Why David Grabbed 5 Stones

Have you ever thought to yourself why David grabbed 5 stones instead of 1 to kill Goliath? Some might have thought, "Well, if he misses, he has 4 more shots." But if we assumed that David thought he might miss and needed those extra stones, we would also have to assume that his faith in God wasn't as strong or confident. According to scripture, if we assumed he lacked in faith, it would contradict what the scripture says and also contradict the confident young boy that he was deemed as. I Samuel 17:34-37 gives us a glimpse of how confident David was in God as he is describing his encounter with a lion and a bear.

"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.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

 

 

Who in their right mind takes off running after a lion or bear to grab it's prey from it's mouth? Keep in mind, too, that David was just a boy when he fought Goliath right after this ordeal. The King James Version and ESV version states that he is "but a youth" (I Samuel 17:33). With David being born in 1040 BC and the defeat of Goliath being in 1025, that would put David at 15 years old. Granted, his cockiness could be attributed to what we modernly deem as "puberty" setting in for this young guy, but in David's case, he was special. David is wise beyond his years and very astute in his faith and trust in God Almighty. Why? Could it be in his genes? Could we assume that considering that Jesus was of the line of David, that that same lineage produced generations of favor and victory against any enemy? Genesis 18:18 tells us that the "The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?" If David is a descendant of Abraham, he is guaranteed victory. Jesus, years later, was granted victory over Satan when He was born, when He died, and when He resurrected. David, being of the same lineage, would also receive victory and it wasn't only in his fight with the beasts of the land, but with Goliath as well.

 

So, with that promised victory and favor, why the 4 extra stones? Being in the "BC" era, the Old Testament Law is what these people abided by. Before Moses, there was Noah. After the Ark settled and the flood waters descended, God gave Noah His rules on what to eat and how to live. This was a new time and a new lineage of people who would come. After God had told Noah that the beasts of the land were his to eat, in Genesis 9:6, He also gave him a law about shedding blood of a man.

 

"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image."

 

With that being said, jump over to II Samuel 21:22. After the death of Goliath, word spread quickly (and probably not even that considering Goliath's family members were probably watching the whole time). Verse 22 reads, "These four were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants." Read chapter 21 and you will find that 4 of Goliath's relatives (brother-like descendants or maybe even immediate family to Goliath) came face-to-face with David probably for the sole purpose to avenge the death of Goliath. David wasn't stupid when he picked up those 4 extra stones. Could we assume that he knew that if he shed Goliath's blood, that Goliath's relatives also knew of the "avenge blood law" and that David took precautions when he grabbed those extra stones? He probably didn't even know he would run into 4 of his relatives later but that God did and God led him to grab 4 extra stones. I don't know. He did believe that that one shot to the head would do the trick, didn't he? These 4 particular descendants were from the same place that Goliath was from: Gath.

 

I believe that God had put on David's heart and mind to pick up those 4 extra stones but only for maybe a reminder or promise to David, that God would deliver 4 of Goliath's descendants into David's hands later. Whether David knew of this at the time or not, it doesn't say. We find out in verse 15 and 17 of II Samuel 21, that David was too weary to fight those 4 so God had allowed David's servants to kill them. Could we also assume that maybe God likes giving us hints as to how we will become victorious over our enemies? David probably didn't understand why he picked up those 4 extra stones until those 4 descendants had been defeated. In I Samuel 22:1, right after this victory, we read:

 

"And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul."

 



Notice that word "all"? Those 5 stones represented major victories for David. Those 5 stones served as reminders to David that God would bring him victory. Does this theory of mine fit? It might or it might not. Regardless, major lessons can be taken from this story of David. His confidence was found in one person alone- God. His faith rested on the promise that God would never leave him nor forsake him. God wants us to call upon Him for help against our enemies. God wants us to ask Him for help against Satan and his schemes. With God, there is always victory and whether we get what's going on now or not, God always comes out in the end with the Truth leading the way. 

 



What I am Thankful for this Thanksgiving

 

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:15-17

 

 

Thanksgiving is not only a time of historical reflection, but also of personal reflection of all we've been blessed with. This is the time when we give our praise to God for every moment He has blessed us with, good or bad. This past year, Dustin and I have been blessed to watch our children grow beautifully. This was an extra year of joy, laughter, and high levels of energy! Imagine that! LOL

 

I am very thankful for my eldest, Brent. Brent started the 1st grade and is doing extremely well in his class that is intermixed with 2nd graders. We do homeschool co-op meaning that he attends school on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-3 and I teach him on his off days (which is an extra blessing for me!). Part of his schooling is to memorize scripture and that in and off itself is every mother's delight. Not only has he kept straight A's this year, he has been a great helper around the house especially with the girls. He loves on them and hugs on them when they start to cry. He teaches them songs about Jesus and acts like a father figure to them by teaching them what to do and what not to do. I am very thankful for a little boy who has a heart as big as David's.

 

I am very thankful for my firstborn daughter and middle child, Laura Lynn. Everyone who meets little Laura loves her energy and comedic way of interaction. She is our wild child! She has a funny laugh and her expressions are nothing short of hilarious! This little girl has been a blessing to my life. Her "larger than life" personality is what keeps a grin on my face. I can already tell from her wit and impatient personality that she is my mini-me. She is one smart little girl who already, at two and a half, is starting to say "yes ma'am" just like big brother. She is definitely a gift from God Himself.

 

I am very thankful for our youngest bundle, little Miss Meredith Evelyn. Meredith is our little chunky monkey and her daddy's mini-me. With her 1st birthday approaching on December 11, she has kept this year very busy and warm for us. We have seen her at her tiniest to almost walking now. Every trip to the store has invited nothing but warm compliments of how contagious her dimpled smile is. Her piercing blue doll baby-shaped eyes are met with kind words from strangers. Looking at this tiny, yet chunky little baby, my heart is full.

 

I am thankful for Dustin. He has been a stable rock for this wild heart of mine. He is hands-on father with a big heart. When God places you where you are meant to be, according to His Will, your whole family life is at peace. He makes me feel wanted and loved. From changing diapers to thanking me for getting up at 4 to cook breakfast for him, I feel loved and appreciated. I thank God for his simple and humble heart.

 

These are just a few of the things that I am grateful for this year. God doesn't have to bless me in order for me to thank Him. He doesn't have to prove anything to me. Knowing that He wanted to create me to be His, is enough for me to be thankful for. Be thankful and give thanks to God for all things. He is good no matter the circumstance in your life. 

Produce Good Fruit

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. If you keep M y commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another." John 15:1-17

 

There are a lot of personal pronouns in this passage but the one I want you to focus on is the word Me. When Jesus is speaking this parable, He isn't referring to anyone else examining or having authority over our branch or fruit. He only talks about God being the vinedresser and Himself being the true vine. The vines that produce no fruit, according to verse 2, is taken away and in verse 6, if no branch produces, it is thrown into the fire and burned.

 

How can we bear fruit? In verse 4, the only possible way to bear fruit is to abide in Christ, the True Vine. The end of verse 4 says, "for apart from Me you can do nothing." The only way we can produce good fruit, is to abide in Christ. In our home, we are big fruit and veggie eaters. The kids always have grapes and when they ask, I always start by taking the bag out and picking through the good ones and bad ones. If a grape looks too soft or almost dead, that grape gets tossed out into the woods. The good ones get washed in dawn soap, dried off, drizzled with fresh water, and off to the children. In order to keep grapes fresh longer, those grapes that look almost dead get tossed from the bag for the sake of affecting the good grapes. Over time, some grapes get weak from hanging on to the vine so they fall off and sit in the bottom of the bag only to be tossed when I get more grapes for the next snack time. Those dead grapes have no use and the only option is to toss them. Our spiritual lives are ones that should be found in Christ. We should cling to the True Vine and desire to produce good fruit and not bad fruit. Here are some differences of those good fruit producers and bad fruit producers:

Good Fruit Producers
-Has genuine love for others.
-Holds no grudges/bitterness.
-Prays for his/her enemies in love, not spite.
-Kindness and encouragement for all.
-Talks the talk but also walks the walk.
-Thinks of others before self.
-Acts upon scripture because the Holy Spirit is there to convict and guide.                                                                

Bad Fruit Producers
-Hates certain individuals.
-Grudge holder/bitter
-Sees no need in praying for enemies.
-Snooty/Cruel/Bully-like.
-Social media Christian only.
-Self comes first
-Ignores parts that offends their actions.

When we love Christ, we are called to be like Him in all aspects. Going back to the personal pronoun of Me, we can show the world all kinds of deeds and post about how we are living for the Lord so forth and so on, but God is the Vinedresser. He is the One who sees what our friends on Facebook don't see. He hears the gossip behind closed doors, He reads the texts sent to our friends and family members, and He knows what thoughts come through our minds daily. What kind of branch are we? Will we be one that will be tossed into the fire? Bearing good fruit is good but that good fruit is based on God's standard, not ours. We might think that we are producing good fruit because we base it on social media reactions to our lives and what we post, but do you know what's more scary? If all we did was in vain. When we see our Vinedresser, let's make it am opportunity for the Lord to be pleased with our service here on earth. We can fool Facebook, but we can't fool God. If we put our total focus on the Lord, we would be more busy with the Lord's work than on social media trying to please people who have no control over our eternal lives. With that being said, I encourage everyone to spend more time with the Lord in His Word and grow your prayer life. Seek ways to glorify God in a way that only God and not man can see. Jesus said that whatever you do in private, God will bless you for. Encourage others to grow in Christ, get rid of all malice and gossip. Be peacemakers and rid yourself of any unnecessary drama that floods your life. Be kind to your enemies and ask God to bless them and even ask God to help you make amends with them. God is good and life is short and  if we glorify God here on earth, can you imagine the rewards waiting for us in Heaven? Eternity with Christ is too precious to waste with petty foolishness here on earth. Make your time count for the cause of Christ.

 

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 5-11

 

Full Armor of God

  

Some of my topics can come across as "Sunday School-ish" but have you ever read something that you've read over and over for years and all of a sudden, a light bulb goes off? That's me in a nutshell. The more and more that I have been spending in God's Word digging for His promises and His character, the more He has revealed to me about His Truths and the devil's lies. Take Ephesians 6 for example. We have all heard of the breastplate of righteousness and the sword of truth, etc. but has it ever occurred to you that it is vital for us to heed what Paul is trying to tell us in this chapter?
    To understand the full armor concept, we must ask ourselves why. Why are we instructed to wear our armor? Ephesians 6:11-13 says:

                    ^"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

 

 

If you have accepted Christ as your Savior and you are following the Lord wholeheartedly, expect arrows being hurled towards you. The devil doesn't sleep. He needs no rest. He will use people close to you, strangers, and even your own mind to try and distract you from God's direction for your life. There are ways to dodge those darts and Paul goes on to describe on what to do in verses 14-18:

 

 

 ^"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

 

 

How can we add these pieces of armor to our spiritual bodies?

 

1. God's Word

 

It's good to do a devotion daily, but how often do we get stuck in the habit of doing mini devotions and going about our day without so much as chewing on it and digging further for more of God's infinite wisdom? One little devo that I had used in the past was Our Daily Bread. It is still a good little devotional and our church orders them and keeps them on hand, but do we stop there? Wake up, read that paragraph and go about our day feeling "satisfied" that we were able to cram in our "devotion" time? How about doing your devotions on your phone? Common sense tells you that it's better to grab the physical Word of God and eat it up rather than depend on your phone for insight or even Bible reading. Don't misunderstand what is being said here as well. Some people have no other access to a Bible but by their phone and that's good, but if you are at home, God's Word works best. Why? What typically happens when you start reading from your mobile device? It starts acting like a mobile device and before you know it, you are in the middle of reading the book of John and a text pops up. How about a phone call or notification? If you use the physical Bible and set your phone to the side, it will be easier to concentrate without being distracted by Facebook, Pinterest, or any other media source. And remember, reading His Word is better than not reading His Word. If you are doing it, keep on keeping on!

 

2. Earnest Prayerful Heart

 

Prayer is communication between you and God stretching from your physical realm to His spiritual realm. Prayer allows us to have an open dialogue with our heavenly Father. God wants us to need and want Him. Like a father to his child, He wants to protect us from bad things and bad people. We can ask Him to shield us from these fiery darts that the enemy throws at us. Let Him protect you.

 

What happens if a knight has every piece of armor on but neglected to wear his breastplate? That is the first place the enemy will aim and shoot. Why? It is unprotected. It is very important to stay armored and prepared for the enemy's blows especially if you are doing God's Will. If you are trying to led others to the Lord, you will be a target. Satan hates, loathes, the children of God. We have something inside of us that will always be greater than any plot he takes out against us. We have the power of God in us. Ephesians 3:20 says: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.." Think about it. According to I Corinthians 6:3, we will one day be able to judge Angels. Incredible if you sit and think about that one for awhile!

 

I plead and beg of you, it won't be easy at first, but Paul was trying to warn us and also help us. The Bible exists so that we may know God and know how to defeat the enemy at the same time. It is the ultimate survival guide for our lives. Soak yourselves in God's Holy Word, in daily communication with Him through prayer, and claim the power that is in you. Remember what I John 4:4 says?

 



 "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

 

Another thing that I do throughout the day, especially if a negative thought comes racing to my mind, I immediately recite the Lord's Prayer and it's as if the room clears. The enemy and his minions don't stick around for long when you have a meeting with the Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords. If you want the enemy to flee, rebuke him immediately verbally, out loud, and recite the Lord's Prayer or just talk with God. If you haven't experienced what it's like to have a relationship with the Lord, please send me a message and I will reply. A lot of you already know me and know how to contact me through social media or through our external lives. Don't hesitate to contact. God bless. 



The Lord's Prayer: The Forgotten Prayer

I have often asked myself why I don't recite the Lord's Prayer more often. Even in my regular prayer time, I tend to have a hard time knowing what to pray for or even remembering all the prayer requests from individuals who have asked me to pray for them. After my prayers, it hits me that I left someone off the "list" and I have to go back and make sure that I covered that person. It almost turns into an obligation instead of an outpouring of my heart about myself or someone else or even about the Lord. But there's a way to pray that covers all the basics with God being at the center of it: The Lord's Prayer.

“(5)And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. (6)But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (7)And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. (8)“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (9) In this manner, therefore, pray:

 

"Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

 

(Matthew 6:5-13)

 

It's very important not to skip verse 8 when reading this passage. Do you notice what Jesus said?

 

             "...For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him."

 

God is omniscient. He knows EVERYTHING. Here are just a few verses of scripture that remind us of his omniscient nature:

 

"He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite."  Psalm 145:4-5

 

"And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13

 

 ^"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matthew 10:29-30

 

Christ went on to give us the perfect example of what to pray when we come to the Father and what better person to listen to than the One who is perfection manifested? Better yet, God manifested!

 

Arthur W. Pink wrote about there being 7 petitions in the Lord's Prayer. As we all know, 7 is regarded as a holy number and thus, the Lord's Prayer is made up of 7 petitions to God. Here are the 7 petitions:

 

1. Hallowed be Thy name

 

Arthur W. Pink says:

 

"First, the word hallowed is a term from Middle English used here to translate a form of the Greek verb hagiazo. This term is frequently translated "sanctified." It means to set apart for a sacred use." Thus, the words "hallowed be Thy name" signify the pious desire that God’s matchless name might be reverenced, adored, and glorified, and that God might cause it to be held in the utmost respect and honor, that its fame might spread abroad and be magnified."

 

2. Thy Kingdom come

 

This phrase that we speak to God comes from a part of us, should come from a part of us, that is open to whatever God wants for our lives. Pink goes on to say:

 

"We say again that, though this is the most brief of the petitions, it is also the most comprehensive. In praying, "Thy Kingdom come," we plead for the power and blessing of the Holy Spirit to attend the preaching of the Word, for the Church to be furnished with God-given and God-equipped officers, for the ordinances to be purely administered, for an increase of spiritual gifts and graces in Christ’s members, and for the overthrow of Christ’s enemies. Thus we pray that the Kingdom of grace may be further extended till the whole of God’s elect are brought into it. Also, by necessary implication, we pray that God will wean us more and more from the perishing things of this world."

 

3. Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven

 

How many of us long for Heaven and the holy atmosphere that encompasses it? I know I do! When we read "as it is in Heaven", Pink says it perfectly when he says:

 

"The standard by which we are to measure our attempts at doing God’s will on earth is nothing less than the conduct of the saints and angels in heaven."

 

4. Give us this day our daily bread

 

"...this petition teaches us the following indispensable lessons: (1) that it is permissible and lawful to supplicate God for temporal mercies; (2) that we are completely dependent upon God’s bounty for everything; (3) that our confidence is to be in Him alone, and not in secondary causes; (4) that we should be grateful, and return thanks for material blessings as well as for spiritual ones; (5) that we should practice frugality and discourage covetousness; (6) that we should have family worship every morning and evening; and (7) that we should be equally solicitous on behalf of others as for ourselves." -Pink

5. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors

"Our sins are here viewed, as in Luke 11:4, under the notion of debts, that is, undischarged obligations or failures to render to God His lawful due. We owe to God sincere and perfect worship together with earnest and perpetual obedience." -Pink

In retrospect, as God has forgiven us, we are obligated to forgive others. If we don't forgive others, how can we expect God to forgive us?

6. and lead us not into temptation

"How does God lead us into temptation? First, He does so objectively when His providences, though good in themselves, offer occasions (because of our depravity) for sin. When we manifest self-righteousness, He may lead us into circumstances something like Job experienced. When we are self-confident, He may be pleased to suffer us to be tempted as Peter was. When we are self-complacent, He may bring us into a situation similar to the one Hezekiah encountered (2 Chron. 32:27-31; cf. 2 Kings 20:12-19). God leads many into poverty, which though a sore trial is yet, under His blessing, often enriching to the soul. God leads some into prosperity, which is a great snare to many. Yet if sanctified by Him, prosperity enlarges one s capacity for usefulness. Second, God tempts permissively when He does not restrain Satan (which He is under no obligation to do). Sometimes God suffers him to sift us as wheat, just as a strong wind snaps off dead boughs from living trees. Third, God tempts some men judicially, punishing their sins by allowing the Devil to lead them into further sin, to the ultimate destruction of their souls.

 

But why does God tempt His people, either objectively by His providences, or subjectively and permissively by Satan? He does so for various reasons. First, He tries us in order to reveal to us our weakness and our deep need of His grace. God withdrew His sustaining arm from Hezekiah in order "that he might know all that was in his heart" (2 Chron. 32:31). When God leaves us to ourselves, it is a most painful and humiliating discovery that we make. Yet it is needful if we are to pray from the heart, "Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe" (Ps. 119:117). Second, He tests us in order to teach us the need of watchfulness and prayer. Most of us are so stupid and unbelieving that we learn only in the hard school of experience, and even its lessons have to be knocked into us. Little by little we discover how dearly we have to pay for rashness, carelessness, and presumption. Third, our Father subjects us to trials in order to cure our slothfulness. God calls out, "Awake thou that sleepest" (Eph. 5:14), but we heed Him not; and therefore He often employs rough servants to rudely arouse us. Fourth, God puts us to the test in order to reveal to us the importance and value of the armor He has appointed (Eph. 6:11-18). If we heedlessly go forth to battle without our spiritual panoply, then we must not be surprised at the wounds we receive; but they shall have the salutary effect of making us more careful for the future!" -Pink

 

7. But deliver us from evil

 

"We are taught to pray for deliverance from all kinds, degrees, and occasions of evil; from the malice, power, and subtlety of the powers of darkness; from this evil world and all its allurements, snares, tempers, and deceits; from the evil of our own hearts, that it may be restrained, subdued, and finally extirpated; and from the evil of suffering. . . (Thomas Scott)." -Excerpt from Pink's writing

 

The end of the Lord's Prayer is considered the "Doxology" which means: a praise that is sung to God as a means of worship and expression. The doxology in the Lord's Prayer is:

 

"For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

 

A.W. Pink says, "The perfections of this prayer as a whole and the wondrous fullness of each clause and word in it are not perceived by a rapid and careless glance, but become apparent only by a reverent pondering. This doxology may be considered in at least a threefold way: (1) as an expression of holy and joyful praise; (2) as a plea and argument to enforce the petitions; and (3) as a confirmation and declaration of confidence that the prayer will be heard. In this prayer our Lord gives us the quintessence of true prayer."

 

I titled this blog as "The Lord's Prayer: The Forgotten Prayer" because we, as believers, have seemed to have swept this important prayer under the rug. Jesus, Himself, was speaking when He spoke to His disciples about the importance of saying this prayer. One part of the prayer says, "give us our DAILY bread." Why would Jesus include the word "daily" if it wasn't important? We are to constantly pray as a means to glorify God and protect ourselves, through God, from the devil's schemes. The devil doesn't sleep, God doesn't sleep, but we do. I have just recently started saying the Lord's Prayer daily and am in the process of teaching my Sunday School class how to recite the prayer before every lesson so as they grow older, they will be able to recall this prayer without hesitation. I encourage you to do the same. If Christ told His disciples that this was the way to pray, does it not apply to us as well? Just like He said, God already knows of our needs.

 

 

Reference: http://pbministries.org/books/pink/Lords_Prayer/pray_introduction.htm

Polycarp: Would You Die for the Cause of Christ?

 

My brother and sister-in-Christ, the Griswold's, wanted me to borrow their movie, "Polycarp." I had never heard of the movie, let alone know that it was about one of John the Apostle's students. Being that it was a nice rainy afternoon the other day, I put the movie in and let my oldest child watch it with me. It starts off with the auctioning off of a slave girl. Considering that she could have been bought by a perverse tyrant, she was also pursued by a Christian family and with help from a man named Polycarp, Anna was able to leave with the Christian family. Polycarp was a Christian man who was taught by John. To make a long story short, because of their (Christians) refusal to worship other gods and name Caesar as their lord, they either fled or stayed to face persecution. One boy that was adopted by the Christian family, was tried for treason and forced to die in the arena by being mauled by lions. Anna felt as though it was her fault for the boy's death and during this time, she was still unsure about the God that Polycarp served. When Polycarp came to Anna, he told her not to be sad about his death. Polycarp had gone to the arena and witnessed the killing and told Anna that the boy was so unafraid with death, that he ran toward the lions. I lost it! I couldn't stop crying!

We hear about modern-day persecution stories from television or books, but do we really comprehend what it is like to die for Christ or even face persecution? We think that things like being mauled by lions or being burned to death are so far from us, but is it? Even today, there are Christians who are being persecuted and killed for the cause of Christ in third world countries. After reading the horror stories and even after watching this movie, my faith in God has increased. I don't count being disagreed with or even confronted by an unbeliever who verbally disagrees with me as persecution. We have no idea of real persecution, but unfortunately, one day we will. Are we ready to face it? Will we die for the name of Christ? If your mind is filled with doubts and fear, be reminded that we are promised that Christ will never leave us nor forsake us. He will give us a peace that passes all understanding. He also has a mansion waiting on us in paradise and we can be assured that He keeps His promises.

So the next time someone ridicules you or mocks your faith, thank God for keeping you safe. When our faith comes under attack physically, thank God for giving you a home with Him. Those who worry too much about what could be, haven't put their full trust in the Lord. The Lord calls us to not be anxious for nothing. Our temporary lives here on earth are not meant to be held on to. We live this life to raise up godly young men and women, share with others about what Christ has done for them, and glorify God with the talents He has given us. Don't fear what is to come. Don't worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will have enough to worry about. Trust in the Lord and when the time comes to where you will be given the choice to live and deny Christ or die and gain Him, choose Christ and you will live in eternity with Him. Nothing here on earth is worth going to Hell for, I promise.

Don't Let the Devil Steal Your Joy

How many times have we found ourselves in a rut or valley of deep emotion so strong that it makes it physically impossible to move around sometimes? I've been there. I have carried burdens for other brothers and sisters in Christ, cried my eyes out over stories of children being abused, and have sat in deep thought thinking about what could be done in and outside the home. I have to admit, that all of that "emotional" baggage used to drain my very spirit. Saying that, I do not complain about those opportunities. It is only when the Holy Spirit reminds me that if I don't laugh every once in awhile, I could become too enthralled in thought to the point to where I am quenching the Spirit. Sometimes, God gives us an opportunity to laugh and cut up with others. One of my favorite quotes that I often look back on is from Beth Moore. She said, "Good humor and laughter are far too wonderful not to come straight from the heart of God.” We have to find opportunities to go out and enjoy ourselves. This past Friday night, I had another opportunity to go with a sister-in-Christ, Roxanne, of mine to Bonefish Grill in Turkey Creek. It was my first time going and it was definitely an opportunity for the two of us to use to giggle and talk about spiritual things. With our busy lives, we try and go out and use that time (usually take off to Turkey Creek, our favorite place lol!) to bond with one common goal: fellowship.

If you know me by now, you should know that I am a realist and pessimist. I am a deep thinker, I am an observer, I am a discerner of persons, and I am extremely outspoken on calling things out that need to called out. I am also a big wise crack, sarcastic, easy-going, and enjoy dry and witty humor. My husband, on the other hand is a realist but an optimist. He is laid back, very funny, affectionate, collective, and gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. He is my balance. He also serves as my reminder on how to handle situations and emotions. From the beginning of time, God purposed us to be together and God knew why. When my spirits are low, Dustin reminds me to smile and laugh. When my spirits are going crazy and I feel as though someone deserves to be punched in the mouth, Dustin reminds me of God's grace and patience with us.

What we have to realize is, is that our contentment and joy is not found in this life, not even with our spouses or materialistic desires or wants. Our joy is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Last Thursday, I took my oldest child, Brent and my youngest, Meredith, to the movies and watched "War Room." I remember one scene when Miss Clara was speaking to Elizabeth about her prayer life and relationship with God. She said that real joy, peace, and happiness will not be found in your spouse, it is only found in God. When we figure that out, we will be able to love our spouses as Christ loves us. Another scene that I enjoyed, was when Elizabeth rebuked the devil and sent him out of her home. As she went outside, she told him that she would no longer let him steal her joy. After her talk with Miss Clara and her time with the Lord in prayer, she knew where to put her faith, tears, fights, and joy. She placed all of it in Jesus Christ. Why? The devil wants to render us ineffective for the Kingdom of God. Just like Miss Clara said, repeating from John 10:10, the Devil comes only to "steal, and to kill, and to destroy." He wants us miserable because he is miserable; miserably sick of God's blessings on our lives.

Continue to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn, but also rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15 reference). Don't look for your joy in another human being or object. Don't look for it something temporary that this world offers. You can find your joy in the One who made you, the One who died for you, and the One who has made a mansion specifically for you in Paradise. He loved you enough to create you into existence and to sustain you. If your joy is gone, He is able to restore it unto you. You have to let Him. Enjoy and claim the promises below.

"You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11

"Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" Psalm 32:11

"Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” Psalm 35:27

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

When Bad Things Happen to the Faithful Follower

This past week and a half, Brent and I have been studying the book of Job for his bedtime devotions. As odd as that sounds, he loves it. It's not a typical book to go to when trying to read to your children, but as for my teaching, I like for my children to be challenged, but more than not, prepared for what they will have to face, thanks to my walk. In saying that, what I mean is, is that Satan doesn't like me very much and nor should he. Every attempt I make to rear my children on the right path, every conversation I have with a friend of mine through Facebook on doctrine, and even every wrong I try to make right, is always met head-on with the enemy. I am no stranger to his schemes and set-ups. I am no stranger to the craziness he throws my way. One thing I love knowing, is that he is doing it because I am a threat to him. Every strong Christian I have ever met, is facing some battle. The Bible promises us that those who are faithful, will face trials and tribulations. That also indirectly tells me, that anyone who doesn't face trials and tribulations, don't belong to God and that's scary.

Take Job for example. Job had it all. Job had the riches, the land, the animals, 10 children, a wife and a life without trouble. The Bible says that when the Sons of God came to present themselves before God, that Satan came also (points to Satan's submissiveness to his own Creator, God). Satan can not for the life of him, stand it when someone is living for God and not being in some kind of trouble of some sort. His only way of stirring the pot, is to ask for permission to do anything bad. What does this mean to the believer? This is good news! Bad things do not come from God, did you know that?

God had blessed Job because he wanted Job to be happy but Job was also devoted to God. Only when God gave Satan permission to take everything away from Job, did He turn around and double his blessing right after. Through Satan's attempts to make trouble, God had proven yet again that His Will will prevail. There could be different reasons why God gave Satan permission to do something so horrible to Job and here are just a few:

1. God wanted to prove, not that He had to, to Satan how powerful He is.
2. God wanted to show Job that He was still in control.
3. Job might have needed a new beginning for his sake.

Being that God is God, maybe the reasons are not meant to be known. What I think, is I think that God allows these things to happen because He knows that Satan still has to exist for a time being and that this gives us an opportunity to cry out to Him. That is part of our freedom of choice. We choose to do things and if not led by the Spirit, we could end up hurt. If we do make right decisions and you belong to God, you will be met with trouble but only because the devil asks for you by name. So the next time something bad happens to you and you can't figure out where it's coming from, rest assured, there is a God that sees it and already knows who's behind it. Don't give up and blame God for it. If you're having a difficulty with a person, pray and seek God. Ask God to tell Satan "no." Did you know that you can do that? If God chooses to allow you to go through a trial, go through like Job did and don't "curse God and die" like Job's wife told him to do. Praise Him in the storm, praise Him through the sweat and tears, and praise Him even when things are good. Don't let the devil rob you of your joy and if you are facing troubles, be happy because now you know you are living for God what the Bible calls "wholeheartedly."

^"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." I Peter 4:12-13

Knowing Who He Is

“We weren't meant to be somebody--we were meant to know Somebody." John Piper

I absolutely love this quote by John Piper and if you read it and it makes you upset, you are too full of self. Is he saying that we are a nobody? No. He is simply pointing out how important it is that we are to be constantly seeking after God. God created us for His pure enjoyment. Deuteronomy 4:24 says "For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." Consider the background for this particular verse. The children of Israel had always had a problem with allowing false religions to creep into their camp. Weak-minded individuals were ofter persuaded by women. One example was Solomon. King Solomon was seduced by foreign women to sway him from worshiping God which led him to worship their false gods.

"For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father." 1 Kings 11:4

If God is a jealous God, He requires our complete devotion. How can we give Him our complete devotion with everything else going on? Before I give examples, be mindful that God commands us to put Him first. We are to put Him above our spouses, children, work, materialistic belongings, play, and most importantly, ourselves. He sounds selfish, doesn't He? I don't mind at all and neither should you. God is so great and so full of love and grace, that it should be nothing short of wise to put Him above everything else in our lives. There's reward in doing so. Psalm 37:3-6 says, 

"Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noonday." 

If we put Him first, which requires trusting in Him, we are guaranteed His faithfulness. He will fulfill the desires of our hearts if we put Him first. Unfortunately, this world that we live in keeps on getting busier and busier. So many times we find ourselves caught up in our "To Do" lists and we find it near impossible to find time to even involve Him in our daily decisions, let alone putting Him above everything that goes on. 

God created us for the very purpose of finding Him. He loves you and He loves me. He wants us to talk to Him and for Him to be able to talk to us. What good and faithful father doesn't want to spend time with his son or daughter? He took precious time to mold you into His likeness. He loved you and I enough to even consider creating us when He didn't have to. So, with that being said, if you hear a tiny voice telling how useless you are in life, how unwanted you are by others, how ineffective you are to the Kingdom of God, please know that that's the devil's voice. God doesn't want us to feel bad about ourselves. He wants us to be happy and full of joy. He loves to see us smile, laugh, and be kind to others. Stop worrying about who are you going to be in this life and start focusing on who God is in your life. Knowing who He is, is the beginning of a life full of promise and hope. Take focus off of self and let God take over.

 Tips on how to "Know Him"

Read your Bible.

Pray daily and on purpose.

Seek others who desire Him for gain of knowledge of who He is. 

Is Satan Sifting You?

How do you know if Satan is sifting you? What do I mean by sifting? In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus says:

"And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

After reading these verses, there are 3 important things to point out. 

1. If you are a disciple (follower) of Christ, Satan will ask to sift you. What's even more mind-blowing, is that Satan will call you by name in front of God. He will ask specifically for Heather Hall and if you are a child of God, he will ask for you by name, too. Rest assured, Satan has to ask for permission from God before he is able to do anything. Remember Satan asking God for permission to take everything away from Job in chapter 1 and 2? Whether he likes it or not, he HAS to ask for permission to do anything. Why? God is God. He is Master over Satan and Satan knows it so well, that he makes a trip to God's throne to get permission to do anything. It should bring us joy knowing that God is still and always will be in control.

2. Jesus prays for you and I. Odd to think about it, isn't it? Shouldn't we be the only ones praying to God, especially since Jesus and God are One in the same? According to the above verse, Jesus prays to His Father, God, asking that God would keep Simon Peter's faith from failing. Don't doubt for one second, that Jesus doesn't pray for you either. He loves you so much that he brings your name to His lips and lifts you to God. Sounds beautiful, doesn't it? Can you imagine your name being spoken in Heaven right now as you read this? Imagine it this way:

* It is gloriously sunny, children are running around playing and laughing, rivers are flowing, Angels are singing and Jesus turns to His Father and says: "Father, I bring ______ to You. Father, I pray that You will give ______ strength and I ask that You keep ______'s faith from failing as we know that Satan is asking to sift _____. May You be glorified. Amen." 

3. Because Jesus knew that Simon Peter would deny Him thrice, before Simon even denied Him, Jesus gives him advice: "And when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Jesus knew that Peter would weep bitterly and repent of what he had done. He also knew that after his repentance, it would make him a stronger disciple. Isn't that encouraging to us? How many times have you been through trial after trial only to come out more on fire than ever? Same thing applied to Simon after. Not once is it recorded after his repentance did he deny Christ again. In fact, he was so bold and brazen about his devotion to Christ, that he was crucified (upside down) for Christ because he wouldn't deny Him again. 

Do you feel like you've been sifted? Good news! You officially belong to God and His Kingdom! Keep heart and don't lose faith. No matter what Satan asks to do to us, Jesus will always pray for us, asking His Father to uphold us. Keep heart, we will all be going Home soon!

Friendship Evangelism

Friendship Evangelism is one of many approaches to witnessing to others about Christ. This approach aims to befriend someone first and then slowly working your way to telling them about Christ. While this approach seems innocent in and of itself, in reality, it doesn't make sense and I'll show you how.

One of the main problems with Friendship Evangelism, if not thee main problem, is timing. Matthew 24:36 says, "But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." If we wait around trying to make a friend out of that person we are trying to reach, how do we know if Christ doesn't come back before then? What if that person has an accident and dies? It just doesn't make sense.

Another problem with this approach is assuming a friendship. If you try your hardest to befriend someone and they have no desire to be your friend, you have wasted all that time and energy.

What is the best way to witness to others? First and foremost, spend time in prayer asking for God to give you an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone. Sometimes, it's easy to just start talking to someone but if we don't seek guidance from the Holy Spirit, it could end up in a mess. Besides, why would you not ask for guidance when trying to lead someone to the Lord? Secondly, spend time in the scriptures so you will be ready to answer questions that someone might have about God. I Peter 3:15 says, ^"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." Lastly, JUMP! After you spend time in prayer and in God's Word, go out there and get busy! You will be nervous, but rest assured, if the Holy Spirit resides in you, you will have a boldness that only comes from Heaven above. Below are some scriptures to help you when sharing the Gospel:

"That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Finally, why should you witness? Charles Spurgeon said it best when he said, "Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter." Is he saying that we need to go to a foreign country, as a missionary, on a mission trip? No. From the biblical point-of-view, if we are His, our primary responsibility is to tell others about Christ. Below are some verses to read and keep in your heart.

"And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16
  
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
  
There are tons of scripture to help you in your earthly duty as a Christian. We are called to share the hope we have with the lost for the sake of trying to keep them from going to a devil's Hell. Whether they accept what you say or not, your effort will be rewarded in Heaven. I have seen people get spit on, abused, and slandered for sharing the cross with the lost. Why? Satan is alive and well. This is his territory. This earth belongs to him and God has given it to him to roam about, but praise God, we don't reside here permanently. Share this good news with a stranger or loved one before it's too late, beloved. May the Holy Spirit give you peace on your journey.   

Footnotes:

Songs of Encouragement

I am a big fan of listening to Christian music and not just because of the children, but because it gives me hope, peace, and reminders of God's promises. Below is a list of songs that I have listened to over the years and songs from today's music.

"Place in this World" -Michael W. Smith
"God is in Control" -Twila Paris
"Awesome God" -Rich Mullins
"On My Knees" -Jaci Velasquez
"I Will Be Here" -Steven Curtis Chapman
"Free" -Ginny Owens
"Redeemer" -Nicole C. Mullen
"Take You Back" -Jeremy Camp
"He Will Carry You" -Mark Schultz
"Cry Out to Jesus" -Third Day
"Steady My Heart" -Kari Jobe
"No Sweeter Name" -Kari Jobe
"O the Blood" -Kari Jobe


These are just a FEW of my favorite songs and if you have time, I hope you take time to listen and be encouraged. Find a good Christian station in your area and keep it on in your car or take a trip to LifeWay and buy a couple of cds. We can worship in numerous ways, but there's something about singing unto the Lord that just keeps your mind and heart focused on God. 

For the first time ever, I had the beautiful opportunity to sing with my husband in church on Easter night this year. I am one of those "shower singers" so you could probably imagine how nervous I was when my husband, who happens to have a GORGEOUS voice, asked me to sing with him that night! We sung the ole gospel song "He's alive! He's alive! No death could not hold Him" and honestly, because God showed up, our voices synchronized so beautifully together. I was too nervous to look at the crowd and didn't want to look at him for fear of laughing (LOL) so I looked at the walls and he looked at me. That night and that song had given me an opportunity to worship the Lord in a way that I wasn't used to and to be able to do it with my husband, was the most beautiful experience ever. If you don't feel comfortable singing in public, it's okay. Sing a song unto the Lord in your quiet time with Him. Drown yourself in His presence and lose yourself in worship. I promise, you won't regret it.

Boldness is Contagious

Not too long ago, I came across a man by the name of Clayton Jennings. He is a poet, speaker, and evangelist for Christ. He is young, vivacious, energetic, and BOLD. He is not ashamed to shout the name of Jesus wherever he is and with that kind of boldness, it can quickly become contagious, as it should. I started following him on Instagram some time back and I got to wondering how different my life would be if I was as bold as Clayton. I go through his mini videos and read his captions from his still shots and the energy that exudes off of his page starts to rekindle a fire in my heart. How is he so bold, that in all that he does, the name "Jesus" just rolls off of his tongue? Where does that fire come from? How can I get my hands on it?! One thing that he does do, is open his fire starter, the Bible.

In order to be bold, we have to pray bold. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide in your daily decisions. The moment you wake up, make it a point to talk to God first and foremost. If you think you don't have enough time in the morning, try waking up 30 minutes earlier than usual. Discipline yourself to stay in constant communication with God in prayer and in His Word. The more time spent in His Word, the more apt your mind is to remember those scriptures. Why? 1 Peter 3:15 says:

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 

With the world watching us and with us being in constant contact with the lost, it's best to always be prepared to witness to others and it's hard to do that if we don't know what to tell them. If you do hide God's Word in your heart, when the time comes to witness to someone, the Holy Spirit will bring those scriptures to mind so you can relay it to the one you're talking to. 

Not only is praying and reading God's Word essential in building that boldness, but the company of Saints will come as an advantage. If you don't have a group of close individuals to hold you accountable, find at least one person to keep in constant contact with you. Ladies, pick a female friend or relative and gents, find a male counterpart. Make a pact with that partner to help keep one another accountable. Make it a priority to call your accountability partner at least once a week, text regularly, and even meet up for lunch or dinner to discuss how you two are doing when it comes to reaching out to others. If it helps, find literature on witnessing. One guide I have, that I am in love with, is a book written by Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort called The Way of the Master. Years ago, when I was in youth, our former youth pastor had us read this method as a way of helping us "get out there." I highly recommend it. 

I thank God for bold Christians like Clayton who aren't ashamed of the Gospel. God has used him in mighty ways and people who have never heard of Jesus, get to hear it from a man of God who isn't ashamed of the One who saved his soul. Can we say the same?

If you're interested, here's where you can find Clayton to find encouragement:

http://claytonjennings.com/

https://instagram.com/claytonjennings1/

https://www.facebook.com/claytonjenningsdotcom?fref=ts

David's Disobedience Cost More Than One Life

From the title, some of you might be thinking that I am talking about Uriah, right? If Uriah was the only one who popped up in your mind, you haven't read through the whole story just yet. Not only did David's disobedience lead to Uriah's death, it led to the death of David's first child with  Bathsheba, too. This act of God might be seen as harsh, but rest assured, God has that baby boy now. The reasoning behind God's actions can be found in His holiness. We see in II Samuel why God struck the baby ill and decided to take him 7 days later.

"So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” Then Nathan departed to his house." II Samuel 12:13-15

God had spoken to the prophet, Nathan, and told him to go to David to relay His message. After hearing what the Lord had to say, David knew that there would be consequences to his sin. Not only did he sleep with another man's wife and impregnate her, he tried to hide his sin by indirectly having her husband killed. What David forgot, in his moment of lust, was that God knew what was about to happen. In our moments of weakness, are we not guilty of doing the same thing? Forgetting that God knows all and sees all? Those quiet moments of tears and heartache. Moments of anger, frustration, and impatience. How about those moments where we don't give Him our time? When in the flesh, things aren't clear and transparent. Instead, they become very blurred and hard to decipher. David had one of those moments and it cost him dearly. 

It was a very sad 7 days for David and Bathsheba. David spent those days lying on the floor, refusing to eat or drink. He knew his sin was affecting the innocent life of his tiny baby boy so during those days, he soaked in prayer and supplication to the Lord.  After God had taken the child, David got up off the floor and dusted himself off. After God took the child, God's anger had subsided and He wanted to bless David with a son. After David spent time with his wife, she soon became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy and they named him Solomon. 

"Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Now the Lord loved him." II Samuel 12:24 

This is a great story of God taking a mess and turning it into a blessing. He loves us so much that He wants to protect us from sin, but with free will attached, He allows us to make our own decisions. David was supposed to be minding his own business on his rooftop until his eyes caught hold of a beautiful wife bathing. Where David failed, was when his eyes came back around for a second glance. The longer he stood there, the more entwined he became. It finally got to the point to where he sent one of his messengers after her and commanded her to come to him. 

How many times in our lives have we gone from a spiritual high to a spiritual low all over one weakness? That sin that we have committed has consumed us so much, that we are doing all we can to "hide it" from others not realizing that God knew it was coming. So what is our best option? When you find yourself in a situation, pray immediately. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and to walk with you in every situation. It is very important that we do not sin for more than one reason:

1. It affects everyone around you.
2. Snowball effect.
3. It ruins your witness.
4. Most importantly, it hurts God.

My Pastor, Richard Parker, gave us some good advice this morning. He said that if we bathe ourselves in the Word of God and walk in the Spirit, it will keep our focus where it needs to be. Our flesh is corrupt and vile and we require daily guidance from the Holy Spirit. How are you spending your time? Spend some time with God this week and tonight before you go to bed. Soak yourself in His Word and live for Him. Goodnight, beloved.

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:16