Tag: 2 Samuel

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God Is… 

Sometimes we forget who God is and the role He plays in our lives. Just in case you may have forgotten here is a reminder of who He is: 

He is your Shelter 

…For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5 

He is your Strength 

…The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Psalm 28:8 

He is your Protector 

…. You won’t need to run. No one is chasing you. The LORD God of Israel will lead and protect you from enemy attacks. He has your back. Isaiah 52:12 Praise Him! 

He is your Tower of Strength 

… for you are my refuge, a tower of strength against the foe. Psalm 61:3 

He is your Peace 

…Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 Hallelujah! 

He is your Healer 

…for I am the LORD, your healer Exodus 15:26 AMEN! 

He is your Portion 

LORD, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future Psalm 16:5 

He is your Shield, your Refuge, and your Saviour 

…my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my saviour, the one who saves me from violence. 2 Samuel 22:3 

Today let’s not forget who God is amidst the hustle and bustle of life. Look to Him and let Him be your light. Allow Him to take away your fears, guide you, and protect you. Take refuge in Him, no matter what problems you face. Be confident in Him. Realize He is your Saviour in every situation! 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for being everything to me. Father, may I never forget who you are to me. God, help me to always remember your loving kindness, compassion, and grace in my life in Christ’s name, Amen. 

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Keep Your Obligations

In today’s scripture, David was in a better place when he asked whether anyone was left of the house of Saul. After many years of struggle, he had become king over Israel. David had secured Jerusalem as his city and had brought the ark of the covenant into it. The Lord had given David rest from his enemies and bought peace to Israel. On top of that, God had promised that a son of David would rule forever, a promise that would be fulfilled in Christ. 

However, David had an obligation. Long before, David had made a covenant with Jonathan his friend and Saul’s son. Others may have forgotten but David did not. David set out to find someone from Saul’s family to whom he could be kind. 

Today, we accumulate obligations. We make promises that we don’t fully keep despite our best intentions. We also accumulate hurts that we have never really forgiven. Worse yet, we often cause hurts for which we do not fully apologize. Over the years our spiritual debts pile up. The beginning of the year is a good time to consider what we have left undone, and our acceptance of Christ has assured us of God’s peace. With His Gift of peace, we can make peace. Are there any obligations you need to attend today? Stand on God’s word and keep your promises right now.  

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9:1 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank you for keeping your promises and obligations to me. Father, I’m so glad your faithfulness endures forever. Lord, help me to be faithful, keeping the promises I make and forgiving others as I have been forgiven. In Christ’ name, Amen. 

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Sad Movies Always Make Me Cry

Wife Asked Hubby to Go on a Date With Another Woman, It Changed His Life Forever

Many of us know Psalm 23, the most well-known of David’s songs, written early in his life. But his first recorded song is this lament and tears in 2 Samuel 1. It is the heart cry of David over King Saul and David’s best friend, his son Jonathan, who died in a battle with the enemy, the Philistines. 

Growing up there was an old song that said, “Sad movies always make me cry.” The effects of sin and evil had the same impact on David’s life in 2 Samuel 3:33-34. We find another sad song of David, a lament over the death of his friend Abner. Such songs help us learn to keep talking with God, even though our lives may be falling apart, and we feel as if God has abandoned us. They remind us that although our lives are constantly threatened by sickness, pain, and death, God has promised victory through the life, death, and the resurrection of Yahshua.  

Today, it is good to know that in times of chaos, distress, and sadness, God hears us, and in His time, he will set our wrongs right again. Until then, we need to cling to his Word and the many promises it contains. We need to ­listen to God’s words of assurance: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” When evil Seeks to overtake you, cry if you must but know that Joy comes in the morning. Hallelujah!   

David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan. — 2 Samuel 1:17 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank you for your reassuring promises. Father, there are many times in my life when I feel as if the world has collapsed all around me. God thank you for being there and not turning away, keeping your promise that “you will never turn away from my heartfelt cries”. Thank you for sending your Spirit to be our constant comfort in distress, I love you, in Christ name. Amen. 

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Gratitude Attitude 2017 #10

Why Is the Bible So Important?

Pictures of Marines are all over the place on social media. Just as they should be since it is the birthday of the Marines Corps. Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and I know, there will be tons more posts of service men – as it should be.

I am thankful that my dad was both. He wrote a postcard home as he traveled to Parris Island. He was 26 years old, and he sounds every inch of it in this one sentence: “I’m sitting in Union Station waiting on the train, I’m heading for Parris Island Marine Corps. I’m an honest to goodness Marine.”

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9

He left behind a wife, a son, a dog, and a twinkle that would be born six years later. No easy communication devices. No cameras snapping a multitude of pictures. So there were letters……lots of letters. Mom and dad had a suitcase full. A suitcase that a youngster once opened and started reading.

I don’t think I sat down for a week.

Years later, Mom had me read a few of those letters to her when her body had started to break, and she developed macular degeneration. A few years after that, my brother and I decided that those treasured memories were theirs and not the world’s. I did keep a few of them though – especially the ones that had poetry my father wrote just for mom. Mom was a singer, so she would write song lyrics to him. She would tell him that all he had to do was listen, and he would hear her singing to him.

Pretty romantic stuff. No wonder the twinkle became a dream come true for them, and a pain-in-the-butt for her big brother.

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge” ~ Psalm 18:2

A while back I spent 100 Days writing from the little devotion booklet called “100 Rations”. Dad carried it with him to China and back home. His pocket-sized New Testament still sits on the book shelf behind my desk. He taught me to sing the Marine hymn almost as soon as I could talk. And while I haven’t been able to do it for years beyond memory, once upon a time, I could stand from a cross legged sitting position without even having to think about it.

Veterans are a blessing in this country. Men and women who are willing to sacrifice their time and comforts to protect and serve the rest of us – even unto death. It reminds me that Yeshua did the same thing – only He did it for the whole world.

Gratitude is an attitude. Everyday I need to be thankful for what Veterans have done for me. Thankful for what Christ did for me. I can almost hear my father’s voice reading the last sentence on the postcard: “So here we go. I miss you very much with lots of love and kisses. Boyd”

Love and kisses to all the Veterans and Marines out there tonight. Sweet dreams and thank you for blessing this country – each and every one of you who are reading this and those who are reading over my shoulder from a heavenly perch.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” ~ John 15:13

 

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