June 30, 2024 – 1 Samuel 20:35-41 The enemy tries to keep us from those who love us.   Jonathan and David had to fight to stay friends, but their friendship won out.   Just because we can’t always “fix” the problems of others, doesn’t mean we can’t be there for them and be their friend.   Just don’t misunderstand what God intended for our friendships.   Jesus is to carry our burdens, not our friends.   I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Well, I’m here to tell you that is a lie.   God will absolutely give you more than YOU can handle, but there is never anything in your life that He can’t handle.   The thing is that we have to give it to Him.   When we keep it and try to fix it ourselves or have our friends fix it, we aren’t using the best resource we have.   Our Lord, Savior, Creator and Friend, Jesus Christ.   Give it to Him. 35  In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little bo

June 29, 2024 – 1 Samuel 20:24-34 People will disappoint us.   It will happen.   That is why our faith can’t be put in people.   Even those who never intend to let you down.   They will.   They will get sick, die, not be able to get to you when you need them, no matter how hard they try.   We aren’t intended to be the saviors for our friends and family.   There is only one who is our Savior.   Jesus Christ.   Don’t put your faith in those who can’t save you.   Put you love and faith in the only one who can.   If you want to know how to be saved, call me.   918-344-5656. So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.   25  The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty. 26  Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.”   27  But on the second

June 28, 2024 – 1 Samuel 20:18-23 Friends…they are special to us.   They fend for us, love us, listen to us, and sometimes defend us when others mean us harm.   Jonathan was a good friend to David.   He was the kind of friend we all would love to have.   Jonathan even defended David against his own father. Has God given you a friend that loves you unconditionally?   Thank God for that friend today. 18  Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.   19  On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap.   20  And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.   21  And behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,’ then you are to come, for, as the  Lord  lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.   22  But if I say

June 27, 2024 – 1 Samuel 20:12-17 How often do we work to please others rather than God?   We serve others, which can be from God, but often I find I serve others for reasons that don’t really involve God, just me and how “good” I look to the world.   I shouldn’t care what the world thinks, but I have to admit I do.   I should only care about what God thinks.   Truly His opinion is the only one that matters, but I so often forget that truth.   The enemy wants us to care what others think because he knows we can’t please the world.   He wants us caught up in pleasing others and forget the one who matters. What can you do today to please God? Spend time with Him, adoring Him, thanking Him, loving Him…just being with Him. 12  And Jonathan said to David, “The  Lord , the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?   13  But should

June 26, 2024 – 1 Samuel 20:1-11 There are times we all feel that we have done something wrong and are being punished and that   is why this illness, tragedy, stress, is coming upon us and our family.   Jesus promised us in John at the last supper that we would have trouble.   But He also promised us He had overcome the world.   He is always there and we never have to go through anything alone.   We are loved by God, and although He does punish us to keep us from harm, His love is always there to keep us close to Him. Thank Him today for always loving you.   We need to adore Him and thank Him for the little things as well as the big things. 20  Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”   2  And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide

June 25, 2024 – 1 Samuel 19:18-24 God protected David so many times and in so many creative ways.   Saul wouldn’t give up looking for David but should have realized he wouldn’t win when God’s hand was on David. Do you ever feel you are fighting a losing battle?   If you are on God’s side, the enemy will fight you hard to keep you from success.   If you are fighting God, know that you won’t win, so why not seek His favor?   I know there are times we wonder why God allows certain things to happen to us and our loved ones, but God never leaves us and is working for His best to be done.   He created us and knows the best outcome.   Join His team and work on the winning side.   It won’t be easy, but there’s something to be said for knowing You will be on the winning team. 18  Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived at Naioth.   19  And it was told Saul, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

June 24, 2024 – 1 Samuel 19:8-17 We see the short lived calm between Saul and David, but just the like children of Israel’s dedication to God over many years, Saul’s willingness to befriend David wouldn’t last.   Jealousy can cause so much hate.   It is a killer of relationships, peace, love and many times a killer of lives.   Do you find yourself jealous of others?   What can you do to be glad for others good fortune and not jealous?   Pray.   God wants to help you through times that are tough.   Pray for His faith and strength.   You were never intended to go through this life alone. 8  And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him.   9  Then a harmful spirit from the  Lord  came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre.   10  And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into

June 23, 2024 – 1 Samuel 19:1-7 We see in these verses that God is the one who unites hearts, ut we also know God is the only one we can always completely trust.   God did use Jonathan and his love and friendship with David to bring these two men together, but we know that it won’t last.   Do you find you rely on friendships more than on God?   Why do you think we sometimes go to our friends before we run to God?   God knows more, loves more and is more trustworthy than any other friend we could ever have.   Run to Him.   19  And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.   2  And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself.   3  And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.”   4 

June 22, 2024 – 1 Samuel 18:20-30 Again we see Saul behave in a deceptive manner toward David. He has promised his daughter as a bride to David. However, the bride price is pretty steep. David must bring Saul one hundred foreskins from the Philistine men. Saul is trying ‘to set Davd up for death as Saul continues to grow in fear of David. God allows David to be successful and Saul realizes that, once again, God has provided for David. May we always go to God and ask for protection and provision. May we equip ourselves with the truths found in His word and may we live to seek God’s will daily, trusting that His way is the perfect way and His timing is perfect.     20  Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.   21  Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.”   22  And Sa

June 21, 2024 – 1 Samuel 18:17-19 I am not sure I understand the deception I read about in this passage. I also know that I do not have to understand the deception. I simply need to let my yes be yes and my no be no. I do not want to engage in deception with anyone. May you avoid deception as well.   17  Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the  Lord 's battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”   18  And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”   19  But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

June 20, 2024 – 1 Samuel 18:10-16 This is another powerful passage. Saul clearly understands the relationship between David and God. He “stood in fearful awe of him.” (verse 15) God had blessed David in many ways. I sometimes watch God work in people’s lives in mighty ways and wonder, “Why not me, Lord?” I think the answer lies in my relationship with God. Do I seek Him daily? Do I act according to what His word is trying to teach me? Do I align myself with his truths? If you find yourself struggling in the same manner, commit your life to pursuing a closer relationship with God. 10  The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.   11  And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. 12  Saul was afraid of David because the  Lord  was with him but had departed from Saul.   13  So Saul removed him from

June 19, 2024 – 1 Samuel 18:6-9 Now we begin to see a bit of jealousy develop in Saul. Saul really struggles with the relationships David develops and the people’s affection for David. Jealousy is so dangerous. Examine your heart today, study the root of your jealousy and ask God to restore your heart and show you how to heal relationships damaged by jealousy. God will make a way. 6  As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.   7  And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands,      and David his ten thousands.” 8  And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?”   9  And Saul eyed David from that day o

June 18, 2024 – 1 Samuel 18:1-5 I love the friendship that David and Jonathan are destined to develop. David is loyal to his friend and Jonathan loves David so much that he protects David at all costs. Friendships such as this one are very hard to come by and yet God will bless us with strong friendships if we pray for Him to place people in our lives that will love Him and love us. I once had a job that I was not terribly pleased to have. Yet God gave me two of the strongest friendships a person could want during that difficult job. Never discount God and His plan. He clearly wants what is the very best for His children.   18  As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.   2  And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house.   3  Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.   4  And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe t

June 17, 2024 – 1 Samuel 17:53-58 Again this passage makes me smile. Here David once again has the opportunity to tell Saul he is the son of Jesse. This scripture allows us to know that mighty things will come from this young man as he part of the lineage of our savior, Jesus Christ. I love seeing how God’s plan unfolds as He leads us to follow his Son.   The linage of Christ is clearly laid out in the New Testament and we are seeing the development of God’s plan as we read through the Old Testament. Thank you, God, for providing glimpses of your plan unfold as we read your word daily. Thank you for guiding us daily and loving us unconditionally just as you did David. May we always seek your will for our lives and watch your beautiful plan for us unfold.   53  And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.   54  And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. 55  As soon

June 16, 2024 – 1 Samuel 17:50-52 David is victorious through the strength he received from God. The enemies flee even though they had initially said they would serve the Israelites if Goliath was killed by an Israelite. Not too surprising! My prayer today is one of thanksgiving for the protection God provides His children. I also pray that I will be bold in the face of my enemies and that I will call on God for His ceaseless provisions for me. May you desire to join me in a similar prayer.   50  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.   51  Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.   52  And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so

June 15, 2024 – 1 Samuel 17:48-49 Again David amazes me with his confidence. He runs TOWARD the enemies! I can’t think of a time that I have every run toward my enemies. How different my life could be if I had the confidence of this young, ruddy faced youth as I face my enemies. I will continue to pray that God grows my confidence in Him. Join me today as we ask God to prepare us for the battles we will face with our enemies.   48  When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.   49  And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.  

What is Prayer? How often do you tell someone you will pray for them and send off a quick prayer with few details because you know God already has the details, or maybe forget to pray for that situation altogether? Do you ever feel you don’t want to “burden” others with asking for them to pray for your needs because there are others who deserve prayer more or who are in a worse situation than you are?   I don’t know how others feel about prayer, but I believe it is a privilege to pray for others.   When someone shares a deep need or hurt they are experiencing, they are opening themselves up to you and counting on you to go to the Father on their behalf and spend time talking with Him about your need. Have we changed what prayer means in society today? In the dictionary prayer is defined as a devout petition to God or an object of worship; a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession. I want to look at what a