A David or a Saul?

Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him. ~ I Samuel 26:5

Let me give you a little bit of background. Saul is chasing after David in order to take his life. Saul found out David was in the desert and came with an army of 3,000 men to kill him. David found out that Saul was coming, but did not leave the desert. Instead, he goes with two other men, to the camp of Saul.

When I first read the verse, two things caught my eye. First, that David went to Saul's camp and second, that Saul was sleeping in the middle of his army. As I read this more I realized why this image is so fascinating to me. One is the image of a Christian walking in a confidence that comes only with faith in God, while the other is the image of a non-Christian walking in fear.

Let's look at Saul. He is King. Ruler of many. And yet he is obviously fearful of just one man. He comes all the way out into the desert to kill David. I love the picture of Saul sleeping in the very center of this circle of 3,000 hardened soldiers. He was afraid and tried to surround himself with what he thought would protect him. For Saul it was soldiers, for you it might be walls you've put up around your heart to keep people out. A facade that you show others so you don't have to reveal yourself or make yourself vulnerable. Does it help? In Saul's case it didn't. David and one man, Abishai, who came with him, manage to get close enough to be in a position to kill Saul without waking any of the 3,000 soldiers! These barriers we set up for ourselves are human. They are faulty.

David, on the other hand, is an anointed man of God, a man after God's own heart. Can you imagine knowing the man who wishes you dead, the man who has already attempted to kill you several times, coming to get you and you not only stay where you are, but come to him? David didn't leave the desert when he could have. He could easily have fled. He knew Saul was coming, but he stayed. Not only did he stay, but he took two men with him and went near to the camp of Saul. He has no fear! He knows that God has a plan and a destiny for his life. Later on in his life David writes "The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1) Why should he fear? The Lord is his light, his salvation, and his stronghold! This is the image of a believer walking in faith. I can only pray that someday I will come to a point that I won't flee from my enemy, let alone approach his camp of over 3,000 men with just myself and two others!

In my own life I recognize that I am often tempted to sleep in the midst of a great army. But God called me out of fear and into His Glorious Light! (1 Peter 2:9) I'm to be confident in Him! It's a tough step to take. To walk to the edge of your walls and barriers, to the very outside perimeter of your army, and step out of that circle. It feels like you are stepping out of safety. Out of what is keeping you secure. But don't be fooled! We don't need earthly protection!

"They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. ~ Jeremiah 1:19

So who will you be today? A David or a Saul?

Let the Little Children Come to Me

"When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Mark 10:14

This past Sunday during the worship service I got such a wonderful image from God. I saw a picture of myself as a young two year old. I was running along a path trying to do everything on my own. I came to a crack in the sidewalk, tripped and fell. I came to an obstacle in my path that I couldn't get over and just sat and cried. At that moment I heard the gentle whisper of my Father saying, "Let me take your hands." As I lifted my hands in worship, this image continued of a little children reaching her hands up to her father.

There is a wonderful man of God in our church with an absolutely adorable daughter. I pictured each time she runs to her daddy and lifts her hands up. Each time she does this he lifts her into his arms. God put this image in my mind to remind me that He is my daddy. In times where I am lost, I stumble, I come to an obstacle I can't overcome on my own, my Daddy lifts me into his arms and helps me over it. Just as this father in my church would never allow his daughter to fall into harm, my Daddy won't let me fall into harm. As long as I keep my hand in His, I will walk steady.

Have you ever seen a young toddler learn to walk? They are clumsy. They may make it a few wobbly steps before they fall, but they are quite obviously not steady on their feet. But these same children, while holding the hand of their parents, become more steady. Their steps are more sure and they are more confident because they know who holds their hand. They have faith and trust in their parent that nothing is going to happen to them as long as they are holding on.

God is my Father. He doesn't want me to stumble and struggle. He is simply waiting for me to put my hand in His and trust Him to see me safely to my destination.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." This is how Paul said it in Philippians 3:12 and I couldn't say it better myself! I certainly do not have this figured out. There is so much further for me to go before I can leave my hand in His without trying to pull away and go my own way, but I recognize my lacking and am trusting God to help me overcome.

God has broken so many shackles in my life I know it is only a matter of time, prayer, faith, and seeking before this too is broken in my life! But I will not give up. I will continue to press on!

He is holding out His hand to you today. Will you take it?

"Good morning, my child!"

It's been quite a while since my last post. As I was listening to my worship music this evening and crying out to God in prayer I found myself longing to write again. I'm not entirely sure what will come out of this, but I felt God's leading to just start writing so I'm trusting Him to get a point across!

I'm student teaching this semester which has been an awesome blessing! My students are so wonderful! One of the things this opportunity has given me a chance to see is the sunrise each morning. To some people, as with many of my friends, that sounds like a horrible thing! If you're up in time to see the sunrise you're up pretty early. I must admit that crossed my mind at first, but then I got into getting up in time to see it and my perspective changed entirely. The colors are so beautiful! Each morning the sunrise is unique. It's like a wonderful watercolor painted each day just for us.

One morning it just dawned on me that this is God's way of saying good morning! Each day He greets me with the beauty of his creation and I have the opportunity to see it! Since that morning I've had a new take on the sunrise. Each time I see the colors begin the cross the sky I praise God for his beauty and faithfulness. It has become a symbol for me that He got me up that morning and He is right there with me. As I go in to teach each day, sometimes well prepared and sometimes struggling to get it together, I know I don't have to worry because my God is watching over me!

I encourage to wake up to see the sunrise one day. Take that calm before your day begins and feel the peace that covers the earth at that time in the morning. God is truly in those moments in a very tangible way. Before the day gets hectic and frantic with lists and lists of things to get done, God says, "Good morning, my child." Take that moment to respond to Him. Take that time to read his Word and really listen to what He has to say to you. Take that time to talk to Him. Tell Him your fears and worries, your praises, your concerns, your joys, your life. He loves you and wants to hear what you have to say.

"One thing I ask of the Lord and I would seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in his temple." ~Psalm 27:4