Facing Giants Every Day

“picture in advance” 1 Samuel 17:46 "This day the LORD will hand you over to me" David did it! He conquered the giant Goliath. “Ah, that was fine for David. But you don’t know the trouble I’ve seen.” True, you do not know mine, and I don't know yours...in fact, if I shared my 'Goliaths' with you, its fair to say, you couldn't handle mine....nor I yours....that's how it is! Every day, we all face impossible odds, 'Goliaths'...David’s victory over Goliath is a “picture in advance” of the victory Jesus won for us. Too often, I take on my 'Goliaths' in just my own strength, but God's Word says....Jesus has already won 'em! Help me Lord to remember...Jesus has already done it!   JESUS...You can trust Him!

Lord, help my unbelief

 Nothing restrains the Lord! Do we really believe it? Or does the title of J.B. Phillips’ book describe us: Your God is Too Small. We often feel that God is restrained in one way or another. In reality, the only thing that could be said to restrain God is our unbelief. 1 Samuel 14:6 "Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD" I confess...too often, I feel that God is just too small. God’s power is never restrained! I do the 'restraining'...in my unbelief. God’s power is never restrained, but His will may be restrained by our unbelief. He may choose not to act until we partner with Him in trust. Read 1 Samuel 14, and you see...God had a trusting partner in Jonathan! Am I willing to "partner with God?"....ooh, good question... Numbers or odds do not restrain God, but unbelief can...

"O Lord, give me a Romans 8:31 heart...If God be for us, who can be against us?"

It usually starts out subtly

"me, compromise?" Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge..." God hates evil. God's Word says, If I am to fellowship with God, I must also hate evil. But wait a minute...we've been taught, you know, the world says we're not to hate anything...the world says, we want to accept everybody. "Live and let live," Evil always is looking for you to compromise and to accept it. It usually starts out subtly...I remember growing up (some say, "you can remember that long ago!")...in my Lutheran grade school being introduced to the devil, red...long tail...pointed-ears, and a pitch fork! So, I was determined, I knew what to look-out for...the problem was, he never showed up like that...nope, he (the devil) is way smarter than that! The devil knew, and still knows today, people will shy away from him, if he shows himself in his true form...so he shows up looking very attractive...Romans 7:13 says, "Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation." Satan comes at me with all the world says is 'good', the so-called better things-of-life...It begins very subtly, even innocently...and because our appetites are insatiable....we always need more, it doesn't take us long we start making compromises...we rationalize..."I deserve it!" And pretty soon, we accept almost everything, anything...we've become a very tolerant society..."Lord, Help us!"

Trials guaranteed

"trials guranteed" 1 Peter 1:6 "even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while." Romans 8:35 "Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity?" Trials are 'a-fact-of-life' But God says None of the sufferings of this present time can ever separate us from His Love. No matter what the circumstance, we can be more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Hard lessons in this thing we call life...trials will always be upon us, oh sure sometimes trials ease up for a bit, but hang in there, they'll be back...in fact, some trials seem to never leave, and that's when I tend to question God..."Hey You say, you Love me? Are you ever going to bless me again?" That's my 'circumstances talking again..."Help me Lord, not to always look at my circumstances...Help me to look at You!"

The Lord's Day

"It's The Lord's Day"  Shout with joy to the LORD, O earth! Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:1-5

"Somebody...shout ALL"

"it's tough, isn't it?" Romans 8:28 "God causes everything to work together" Oh so quickly, and far too often, I forget...God’s plan is perfect, and even when I can’t figure out what He is doing and it all seems so desperate, He still knows what He is doing. To say the least life is interesting, I want smooth sailing, but God knows, smooth sailing in my life means I'm trusting me, not God...God doesn't just work some things, but "All Things!" "LORD, Help me!"

"Lord, You know me far better than I know myself...You know my tendency to put my trust in me...You are constant, You are faithful...and You Alone are True! You've been trying All of my life to teach me...to teach me to Trust in You! Thank You for that! Forgive me for forgetting too often and looking for comfort, for assurance in all the wrong places...'Keep me Lord'... I beg You"

Mucho prayer needed

"How do I pray?" I've been reminded this morning of my need for prayer...and with that reminder, comes this realization...often times I pray soooo wrong! I view God as my personal "spiritual vending machine"! I make my selection, push the button, and hopefully get my request granted...forgive me Lord, YOU deserve so much more!

Romans 8:26 "For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray." Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God" Psalm 62:5 "I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him." Psalm 143:8 "Let me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I have come to you in prayer."
‎2 Chronicles 7:14 " if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land."