into the town  of the priests and killing them and the town of people…

 “Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?

Why do you boast all day long,you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? 

You who practice deceit,your tongue plots destruction;it is like a sharpened razor. 

You love evil rather than good,falsehood rather than speaking the truth. 

You love every harmful word,you deceitful tongue! 

Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent;he will uproot you from the land of the living. 

The righteous will see and fear;they will laugh at you, saying, “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” 

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. 

For what you have done I will always praise youin the presence of your faithful people.

And I will hope in your name,for your name is good.”

Ps.52.1-9

 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,for in you I take refuge.I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

Ps.57.1

“These psalms are classic illustrations of the adage that “poets learn in suffering what they teach in song”. Ironically, the sweetest songs are born out of the saddest moments. As we read these psalms in connection with their events in 1 Samuel, we observe how God uses the refining fires of persecution to forge and shape the character and faith of David.”

https://www.onethingministries.net/word-of-the-lord/articles/the-psalms-in-the-narrative-flow-of-davids-life/

Awake my soul….Psalm 57..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmfRRdSm2us

Desert valleys…

 Desert valleys….

Years ago, I had a friend who remembered coming into the Boise valley in a wagon as a child…she remembered the desert, the dryness, the arid land…they were on their way further west as the Boise valley held no dreams for that family…this was before the dams, the irrigation systems were dreamed of…

Then, just lately another friend posted a video of one of the  present town’s beginnings…starting from a few tents to a bustling farm town…

One of the “deserts” in the world…there are so many that are much more arid than this one…

There was I book I held dear when I moved to the “desert” of Nevada, 56 years ago, by LB Cowman, Streams in the Desert …I was leaving the lushness of Western Oregon and the California Redwoods…those first years and some later were desert/wilderness years…that I needed to see God’s perspective of the streams that he provided…growth years, hard and happy years, faith building years….

In 1 Samuel, David moves from his family’s herd, anointing as king,  fighting in Saul’s army to years in the desert…training years…

Adam and Eve moved from the lushness of the garden of Eden to the desert…

The Israelites went from the land of Egypt to the desert for 40 years…coming into the promised land..

David went to the desert for several years…coming into his kingship at the end…

Israel was exiled to Babylon for 70 years…coming back to the land…

Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days…came out Triumphant…

God promises he will never leave us or forsake us…even in the wilderness years…He walks with us…preparing the way…

Coming to the feast, the table prepared  for us…

 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.     

He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,     

he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right pathsfor his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow meall the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Ps.23.1-6

1 Samuel 21

1. David sought refuge in God by going to his house…

2. David sought provision from God…

3. David sought deliverance from the evil one…

4. David sought God’s protection from his enemies…

5. David sought God’s guidance…

6. David praised God…(1 Thess. 5:8)

Psalm 34…when David feigned madness 

 I will extol the Lord at all times;his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord;let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the Lord with me;let us exalt his name together. 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;he delivered me from all my fears. 

Those who look to him are radiant;their faces are never covered with shame. 

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;he saved him out of all his troubles. 

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,and he delivers them. 

Taste and see that the Lord is good;blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 

Fear the Lord, you his holy people,for those who fear him lack nothing. 

The lions may grow weak and hungry,but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 

Come, my children, listen to me;I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 

Whoever of you loves lifeand desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from eviland your lips from telling lies. 

Turn from evil and do good;seek peace and pursue it. 

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,and his ears are attentive to their cry; 

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,to blot out their name from the earth. 

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;he delivers them from all their troubles. 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 

The righteous person may have many troubles,but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones,not one of them will be broken. 

Evil will slay the wicked;the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 

The Lord will rescue his servants;no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Ps.34.1-22

Thank YOU…

Give thanks to the Lord…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1m9I7vHYZ0

Great article…

https://inspiredscripture.com/bible-studies/1-samuel-21#gsc.tab=0

 

Pressed down..poured out

 Pressed down…poured out…

The other day, a neighbor/friend came over to ask a favor…her husband was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, given a few months to live…they needed a Walker, one which he could walk with and also sit in when needed..it just so happens I had an assortment of walkers from my adventures these last few years…and one fit their needs…she  hugged me again and again In tears, thanking me for being an answer to their prayers…..

You know, I didn’t wake up that day knowing I would be helpful to anyone or be an answer to someone’s prayers…God orchestrated it …I just happened to be blessed by it…as well as He….

Going back to God’s fingerprints in our lives that was alluded to the other day…those times when we see Him working , a glimpse of glory…His provision, His care…His rich love…His miracles-events that only He can do…I love watching for those…they me cry in wonder and praise of His great glory….

He has done something in our family this last week, that only he could do…upon receiving the news, I broke down, never expecting the gift he has given…along with so many more…

I thought of John who wrote, “ Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

John.21.25

Thank YOU….

 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke.6.38

 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. 

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. 

These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Titus.3.4-8

Our God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-6YdT1DEO8