Like David Did~

Greetings,

Once upon a time there was a man who led a very interesting yet turbulent life.   He was appointed king only to have the former king try to kill him.  Once on the throne, he was constantly defending his kingdom against violent, bloodthirsty enemies.  His kids were completely out of control; one son killed another son as revenge for sexually assaulting a half sister. And a series of poor moral choices led him to try and cover up his married lover's pregnancy by having her husband killed.

His life was a series of ups and downs; some were self-inflicted and some were not.  His name was David, his dramatic story is found in the Bible [1 & 2 Samuel], and even after all the scandals  -  scandals that would give any soap opera a run for its money  -  David's lasting legacy is that he is ultimately described in the Bible as "a man after God's own heart."

Psalm 70, written by David, shows us why.

"Please, God, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me.  May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame.  May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace...O God, You are my helper and my savior; O Lord, do not delay."

In the midst of his life's most difficult, unimaginably painful moments, David always turned to God.  He never stopped praying or believing God would help him.  He had a lot to contend with, and no one would have blamed him for putting prayer on the back burner as he fought to literally stay alive and save his kingdom.  But there are over 70 Psalms in the Bible written by David as a testament to the living, breathing, all-powerful God Who is right there when we need Him most.  David never failed to look to God and neither should we.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, The very first thing we need to do every day, no matter what is going on, is look to You, like David did, for forgiveness, help, restoration, protection, provision, wisdom, and peace.  The Psalms are beautifully written, inspire us to pray like David did, and assure us that You welcome bold requests.  Do not delay in sending Your blessings.  In Jesus' name, Amen!

Drop Your Stones~

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God." Philippians 1:3

What a beautiful verse that perfectly describes how I feel:)

Yesterday we saw how our trailblazing Jesus offered a woman something she desperately needed: Forgiveness and eternal life. In today's Bible story we see what it like for a real Man to take a stand.

John 8 tells the story of a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. She was brought before all the religious leaders and they, being so knowledgeable about religion (good for them!) actually picked up a bunch of rocks and stones and prepared to throw them at this poor soul.

Talk about ganging up on someone. Talk about being holier than thou. Talk about thinking you're better than someone. And by the way, where was the man she had been with? The Bible says he was no where in sight. Maybe he was at the back of the crowd with a stone in his hand. GAG ME!

So tragic...until Jesus shows up.

And what did He do? Very calmly, in the middle of that bloodthirsty crowd, He said the most precious words that woman had ever heard, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

Excuse me while I do a happy dance:) I love that Jesus didn't flinch. And He wasn't afraid to do what was right even though He was outnumbered.

Imagine the sound of all those folks dropping those stones. There would be no killing today--not on Jesus' watch.

And look at what He says to her at the end of the passage, "I do not condemn you, now go and leave your life of sin."

This is yet another perfect example of how to treat others. Come alongside and offer encouragement and even protection if necessary. Show concern for someone's soul--not nosiness about their sins. Keep your judgments to yourself. Keep your criticism to yourself. Keep your gossip to yourself. Empty your pockets of stones. But by all means, share Jesus.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You that You show such tender love and concern for our souls. Jesus wanted that woman to leave her life of sin so she could be blessed. You want the same for us. Forgive us and open our eyes to our need for You that we might daily invite You to come alongside us. In Jesus' name, AMEN~