The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotion for Saturday, 27 June 2015
Today please be in prayer for:
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The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotion for Friday, 26 June 2015
Today please be in prayer for:
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The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotion for Thursday, 25 June 2015
Today please be in prayer for:
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The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotion for Wednesday, 24 June 2015
Today please be in prayer for:
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The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotion for Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Today please be in prayer for:
Hastings Grace
Christo Poder de
Prairie Rivers District
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York First UMC
Prairie Rivers District
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___________________
The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotion for Monday, 22 June 2015
Brainard UMC
Rising City UMC
Schuyler Christ UMC
Prairie Rivers District
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Brainard UMC
Rising City UMC
Schuyler Christ UMC
Prairie Rivers District
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Belgrade UMC
Cedar Rapids UMC
St Edward UMC
Prairie Rivers District
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The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotion for Sunday, 21 June 2015
This Week's Lectionary Readings:
Grand Island Trinity UMC
Prairie Rivers District
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Grand Island Trinity UMC
Prairie Rivers District
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Grand Island Trinity UMC
Prairie Rivers District
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4th Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide – Green
1 Samuel 17:1, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49
Psalm 9:9-20
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Mark 4:35-41
Lectionary Texts:
1 Samuel 17:1 The P’lishtim rallied their troops for war, assembling at Sokhoh in Y’hudah and setting up camp between Sokhoh and ‘Azekah in Efes-Damim.
4 There came out a champion from the camp of the P’lishtim named Golyat, from Gat, who was nine feet nine inches tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore a bronze armor plate weighing 120 pounds. 6 He had bronze armor protecting his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was as big as a weaver’s beam, and the iron spearhead weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer went ahead of him. 8 He stood and yelled at the armies of Isra’el, “Why come out and draw up a battle line? I’m a P’lishti, and you are servants of Sha’ul, so choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he can fight me and kill me, we’ll be your slaves; but if I beat him and kill him, you will become slaves and serve us.” 10 The P’lishti added, “I challenge Isra’el’s armies today — give me a man, and we’ll fight it out!” 11 When Sha’ul and all Isra’el heard those words of the P’lishti, they were shaken and terrified.
19 Sha’ul and your brothers, with all the army of Isra’el, are in the Elah Valley, fighting the P’lishtim.”
20 David got up early in the morning, left the sheep with a helper, took his load and set out, as Yishai had ordered him. He arrived at the barricade of the camp just as the troops were going out to their battle stations and shouting the war cry. 21 Isra’el and the P’lishtim had set up their battle lines facing each other. 22 David left his equipment in charge of the equipment guard, ran to the troops, went to his brothers and asked if they were well. 23 As he was talking with them, there came the champion, the P’lishti from Gat named Golyat, from the ranks of the P’lishtim, saying the same words as before; and David heard them.
32 David said to Sha’ul, “No one should lose heart because of him; your servant will go and fight this P’lishti.” 33 Sha’ul said to David, “You can’t go to fight this P’lishti — you’re just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth!” 34 David answered Sha’ul, “Your servant used to guard his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear would come and grab a lamb from the flock, 35 I would go after it, hit it, and snatch the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned on me, I would catch it by the jaw, smack it and kill it. 36 Your servant has defeated both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised P’lishti will be like one of them, because he has challenged the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “Adonai, who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will rescue me from the paw of this P’lishti!” Sha’ul said to David, “Go; may Adonai be with you.”
38 Sha’ul dressed David in his own armor — he put a bronze helmet on his head and gave him armor plate to wear. 39 David buckled his sword on his armor and tried to walk, but he wasn’t used to such equipment. David said to Sha’ul, “I can’t move wearing these things, because I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. 40 Then he took his stick in his hand and picked five smooth stones from the riverbed, putting them in his shepherd’s bag, in his pouch. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the P’lishti. 41 The P’lishti, with his shield-bearer ahead of him, came nearer and nearer to David. 42 The P’lishti looked David up and down and had nothing but scorn for what he saw — a boy with ruddy cheeks, red hair and good looks. 43 The P’lishti said to David, “Am I a dog? Is that why you’re coming at me with sticks?” — and the P’lishti cursed David by his god. 44 Then the P’lishti said to David, “Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds in the air and the wild animals.” 45 David answered the P’lishti, “You’re coming at me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I’m coming at you in the name of Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of the armies of Isra’el, whom you have challenged. 46 Today Adonai will hand you over to me. I will attack you, lop your head off, and give the carcasses of the army of the P’lishtim to the birds in the air and the animals in the land. Then all the land will know that there is a God in Isra’el, 47 and everyone assembled here will know that Adonai does not save by sword or spear. For this is Adonai’s battle, and he will hand you over to us.” 48 When the P’lishti got up, approached and came close to meet David, David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the P’lishti. 49 David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, and hurled it with his sling. It struck the P’lishti in his forehead and buried itself in his forehead, so that he fell face down on the ground.
Psalm 9:9 (8) He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will judge the peoples fairly.
10 (9) Adonai is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a tower of strength in times of trouble.
11 (10) Those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you have not abandoned those who seek you, Adonai.
12 (11) Sing praises to Adonai, who lives in Tziyon;
proclaim his deeds among the peoples.
13 (12) For the avenger of blood remembers them,
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted:
14 (13) “Have mercy on me, Adonai!
See how I suffer from those who hate me;
you raise me from the gates of death,
15 (14) so that I can proclaim all your praises
at the gates of the daughter of Tziyon
and rejoice in this deliverance of yours.”
16 (15) The nations have drowned in the pit they dug,
caught their own feet in the net they hid.
17 (16) Adonai made himself known and executed judgment;
the wicked are ensnared in the work of their own hands. (Higgayon; Selah)
18 (17) The wicked will return to Sh’ol,
all the nations that forget God.
19 (18) For the poor will not always be forgotten
or the hope of the needy perish forever.
20 (19) Arise, Adonai! Don’t let mortals prevail!
Let the nations be judged in your presence.
2 Corinthians 6:1 As God’s fellow-workers we also urge you not to receive his grace and then do nothing with it. 2 For he says,
“At the acceptable time I heard you;
in the day of salvation I helped you.”[a]
3 We try not to put obstacles in anyone’s path, so that no one can find fault with the work we do. 4 On the contrary, we try to commend ourselves in every way as workers for God by continually enduring troubles, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, overwork, lack of sleep and food. 6 We commend ourselves by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by the Ruach HaKodesh; by genuineness of love 7 and truthfulness of speech; and by God’s power. We commend ourselves through our use of righteous weapons, whether for pressing our cause or defending it; 8 through being honored and dishonored, praised and blamed, considered deceptive and sincere, 9 unknown and famous. And we commend ourselves as God’s workers headed for death, yet look! we’re alive! as punished, yet not killed; 10 as having reason to be sad, yet always filled with joy; as poor, yet making many people rich; as having nothing, yet having everything!
11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you, we have opened our hearts wide. 12 Any constraint you feel has not been imposed by us, but by your own inner selves. 13 So, just to be “fair” (I am using the language of children), open wide your hearts too.[Footnotes:
2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8]
Mark 4:35 That day, when evening had come, Yeshua said to them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. 37 A furious windstorm arose, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was close to being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern on a cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, “Rabbi, doesn’t it matter to you that we’re about to be killed?” 39 He awoke, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind subsided, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no trust even now?” 41 But they were terrified and asked each other, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the waves obey him?”
1 Samuel 17:1, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49
Psalm 9:9-20
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Mark 4:35-41
Lectionary Texts:
1 Samuel 17:1 The P’lishtim rallied their troops for war, assembling at Sokhoh in Y’hudah and setting up camp between Sokhoh and ‘Azekah in Efes-Damim.
4 There came out a champion from the camp of the P’lishtim named Golyat, from Gat, who was nine feet nine inches tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore a bronze armor plate weighing 120 pounds. 6 He had bronze armor protecting his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was as big as a weaver’s beam, and the iron spearhead weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer went ahead of him. 8 He stood and yelled at the armies of Isra’el, “Why come out and draw up a battle line? I’m a P’lishti, and you are servants of Sha’ul, so choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he can fight me and kill me, we’ll be your slaves; but if I beat him and kill him, you will become slaves and serve us.” 10 The P’lishti added, “I challenge Isra’el’s armies today — give me a man, and we’ll fight it out!” 11 When Sha’ul and all Isra’el heard those words of the P’lishti, they were shaken and terrified.
19 Sha’ul and your brothers, with all the army of Isra’el, are in the Elah Valley, fighting the P’lishtim.”
20 David got up early in the morning, left the sheep with a helper, took his load and set out, as Yishai had ordered him. He arrived at the barricade of the camp just as the troops were going out to their battle stations and shouting the war cry. 21 Isra’el and the P’lishtim had set up their battle lines facing each other. 22 David left his equipment in charge of the equipment guard, ran to the troops, went to his brothers and asked if they were well. 23 As he was talking with them, there came the champion, the P’lishti from Gat named Golyat, from the ranks of the P’lishtim, saying the same words as before; and David heard them.
32 David said to Sha’ul, “No one should lose heart because of him; your servant will go and fight this P’lishti.” 33 Sha’ul said to David, “You can’t go to fight this P’lishti — you’re just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth!” 34 David answered Sha’ul, “Your servant used to guard his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear would come and grab a lamb from the flock, 35 I would go after it, hit it, and snatch the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned on me, I would catch it by the jaw, smack it and kill it. 36 Your servant has defeated both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised P’lishti will be like one of them, because he has challenged the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “Adonai, who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will rescue me from the paw of this P’lishti!” Sha’ul said to David, “Go; may Adonai be with you.”
38 Sha’ul dressed David in his own armor — he put a bronze helmet on his head and gave him armor plate to wear. 39 David buckled his sword on his armor and tried to walk, but he wasn’t used to such equipment. David said to Sha’ul, “I can’t move wearing these things, because I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. 40 Then he took his stick in his hand and picked five smooth stones from the riverbed, putting them in his shepherd’s bag, in his pouch. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the P’lishti. 41 The P’lishti, with his shield-bearer ahead of him, came nearer and nearer to David. 42 The P’lishti looked David up and down and had nothing but scorn for what he saw — a boy with ruddy cheeks, red hair and good looks. 43 The P’lishti said to David, “Am I a dog? Is that why you’re coming at me with sticks?” — and the P’lishti cursed David by his god. 44 Then the P’lishti said to David, “Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds in the air and the wild animals.” 45 David answered the P’lishti, “You’re coming at me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I’m coming at you in the name of Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of the armies of Isra’el, whom you have challenged. 46 Today Adonai will hand you over to me. I will attack you, lop your head off, and give the carcasses of the army of the P’lishtim to the birds in the air and the animals in the land. Then all the land will know that there is a God in Isra’el, 47 and everyone assembled here will know that Adonai does not save by sword or spear. For this is Adonai’s battle, and he will hand you over to us.” 48 When the P’lishti got up, approached and came close to meet David, David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the P’lishti. 49 David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, and hurled it with his sling. It struck the P’lishti in his forehead and buried itself in his forehead, so that he fell face down on the ground.
Psalm 9:9 (8) He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will judge the peoples fairly.
10 (9) Adonai is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a tower of strength in times of trouble.
11 (10) Those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you have not abandoned those who seek you, Adonai.
12 (11) Sing praises to Adonai, who lives in Tziyon;
proclaim his deeds among the peoples.
13 (12) For the avenger of blood remembers them,
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted:
14 (13) “Have mercy on me, Adonai!
See how I suffer from those who hate me;
you raise me from the gates of death,
15 (14) so that I can proclaim all your praises
at the gates of the daughter of Tziyon
and rejoice in this deliverance of yours.”
16 (15) The nations have drowned in the pit they dug,
caught their own feet in the net they hid.
17 (16) Adonai made himself known and executed judgment;
the wicked are ensnared in the work of their own hands. (Higgayon; Selah)
18 (17) The wicked will return to Sh’ol,
all the nations that forget God.
19 (18) For the poor will not always be forgotten
or the hope of the needy perish forever.
20 (19) Arise, Adonai! Don’t let mortals prevail!
Let the nations be judged in your presence.
2 Corinthians 6:1 As God’s fellow-workers we also urge you not to receive his grace and then do nothing with it. 2 For he says,
“At the acceptable time I heard you;
in the day of salvation I helped you.”[a]
3 We try not to put obstacles in anyone’s path, so that no one can find fault with the work we do. 4 On the contrary, we try to commend ourselves in every way as workers for God by continually enduring troubles, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, overwork, lack of sleep and food. 6 We commend ourselves by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by the Ruach HaKodesh; by genuineness of love 7 and truthfulness of speech; and by God’s power. We commend ourselves through our use of righteous weapons, whether for pressing our cause or defending it; 8 through being honored and dishonored, praised and blamed, considered deceptive and sincere, 9 unknown and famous. And we commend ourselves as God’s workers headed for death, yet look! we’re alive! as punished, yet not killed; 10 as having reason to be sad, yet always filled with joy; as poor, yet making many people rich; as having nothing, yet having everything!
11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you, we have opened our hearts wide. 12 Any constraint you feel has not been imposed by us, but by your own inner selves. 13 So, just to be “fair” (I am using the language of children), open wide your hearts too.[Footnotes:
2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8]
Mark 4:35 That day, when evening had come, Yeshua said to them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. 37 A furious windstorm arose, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was close to being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern on a cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, “Rabbi, doesn’t it matter to you that we’re about to be killed?” 39 He awoke, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind subsided, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no trust even now?” 41 But they were terrified and asked each other, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the waves obey him?”
John Wesley's Notes-commentary for 1 Samuel 17:1a,
Verse 1
[1] Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
Gathered, … — Probably they had heard, that Samuel had forsaken Saul, and that Saul himself was unfit for business. The enemies of the church are watchful to take all advantages, and they never have greater advantage, than when her protectors have provoked God's Spirit and prophets to leave them.4-11,
Verse 4
[4] And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
Six cubits — At least, nine feet, nine inches high. And this is not strange; for besides the giants mentioned in Scripture, Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny, make mention of persons seven cubits high.
Verse 5
[5] And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
Coat of mail — Made of brass plates laid over one another, like the scales of a fish.
The weight, … — The common shekel contained a fourth part of an ounce; and so five thousand shekels made one thousand two hundred and fifty ounces, or seventy-eight pounds: which weight is not unsuitable to a man of such vast strength as his height speaks him to be.
Verse 6
[6] And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
Greaves — Boots.
Verse 7
[7] And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
Beam — On which the weavers fasten their web. It was like this for thickness. And though the whole weight of Goliath's armour may seem prodigious; yet it is not so much by far as one Athanatus did manage: of whom Pliny relates, That he saw him come into the theatre with arms weighing twelve thousand ounces.
A shield — Probably for state: for he that was clad in brass, little needed a shield.
Verse 8
[8] And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
Come down — That the battle may be decided by us two alone.
Verse 11
[11] When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Afraid — This may seem strange, considering the glorious promises, and their late experience of divine assistance. And where was Jonathan, who in the last war had so bravely engaged an whole army of the Philistines? Doubtless he did not feel himself so stirred up of God as he did at that time. As the best, so the bravest of men, are no more than what God makes them. Jonathan must sit still now, because this honour is reserved for David.19-23,
Verse 19
[19] Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
Fighting — That is, in a posture and readiness to fight with them; as it is explained, verse 20,21.
Verse 20
[20] And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
Went, … — Jesse little thought of sending his son to the camp, just at that critical juncture. But the wise God orders the time and all the circumstances of affairs, so as to serve the designs of his own glory.32-49
Verse 32
[32] And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
Let no man's heart, … — It would have reflected upon his prince to say, Let not thy heart fail: therefore he speaks in general terms, Let no man's heart fail. A little shepherd, come but this morning from keeping sheep, has more courage than all the mighty men of Israel! Thus doth God often do great things for his people by the weak things of the world.
Verse 33
[33] And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
A youth — Not above 20 years old; and a novice, a raw and unexperienced soldier.
Verse 37
[37] David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
The Lord, … — The lion and the bear were only enemies to me and my sheep, and it was in defence of them I attacked them. But this Philistine is an enemy to my God and his people, and it is for their honour that I attack him.
Verse 38
[38] And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
Armour — With armour taken out of his armoury. He seems to speak of some military vestments which were then used in war, and were contrived for defence; such as buff-coats are now.
Verse 39
[39] And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
Proved them — I have no skill or experience in the managements of this kind of arms.
Verse 40
[40] And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
Staff — His shepherd's staff. These arms in themselves were contemptible, yet chosen by David; because he had no skill to use other arms; because he had inward assurance of the victory, even by these weapons; and because such a conquest would be more honourable to God, and most shameful, and discouraging to the Philistines.
Verse 41
[41] And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
Drew near — Probably a signal was made, that his challenge was accepted.
Verse 42
[42] And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
Fair — Not having so much as the countenance of a martial person.
Verse 43
[43] And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
Dog — Dost thou think to beat me as easily as thou wouldst thy dog?
Verse 46
[46] This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
A God — Heb. that God, the only true God, is for Israel; or on Israel's side, and against you. Or, that Israel hath a God, a God indeed, one who is able to help them; and not such an impotent idol as you serve.
Verse 47
[47] And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
Saveth — That is, that he can save without these arms, and with the most contemptible weapons.
The battle — That is, the events of war are wholly in his power.
He will — David speaks thus confidently, because he was assured of it by a particular inspiration.
Verse 48
[48] And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
Drew nigh — Like a stalking mountain.
Ran — So far was he from fear!
Verse 49
[49] And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
Forehead — Probably the proud giant had lift up that part of his helmet which covered his fore-head; in contempt of David and his weapons, and by the singular direction of providence.Psalm 9:9-20
Verse 10
[10] And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Thy name — Thy infinite power and wisdom, and faithfulness and goodness. The name of God is frequently put for God.
Put their trust — The experience of thy faithfulness to thy people in all ages, is a just ground for their confidence.
Verse 11
[11] Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
Zion — Whose special and gracious presence is there.
People — To the heathen nations.
Verse 12
[12] When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
Blood — The bloodshed of his innocent and holy ones: which though he may not seem to regard for a season, yet he will certainly call the authors of it to a severe account.
Them — The humble, as it follows, or the oppressed, verse 9, that trust in him, and seek to him, verse 10, whom he seemed to have forgotten.
Verse 14
[14] That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
Gates — In the great assemblies. These gates he elegantly opposes to the former.
Of — Of the people who live or meet together in Zion. For cities are as it were mothers to their people, and the people are commonly called their daughters. So the names of the daughters of Egypt, Jeremiah 46:11, and of Edom, Lamentations 4:21,22, and of Tyre, Psalms 45:12, are put for the people of those places.
Verse 16
[16] The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. /*Selah*/.
Higgaion — This is either a musical term, or a note of attention, intimating that the matter deserves deep meditation, or consideration, as the word signifies.
Verse 17
[17] The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Forget — That do not regard God, nor his precepts, nor his threatenings and judgments.2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Verse 1
Verse 1
[1] Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
Gathered, … — Probably they had heard, that Samuel had forsaken Saul, and that Saul himself was unfit for business. The enemies of the church are watchful to take all advantages, and they never have greater advantage, than when her protectors have provoked God's Spirit and prophets to leave them.4-11,
Verse 4
[4] And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
Six cubits — At least, nine feet, nine inches high. And this is not strange; for besides the giants mentioned in Scripture, Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny, make mention of persons seven cubits high.
Verse 5
[5] And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
Coat of mail — Made of brass plates laid over one another, like the scales of a fish.
The weight, … — The common shekel contained a fourth part of an ounce; and so five thousand shekels made one thousand two hundred and fifty ounces, or seventy-eight pounds: which weight is not unsuitable to a man of such vast strength as his height speaks him to be.
Verse 6
[6] And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
Greaves — Boots.
Verse 7
[7] And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
Beam — On which the weavers fasten their web. It was like this for thickness. And though the whole weight of Goliath's armour may seem prodigious; yet it is not so much by far as one Athanatus did manage: of whom Pliny relates, That he saw him come into the theatre with arms weighing twelve thousand ounces.
A shield — Probably for state: for he that was clad in brass, little needed a shield.
Verse 8
[8] And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
Come down — That the battle may be decided by us two alone.
Verse 11
[11] When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Afraid — This may seem strange, considering the glorious promises, and their late experience of divine assistance. And where was Jonathan, who in the last war had so bravely engaged an whole army of the Philistines? Doubtless he did not feel himself so stirred up of God as he did at that time. As the best, so the bravest of men, are no more than what God makes them. Jonathan must sit still now, because this honour is reserved for David.19-23,
Verse 19
[19] Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
Fighting — That is, in a posture and readiness to fight with them; as it is explained, verse 20,21.
Verse 20
[20] And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
Went, … — Jesse little thought of sending his son to the camp, just at that critical juncture. But the wise God orders the time and all the circumstances of affairs, so as to serve the designs of his own glory.32-49
Verse 32
[32] And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
Let no man's heart, … — It would have reflected upon his prince to say, Let not thy heart fail: therefore he speaks in general terms, Let no man's heart fail. A little shepherd, come but this morning from keeping sheep, has more courage than all the mighty men of Israel! Thus doth God often do great things for his people by the weak things of the world.
Verse 33
[33] And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
A youth — Not above 20 years old; and a novice, a raw and unexperienced soldier.
Verse 37
[37] David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
The Lord, … — The lion and the bear were only enemies to me and my sheep, and it was in defence of them I attacked them. But this Philistine is an enemy to my God and his people, and it is for their honour that I attack him.
Verse 38
[38] And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
Armour — With armour taken out of his armoury. He seems to speak of some military vestments which were then used in war, and were contrived for defence; such as buff-coats are now.
Verse 39
[39] And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
Proved them — I have no skill or experience in the managements of this kind of arms.
Verse 40
[40] And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
Staff — His shepherd's staff. These arms in themselves were contemptible, yet chosen by David; because he had no skill to use other arms; because he had inward assurance of the victory, even by these weapons; and because such a conquest would be more honourable to God, and most shameful, and discouraging to the Philistines.
Verse 41
[41] And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
Drew near — Probably a signal was made, that his challenge was accepted.
Verse 42
[42] And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
Fair — Not having so much as the countenance of a martial person.
Verse 43
[43] And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
Dog — Dost thou think to beat me as easily as thou wouldst thy dog?
Verse 46
[46] This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
A God — Heb. that God, the only true God, is for Israel; or on Israel's side, and against you. Or, that Israel hath a God, a God indeed, one who is able to help them; and not such an impotent idol as you serve.
Verse 47
[47] And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
Saveth — That is, that he can save without these arms, and with the most contemptible weapons.
The battle — That is, the events of war are wholly in his power.
He will — David speaks thus confidently, because he was assured of it by a particular inspiration.
Verse 48
[48] And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
Drew nigh — Like a stalking mountain.
Ran — So far was he from fear!
Verse 49
[49] And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
Forehead — Probably the proud giant had lift up that part of his helmet which covered his fore-head; in contempt of David and his weapons, and by the singular direction of providence.Psalm 9:9-20
Verse 10
[10] And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Thy name — Thy infinite power and wisdom, and faithfulness and goodness. The name of God is frequently put for God.
Put their trust — The experience of thy faithfulness to thy people in all ages, is a just ground for their confidence.
Verse 11
[11] Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
Zion — Whose special and gracious presence is there.
People — To the heathen nations.
Verse 12
[12] When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
Blood — The bloodshed of his innocent and holy ones: which though he may not seem to regard for a season, yet he will certainly call the authors of it to a severe account.
Them — The humble, as it follows, or the oppressed, verse 9, that trust in him, and seek to him, verse 10, whom he seemed to have forgotten.
Verse 14
[14] That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
Gates — In the great assemblies. These gates he elegantly opposes to the former.
Of — Of the people who live or meet together in Zion. For cities are as it were mothers to their people, and the people are commonly called their daughters. So the names of the daughters of Egypt, Jeremiah 46:11, and of Edom, Lamentations 4:21,22, and of Tyre, Psalms 45:12, are put for the people of those places.
Verse 16
[16] The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. /*Selah*/.
Higgaion — This is either a musical term, or a note of attention, intimating that the matter deserves deep meditation, or consideration, as the word signifies.
Verse 17
[17] The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Forget — That do not regard God, nor his precepts, nor his threatenings and judgments.2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Verse 1
[1] We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
We then not only beseech, but as fellow-labourers with you, who are working out your own salvation, do also exhort you, not to receive the grace of God - Which we have been now describing.
In vain — We receive it by faith; and not in vain, if we add to this, persevering holiness.
Verse 2
[2] (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
For he saith — The sense is, As of old there was a particular time wherein God was pleased to pour out his peculiar blessing, so there is now. And this is the particular time: this is a time of peculiar blessing. Isaiah 49:8.
Verse 3
[3] Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
Giving, as far as in us lies, no offence, that the ministry be not blamed on our account.
Verse 4
[4] But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
But approving ourselves as the ministers of God — Such as his ministers ought to be.
In much patience — Shown, 1.
In afflictions, necessities, distresses — All which are general terms. 2.
In stripes, imprisonments, tumults — Which are particular sorts of affliction, necessity, distress 3.
In labours, watchings, fastings — Voluntarily endured. All these are expressed in the plural number, to denote a variety of them. In afflictions, several ways to escape may appear, though none without difficulty in necessities, one only, and that a difficult one; in distresses, none at all appears.
Verse 5
[5] In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
In tumults — The Greek word implies such attacks as a man cannot stand against, but which bear him hither and thither by violence.
Verse 6
[6] By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
By prudence — Spiritual divine; not what the world terms so. Worldly prudence is the practical use of worldly wisdom: divine prudence is the due exercise of grace, making spiritual understanding go as far as possible.
By love unfeigned — The chief fruit of the Spirit.
Verse 7
[7] By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
By the convincing and converting power of God - Accompanying his word; and also attesting it by divers miracles.
By the armour of righteousness on the right hand and the left — That is, on all sides; the panoply or whole armour of God.
Verse 8
[8] By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
By honour and dishonour — When we are present.
By evil report and good report — When we are absent. Who could bear honour and good report, were it not balanced by dishonour? As deceivers - Artful, designing men. So the world represents all true ministers of Christ.
Yet true — Upright, sincere, in the sight of God.
Verse 9
[9] As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
As unknown — For the world knoweth us not, as it knew him not.
Yet well known — To God, and to those who are the seals of our ministry.
As dying, yet behold — Suddenly, unexpectedly, God interposes, and we live.
Verse 10
[10] As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
As sorrowing — For our own manifold imperfections, and for the sins and sufferings of our brethren.
Yet always rejoicing — In present peace, love, power, and a sure hope of future glory.
As having nothing, yet possessing all things — For all things are ours, if we are Christ's. What a magnificence of thought is this!
Verse 11
[11] O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
From the praise of the Christian ministry, which he began 2 Corinthians 2:14, he now draws his affectionate exhortation.
O ye Corinthians — He seldom uses this appellation. But it has here a peculiar force.
Our mouth is opened toward you — With uncommon freedom, because our heart is enlarged - In tenderness.
Verse 12
[12] Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
Ye are not straitened in us — Our heart is wide enough to receive you all.
But ye are straitened in your own bowels — Your hearts are shut up, and so not capable of the blessings ye might enjoy.
Verse 13
[13] Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
Now for a recompence of the same — Of my parental tenderness.
I speak as to my children — I ask nothing hard or grievous.
Be ye also enlarged — Open your hearts, first to God, and then to us, so 2 Corinthians 8:5, that God may "dwell in you," 2 Corinthians 6:16; 7:1; and that ye may "receive us,"2 Corinthians 7:2.
Mark 4:35-41
Verse 35
[35] And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
Matthew 8:23; Luke 8:22.
Verse 36
[36] And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
They take him as he was in the vessel — They carried him immediately in the same vessel from which he had been preaching to the people.
Verse 38
[38] And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
On the pillow — So we translate it, for want of a proper English expression, for that particular part of the vessel near the rudder, on which he lay.
Verse 39
[39] And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Peace — Cease thy tossing: Be still - Cease thy roaring; literally, Be thou gagged.
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Upper Room Ministries, a ministry of Discipleship MinistriesVerse 35
[35] And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
Matthew 8:23; Luke 8:22.
Verse 36
[36] And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
They take him as he was in the vessel — They carried him immediately in the same vessel from which he had been preaching to the people.
Verse 38
[38] And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
On the pillow — So we translate it, for want of a proper English expression, for that particular part of the vessel near the rudder, on which he lay.
Verse 39
[39] And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Peace — Cease thy tossing: Be still - Cease thy roaring; literally, Be thou gagged.
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PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004 United States
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Sermon Story "Slaying Giants" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 21 June 2015 with Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1 The P’lishtim rallied their troops for war, assembling at Sokhoh in Y’hudah and setting up camp between Sokhoh and ‘Azekah in Efes-Damim.
4 There came out a champion from the camp of the P’lishtim named Golyat, from Gat, who was nine feet nine inches tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore a bronze armor plate weighing 120 pounds. 6 He had bronze armor protecting his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was as big as a weaver’s beam, and the iron spearhead weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer went ahead of him. 8 He stood and yelled at the armies of Isra’el, “Why come out and draw up a battle line? I’m a P’lishti, and you are servants of Sha’ul, so choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he can fight me and kill me, we’ll be your slaves; but if I beat him and kill him, you will become slaves and serve us.” 10 The P’lishti added, “I challenge Isra’el’s armies today — give me a man, and we’ll fight it out!” 11 When Sha’ul and all Isra’el heard those words of the P’lishti, they were shaken and terrified.
19 Sha’ul and your brothers, with all the army of Isra’el, are in the Elah Valley, fighting the P’lishtim.”
20 David got up early in the morning, left the sheep with a helper, took his load and set out, as Yishai had ordered him. He arrived at the barricade of the camp just as the troops were going out to their battle stations and shouting the war cry. 21 Isra’el and the P’lishtim had set up their battle lines facing each other. 22 David left his equipment in charge of the equipment guard, ran to the troops, went to his brothers and asked if they were well. 23 As he was talking with them, there came the champion, the P’lishti from Gat named Golyat, from the ranks of the P’lishtim, saying the same words as before; and David heard them.
32 David said to Sha’ul, “No one should lose heart because of him; your servant will go and fight this P’lishti.” 33 Sha’ul said to David, “You can’t go to fight this P’lishti — you’re just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth!” 34 David answered Sha’ul, “Your servant used to guard his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear would come and grab a lamb from the flock, 35 I would go after it, hit it, and snatch the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned on me, I would catch it by the jaw, smack it and kill it. 36 Your servant has defeated both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised P’lishti will be like one of them, because he has challenged the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “Adonai, who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will rescue me from the paw of this P’lishti!” Sha’ul said to David, “Go; may Adonai be with you.”
38 Sha’ul dressed David in his own armor — he put a bronze helmet on his head and gave him armor plate to wear. 39 David buckled his sword on his armor and tried to walk, but he wasn’t used to such equipment. David said to Sha’ul, “I can’t move wearing these things, because I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. 40 Then he took his stick in his hand and picked five smooth stones from the riverbed, putting them in his shepherd’s bag, in his pouch. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the P’lishti. 41 The P’lishti, with his shield-bearer ahead of him, came nearer and nearer to David. 42 The P’lishti looked David up and down and had nothing but scorn for what he saw — a boy with ruddy cheeks, red hair and good looks. 43 The P’lishti said to David, “Am I a dog? Is that why you’re coming at me with sticks?” — and the P’lishti cursed David by his god. 44 Then the P’lishti said to David, “Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds in the air and the wild animals.” 45 David answered the P’lishti, “You’re coming at me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I’m coming at you in the name of Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of the armies of Isra’el, whom you have challenged. 46 Today Adonai will hand you over to me. I will attack you, lop your head off, and give the carcasses of the army of the P’lishtim to the birds in the air and the animals in the land. Then all the land will know that there is a God in Isra’el, 47 and everyone assembled here will know that Adonai does not save by sword or spear. For this is Adonai’s battle, and he will hand you over to us.” 48 When the P’lishti got up, approached and came close to meet David, David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the P’lishti. 49 David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, and hurled it with his sling. It struck the P’lishti in his forehead and buried itself in his forehead, so that he fell face down on the ground.
Throughout our lives, even after committing our lives to God, there are many giants in our lives that attempt to get us away from worshipping only God. Just a the Philisitines had a 9 foot plus giant named Goliath to keep the Israelite army and people in fear, we do as well. We look at this passage and wonder why God would condone the killing of another human being, but God was fed up with the arrogant giant who was making fun of His people and Himself. There is a tendency to look at this passage through the eyes of the compassion of Jesus that God would really desire the giant and all the Philistines to repent of their sins and serve only Him, but somehow they appeared to be beyond this because of Goliath. God could have smite the giant Himself, but He used a youth who was known to shepherd his father's sheep and protect the sheep from their predators such as lions and bears. God was showing His people that David did not need a sword and armor to fight against the giant, but God was fighting His own battles. The trust is in God alone as David appeared to do by rejecting the armor and sword that King Saul was giving him and using the slingshot and little stones or pebbles to defeat the giant. The giant taunted David and made fund of him and his God and God took that one litle stone or pebble to make the giant unconscious where David could cut the giant's head with his own sword. the giant was bragging in his own power, but David was bragging on the power of God. In what characters to you relate to? Would you have been like David or even his brothers? How would you have allowed David to go against the giant if you were King Saul? What obstacles do you have in serving God that appear to be giants? There is a calling to allow the church to be more inclusive of people who are differently abled and the churches current practices appear to be a giant, but God keeps saying this is my battle not yours. The church has forgotten the power of God because too often they have become politically and financially strong trusitng in themselves and not in God. This battle is truly God's battle for full and active inclusion of people who are differently abled as clergy or laity for God's Kingdom to be on earth as it is in Heaven. May we seek more of God's Power and Grace while realizing our own weakness is necessary to fully rely on God Alone for Deliverance from an Exclusive Church. We come now to receive more of His Grace, Mercy, Love, and Power as we take and eat His Body and drink His Blood through our participation of the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist as Jesus began from the Passover Meal before he was killed on the cross. We come seeking more of God's Love Power as we sing the Hymn "The Battle is the Lords"
The battle is the Lords! The harvest fields are white
How few the reaping hands appear, their strength how slight!
Yes victory is sure, we face a vanquished foe
Then forward with the risen Christ to battle go!
The battle is the Lords! Not ours in strength or skill
But His alone, in sovereign grace, to work His will
Ours, counting not the cost, unflinching to obey
And in His time his holy arm shall win the day
"The Battle is the Lords!" by Yolanda Adams
There's no pain
Jesus can't feel
No hurt He can not heal
All things work
According to his perfect will
No matter what you're going through
Remember God is using you
For the battle is not yours it's the Lord's
There's no sadness
Jesus can't feel
And there is no sorrow that he can not heal
For all things work
According to the Masters holy will
No matter what, you're going through
Remember that God is only using you
For this battle it's not yours
It's the Lord's
It's the Lord (Its the Lord)Yes
It's the Lord (Its the Lord)
Hold your head up high
Don't cry
It's the Lords
It's the Lords (Its the Lord)
It's the Lords (Its the Lord)
Yes it's the Lord(Its the Lord)
No matter what
You're going through
Remember that God only wants to use you
No matter what
You happen to go through right now
Remember that in the mist of
God only wants to use you
No matter what it is
That your going through
Hold your head up stick your chest up
Remember he's using you
For this battle is not yours alone
This battle is not yours no
You can not handle it all by yourself no no no no no
This battle is not yours
The Lord is the only one who can fight it
He wants to use you as his vessel
So be open to him
The battle it's not yours
It's the lord
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4 There came out a champion from the camp of the P’lishtim named Golyat, from Gat, who was nine feet nine inches tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore a bronze armor plate weighing 120 pounds. 6 He had bronze armor protecting his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was as big as a weaver’s beam, and the iron spearhead weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer went ahead of him. 8 He stood and yelled at the armies of Isra’el, “Why come out and draw up a battle line? I’m a P’lishti, and you are servants of Sha’ul, so choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he can fight me and kill me, we’ll be your slaves; but if I beat him and kill him, you will become slaves and serve us.” 10 The P’lishti added, “I challenge Isra’el’s armies today — give me a man, and we’ll fight it out!” 11 When Sha’ul and all Isra’el heard those words of the P’lishti, they were shaken and terrified.
19 Sha’ul and your brothers, with all the army of Isra’el, are in the Elah Valley, fighting the P’lishtim.”
20 David got up early in the morning, left the sheep with a helper, took his load and set out, as Yishai had ordered him. He arrived at the barricade of the camp just as the troops were going out to their battle stations and shouting the war cry. 21 Isra’el and the P’lishtim had set up their battle lines facing each other. 22 David left his equipment in charge of the equipment guard, ran to the troops, went to his brothers and asked if they were well. 23 As he was talking with them, there came the champion, the P’lishti from Gat named Golyat, from the ranks of the P’lishtim, saying the same words as before; and David heard them.
32 David said to Sha’ul, “No one should lose heart because of him; your servant will go and fight this P’lishti.” 33 Sha’ul said to David, “You can’t go to fight this P’lishti — you’re just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth!” 34 David answered Sha’ul, “Your servant used to guard his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear would come and grab a lamb from the flock, 35 I would go after it, hit it, and snatch the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned on me, I would catch it by the jaw, smack it and kill it. 36 Your servant has defeated both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised P’lishti will be like one of them, because he has challenged the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “Adonai, who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will rescue me from the paw of this P’lishti!” Sha’ul said to David, “Go; may Adonai be with you.”
38 Sha’ul dressed David in his own armor — he put a bronze helmet on his head and gave him armor plate to wear. 39 David buckled his sword on his armor and tried to walk, but he wasn’t used to such equipment. David said to Sha’ul, “I can’t move wearing these things, because I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. 40 Then he took his stick in his hand and picked five smooth stones from the riverbed, putting them in his shepherd’s bag, in his pouch. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the P’lishti. 41 The P’lishti, with his shield-bearer ahead of him, came nearer and nearer to David. 42 The P’lishti looked David up and down and had nothing but scorn for what he saw — a boy with ruddy cheeks, red hair and good looks. 43 The P’lishti said to David, “Am I a dog? Is that why you’re coming at me with sticks?” — and the P’lishti cursed David by his god. 44 Then the P’lishti said to David, “Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds in the air and the wild animals.” 45 David answered the P’lishti, “You’re coming at me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I’m coming at you in the name of Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of the armies of Isra’el, whom you have challenged. 46 Today Adonai will hand you over to me. I will attack you, lop your head off, and give the carcasses of the army of the P’lishtim to the birds in the air and the animals in the land. Then all the land will know that there is a God in Isra’el, 47 and everyone assembled here will know that Adonai does not save by sword or spear. For this is Adonai’s battle, and he will hand you over to us.” 48 When the P’lishti got up, approached and came close to meet David, David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the P’lishti. 49 David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, and hurled it with his sling. It struck the P’lishti in his forehead and buried itself in his forehead, so that he fell face down on the ground.
Throughout our lives, even after committing our lives to God, there are many giants in our lives that attempt to get us away from worshipping only God. Just a the Philisitines had a 9 foot plus giant named Goliath to keep the Israelite army and people in fear, we do as well. We look at this passage and wonder why God would condone the killing of another human being, but God was fed up with the arrogant giant who was making fun of His people and Himself. There is a tendency to look at this passage through the eyes of the compassion of Jesus that God would really desire the giant and all the Philistines to repent of their sins and serve only Him, but somehow they appeared to be beyond this because of Goliath. God could have smite the giant Himself, but He used a youth who was known to shepherd his father's sheep and protect the sheep from their predators such as lions and bears. God was showing His people that David did not need a sword and armor to fight against the giant, but God was fighting His own battles. The trust is in God alone as David appeared to do by rejecting the armor and sword that King Saul was giving him and using the slingshot and little stones or pebbles to defeat the giant. The giant taunted David and made fund of him and his God and God took that one litle stone or pebble to make the giant unconscious where David could cut the giant's head with his own sword. the giant was bragging in his own power, but David was bragging on the power of God. In what characters to you relate to? Would you have been like David or even his brothers? How would you have allowed David to go against the giant if you were King Saul? What obstacles do you have in serving God that appear to be giants? There is a calling to allow the church to be more inclusive of people who are differently abled and the churches current practices appear to be a giant, but God keeps saying this is my battle not yours. The church has forgotten the power of God because too often they have become politically and financially strong trusitng in themselves and not in God. This battle is truly God's battle for full and active inclusion of people who are differently abled as clergy or laity for God's Kingdom to be on earth as it is in Heaven. May we seek more of God's Power and Grace while realizing our own weakness is necessary to fully rely on God Alone for Deliverance from an Exclusive Church. We come now to receive more of His Grace, Mercy, Love, and Power as we take and eat His Body and drink His Blood through our participation of the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist as Jesus began from the Passover Meal before he was killed on the cross. We come seeking more of God's Love Power as we sing the Hymn "The Battle is the Lords"
The battle is the Lords! The harvest fields are white
How few the reaping hands appear, their strength how slight!
Yes victory is sure, we face a vanquished foe
Then forward with the risen Christ to battle go!
The battle is the Lords! Not ours in strength or skill
But His alone, in sovereign grace, to work His will
Ours, counting not the cost, unflinching to obey
And in His time his holy arm shall win the day
"The Battle is the Lords!" by Yolanda Adams
There's no pain
Jesus can't feel
No hurt He can not heal
All things work
According to his perfect will
No matter what you're going through
Remember God is using you
For the battle is not yours it's the Lord's
There's no sadness
Jesus can't feel
And there is no sorrow that he can not heal
For all things work
According to the Masters holy will
No matter what, you're going through
Remember that God is only using you
For this battle it's not yours
It's the Lord's
It's the Lord (Its the Lord)Yes
It's the Lord (Its the Lord)
Hold your head up high
Don't cry
It's the Lords
It's the Lords (Its the Lord)
It's the Lords (Its the Lord)
Yes it's the Lord(Its the Lord)
No matter what
You're going through
Remember that God only wants to use you
No matter what
You happen to go through right now
Remember that in the mist of
God only wants to use you
No matter what it is
That your going through
Hold your head up stick your chest up
Remember he's using you
For this battle is not yours alone
This battle is not yours no
You can not handle it all by yourself no no no no no
This battle is not yours
The Lord is the only one who can fight it
He wants to use you as his vessel
So be open to him
The battle it's not yours
It's the lord
____________________________
Gary Lee Parker
4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1
San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States
____________________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Christ’s Church" for Saturday, 27 June 2015 - Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12 For just as the body is one but has many parts; and all the parts of the body, though many, constitute one body; so it is with the Messiah. 13 For it was by one Spirit that we were all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 For indeed the body is not one part but many. 15 If the foot says, “I’m not a hand, so I’m not part of the body,” that doesn’t make it stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I’m not an eye, so I’m not part of the body,” that doesn’t make it stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If it were all hearing, how could it smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged each of the parts in the body exactly as he wanted them. 19 Now if they were all just one part, where would the body be? 20 But as it is, there are indeed many parts, yet just one body. 21 So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you”; or the head to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be less important turn out to be all the more necessary; 23 and upon body parts which we consider less dignified we bestow greater dignity; and the parts that aren’t attractive are the ones we make as attractive as we can, 24 while our attractive parts have no need for such treatment. Indeed, God has put the body together in such a way that he gives greater dignity to the parts that lack it, 25 So that there will be no disagreements within the body, but rather all the parts will be equally concerned for all the others. 26 Thus if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; and if one part is honored, all the parts share its happiness.
27 Now you together constitute the body of the Messiah, and individually you are parts of it.
In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.[Romans 12:5 (NIV)]
After moving to another city, my son called me to say that he couldn’t find a church where he felt comfortable. After I realized that he was looking for a church of our denomination, I explained to him about the living church of Jesus Christ and referred him to 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, in which Paul writes about the many parts of the one body of Christ. I encouraged him to read this passage and to worship and enjoy fellowship with others who are part of Christ’s body. I reminded him to appreciate the differences among believers in Christ.
Christ is one and there is only one living Church. This living church of Christ is not about buildings or denominations; rather, it is about fellowship in Jesus’ name — “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24, KJV).
The Author: Charlotte Mande Ilunga (Western Cape, South Africa)
Thought for the Day: “As members of one body you were called to peace” (Col. 3:15, NIV).
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we pray for the unity of your church. Great Redeemer, unite us in your body. Amen.
Prayer focus: The Unity Of The Church_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Respect for Nature" for Friday, 26 June 2015 - Scripture: Genesis 1:29 Then God said, “Here! Throughout the whole earth I am giving you as food every seed-bearing plant and every tree with seed-bearing fruit. 30 And to every wild animal, bird in the air and creature crawling on the earth, in which there is a living soul, I am giving as food every kind of green plant.” And that is how it was. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. So there was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day.
Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.[1 Timothy 4:4 (NIV)]
Our bodies need air or we will suffocate; water, or we will dehydrate; and food, or we will starve. Many of us take air, water, and food for granted; yet each year we waste and misuse more of the essential natural elements God made for our survival. The materialistic lifestyle in some areas of the world puts a high demand on the earth and damages soil, water, air, food — precisely what God provides to sustain us.
Scripture says that everything God created was good and was made for our benefit. The first chapter of Genesis describes the global life-support system that God created for us. If we are truly thankful for the gifts God has provided, we will do our part to take care of them. Working hard to care for our rivers and streams to ensure clean drinking water, keeping our air fresh and sweet for breathing, and making sure our food is healthy and pure are acts of thanksgiving to our Creator.
The Author: Stephen J. Bendit (Colorado, USA)
Thought for the Day: What can I do daily to help protect God’s creation?
Prayer: Creator God, help us protect and preserve nature because through nature you sustain us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Environmentalists_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Letting Go" for Thursday, 25 June 2015 - Scripture: Isaiah 46:3 “Listen to me, house of Ya‘akov,
all who remain of the house of Isra’el:
I have borne you from birth,
carried you since the womb.
4 Till your old age I will be the same —
I will carry you until your hair is white.
I have made you, and I will bear you;
yes, I will carry and save you.
5 To whom will you liken me and equate me?
With whom will you compare me, as if we were similar?”
6 They squander the gold from their bags
and weigh silver on a scale;
they hire a goldsmith to make a god,
before which they fall down and worship!
7 It is borne on shoulders and carried,
then set in its place; and there it stands.
From its place it does not move.
If one cries to it, it cannot answer
or save anyone from his troubles.
8 Remember this, and stand firm.
Keep it in mind, you rebels.
9 “Remember things that happened
at the beginning, long ago —
that I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 At the beginning I announce the end,
proclaim in advance things not yet done;
and I say that my plan will hold,
I will do everything I please to do.
The LORD says, “You . . . I have . . . carried since you were born.”[Isaiah 46:3 (NIV)]
This year my oldest child graduates from high school, and I am not ready to let her go. Despite reminding myself that this is a natural and necessary part of life, I have been struggling to hide my bittersweet feelings behind a brave and smiling face.
Today I looked out my window to see an empty bird’s nest above my front porch. A month or so ago, I had watched the mother bird build the nest. She diligently sat on her eggs through the cold rains and winds of early spring. Just last week, I saw three baby birds chirping there, waiting to be fed. Now the nest stood empty. When did they leave? Where did the time go? How quickly they flew away!
I realize that as my daughter is preparing to leave home we have some similar feelings. Like my daughter, I feel as if I, too, am flying right now on wings that are a bit shaky and uncertain. Yet, as I look to God, I am reassured that neither of us faces the unknown alone. In Isaiah, we are reminded that God has carried us from birth, and will continue to carry and sustain us even into old age. In knowing this promise I find I am ready to let my daughter go after all.
Read more from the author, here."The Nest"
By the time my meditation is published in The Upper Room, the last bird in my nest will have taken flight! Ironically, the meditation I wrote about my daughter graduating from high school and leaving for college will appear in the same year my son, and last child, will also graduate high school and leave for college.
As of now, I am happy to say that my daughter Kathlyn is flying quite well and is currently in nursing school at the University of Kentucky. My son Rob has plans to attend the same college in the fall, majoring in business. The photo I am attaching was taken of the entire family on the night of Rob's graduation in 2015. I am so thankful for both my children! As my husband and I enter a new phase of our lives, we go forward in the faith and assurance that God goes with all of us as we travel in different directions and phases of our lives. This fall our "nest" will be empty, but we know our hearts will remain full! There's no telling what good things God has planned for ALL of us! And I have a feeling that our little birds will be back for a visit to the nest from time to time.[Olive Fisher]
The Author: Olive Lois Fisher (Kentucky, USA)
Thought for the Day: God carries us every moment of our life’s journey.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your promise never to leave us. Because you hold us close, give us the courage to let go when we need to. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer focus: Graduates And Their Families
As of now, I am happy to say that my daughter Kathlyn is flying quite well and is currently in nursing school at the University of Kentucky. My son Rob has plans to attend the same college in the fall, majoring in business. The photo I am attaching was taken of the entire family on the night of Rob's graduation in 2015. I am so thankful for both my children! As my husband and I enter a new phase of our lives, we go forward in the faith and assurance that God goes with all of us as we travel in different directions and phases of our lives. This fall our "nest" will be empty, but we know our hearts will remain full! There's no telling what good things God has planned for ALL of us! And I have a feeling that our little birds will be back for a visit to the nest from time to time.[Olive Fisher]
The Author: Olive Lois Fisher (Kentucky, USA)
Thought for the Day: God carries us every moment of our life’s journey.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your promise never to leave us. Because you hold us close, give us the courage to let go when we need to. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer focus: Graduates And Their Families
_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Thinking Backwards" for Wednesday, 24 June 2015 - Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:18 We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.
5:1 We know that when the tent which houses us here on earth is torn down, we have a permanent building from God, a building not made by human hands, to house us in heaven.
We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.[2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)]
Many years ago, I worked for a photographer. One of my jobs was to prepare the negatives for the process of developing the photographs. What is dark in the negatives is actually light on the true photo; what is light on the negative is, in reality, dark. So I became accustomed to thinking “backwards” to evaluate the negatives.
In the part of the world where I live, we have another kind of backwards thinking: possessions are too highly valued. Many people feel they must have new cars, the latest phones, the biggest televisions, and the best homes — whether or not they can afford them. We so often trade our eternal possessions for these fleeting luxuries.
May God forgive us and teach us to use earthly possessions only as a means of glorifying God — providing hospitality to others, providing for others’ needs, and acting with compassion when we have opportunities. May God train us to reverse our thinking as we remember that “what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
The Author: Teri Moffitt (Arkansas, USA)
Thought for the Day: When we reverse our backwards thinking, we learn to cherish our eternal possessions.
Prayer: Dear Father, give us vision to see life with your eyes. Amen.
Prayer focus: Photographers_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Path Markers" for Tuesday, 23 June 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 32:6 This is what everyone faithful should pray
at a time when you can be found.
Then, when the floodwaters are raging,
they will not reach to him.
7 You are a hiding-place for me,
you will keep me from distress;
you will surround me
with songs of deliverance. (Selah)
8 “I will instruct and teach you
in this way that you are to go;
I will give you counsel;
my eyes will be watching you.”
9 Don’t be like a horse or mule
that has no understanding,
that has to be curbed with bit and bridle,
or else it won’t come near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked,
but grace surrounds those who trust in Adonai.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.[Psalm 32:8 (NIV)]
I am a trailblazer, pathfinder, and guide. In the area where I work, we have ways to guide hikers along the path. Wherever a junction of paths occurs, a sign and a colored footprint indicate the new route. Once hikers are on the right trail, they will see rocks painted with white dots placed roughly 50 paces apart to indicate the right track. When the path is slightly overgrown, some hikers begin to feel a bit anxious, wondering if they are still on the right path. At such times, they are relieved to spot a white mark on a rock so they can confidently proceed on their way.
Walking with God through our daily lives is similar to hiking a well-marked trail. God has promised to guide us and show the way at each important new intersection. When no guidance seems to come, we may begin to feel anxious, wondering if we are still walking in the way of God. That is when God’s “white dots” are so encouraging. Each “dot,” each sign, could be described as a nod from God, indicating that we are still on the right trail and that God is pleased with our progress. “Just keep following the path you are on right now,” God seems to be saying. “I will show you where to turn next.” These signs may appear in the form of scripture, spiritual songs, words from a friend, or part of a sermon. Even life’s circumstances — good or bad — can play a part in revealing signs from God.
The Author: Gerald McCann (Western Cape, South Africa)
Thought for the Day: God is our best possible guide through life.
Prayer: Dear Lord, open our eyes that we may see your guidance on our trail and lead others to a better understanding of you. Amen.
Prayer focus: Someone Struggling With A Decision_____________________
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Shim‘on, “Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Shim‘on answered, “We’ve worked hard all night long, Rabbi, and haven’t caught a thing! But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” 6 They did this and took in so many fish that their nets began to tear. 7 So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; and they came and filled both boats to the point of sinking. 8 When he saw this, Shim‘on Kefa fell at Yeshua’s knees and said, “Get away from me, sir, because I’m a sinner!” 9 For astonishment had seized him and everyone with him at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and likewise both Ya‘akov and Yochanan, Shim‘on’s partners. “Don’t be frightened,” Yeshua said to Shim‘on, “from now on you will be catching men — alive!” 11 And as soon as they had beached their boats, they left everything behind and followed him.
The LORD declares, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”[Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)]
For years I taught history. When the end of the semester approached, I would offer students the opportunity to improve their grade by doing an additional assignment. Some eagerly complied and earned the higher grade. Others would shrug with a “thanks, but no thanks” attitude, content with the lower mark.
Halfhearted efforts achieve halfhearted results. The consequences of a lower history grade may be minor, but when responding to God the outcome is far more important. Through Jeremiah the Lord promises, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” I believe God is warning us that this tendency to put forth less than our full effort may spill over into our spiritual lives.
Luke tells us about Jesus’ early encounter with Simon, James, and John on the lakeshore. Though they had fished all night unsuccessfully, Jesus instructed them to row out and drop their nets again. When they obeyed, not only did they have a net-breaking catch of fish, but the three men left everything and followed Christ. That is living wholeheartedly! To be truly used and blessed by God, we must we willing to do the same.
Read more from the author, here."Wholehearted"
"My time is my own." How often I'd wished that were true!
My first "real" job was teaching social studies in a public school. The first year was extremely busy, as I tried to get the hang of teaching--which, in practice, is very different than what is taught in college! Even in later years, evenings and weekends were filled with correcting papers and doing lesson plans. My "summers off" were dedicated to getting a jump on the next year's subject, which would change from year to year.
Later I worked for a national prison ministry, traveling many miles to recruit and train volunteers, meet with chaplains, and develop materials. Much of this was done on weekends or evenings, so again I had little time to call my own.
After nearly thirty years in ministry, I resigned. At the time I thought I would take a few months off and then look for other employment, perhaps part time. However, my wonderful husband Jerry had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and it became clear that he would need increased assistance. We decided we could make it financially without my paycheck (Jerry had retired some years earlier), so for the next several years I was blessed to be able to concentrate on being Jerry's wife, and as time went on, his caregiver as well.
During each of these stages, I felt called to the position I held, and loved what I did. God can use us wherever He places us, no matter what our job title may be, and no matter if it is "secular" work or "ministry." (Is there really a distinction?) As Paul says in Ephesians, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men..." (Eph. 6:7a NIV). In addition to my employment, I was also involved serving in my local church.
Jerry's Parkinson's took its toll, and my time became less and less flexible. It was hard to commit to anything on a regular basis, as emergencies would often necessitate a change in plans. Helping Jerry was truly a ministry--perhaps the most sacred I had ever had.
Two years ago, Jerry's suffering ended as the Lord took him home. Suddenly my life, which for the past few years had been crammed full of medication schedules, assisting with therapy, and chauffeuring, was void of any schedule, agenda, or, seemingly, any purpose. For the first time in my life I found that I could truly say, "My time is my own." And you know what? That's not always a good thing. It can, in fact, be devastating.
God in His grace has helped me cope with the "new normal." I have gradually taken on additional responsibilities at church and in my community. It is a real pleasure to be able to spontaneously help a young mom who needs transportation, or visit a hurting friend. And I continually pray that the Lord will open my eyes--and heart--to those "good works" He has prepared for me to do (Ephesians 2:10). Ironically, now that I have more time to give than ever before in my life, it's sometimes a greater struggle to not hold on to it too tightly but to truly offer each day to Him.
What does it mean to live for God "wholeheartedly?" It will look different for each person, in each stage of life. God looks at our heart, our love for Him, and willingness to serve Him, not the number of things checked off of our "to do" lists. God desires us to cultivate an openness to Him that does not call our time "our own," but rather God's. We can trust Him to fill it with good things as we live wholeheartedly.[Lisa Stackpole]
The Author: Lisa Stackpole (Wisconsin, USA)
Thought for the Day: Am I living whole-heartedly for Christ?
Prayer: Guide of humanity, help us to boldly follow you. Amen.
Prayer focus: Teachers_____________________
Today's Devotional:
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Thinking Backwards" for Wednesday, 24 June 2015 - Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:18 We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.
5:1 We know that when the tent which houses us here on earth is torn down, we have a permanent building from God, a building not made by human hands, to house us in heaven.
We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.[2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)]
Many years ago, I worked for a photographer. One of my jobs was to prepare the negatives for the process of developing the photographs. What is dark in the negatives is actually light on the true photo; what is light on the negative is, in reality, dark. So I became accustomed to thinking “backwards” to evaluate the negatives.
In the part of the world where I live, we have another kind of backwards thinking: possessions are too highly valued. Many people feel they must have new cars, the latest phones, the biggest televisions, and the best homes — whether or not they can afford them. We so often trade our eternal possessions for these fleeting luxuries.
May God forgive us and teach us to use earthly possessions only as a means of glorifying God — providing hospitality to others, providing for others’ needs, and acting with compassion when we have opportunities. May God train us to reverse our thinking as we remember that “what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
The Author: Teri Moffitt (Arkansas, USA)
Thought for the Day: When we reverse our backwards thinking, we learn to cherish our eternal possessions.
Prayer: Dear Father, give us vision to see life with your eyes. Amen.
Prayer focus: Photographers_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Path Markers" for Tuesday, 23 June 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 32:6 This is what everyone faithful should pray
at a time when you can be found.
Then, when the floodwaters are raging,
they will not reach to him.
7 You are a hiding-place for me,
you will keep me from distress;
you will surround me
with songs of deliverance. (Selah)
8 “I will instruct and teach you
in this way that you are to go;
I will give you counsel;
my eyes will be watching you.”
9 Don’t be like a horse or mule
that has no understanding,
that has to be curbed with bit and bridle,
or else it won’t come near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked,
but grace surrounds those who trust in Adonai.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.[Psalm 32:8 (NIV)]
I am a trailblazer, pathfinder, and guide. In the area where I work, we have ways to guide hikers along the path. Wherever a junction of paths occurs, a sign and a colored footprint indicate the new route. Once hikers are on the right trail, they will see rocks painted with white dots placed roughly 50 paces apart to indicate the right track. When the path is slightly overgrown, some hikers begin to feel a bit anxious, wondering if they are still on the right path. At such times, they are relieved to spot a white mark on a rock so they can confidently proceed on their way.
Walking with God through our daily lives is similar to hiking a well-marked trail. God has promised to guide us and show the way at each important new intersection. When no guidance seems to come, we may begin to feel anxious, wondering if we are still walking in the way of God. That is when God’s “white dots” are so encouraging. Each “dot,” each sign, could be described as a nod from God, indicating that we are still on the right trail and that God is pleased with our progress. “Just keep following the path you are on right now,” God seems to be saying. “I will show you where to turn next.” These signs may appear in the form of scripture, spiritual songs, words from a friend, or part of a sermon. Even life’s circumstances — good or bad — can play a part in revealing signs from God.
The Author: Gerald McCann (Western Cape, South Africa)
Thought for the Day: God is our best possible guide through life.
Prayer: Dear Lord, open our eyes that we may see your guidance on our trail and lead others to a better understanding of you. Amen.
Prayer focus: Someone Struggling With A Decision_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "With All Your Heart" for Monday, 22 June 2015 - Scripture: Luke 5:1 One day, as Yeshua was standing on the shore of Lake Kinneret, with the people pressing in around him in order to hear the word of God, 2 he noticed two boats pulled up on the beach, left there by the fishermen, who were cleaning their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Shim‘on, and asked him to put out a little way from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Shim‘on, “Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Shim‘on answered, “We’ve worked hard all night long, Rabbi, and haven’t caught a thing! But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” 6 They did this and took in so many fish that their nets began to tear. 7 So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; and they came and filled both boats to the point of sinking. 8 When he saw this, Shim‘on Kefa fell at Yeshua’s knees and said, “Get away from me, sir, because I’m a sinner!” 9 For astonishment had seized him and everyone with him at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and likewise both Ya‘akov and Yochanan, Shim‘on’s partners. “Don’t be frightened,” Yeshua said to Shim‘on, “from now on you will be catching men — alive!” 11 And as soon as they had beached their boats, they left everything behind and followed him.
The LORD declares, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”[Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)]
For years I taught history. When the end of the semester approached, I would offer students the opportunity to improve their grade by doing an additional assignment. Some eagerly complied and earned the higher grade. Others would shrug with a “thanks, but no thanks” attitude, content with the lower mark.
Halfhearted efforts achieve halfhearted results. The consequences of a lower history grade may be minor, but when responding to God the outcome is far more important. Through Jeremiah the Lord promises, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” I believe God is warning us that this tendency to put forth less than our full effort may spill over into our spiritual lives.
Luke tells us about Jesus’ early encounter with Simon, James, and John on the lakeshore. Though they had fished all night unsuccessfully, Jesus instructed them to row out and drop their nets again. When they obeyed, not only did they have a net-breaking catch of fish, but the three men left everything and followed Christ. That is living wholeheartedly! To be truly used and blessed by God, we must we willing to do the same.
Read more from the author, here."Wholehearted"
"My time is my own." How often I'd wished that were true!
My first "real" job was teaching social studies in a public school. The first year was extremely busy, as I tried to get the hang of teaching--which, in practice, is very different than what is taught in college! Even in later years, evenings and weekends were filled with correcting papers and doing lesson plans. My "summers off" were dedicated to getting a jump on the next year's subject, which would change from year to year.
Later I worked for a national prison ministry, traveling many miles to recruit and train volunteers, meet with chaplains, and develop materials. Much of this was done on weekends or evenings, so again I had little time to call my own.
After nearly thirty years in ministry, I resigned. At the time I thought I would take a few months off and then look for other employment, perhaps part time. However, my wonderful husband Jerry had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and it became clear that he would need increased assistance. We decided we could make it financially without my paycheck (Jerry had retired some years earlier), so for the next several years I was blessed to be able to concentrate on being Jerry's wife, and as time went on, his caregiver as well.
During each of these stages, I felt called to the position I held, and loved what I did. God can use us wherever He places us, no matter what our job title may be, and no matter if it is "secular" work or "ministry." (Is there really a distinction?) As Paul says in Ephesians, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men..." (Eph. 6:7a NIV). In addition to my employment, I was also involved serving in my local church.
Jerry's Parkinson's took its toll, and my time became less and less flexible. It was hard to commit to anything on a regular basis, as emergencies would often necessitate a change in plans. Helping Jerry was truly a ministry--perhaps the most sacred I had ever had.
Two years ago, Jerry's suffering ended as the Lord took him home. Suddenly my life, which for the past few years had been crammed full of medication schedules, assisting with therapy, and chauffeuring, was void of any schedule, agenda, or, seemingly, any purpose. For the first time in my life I found that I could truly say, "My time is my own." And you know what? That's not always a good thing. It can, in fact, be devastating.
God in His grace has helped me cope with the "new normal." I have gradually taken on additional responsibilities at church and in my community. It is a real pleasure to be able to spontaneously help a young mom who needs transportation, or visit a hurting friend. And I continually pray that the Lord will open my eyes--and heart--to those "good works" He has prepared for me to do (Ephesians 2:10). Ironically, now that I have more time to give than ever before in my life, it's sometimes a greater struggle to not hold on to it too tightly but to truly offer each day to Him.
What does it mean to live for God "wholeheartedly?" It will look different for each person, in each stage of life. God looks at our heart, our love for Him, and willingness to serve Him, not the number of things checked off of our "to do" lists. God desires us to cultivate an openness to Him that does not call our time "our own," but rather God's. We can trust Him to fill it with good things as we live wholeheartedly.[Lisa Stackpole]
The Author: Lisa Stackpole (Wisconsin, USA)
Thought for the Day: Am I living whole-heartedly for Christ?
Prayer: Guide of humanity, help us to boldly follow you. Amen.
Prayer focus: Teachers_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Honor Your Father" for Sunday, 21 June 2015 - Scripture: Hebrews 12:7 Regard your endurance as discipline; God is dealing with you as sons. For what son goes undisciplined by his father? 8 All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so if you don’t, you’re a mamzer and not a son!
9 Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them; how much more should we submit to our spiritual Father and live! 10 For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness.
11 Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness.
We have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live![Hebrews 12:9 (NIV)]
My father was known for his “I’ll-give-you-the shirt-off-my-back” generosity. But when I asked him for a dollar to buy a toy from a classmate, I was surprised that he responded quietly and thoughtfully, “No.” He explained that the toy was a want, not a need.
The next day when my father wasn’t home, I opened his top dresser drawer, stole a silver dollar, and bought the toy. A few days later, when he discovered the silver dollar missing, he knew immediately that I was the thief. He told me I had no reason to steal from him and that I could depend on his promise to give me everything I needed. He expressed a deep disappointment in me, yet ended his stern reprimand by saying, “But I still love you.”
When I reflect on how my father handled my disobedience, it became clear to me that he exemplified the kind of love that God, my heavenly Father, has for me even when I fall short.
God said, “Honor your father” (Exod. 20:12). Today and every day I honor my father for his loving discipline, and I give thanks for the unconditional love God shows to us.
Read more from the author, here."Writing for The Upper Room"
9 Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them; how much more should we submit to our spiritual Father and live! 10 For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness.
11 Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness.
We have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live![Hebrews 12:9 (NIV)]
My father was known for his “I’ll-give-you-the shirt-off-my-back” generosity. But when I asked him for a dollar to buy a toy from a classmate, I was surprised that he responded quietly and thoughtfully, “No.” He explained that the toy was a want, not a need.
The next day when my father wasn’t home, I opened his top dresser drawer, stole a silver dollar, and bought the toy. A few days later, when he discovered the silver dollar missing, he knew immediately that I was the thief. He told me I had no reason to steal from him and that I could depend on his promise to give me everything I needed. He expressed a deep disappointment in me, yet ended his stern reprimand by saying, “But I still love you.”
When I reflect on how my father handled my disobedience, it became clear to me that he exemplified the kind of love that God, my heavenly Father, has for me even when I fall short.
God said, “Honor your father” (Exod. 20:12). Today and every day I honor my father for his loving discipline, and I give thanks for the unconditional love God shows to us.
Read more from the author, here."Writing for The Upper Room"
As a mathematics educator whose teaching career spanned thirty-five years, three states and three levels, I was blessed to be published on both the national and international levels. But when I prepared to retire in April 2010, God told me "I've gifted you to write about math for me. Now, I'm going to gift you to write about me."
In September 2010 I joined an organization that met monthly at a local church. The beautiful cover art of the current issue of the UR caught my eye. It was here that I picked up my very first copy of the UR. Since then, it's been a "regular" in my daily time with God. Each UR writer is a source of inspiration to me first, as a Christian and second, as a writer.
Soon after, I read the call for writers. I recalled what God had said to me. I quickly downloaded, printed, read and highlighted the important information found in the Writer's Guidelines.
Transitioning from a technical platform of writing to a spiritual one was a real challenge. Whereas I had grown accustomed to writing about a subject I knew very well and having my pieces published regularly and without question, I hit a seemingly insurmountable wall with the UR. There was so much I didn't know about God and month after month for about two years, my submissions were received and considered, but not selected. Ego bruised, I felt defeated.
I searched God's word. He lead me to Philippians 4, verses 13 and 19 in particular -
"Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do." and "My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need..."
Meditating on these Scriptures gave me all I needed to keep on learning, writing, and submitting.
In 2013, my third year of submitting to the UR, I stopped submitting monthly and to started submitting every two months. In December, I submitted a piece called "Honor Your Father." It was received, considered and ACCEPTED in April 2015! This great news came exactly five years after God told me "...I'm going to gift you to write about me."
God keeps His promises. He not only gifted me to learn and write, but also gave me some things I don't deserve - the courage to submit on a regular basis and the privilege of being counted among UR writers.
So what is in "the next chapter" for this UR writer? I'm going to keep looking to God as The Source of inspiration to want learn, write, submit on a regular basis and, prayerfully, get published again. [Suzanne Austin-Hill]
The Author: Suzanne S. Austin-Hill (Florida, USA)
Thought for the Day: Even in my disobedience, God loves me.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the example of loving earthly parents and for your unconditional love for all your children. Amen.
Prayer focus: Fathers
In September 2010 I joined an organization that met monthly at a local church. The beautiful cover art of the current issue of the UR caught my eye. It was here that I picked up my very first copy of the UR. Since then, it's been a "regular" in my daily time with God. Each UR writer is a source of inspiration to me first, as a Christian and second, as a writer.
Soon after, I read the call for writers. I recalled what God had said to me. I quickly downloaded, printed, read and highlighted the important information found in the Writer's Guidelines.
Transitioning from a technical platform of writing to a spiritual one was a real challenge. Whereas I had grown accustomed to writing about a subject I knew very well and having my pieces published regularly and without question, I hit a seemingly insurmountable wall with the UR. There was so much I didn't know about God and month after month for about two years, my submissions were received and considered, but not selected. Ego bruised, I felt defeated.
I searched God's word. He lead me to Philippians 4, verses 13 and 19 in particular -
"Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do." and "My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need..."
Meditating on these Scriptures gave me all I needed to keep on learning, writing, and submitting.
In 2013, my third year of submitting to the UR, I stopped submitting monthly and to started submitting every two months. In December, I submitted a piece called "Honor Your Father." It was received, considered and ACCEPTED in April 2015! This great news came exactly five years after God told me "...I'm going to gift you to write about me."
God keeps His promises. He not only gifted me to learn and write, but also gave me some things I don't deserve - the courage to submit on a regular basis and the privilege of being counted among UR writers.
So what is in "the next chapter" for this UR writer? I'm going to keep looking to God as The Source of inspiration to want learn, write, submit on a regular basis and, prayerfully, get published again. [Suzanne Austin-Hill]
The Author: Suzanne S. Austin-Hill (Florida, USA)Thought for the Day: Even in my disobedience, God loves me.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the example of loving earthly parents and for your unconditional love for all your children. Amen.
Prayer focus: Fathers
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Wichita KS 67207
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
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