My family and I have been reading through the Older Testatment's main story line (Genesis, first part of Exodus, Numbers, parts of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah).
We are currently in 1 Samuel, where the author seems to be proving that David is the rightful king of Israel and not Saul. Saul = no heart for God. David = heart for God.
Anyways, Saul, unbeknownst to him, is living out the string. In 1 Sam 28, Saul can't get a response from God as to if he would succeed in defeating the Philistines. God is silent: no dreams, the Urim is broken and the prophets have lost their voices, or something like that. And Saul is rattled. I think all of us would hate to experience a God’s silence.
So Saul goes undercover to a woman who is a medium to conjure up poor Samuel. Saul is stunned to find out that tomorrow he and his sons will be dead. End of a dynasty. One-hit wonder. I wonder if Saul wishes that he didn’t know what he just found out?
All this got me wondering. Was God, even in His judgment of Saul, being gracious in His silence? Please don’t draw any comparisons, but are there times when I don’t recognize God’s grace in my life? Oh my….
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Operation World
Get it.
Read it.
Pray it.
Operation World: The definitive prayer guide to every nation.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Quantity vs. Quality of Life
This devotional was written by a Nigerian friend of mine. Thank you Lord for Your diverse body!
It is good to live a long life here on earth; however, it is by far better to live a quality life even if the life span turns out to be very brief. Living for the purpose God created you for is the only path to a quality life. It is sad that some of us in our 30's, 40's, 50's and even 60's are still confused about our purpose on earth and continue to pursue with vigor education, work, sports, fame, politics, power, money, pleasure, etc more than what God made us for. We do all these things but still come out empty. John the Baptist died at the age of 31 having completed his purpose of preparing the way for the Messiah; Jesus Christ died at the age of 33 having completed the work of our salvation; Paul died at an old age having "fought the good fight and finished the race..." If your life was to be terminated today will you have the confidence to declare that you have accomplished the purpose for which God made you? Remember: education, work, sports, fame, politics, power, money, pleasure, etc will not count. Have you discovered why you are here and are you devoted to that course? Or are you being distracted by other things and cannot focus on your calling and you are 30, 40, 50, 60 or even 70 years of wasted life? Don't go one more day without finding out your purpose from God's Word and committing yourself to it.
Lord help us...
It is good to live a long life here on earth; however, it is by far better to live a quality life even if the life span turns out to be very brief. Living for the purpose God created you for is the only path to a quality life. It is sad that some of us in our 30's, 40's, 50's and even 60's are still confused about our purpose on earth and continue to pursue with vigor education, work, sports, fame, politics, power, money, pleasure, etc more than what God made us for. We do all these things but still come out empty. John the Baptist died at the age of 31 having completed his purpose of preparing the way for the Messiah; Jesus Christ died at the age of 33 having completed the work of our salvation; Paul died at an old age having "fought the good fight and finished the race..." If your life was to be terminated today will you have the confidence to declare that you have accomplished the purpose for which God made you? Remember: education, work, sports, fame, politics, power, money, pleasure, etc will not count. Have you discovered why you are here and are you devoted to that course? Or are you being distracted by other things and cannot focus on your calling and you are 30, 40, 50, 60 or even 70 years of wasted life? Don't go one more day without finding out your purpose from God's Word and committing yourself to it.
Lord help us...
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