HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BOTH PROTECTED AND CORRECTED AT THE SAME TIME? In the season when David was on the run from King Saul, he allied himself with the Philistines. Yet, on the eve before they went into battle against Israel, they sent David and his men away. In this, God protected David. For the
DO YOU KNOW THE ONE WHO CAN COMMAND THE DEAD TO RISE? The One who had said, “Let there be light,” later entered into this sin darkened world to bring light once again. He spoke resurrection life to a four-days-dead man, shouting, “Lazarus, come forth!” He called to him specifically because otherwise all the dead
ARE YOU AWARE OF THE LORD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE? The psalmist wrote of his constant awareness of the Lord’s presence in His life even as he attended to the everyday things of life here on earth. It is a psalm of praise for the Lord’s attentive ear and caring heart, which the psalmist had
GOD’S PROVISION AND PREPARATION IN THE WILDERNESS David fled from King Saul to live in the Judean wilderness of En Gedi, which provided both caves to live in and springs from which to drink. God provided for David in the wilderness. And although it was a very difficult time, it was also a time of
HEART CONDITION DETERMINES PERCEPTION Our heart condition determines how we perceive life. Yet, how do we have a “happy heart?” David knew something about this. When life circumstances turned from bad to worse around him, the Bible says that he “encouraged himself in the Lord” (1 Sam. 30:6). His circumstances didn’t immediately change, but his
THE LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES SEEN IN DAVID AND SAUL David was an obedient and enthusiastic servant of King Saul. And God gave David success. At first, his success led to the king’s favor, but as his victories grew, Saul’s favor turned to jealousy. In all of this, God was at work, moving Saul out and David
IN WHOSE NAME DO YOU COME? What David said to Goliath as they closed for battle revealed his heart and passion for God’s great name. It was this same David who inspired of the Holy Spirit wrote, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our
JESUS NEITHER CONDEMNS NOR CONDONES OUR SIN Jesus mediated between the adulteress and her accusers, yet still called her out of her sinful lifestyle. For Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him it might be saved (John 3:17). As the Son of God, He is both the
THE GENTLE WORDS OF MOTHERS In our One Year Bible reading today I was looking for something to say to bless and encourage our mothers. This passage from Proverbs seemed appropriate. I often remember the gentle words of my mother. She always sought to encourage her children and grandchildren with her words. What made
KING SAUL, A STUDY IN LEADERSHIP FAILURE It’s heart-breaking to read the stories about King Saul, Israel’s first king. Although he reigned for 40 years, his leadership style was fraught with short-sighted and ill-conceived tactics, blustering, macho-inspired dictates, people-pleasing priorities, and most of all – a failure to seek God first in all things. Even