How Did David Do It?

       I'm just trying to figure out how David became a man willing to stand up to a giant.  Some estimates put him at about age 22-25 when he stood up to Goliath, so that means he spent 12+ years looking after sheep for his father, a task left to the youngest of the family while the elder brothers took on the more manly jobs.  Somewhere in that time, David learned to trust the Lord in a way many of us never do.  He learned to rely on the Lord for help. 

       It seems to me the life of a shepherd is a secluded one.  I can’t imagine being gone from home for days without some kind of other people around.  There, in the pasture land, with no tvs, ipods or game systems to distract, David formed a relationship with the Almighty.  There, he honed the techniques of his trade using rod, staff, sling and stone.  He learned what worked and what didn’t.  He learned that God would protect him.  David speaks of his experiences to King Saul:

But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.

Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God." And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."… 1Sm. 17:34-37 (all ESV)

       David had much experience with predators after the sheep.  He did whatever was necessary to save the sheep.  When a predator took a sheep, David beat or wounded it and saved the sheep.  If the animal went after David, he restrained it by its hair and killed it.  Ummm… that’s a little too bold for me!  Why was he so courageous?  Read v. 45-47 and his bold proclamation to Goliath of God’s deliverance, "this day the LORD will deliver you into my hand" (v.46). 

       See, David wasn’t relying on his own strength.  He was trusting God to win the battle, for it was His battle.  "…the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand." (v.47).  In effect, David wasn’t ‘seeing’ the 9 to 12 foot giant before him wearing the 150ish pound coat of mail, and carrying a spear with a 16ish pound spearhead.  He was ‘seeing’ Almighty God who would save His people from the ‘jaws’ of the enemy.

And that is why David was so bold as to run "…quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine." (v.48)

Oh Lord, help me trust you that way!

No Power

       The school year is coming to a close and all that is left is one exam for my son and two exams for my daughter.  Their exams will require little studying, even in my opinion (boy have things changed!)  Given that fact, I wasn't complaining when one was on the Xbox, one was on the phone ready to get on the computer while hubby was watching tv.  I was hiding in the quieter back room trying to read when an outcry was heard. 

       The power went out but I hadn't noticed because it was light enough outside to read by and my music was playing over passive speakers.  When I lifted my head to check, sure enough the clock numbers had disappeared.  Well, it's funny to watch people used to electronic input- whose handheld devices needed charging- try and manage without for several hours (my excuse for not posting!)  They seemed to act like life was unliveable or boring without power!

       I honestly think that's a big reason why teens today are not interested in church or Christianity in general... the lack of power.  That lack of power makes it boring and kind of unliveable as just about anything else is more exciting to them.  I'm not saying church should be more entertaining, but rather, the power of God should be so strongly displayed with His people that our kids should be excited to be part of His kingdom.

       Without (hydro) power our lives get very dark, especially at night.  Without God’s power our lives remain dark in this world we live in.  He is the Light (Jh. 8:12) and the Life (Jh. 14:6) of our lives.  If our lives are dark, miserable and defeated all the time, if we live not really enjoying our lives or Christ, Christianity and our brothers and sisters in the Lord, why would our kids want what we have?  If they never see the power of God in our lives, why wouldn’t they wonder if He is real?

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1Cor. 4:20

   -It’s not just in what we say, but in His power that we should live.

He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things:… Mr. 16:16,17

And going out, they proclaimed everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word by miraculous signs following… Mr. 16:20

   -check out my posts on Mr. 16 here1, here2, here3.  Those believing in Jesus’ salvation will have signs follow, just as the disciples and others did.

(Paul and Barnabus) Therefore they stayed a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who bore witness to the word of His grace, giving miracles and wonders to be done by their hands. Ac. 14:3

   -Two men, neither there in Mr. 16 commission, both preached with signs proving their words.

But if the Spirit of the One who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you… Rom. 8:11

Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, Eph. 3:20

   -The same Spirit lives in us, the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus.  That’s powerful, and He works in us.

       What’s the answer to displaying God’s power in our lives more?  It’s getting too late for me to think about it further, only to know I am not satisfied to stay in this place, rather, I push forward to ALL God has for me to learn, in change, in action, and whatever it takes to be in His will. I choose to move forward in and with Him.  Now I just have to get my body to follow!  For me, having no power, or just a little power is not acceptable anymore; how about you?

Three Canes in a Row

       There I was minding my own business in the clinic (okay, really I was people watching…) when a lady, 30ish, walked by with a cane in her right hand.  The next person after her was an elderly man who walked in with a cane in his right hand, while walking a few steps behind him was an older lady with a cane in the same hand.  Weird, right?  What are the chances of seeing the identical issue right in a row?  It has to be highly unlikely.

       I’d already been watching cute little, sad little, sick baby who sat so quietly I was concerned for her.  On my left, stuck in a wheel chair and barely able to speak was a beautiful woman who looked younger than me but was probably recovering from a stroke.  Older people barely able to walk, injuries, sicknesses, and other visually seen issues had stirred up the beginnings of anger in me, but the three canes finished it.  I wanted to stand up and scream- ‘No, it was NOT meant to be this way!’  Instead I had to soak up tears in a tissue.

       The same anger has been building in me for a while as I see all the hurting, whether physically or other, everywhere I turn.  Pain, depression, burdens, sorrow, bodies failing to work right, struggling to breathe, brokenness, anorexia, fear, loneliness, paralysis, MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer and all the other works of the enemy.  I’m not angry at the people, but at the devil, the enemy of our souls who doesn’t come “except to steal and to kill and to destroy.” (Jh. 10:10) {except- save only with the intent to}

    -He tries to steal our finances, the truth, our kids, our health, our blessings and our joy. 

    -He tries to kill our hopes, our dreams, our friendships, our bodies and our beliefs.

    -He tries to destroy our relationships, our unity, our health, our communities and our trust.

       The devil is real.  He is not a myth, not an imaginary being.  Jesus spoke to him as a real being.  At one point the devil was “O shining star, son of the morning!” who was most beautiful in God’s creation (Ez. 28:11-17 double ref.), but he decided he wanted to be God and rebelled (Is. 14:12-14 double ref.).  The Near Eastern way of saying someone suffered defeat, fell from power, or lost one’s position is “fall from Heaven” as Satan did (Lk. 10:18).  The devil has power, but God is all powerful and threw Satan down from Heaven.

 

       The Bible says about Jesus, “…through death He might destroy him who had the power of death (that is, the Devil), and deliver those who through fear of death (us) were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:14,15)  Jesus came to undo the works of the devil (1Jh. 3:8)  Because of Jesus death and resurrection, we have hope beyond the grave, “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” (1Cor. 15:55)

       No matter what mischief the devil wreaks on the earth or in our lives, we know he is defeated by the greater power of God.  And the future of this tormentor is known.  For 1000 years he will be bound in the Abyss by God (Rv. 10:1-3) and soon after his release from there, he will be thrown into the lake of fire forever and eternally (Rv. 20:10) where death follows soon after him (v.14).

 

NEVER to BOTHER us again!!!

  

   -no violence,wars, only peace (Jb. 3:17)

   -no humger or thirst (Rv. 7:16,17)

   -no pain

   -no crying

   -no sorrow

   -no death (Rv. 21:4)

Woohoo! Thank You Jesus!