I’m hiding. I have been ever since I got some bad news about a medical condition. Not earth shattering or anything, just not what I wanted to hear. For the last few weeks I haven’t been up to much other than work and home. I had a few banner days with my kiddos, but other that I kinda shut down.
I think it ‘s natural when you get bad news. My first response is to reject it. I don’t want to hear it. I deny it. That lasted for a few weeks. Then I finally caved and went and took the test the Dr. asked me too. I didn’t like what he had to say. So I rejected his orders to go take another test.
I don’t want to. I don’t even want to think about what could happen. I am not good with the “what ifs”. Better just to ignore it. So I did. Well, that lasted another 2 weeks. I finally caved and have to go in for another test in 2 more weeks. Uggh – this getting older sucks sometimes!
I know God can heal and will heal – but can He hurry up about it? I really don’t like this waiting and trusting stuff. It’s very uncomfortable. Probably my lesson I guess. Yeah, I get it. But I still don’t like it.
My Pastor even preached about how ‘we have not because we ask not’. He shared how we need to tell each other what we are going through. I about fell out of my chair! Seriously Lord, who told him? I know I was praying about it, but in my pride, I didn’t want to tell anybody what I was struggling with. And here comes Holy Spirit, lol! God cracks me up sometimes. After the sermon, I gathered my ‘girl tribe’ and told them what was going on so they could pray. I told my kids that day too…this life stuff is so humbling at times.
So in my hiding spot I looked at other people who hid in the Bible:
Elisha went to hide and God met him there:
And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”” So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” – 1 Kings 19:9-10 NKJV
Elizabeth went to hide after the Lord met with her husband and God restored her womb:
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” – Luke 1:21-25 NKJV
Jesus went to hide himself to hear from God the Father and pray
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. – John 12:36 NKJV
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a Solitary place; and there He prayed. – Mark 1:35
So hey, maybe this hiding thing is a good thing. I can meet God right here in the middle of my mess. I’ll make God my hiding place and get through this dumb stuff.
We all have seasons in our lives. Spring is great, everything is growing and turning green. Winter just sucks in my book. I am not a snowbird. I don’t like cold. Everything is buried and dormant. Winter is a hard season – both in the natural and in the spiritual.
We have seasons in our faith walk too. There are times of growth where wer feel like we are on fire, and then other times when it seems like absolutely nothing is happening. This is normal.
We can’t base our faith on how we feel.
God is faithful and He promised never to leave us or forsake us.
So guess what? God is there whether we “feel” Him or not!
I love that! My feelings are pretty fickle. They come and go and change from day to day. Some days they just don’t make sense. I mean, I know God is with me and for me, but some days I feel like I fell off the turnip truck and missed my ride.
Those are the times, the dry seaosons, that I need to read the Word more and look for myself what God really says about preparing us for great things. His plans for us are so much better than what we could have dreamed up ourselves.
God’s Word for You:
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” – Phillipians 1:6 NKJV
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NKJV
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lordis my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”” – Lamentations 3:22-24 NKJV
“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 29:11 NKJV
It has been three years since I wrote or recorded a new song. Not sure why. Guess I just got stuck there for a while. Just working, living life, whatever. You know, life is what happens when you have other plans, lol! Anyway, the dam has burst open, and those living waters are flowing again! Here is. My latest song. Chords and melody yet to be determined. Might change it, you know, it’s a work in progress – just like me.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” – Isaiah 49:15-16 NKJV
You Called My Name
-Copyright 2018 Diana Rasmussen-
You call me out of darkness, Into your marvelous light
Created to reflect your glory, holy, blessed and bright
You call me free and forgiven, I hear the falling chains
I thought I was dead, but now walk out of my grave
The moment you called my name
I see it on your palms engraved
My heart will never be the same since
The moment you called my name
Your anointing breaks the yoke, I’m no longer a slave to sin
With the weight of your Glory, spirit and freedom reigns
This study comes from my husband, Bob Rasmussen. He wrote it to share with our small group gathering.
“Seeding Your Harvest”
Recently, we received a Word from the Lord on a Sunday, and one of those was that there is a new season upon us.
I thought about that a lot, a new season. Living in Wisconsin I naturally thought about growing season. We see fields that require tilling, planting, fertilizing, growth and harvest – – I thought how does that apply to us?
I know the Bible speaks of the harvest and the main scripture that comes to mind for me is:
Matthew 9:36-38
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
That scripture is familiar to me, but I started thinking what about the harvest in our own lives? I have always heard the “you reap what you sow” it seems like forever. To me that phrase is full of wisdom but can be negative or even scary.
If we look at the scripture in Galations 6:7-9
Galatians 6:7-9 King James Version (KJV)
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Sometimes, I like to look at translations and commentaries for others for clarity of the Word, and in doing so I found this from J.B. Phillips
The inevitability of life’s harvest
7-10 Don’t be under any illusion: you cannot make a fool of God! A man’s harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows. If he sows for his own lower nature his harvest will be the decay and death of his own nature. But if he sows for the Spirit he will reap the harvest of everlasting life by that Spirit. Let us not grow tired of doing good, for, unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured. Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household.
As we think upon these things, I believe that every season we are in has a harvest, because we are alive, there is no winter – – He makes us alive! Even in our last season, the harvest of our life is salvation and eternal life, so every season from when we are born until we go home has a harvest!
The bible is clear there are seasons:
from e-bay.com
Ecclesiastes 3 King James Version (KJV)
3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
“And enjoy the good of his labour” is what I want to focus on, specifically how it relates to Phillips “But if he sows for the Spirit he will reap the harvest of everlasting life by that Spirit.”
Circling back to the whole idea of a season being about growing, it comes down to the basics of growing. There is one requirement for any harvest of a crop – only one – seed. If there is no seed, there is no harvest. You can have sun, soil, rain, fertilizer but without seed – you have nothing.
In this new season that God has before us, I think we are tasked with planting the seed for the harvest of the season. But what does that even mean? How do we plant seeds in our lives to get a harvest? And where and how do you plant these seeds?
Before we go any further, what does it even mean to sow a seed?
According to dictionary.com
SOW
verb (used with object), sowed, sown or sowed, sowing.
to scatter (seed) over land, earth, etc., for growth; plant.
to plant seed for: to sow a crop.
to scatter seed over (land, earth, etc.) for the purpose of growth.
to implant, introduce, or promulgate; seek to propagate or extend; disseminate:
to sow distrust or dissension.
to strew or sprinkle with anything.
I think for us the best definition is “for the purpose of growth” – that is His plan. Jesus wants us to grow with Him, in Him, and through Him.
Jeremiah 29:11 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 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.
However, I also think to “strew or sprinkle with anything” is something that should keep us vigilant. Like it or not, we are not the only ones that will plant seeds in our lives. We live in a fallen world, and whether it be the enemy, life in general, or more painfully, those in our own lives, they all can throw seed our way (or in our way).
Betrayal of a friendship, the death of a loved one, an untruth spoken against you, a marriage lost, health issues, or even a child lost – we did not plant these seeds. These are not good seeds – we did not put them there, but we cannot deny that they exist in ours field — which I mean is our heart. Perhaps there has been a time where we were just disappointed and that feeling we continue to carry throughout our season, and that hinders our harvest. Maybe, someone said something so hurtful or did something so painful to us that it continues to bubble up in our soul clouding our relationship with Jesus. What are we supposed to do with these seeds?
The answer that keeps coming back to me is plant more seed. Seeds of love, seeds of joy, seeds of forgiveness, seeds of God’s promises, seeds of hope. Being complacent we will not achieve victory – dwelling on that negative seed will bring harvest, but not a fruitful harvest. We need to seed our hearts with His Word, His Promises, and His Will. Ask, and He will guide us. Any seed planted by us will be greater than the seed thrown at us!
Going back to Galatians
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Application Lesson:
You will need a glass or pitcher of water, yellow and blue food coloring.
Sometimes for me, I need to see a practical example of scripture to help solidify a thought. So for a practical application I have water here representing our collective field (our heart) in our season. I would like you to add one drop of yellow food color for a seed that you have not planted – the painful or unwanted seed. You can speak it out or not.
Now, speaking to the negative seed that you brought up, I would like you to add one drop of blue food color for the seed of seed of LIFE you want to plant into your season.
As you can see, that water is now green – representing a full harvest, and that seems to be what God is talking us about. That for every bad seed, the righteous and good seed that we plant is what will be what we reap – His Word declares it, so it must be true. Stand strong knowing that He has great plans for us! Be consistent and persistent in sowing the seed throughout all your seasons and He will bless all that we do – He wants us all to have great harvest.
Final thought
“Seeds dominate the earth. Earth does not dominate seed. You can plant seed into the earth, you can bury it in a dirt grave, but it, the seed will resurrect. The seed has dominion over the earth. It, the seed, will overcome what tries to bury it. The seed will break out, what is sown, will come forth. No matter how much dirt or fertilizer is thrown on you, it’ll just help grow your seed.” – Bev Tucker, Life Church
-Special Acknowledgement to Kevin Kringel for inspiration
Life can be a storm sometimes. Sometimes it seems like storms come for no good reason. Life doesn’t always make sense. I have had one of those months. I had the flu and was out of work for 4 days. One of my kids was in an accident due to the winter road conditions and my truck got totaled. They were ok, thank God. God protects His kids, that’s for sure. But not the vehicle. Total loss is what they said. The GAP insurance I thought I had didn’t carry over when we changed insurance companies. Ouch. And hey, I just got a bill for the telephone pole that was broken in half, ugh… it’s been a month.
These are the times I have to stand strong and believe that God is with me during the storm, in the waves of trouble and turbulence. Just stand Diana, God knows, God sees, and He will make a way where there seems to be no way. One of my friends made a generous offer for us to buy her deceased husband’s truck. A man I played music with for over 10 years. She is such a blessing to me. My best friend, I love her.
These are the days I have to trust God and believe what He says, even if I don’t see it yet. Guess it’s time to use this faith muscle I have and trust God. I struggle with trust. I have been betrayed, cheated on, rejected…we all have. Trust is a choice. I have chosen to trust the wrong people in my past. I was so naive. I trusted everyone and got hurt. Time and wisdom teaches you to test the spirits. Not everyone should be trusted. There are a lot of liars out there.
But what about God? Truthfully, I am still learning to trust Him. It’s new. He is faithful, that is new. He is honest, that is new. He is truthful, that is new. Yeah, kinda blows my mind sometimes! I am learning to stand on His Word, just cause He said it.
What about you? How do you learn to trust God and stand strong?
Bible Verses About Standing Strong
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” -1 Peter 5:5-11 NKJV
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NJKV
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV
“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” – Philippians 4:1 NKJV
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:19-25 NKJV
“But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
You may be like me. Feeling like a grain of sand of the beach. Buried in all the other grains of sand on the beach – feeling like a Nobody. But can I tell you, that is not who you are. God made you a Somebody. You matter. You have a purpose and a plan in this life.
Enlarge your vision. Like a pebble that makes waves when it hits the water, you are making a difference in the lives of those you touch. You matter. You were born for such a time as this. Your story is not over, God is not finished with you yet.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey of becoming. Your were made to give light and love to all you meet. You carry in you the hope of glory. You are a special treasure and the apple of God’s eye. Rest in who He says you are – beloved, treasured, loved, and chosen.
Be thankful. Sometimes easier said then done. Yet I have found when I purpose in my heart to be thankful the atmosphere changes. My focus changes, my heart changes, and my mood changes.
I must admit the first thought in my head may not be the most positive thing. I think the Enemy knows that and when I’m not quite up yet, the self condemning thoughts try to start. I won’t repeat them, just know that they are not good.
I have found the secret to get the bad thoughts to stop – start thanking God. It doesn’t matter for what – anything.
“Thank You Lord for a new day. ”
“Thank You Lord for keeping me and my family safe.”
“Thank You Lord for your grace and mercy.”
These are just a few of my ‘go to’ thank yous. And instantly the condemning thoughts stop!
I don’t think the Enemy can live in the place of praise!
pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 NKJV
Thankfulness changes the atmosphere and stops negative thoughts!
One of the best posts ever about praise and worship. Thank you Pure Glory!
”We have so many programs, that sometimes, we’ve programmed God completely out of the equation. We have allowed the spirit of the world to come in, in lieu of the Spirit of the Lord. Competing against one another, idolizing one another, coming to be entertained, but not changed.”
Why does forgiveness matter? We have all been hurt and betrayed by someone. You can’t make it through life on planet Earth without a few scars.
But what do you do with that pain? In my experience you can live there and become bitter or you can use it as a life lesson and forgive. Real freedom comes when you choose to forgive even when someone doesn’t even say they are sorry.
Forgiveness does not mean that what they did was right. Forgiveness means that you trust God to deal with them.
(All pictures from Pinterest)
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We live in perilous times. Anger and evil are rising. There are so many psychos out there taking innocent lives. It can be sobering. We feel so out of control as evil people kill innocent victims. There is no reason. They are psycho. But how can we react in times of chaos and senseless violence? How do we overcome our anxiety in these days of shootings?
6 Ways to Overcome Anxiety in the Chaos of Mass Shootings
1. There is good and there is evil in this world. There will be chaos and confustion. God told us ahead of time. These are the beginning of sorrows. We are in the last days.
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will bethe sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for allthese things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences,and earthquakes in various places.All these are the beginning of sorrows.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.But he who endures to the end shall be saved.And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” -Matthew 24:3-14 NKJV
2. Whether we live or whether we die we belong to the Lord. Trust him with whatever happens next.
For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. – Romans 14:8-9 NKJV
3. Have faith that God will get you through these last days. Jesus has faith in you and your family and He will be with you here and in Heaven. This world is not our home. We were made for eternity and to live with Jesus in Heaven.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.In My Father’s house are many mansions;if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:1-6 NKJV
4. Our days are numbered in the Book of Life. Trust God that He knows when we are coming home to live with Him. He has put eternity in our hearts. We are citizens of Heaven just trying to make it through this world. We are only passing through. This is not the end, just the beginning.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[b] Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. – Psalm 139: 13-16 NKJV
5. Limit your news time and phone time. Whatever you feed will grow. I know people who watch every news story and read every article out there. They feed their fear. The more you feed it the bigger it will grow. Instead, feed your faith. Read the Word, pray, meet with other believers. Strengthen yourself in the most holy faith.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what isthat good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – Romans 12:1-2 NKJV
6. In uncertain times, remind yourself of one thing that stays the same – God and His love for you. God is faithful. God is true. God will never leave you. God is true. God loves you now and forever. He will lead the way when it is time to leave this world and join Him in Heaven. Trust Him.
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV
Sometimes I wake up really early. Not by choice, my time clock just goes off. So what is a girl to do at 4:30 am? I don’t want to turn the TV on and wake up everyone in the house. So usually I read. I meet with God and read His word to get some peace and direction for the day. Call me weird I guess. I know not everyone does this, that’s ok. It’s what I do to learn more about God and His ways.
So, the other morning I am in 2nd Samuel. Not like I knew where to go, it was the verse of the day in BibleGateway.com. I like that app. Sometimes I’ll read a new version to get spice things up a bit. So I went to the Message version. Remember, it’s 4:30 in the morning. Idk if I would get the King James Version that early. The coffee has just started flowing!
It’s a story about David and how he was looking for someone to bless. He asked if there was anyone in Saul’s house he could bless. Yeah, Saul, the dude who tried to kill him. And yes, Saul had a son. So David blessed him. He asked him to come on over to the palace and move in. He asked him to come and eat with him everyday from that day forward.
The Old Testament is like a shadow. To me this story of David is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to bless even your enemies and your enemies children. They are invited to the table. No wonder God says to bless your enemies and return good for evil. David was honoring Jonathan in this.
GOD is so good He is looking for someone to bless!
This also tells me that God will hunt down your children and bless them, just because you have chosen to follow God and His ways. I have seen it in my life. Our children are blessed. Our children are provided for and have many opportunities that only the King of King could have provided!
You are invited to the table my friend, warts and lameness and all. God wants to bless you and show you His loving kindness. It’s not about us and what we do or don’t do. It’s His nature, ots who He is, He is Blessing!
Come and eat!
God’s Word For You:
An Open Table for Mephibosheth
“One day David asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family? If so, I’d like to show him some kindness in honor of Jonathan.”
It happened that a servant from Saul’s household named Ziba was there. They called him into David’s presence. The king asked him, “Are you Ziba?”
“Yes sir,” he replied.
The king asked, “Is there anyone left from the family of Saul to whom I can show some godly kindness?”
Ziba told the king, “Yes, there is Jonathan’s son, lame in both feet.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s living at the home of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
King David didn’t lose a minute. He sent and got him from the home of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.
When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan (who was the son of Saul), came before David, he bowed deeply, abasing himself, honoring David.
David spoke his name: “Mephibosheth.”
“Yes sir?”
“Don’t be frightened,” said David. “I’d like to do something special for you in memory of your father Jonathan. To begin with, I’m returning to you all the properties of your grandfather Saul. Furthermore, from now on you’ll take all your meals at my table.”
Shuffling and stammering, not looking him in the eye, Mephibosheth said, “Who am I that you pay attention to a stray dog like me?”
David then called in Ziba, Saul’s right-hand man, and told him, “Everything that belonged to Saul and his family, I’ve handed over to your master’s grandson. You and your sons and your servants will work his land and bring in the produce, provisions for your master’s grandson. Mephibosheth himself, your master’s grandson, from now on will take all his meals at my table.” Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
“All that my master the king has ordered his servant,” answered Ziba, “your servant will surely do.”
And Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, just like one of the royal family. Mephibosheth also had a small son named Mica. All who were part of Ziba’s household were now the servants of Mephibosheth.
Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, taking all his meals at the king’s table. He was lame in both feet.” – 2 Samuel 9:1-13 MSG
Lewis and fellow novelist J. R. R. Tolkien were close friends. They both served on the English faculty at Oxford University, and were active in the informal Oxford literary group known as the Inklings. According to Lewis’s memoir Surprised by Joy, he was baptised in the Church of Ireland, but fell away from his faith during adolescence. Lewis returned to Anglicanism at the age of 32, owing to the influence of Tolkien and other friends, and he became an “ordinary layman of the Church of England”. Lewis’s faith profoundly affected his work, and his wartime radio broadcasts on the subject of Christianity brought him wide acclaim.
Lewis wrote more than 30 books, which have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold millions of copies. The books that make up The Chronicles of Narnia have sold the most and have been popularised on stage, TV, radio, and cinema. His philosophical writings are widely cited by Christian apologetics from many denominations.
So I made a video of some of my favorite quotes by C.S. Lewis:
