In the Name of the LORD, 1 Samuel 17:45

In the Name of the LORD

1 Samuel 17:45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

David, the youngest of his family was tending the sheep while his brothers were in the service of King Saul. Israel was being taunted by one of the giants of Gath whose name was Goliath. He was defying God, and because of his stature, all of Israel were in fear. David was sent to deliver food to his brothers and heard the taunting of Goliath. An enemy of the Lord had come up against him and his people, and David saw how everyone cowered in fear. David was incensed, and vowed to destroy the enemy. Taking what was common to him, he fought the giant in the name of the LORD and won.

K and A, you will come up against many enemies of your faith. Since an early age, you have been taught to follow the truths of the Bible and to live by them. You know this story and many others from Sunday school and Bible school lessons. They are not just neat stories from the Bible (1 Cor. 10:11), they are crucial lessons taught to show you how to stand ground against the attacks of Satan and his followers in the world around you.

This story shows that when the enemy comes, you are to utilize the weapons you have been taught to use, to stand your ground against the enemy. But, do not go it alone. Go in the Name and power of the LORD Almighty. He will enable you to fight successfully and overcome the temptations and the sin that so easily entangles (He 12:1). Daughters, GO in the Name of the LORD, he will protect you and keep you from sin (Jude 1:24)!

~Dad

The Youngest, 1 Samuel 17:14 & 15

The Youngest

1 Samuel 17:14 & 15 David was the youngest, the oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

David was becoming quite the young man. By this time in his life, he had killed lions and bear by hand, was the hero who had killed Goliath, played his instrument for the king, and had been anointed future king of Israel... But he was the youngest, so he had to stay home and care for the sheep out on the hills around Bethlehem. Talk about not getting respect... if anyone could claim the title, it was David.

But, David was not the kind of person who let his position affect his devotion to his God. He was a person of action, serving at his best where he was called. God had his hand on him and would lead him to become the greatest king of Israel.

A and K, you are becoming quite the young ladies. God has his hand on you. What you will become is not yet known, but we know is that God has great things for you to do (Jerimiah 29:11). What you need to do is be faithful... faithful to the call of salvation, faithful to living in righteousness, and faithful to his calling in life as you know it. As you remain faithful, God will lead to greater things, guiding you and encouraging you along the way. You are the youngest in your family, and may feel like you can't get away from your father's control. Know that he loves you and his greatest desire for you is to serve God with all your heart, mind, and soul, believing God has his hand upon you. Despite being the youngest, God is leading you to become the greatest servant you can be.

~Dad

Genesis 13:5 - 18, Part 5: It's All Yours

It's All Yours

Genesis 13:17 Go, walk through the length and the breath of the land, for I am giving it to you.

Would you like to have a father who showed you a piece of property and for a wedding gift said... It's yours. I am giving it to you. Maybe, he'll give you a new car... even a used car would be nice, right. It's all yours, free. That is what God, the father, did for Abram. Lift up your eyes, look north, look, south, look east and west, its all yours as far as you can see! Wow, what a gift! what a joy that would flood the heart!

Well, our heavenly father has given us just as great of gift: Grace! His grace is just like the song says, Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceed our sin and our guilt. It's all ours for the taking, free! Here are some of the benefits of his grace I found written about in his Word that the Father freely gives to us: salvation, justification, signs and wonders, power, incomparable riches, eternal life and so, so much more. There is so much grace that we cannot not use it all up. We can look to the right or to left, before us and to the rear... it is everywhere we go.

K and A, have you experienced God's grace? I know you have, and I thank God for it! Your grandfather's brother, Uncle Hess, told of a talk he had with his grandfather, Abram Hess. Abram said that God grace was like a cow looking for something good to eat. She uses her tongue to work at eating some of the grasses under the fence, but little does she realize she is in a large field full of lush clover. God placed Abram right where he wanted him. Then, he provide a great gift... the promise to supply all he needs. He said, walk through the land, for I am giving it to you.

Daughters, God placed you where he wanted you. Don't just partake of the grasses near the fence separating you from the world. Instead frolic in the lush blessings of his love. All you need he has promised to supply. The gift is all yours for the taking!

~Dad

Genesis 13:5 - 18, Part 4: Looked Good

Looked Good

Genesis 13:13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.

Which Way Should I Go!

Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered like the garden of the Lord... (vs 10) Lot was given the choice to pick any land he wanted for his family to live. When he saw the plain near Sodom, he couldn't resist settling there. He and Abram had earlier come through a time of drought and seeing that the area of the plain was like back home among the 3 rivers near Eden, he knew it was the land for him. Little did he know what the future would hold. The wickedness of the people who lived there would become a detriment to his way of life and would eventually destroy the sanctity of his family. He barely escaped God's judgement on the wicked.

Many times what appears to be the right choice seems easy to make. We may weigh the pros and cons, just like Ben Franklin, coming up with the perfect solution, and find in the end that it couldn't have been more wrong. What went wrong, where did we err?... we failed to seek God and his way for us. If our decisions are only based on the natural components of life, we can think them through considering all the right and wrong scenarios, yet make the most egregious decision. All of our decisions must be based on the Word and prayer, and when of great importance or if that choice is a major life decision, it must be bathed in prayer.

Lot's decision was life changing. It made sense though; near a city, lots of green lush land, and plenty of room for his family, it couldn't be more perfect. But, his family was destroyed. Although we are not sure how many children he had, out of a typically large family there were only three saved from the Lord's destruction of fire and brimstone. In fact only 4 members of his clan were considered righteous enough to leave the city.

A & K, how do you make your decisions? If you are in any way like me, you find it difficult. You end up procrastination, hoping the decision will make up its own mind... sometimes you a left with only one choice, good or bad, because you failed to select one of them. I think I am getting better, but I lack one in one area: I have not learned to bathe a decision in prayer, come to think of it, I'm not so good at writing pros and cons either. Oh, I pray about it but I lack the drive to sit still and soak in the presence of God. I am thankful for is growing up in a conservative home, not following the ways of the world... most of my daily decisions are made because of a good upbringing at home and in a Bible based church. Lot would have been wise to think of what kind of people he associated with. amazingly God protected him and he didn't succumb to the evil himself.

Daughters, live close to God and know his Word. Paul said that the law taught him what sin was (Ro 7:7) Therefor read and learn the Old Testament principles along with those in the New, and most of your choices will be easy. Then as life decisions come, look at the pros and cons and as you contemplate them, bathe your choices in prayer, immersing yourself in God's holiness asking him for the needed wisdom to make that choice (Js 1:5). Then, walk in the way you sense him leading you and trust him to carry you through. God is faithful when we seek him with all our being and will guide you on path he desires you to go (Pr 3:5 & 6), and you decision will more than look good, they will be good!

~Dad

Hidden, 1 Samuel 10:21 & 22

Hidden

1 Samuel 22b ...And the Lord said, "Yes, [he is here] he has hidden himself among the baggage.

Israel was looking for a king, every other nation had one. They rejected God in order to have a man rule over them. Their judge, who was anointed by God to lead them, was hurt that they rejected God, but God said they would be given a king ad they desired. With a dire warning of what it would be like under a king, Samuel went and anointed the one God had chosen to be the first king of Israel. His name was Saul. When the time came for Saul to be anointed, he could not be found. God had to tell Samuel that Saul was hiding.

What will we do when God calls us? Saul, a man of great stature, did not want to fulfil his calling, so he hid. But, he could not hide from God! When found, Saul was brought before Samuel and gave into the will of the Lord. He was anointed king of Israel. God calls each one of us; first to accept his sacrifice for our sin, then to sanctification and service to him.

A and K, what will you do when God calls you? I praise the father and thank him that both of you have responded to his call and have given your hearts to him. I am glad that you also have served him in various capacities. But you must go deeper, in full surrender to him. Leaving all the pleasures of the world, cling to the ways of Christ. Yield yourself to the Spirit and never say NO. Don't hide among the baggage of life; work, family, play or anything else that keeps you from being the Queen. God has great things for you

Daughters, you may be special to me, but you are so much more special to him. Trust him for he will guide you into a wonderful, satisfying life beyond what you can think or imagine! As Ephesians 3:20 & 21 says Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

~Dad

Give Thanks, Psalm 75:1

Give Thanks

Psalm 75:1 We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.

It is right to thank the Lord. He has done so much for us. His character is beyond compare. Who when having the power and authority to destroy any foe, will instead choose to be slow to anger and abounding in love (Ex. 34:6 and many other places)? He forgives and delivers his foes, bringing them to repentance and delivering them from certain destruction. Gracious is our God and worthy to be praised!

Today's verse say that men tell of his wonderful deeds... my question is who do we tell, who should we be telling?

Daughters, you serve a great God. He is worthy of your praise. Thank him for his wondrous acts, but don't for get to tell others of his wonderful deeds. People that you know must understand that he is a forgiving God and can deliver us from all that hinders our love and devotion for him. God forgave you. In what ways will others know that you are thankful to him? Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven (Mat. 5:16)

~Dad

Fully Devoted, 1 Kings 11:4

Fully Devoted

1 Kings 11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God as his father David had been.

Solomon disobeyed God's law. He began to follow the practices of the kingdoms around him marrying royalty from other nations. God specifically commanded the Israelites not to intermarry outside their own people, religion, but Solomon would not listen. To keep his wives happy, he built shrines to other god's for them. When he was old his heart turned to other gods, and he began to worship them.

Ladies, you are called to love your husband by being submissive to him. This is God's way, and it is good! So crucial, then, is your choice to whom you marry. In essence you are giving your life over to his judgement on spiritual matters. He is called to love and guide you and fulfil your needs. It is so important to have a husband devoted to the things of the Lord.

One thing I found in my life; temptations never cease, especially so in your weakest areas. You need not succumb to the temptation, but like Solomon, you will if you and your husband are not firmly attached to the vine who gives you the strength to do so. If you remain in him, he will remain in you (Jn. 15:4 & 5). Remember to put on and use the full armor of  the Lord so you can extinguish all flaming arrows thrown by Satan and the world. Fully devote your life to the Lord your God, and when you are old, you will not turn to the right or to the left but will follow Christ on the narrow path he has set for you.

~Dad