7 posts tagged “god's plan”

DAVID AND GOLIATH

6 days ago
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[38]

Read 1 Samuel 17

When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are … you came down only to watch the battle." "Now what have I done?" said David. "Can't I even speak?" He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter… 1 Samuel 17:28‑30

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One cannot help but smile in reading this interaction between the oldest and youngest of Jesse’s sons. God had already put it into David’s heart to lead Israel, though neither David nor his brother knew it yet. David would have to go through many trials before God gave him the throne as king, but he was anointed by Samuel while he was still a boy. Now, as he faces Goliath, it becomes obvious why God chose him. But God also had plans for David’s brother Eliab, just as he does for all of His people.

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Lord, I have no idea what you have planned in the future for my children. But my deepest desire is that they will follow You and love You with all of their hearts. As we faithfully ask You for wisdom to teach them; speak to their hearts and lead them to walk in Your perfect will.

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Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand …”

1 Samuel 17:45-46a NKJV

JESSE AND SONS

Jun 14, 2008
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[37]

Read 1 Samuel 16

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

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God had singled out the family of Jesse of Bethlehem from which to choose the next king. Samuel was sure that the oldest son Eliab was the chosen one. He was the oldest and was tall and handsome, as Saul had been. But God’s choice was the youngest son, David, who though ruddy and handsome himself, had a heart for God. David was in God’s plan before time began. His descendant would be our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the king the people of Israel would have been given in the first place, if they had just waited on God. God’s timing is always right, and his choices are based on what is inside the heart.

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Lord, help me to teach my children to look for qualities of character, rather than just outward appearance. Forgive me when I set a bad example in judging others by the way they look. Help me to wait patiently for Your plan for our lives, knowing that Your timing is perfect.

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He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." 1 Samuel 16:12 NIV

SAMSON

Jun 2, 2008
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[32]

Read Judges 13–16

Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines. Judges 15:20 NIV

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Israel’s history continued in the cycle of disobedience, judgment, and crying out for deliverance. Then, once again, the Lord would provide a judge to lead the nation to victory. Samson’s story is interesting, not because of his role as a judge, but because of his supernatural strength. He was a man with serious character flaws–who often behaved foolishly–yet God still used him to carry out His sovereign plan.

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Israel’s primary struggle was in the spiritual realm between the One True God and Dagon, the demonic idol the Philistines worshiped. God’s plan would prevail, in spite of Samson’s moral failures, and his tragic end brought victory for Israel against the Philistines.

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Lord, help me to remember that life is not all about me and mine. It’s also about Your plan for my church, neighborhood, community, country and the world. Give me an obedient heart so that my character will reflect your love for the world, not be conformed to it. May Your will be done "on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

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“I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth.” Psalm 135:5-6 NIV

HIS OWN PURPOSE

Apr 8, 2008
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RACHEL AND LEAH

Read Genesis 29:1–30:24

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Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” Genesis 29:25b NIV

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No one can read this account of Laban’s blatant deception without feeling sorry for Jacob and Rachel, and especially for Leah. Some would say Jacob deserved to be tricked, since he had done the same to Esau.

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But through it all, in spite of the actions of sinful men, God’s plan moved forward: Jesus came from the tribe of Leah’s son Judah, and God used Rachel’s son Joseph to save his people from extinction.

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Looking at this whole story in hindsight we can say with the apostle Paul, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began–" (Romans 8:28; 2 Timothy

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Lord, help me to think in terms of the big picture, even when I can’t understand why things happen the way they do. Grant me the faith to believe that You have a much larger purpose in it all, which will work for our good and Your glory, even for generations to come.

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… and when she (Leah) gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah … Then God remembered Rachel … She gave birth to a son and named him Joseph … Genesis 29:35; 30:22‑24a NIV

One Month Anniversary

Mar 29, 2008
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It is hard to believe that it has only been one month since I opened this Weblog. It has taken on something of a life of its own - causing me to feel that God is definitely leading in this endeavor.

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I started this blog by journaling some thoughts about how God has led in the past, particularly concerning ministry. As I said before, my experience is that God always answers prayer about ministry and usually rather quickly.

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This morning I walked around my neighborhood, plugged into my radio, listening to a discussion on spiritual gifts. I must admit that this subject has always fascinated me - I have taken numerous "spiritual gift tests" (which are usually personality tests slanted a little by the person or persons who wrote them.) They are fun though, so a while back I found myself thinking, once again, about what my gifts are and how I should be using them.

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In the very act of analyzing my strengths and weaknesses, I felt a strong conviction from the Lord. I needed to stop looking inward and just wait on Him. God has a plan now, just as He has always had a plan, to use me for His purposes and glory. I needed to stop panicking about the shortness of life and the urgency to be useful. God has, you see, given us all the time we need to do His perfect will.

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That strong word from the Lord to my heart resulted in waiting - not idly - for Him to show me what He wanted me to do. In the meantime, I continued to spend extended time in the Word and in prayer, writing in my journal and even taking a step toward a couple of ministry possibilities that both resulted in a closed door.

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August 19, 2007 just seven months ago, I wrote in my journal: "I think my next Bible study goal will be to write a through-the-Bible devotional." As I look back at my journal entries I see that the Lord was putting into my heart a desire to write for publication, after ten years of setting it aside.

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During those years, I read and marked eight Bibles for my adult children and their spouses, giving them as gifts. Now the logical next step was to write devotionals based on the applications of Scripture relevant to each of them - male, female, single, married, with children, with teenagers, etc. - and to me at the various stages when I was marking those Bibles.

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So----I began to write, and I couldn't write as fast as the words were coming. This might not seem so unusual for a writer, but considering the length of time since I had set writing aside, it felt like the Lord was carrying me along, and I was almost sitting back mentally and watching what He was going to do with this. In a rather short time, I had the rough drafts for almost 200 short devotionals from Genesis through Acts.

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Sept 18, 2007 I wrote, "Would it be beneficial to contact the writer's group here in Town? Should I attend the Writer's conference? Give me direction in this, Lord."

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September 28-29 I attended the San Diego Christian Writer's Conference. I wrote in my journal, "a lovely black woman at the snack table turned to me and said, 'If God is in it, consider it already done.' Then she just walked away."

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I wrote also a quote from The Message, "Walk - better yet, run - on the road God called you to travel . . . not in fits and starts, but steadily pouring yourself out." Ephesians 4:1-2 TM "From now on," I resolved, "I am going to give serious time to writing my book. "

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December 5, 2007 I wrote, "Last night I attended our writer's group. I was encouraged to come up with a working title. For now it is THE GOD WHO SEES ME - A Devotional Prayer Journal."

. . . A quote from 1 Timothy: "Do not neglect the gift that is in you ... meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them ... continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." 1 Timothy 4:14-16

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Well, this is already getting a little long to be posted on my blog, I will write more next time on how God has continued to work in 2008 up to the present.

STORY OF PURIM - MORDECAI

Mar 22, 2008
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Read Esther 5–10

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That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him…."What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?" the king asked. Esther 6:1, 3

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The book of Esther contains some similarities to the story of Joseph in Egypt. Esther and her guardian, Mordecai, were captives in Persia, and like Joseph, God’s providence brought them into favor with the King. Esther was crowned Queen - and Mordecai, in the end, was second only to King Ahasuerus. He …was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen. (10:3b NKJV)

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Mordecai ‘just happened’ to hear about a conspiracy against King Ahasuerus in time to warn Esther, and the king ‘just happened’ to awaken in the middle of the night–calling for the record that Mordecai had saved his life–just in time to foil the conspiracy by Haman to annihilate the Jews. (Esther 6-7)

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The truth is that nothing ‘just happens’ to God's people. If we truly believe this, we will live with the confidence that God works out everything according to His good plan. Lord, remind me when I forget, that I will never be sorry for trusting in You.

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"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, "thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29

THE STORY OF PURIM - ESTHER

Mar 22, 2008
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Read Esther Chapters 1–4

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Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah… This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. Esther 2:7

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Esther's story takes place when the Jews were captives in Persia. She was gathered up with many other beautiful young women into the harem of King Ahasuerus, and then chosen to be the queen. Her cousin, Mordecai had instructed her to be silent about her Jewish heritage, but then came her time of decision: Her people were in grave danger, and only she could approach the king to save them. After calling for a fast, she said, "I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." (4:16b) Esther could have never imagined, as she was being carried off into captivity that she would become Queen of Persia and the rescuer of her people. She couldn't see into the future, and neither can we. But we can trust Esther's God to use us for His glory.

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Lord, just as You had a plan for Esther, I know You have a plan for me and for each member of my family. Help us to trust and obey Your leading, knowing that you are in control of the events of our lives.

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“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14 NIV