1 Samuel 20-21

And the saga continues... Saul still wants David dead. And David keeps running. Jonathan, Saul's son, is a loyal and faithful friend to David. Keeping him safe, lying to his father on his friends behalf, and doing everything he can to keep David alive. As David runs he lies and acts like a madman; "making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard." HA.
I like this story.
God is good.

1 Samuel 18-19

Saul is insanely jealous of David. David has more success in battle, he is loved by more people, and he keeps on getting more and more famous. So what does Saul try to do? Kill him. Actually pin him to the wall with a spear. But David always gets away "because the Lord was with him."
One thing I don't get is why whenever Saul does try to kill David "an evil spirit from the Lord [comes] on Saul." What is up with that?
In the last part of ch.19 David escapes and goes to be with Samuel. Everyone that Saul sends to kill David, and eventually himself ends of prophesying... Why?

1 Samuel 17

David and Goliath. We all know the story - little servant boy David defeats giant solider Goliath with a sling and a stone [and then cuts off his head!]

"David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with a sword and a spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." verse 45.

David is so confident in the Lord. I mean why shouldn't he be? What is the Goliath in my life....?

[still feeling rather sick. ugh. praying for health.]

1 Samuel 15-16

So Saul is pretty much going downhill. He disobeys the Lord and Samuel is pissed! "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams..." 15:22
The Lord is displeased as well, "And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel." 15:35. I don't really understand how the Lord regrets through... That doesn't make sense to me.
For the rest of his days Samuel never sees Saul again. In chapter 16 he anoints David "and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came on David in power." 16:13 And then David goes to work for Saul as his armor-bearer...

1 Samuel 12- 14

All about Saul. His reign as king. His relationship with his soldiers, the Philistines, his son, Samuel, and God. His battles.
"All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines..." 14:52

I still don't really understand because even though Samuel says "You will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king" 12:17. but the Lord still helps Saul out "So on that day the Lord saved Israel..." 14:23. Why would the Lord have mercy on a king that he never wanted to be over Israel in the first place? Why would the Lord ever show him favor? Maybe he didn't? Maybe he did... I don't know...

1 Samuel 9-11

This is the account of Saul becoming leader over Israel. I'm a little confused because it seems like Saul is a king for the Lord but still God is angry that Israel needed a king...

Today I'm thankful for:
84. Jackson being so stinkin cute
85. that he listens to me so very well. i'm always impressed
86. that I am able to bless people by watching their many small children. I pray I always do it unselfishly.
87. coffee in the morning.
88. talks in the car with my husband. honest. true. humorous. real. lovely. everything I ever wanted.
89. the blessing of a free meal. thank you Alexander's for paying for our Valentine's day meal.
90. being able to bless someone with a free meal at Chic-fil-a
91. the challenges we've been given at church - that's what it's all about
92. that Manny made his 2 points yesterday at the basketball game!
93. for one man's maturity and integrity in a hand shake despite of the other man's immaturity
94. being able to buy new shoes.
95. clocks that only cost $3.99
96. that my husband cares about how our home looks
97. sweet four year olds that just want to be read to
98. true friends
99. lots and lots and lots of small children running around & full of joy at the Valentine's Day Party
100. good food, friends, and fellowship :)
101. for love - more than all the words ever written in every book in the entire universe
102. for love - that loves everyday
103. for a God that LOVED me so much that he sent his one and only Son to come die on a cross and save me for my sin.
104. for love - more love from my Saviour than I will EVER even comprehend

1 Samuel 7 & 8

I don't know if I find it comforting or sad... They way that God's people (myself included) always seem to turn their back on the God that delivers them. Over and over again in the Old Testament and in my life and in pretty much everyone's life we see God's faithfulness, righteouness, perfect plan, etc in our life "stand in awe and worship" and then two day, two weeks, two months, two years, whatever we forget that and want to be part of the world. Israel begged Samuel for a king - "We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." 8:19-20. But you kno who was it that led you against the Philistines at Mizpah? O I don't know maybe...Samuel & GOD.
But I think about it. Maybe all this forgetfulness is recorded in this here Bible so that we don't forget. So that we can learn from this nation of Israel that so easily forgets. Maybe when we see their forgetfulness we'll stop being forgetful ourselves... I pray that is true...

1 Samuel 4-6

These chapters talk a lot about the Ark of the Covenant. After defeating the Israelites in battle the Philitines capture the Ark and bring it to three different city having to move it often because the Lord gives the people tumors in each of the Philistine cities. [Tumors, ha. One part said tumors of the groin. Lord, interesting choice...] Eventually they give the Ark back! And then even when it's back on Israelite territory God kills 70 people for looking inside!
I question what this means? Why? Was God just displaying His power and might? Creating that fear? I mean my guess is as good as the next...
God show me what this means & how I can apply it my life. Let me be changed by your word.

1 Samuel 2:12-36 - 3

So to God is going to punish the House of Eli. Eli's sons have blasphemed God and God shows Samuel just how how he's pretty much going to destroy Eli's whole family. When Samuel tells Eli he just says, "He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes." verse 3:18.

What an incredible statement. He is Lord. Let Him do what is good in his eyes. He is Lord. Let Him do what is good in his eyes. He is Lord. Let Him do what is good in his eyes. Amen.

1 Samuel 1 & 2:1-11

Hannah, barren, prays, gives birth to Samuel.

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there." verse 27-28

Wow. I pray I have the selflessness of Hannah with my children some day. She was so grieved, so deeply troubled without a child and one God gives her one...She gives it back!!! What an incredible picture of a mother with her child. I pray that as a mother I can be like Hannah... I don't have a CLUE what that means. But goodness, that is so incredible!!!

Galations 5 & 6

Lots of great Scripture here. (not that it all isn't great) but for real.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." 5:1

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ, you have fallen away from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." 5:4-6

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love you neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, walk by the Spirit and you will no gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." 5: 13- 18

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." 5:22-25

"Brother and sisters, if someone is caught in sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted." 6:1

"People reap what they sow. Those who sow to please their sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; those who sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers." 6:7-10

Amen.

Galatians 3 & 4

Paul is pretty much frustrated with the church at Galatia. They keep turning back to the law.
"The law was put in charge of us until Christ came that we might be justified by faith."
"God sent the Spirit to his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls our, Abba, Father. So you are no longer slaves, but God's children, and since you are his children, he has made you also heirs."
So much changed when Christ came. I can imagine it was pretty hard for people who spent their whole lives learning the law so just put it down and follow Christ. But that's exactly what Christ calls us to do. "Pick up your cross and follow me." Can't really carry the books of the law if you are trying to carry a cross. [just ask the guys at church who move the communion cross every week!] I don't think I really try to carry the law... What do I try to carry? The Book of Kim {selfishness}... That sounds about right... But there is so much to live for when I'm not living for myself.

Lord, I pray that everyday I pick up my cross and follow You. Not even attempting to pick up "my book" or anything else...

Galatians 2

Paul continues to describe the early years of Christianity; where he went, who he saw, and the issues between the Jews and the Gentiles. At the end of the chapter he says:

"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for it righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Thank you God, for the freedom we have in Christ!

Starting a New Testament Book- Galatians 1
God, use this book to teach me something new about You. Open my eyes to Your Word. Make it new to me. Allow me to see what You want me to.

This first chapter of Galatians is Paul talking about how he was called by God. "God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was pleased to reveal his Son to me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles."
I think about how I would feel if someone who hated Christians all the sudden started preaching... It would be pretty hard to accept that teaching I think, but what did they do?
"They only heard they report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they praised God because of me."
How cool is that? They just praised God. That's it. Praised God.

In everything I do on this day, let me Praise God.