1Samuel 25:33
33May you be blessed for your good judgement and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.
Abigail was the wife of Nabal. Nabal was a wealthy man and in the beginning of the chapter he is described as a mean man while his wife Abigail is described as intelligent and beautiful. David was in the desert with his men and heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep. He sent men to Nabal to bring back something so they would all be refreshed. But Nabal, instead of recognizing the man that would soon be king, tossed his nose at David's men. When Nabal's shepherds were in the company of David's men previously, they were well treated. David was about to strike every last male within Nabal's property upon hearing of Nabal's selfishness and hoarding mentality. Abigail heard what her husband had done and immediately gathered food and gifts, mounted a horse and met up with David's men. She knew David to be a man who fought battles on behalf of the Lord. The idea that her husband refused to help David who would be king and represented the Lord not only concerned her but she knew there would be a consequence. Had she not gone out, many would have suffered. The Lord struck Nabal anyway for his behavior but many men were spared.
King Solomon talks about a beautiful woman who shows no discretion in Proverbs 11:22. No discretion means lacking good judgement. Abigail had brains and beauty. Her good judgement saved a lot of men including her husband if only temporarily. The value of a woman with good judgement as King Solomon describes in Proverbs 18:22 is a good thing and considered as favor from the Lord. There is no gift like that of God's favor. God's favor opens doors that no one else can. God's favor showers blessings like no one else can give. And a woman of good judgement given to a man as his helpmeet (not helpmate) is considered to be favor from God. Unfortunately, many women are not appreciated as much for their brains as they are for their beauty. Some are looked down upon for being as intelligent as Abigail was described. But a woman who God grants good judgement to He will use to steer a ship in the right direction when it has gone off-course or sees a detail that could damage the ship and hinder it from reaching the planned destination. Yes, God gives a helpmeet in a woman to help a man be his best and vice versa. Men, appreciate the women with good judgement that God has gifted you with. She is seen as a mark of favor upon you.
P.S. Remember to tune into my man V of the Artist to Artist Show on Saturdays at 8:30 am CT, 2:30pm CT and 8:30 pm CT on www.Qliveone.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Unworthy
Luke 5:8
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"
Simon Peter, James and John had been fishing or casting their net all night but caught nothing. Jesus sees their boats and gets into the one with Simon Peter. He asked Peter to row away a little to give him some relief from the crowd He was teaching. And when He finished, He told Peter to cast the net. Now Peter of course relied on his expertise as he failed to listened to what Jesus told him to do. He explained that they had not caught any fish but remembering that Jesus was indeed a teacher he did what he was instructed to do. And for Peter's obedience, there were more fish in the net then he, James and John could hold in the boat. The miracle brought Peter to a position of humbleness and he declared that he was unfit to be in the presence of Jesus. But Jesus told him he would teach him to be a fisher of men. Peter had no idea that Jesus meant he would teach him how to draw men based on the word of God to receive salvation. Like Peter, no matter what we think of ourselves at that moment, Jesus is looking at us as the person He will mold us into. The pieces of ourselves that we feel are dirty or unworthy to touch the hem of His garment is exactly what He wants us to do so by the touch we will be made clean. Reaching out for Jesus when He calls us by name gives Him the right to clean us up on the inside and then clean up the areas of our lives that we know are unworthy to even be done in His presence. The molding done by His hands will cause us to walk into the person He already sees us as. Yes, it's a humbling experience when we realize who Jesus really is and the fact that He's invited us to sit at the table with Him but GLORY TO GOD He loves us anyway. Loving us in spite of our faults just like He loved the disciples knowing that like He used them, He can use any of us.
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"
Simon Peter, James and John had been fishing or casting their net all night but caught nothing. Jesus sees their boats and gets into the one with Simon Peter. He asked Peter to row away a little to give him some relief from the crowd He was teaching. And when He finished, He told Peter to cast the net. Now Peter of course relied on his expertise as he failed to listened to what Jesus told him to do. He explained that they had not caught any fish but remembering that Jesus was indeed a teacher he did what he was instructed to do. And for Peter's obedience, there were more fish in the net then he, James and John could hold in the boat. The miracle brought Peter to a position of humbleness and he declared that he was unfit to be in the presence of Jesus. But Jesus told him he would teach him to be a fisher of men. Peter had no idea that Jesus meant he would teach him how to draw men based on the word of God to receive salvation. Like Peter, no matter what we think of ourselves at that moment, Jesus is looking at us as the person He will mold us into. The pieces of ourselves that we feel are dirty or unworthy to touch the hem of His garment is exactly what He wants us to do so by the touch we will be made clean. Reaching out for Jesus when He calls us by name gives Him the right to clean us up on the inside and then clean up the areas of our lives that we know are unworthy to even be done in His presence. The molding done by His hands will cause us to walk into the person He already sees us as. Yes, it's a humbling experience when we realize who Jesus really is and the fact that He's invited us to sit at the table with Him but GLORY TO GOD He loves us anyway. Loving us in spite of our faults just like He loved the disciples knowing that like He used them, He can use any of us.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
What is Not, Will Not
Isaiah 22:16
16What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock?
Isaiah was commanded to go to King Hezekiah's palace. There he found a man named Shebna who though a foreigner, had been put in charge of the palace second only to the king. But Shebna coveted something that was never meant to be his. He coveted being buried in a tomb made for a king. Though he had been given charge of the palace, he misused his privilege and began cutting out his own grave as if he were a king. Isaiah was sent by the Lord to declare to Shebna that God would remove him from his position and because he coveted something that God didn't intend for him to have, he would then not receive an honorable burial according to the NIV Study Bible. Shebna's place of burial was still to be among commoners unless King Hezekiah made provision for him. But instead of leaving that up to the king he took it upon himself to presume that he deserved what had not even been offered to him. Shebna assumed that he would be a permanent fixture when it was not declared by the king or the Lord that it was to be. If God hasn't declared something for you then it's not for you. Like Shebna, many of us covet or want things that don't belong to us. But we think because we want them, then it must be. But it's God who has the final say as to what shall be ours. He is the creator of heaven, earth and below. He is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Not everything is for everyone. We can easily lose sight of this fact in the microwave, all-about-me society we live in. What God has for you is for you. But what is not, will not. And if one doesn't appreciate what God has given, even that shall be taken away.
16What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock?
Isaiah was commanded to go to King Hezekiah's palace. There he found a man named Shebna who though a foreigner, had been put in charge of the palace second only to the king. But Shebna coveted something that was never meant to be his. He coveted being buried in a tomb made for a king. Though he had been given charge of the palace, he misused his privilege and began cutting out his own grave as if he were a king. Isaiah was sent by the Lord to declare to Shebna that God would remove him from his position and because he coveted something that God didn't intend for him to have, he would then not receive an honorable burial according to the NIV Study Bible. Shebna's place of burial was still to be among commoners unless King Hezekiah made provision for him. But instead of leaving that up to the king he took it upon himself to presume that he deserved what had not even been offered to him. Shebna assumed that he would be a permanent fixture when it was not declared by the king or the Lord that it was to be. If God hasn't declared something for you then it's not for you. Like Shebna, many of us covet or want things that don't belong to us. But we think because we want them, then it must be. But it's God who has the final say as to what shall be ours. He is the creator of heaven, earth and below. He is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Not everything is for everyone. We can easily lose sight of this fact in the microwave, all-about-me society we live in. What God has for you is for you. But what is not, will not. And if one doesn't appreciate what God has given, even that shall be taken away.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Instant Recall
John 13:19
19"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.
Jesus had just provided the disciples with the warning that one of them would betray him. As hard as it was for Jesus to know that someone he loved dear would hurt him, it had to happen so the prophecy would be fulfilled. But Jesus told the disciples that His purpose for telling them ahead of time was to increase their belief. The disciples couldn't stop what was happening even if they wanted to. First, they didn't know who the betrayer was among them. Second, Jesus had to repeat over and over during His time with them that what was coming was coming. He repeated the prophecy multiple times because the disciples didn't believe that any of them could do such a thing. But when it did happened, they immediately knew like instant recall. Our Lord does things everyday to increase our belief. Whether it's by giving us something our heart has longed for or having someone show up that came across our thoughts or even providing. All these things are done to increase belief in our Lord and Savior. And yes, sometimes He provides a prophecy which is a word from the Lord of things to come and indication of His will as encouragement, direction or rebuke when necessary. The purpose is to increase belief that He is who He says He is. Prophecy is for those who believe in God. It is to provide an even deeper level of faith and relationship with Him. Waiting for something you can't see yet is the very definition of faith.
19"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.
Jesus had just provided the disciples with the warning that one of them would betray him. As hard as it was for Jesus to know that someone he loved dear would hurt him, it had to happen so the prophecy would be fulfilled. But Jesus told the disciples that His purpose for telling them ahead of time was to increase their belief. The disciples couldn't stop what was happening even if they wanted to. First, they didn't know who the betrayer was among them. Second, Jesus had to repeat over and over during His time with them that what was coming was coming. He repeated the prophecy multiple times because the disciples didn't believe that any of them could do such a thing. But when it did happened, they immediately knew like instant recall. Our Lord does things everyday to increase our belief. Whether it's by giving us something our heart has longed for or having someone show up that came across our thoughts or even providing. All these things are done to increase belief in our Lord and Savior. And yes, sometimes He provides a prophecy which is a word from the Lord of things to come and indication of His will as encouragement, direction or rebuke when necessary. The purpose is to increase belief that He is who He says He is. Prophecy is for those who believe in God. It is to provide an even deeper level of faith and relationship with Him. Waiting for something you can't see yet is the very definition of faith.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Almost Slipped
Psalm 73:2
2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
The psalmist talks of the fate of those that love and follow the Lord and those who have no regard. He admits to the Lord that he almost slipped. He almost lost sight of what is important. For a moment, he took his eyes of God and placed it on the wrong people and things. He thought too much of what life looked like at the moment with the wicked but God brought back to his remembrance what their end result would be. Yes, all of us have had those "I almost slipped" moments. Those are the moments where we may have temporarily forgotten who we are and whose we are. Yes, those moments where we get caught up in the world and take our eyes of God. Oh But God!! Yes, the but God means we don't have to stay there!! When we forget, like a loving parent does a child, God will remind us that we are His sheep and that He can catch us in our stumble to prevent the fall. Bless God!! He is the net that catches us. The key is remember that our destiny is in the Lord. His plans for us will always and forever outweigh anything the world thinks is best. For it is His plan for our lives that brings us to the greatest person we could ever hope to become.
PLEASE NOTE: The Leap of Faith Show is now the Leap of Faith Network on Live365 all week long! You can catch the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment on the network! Click Listen Live on www.leapoffaithshow.com with my girl Stubbs!
2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
The psalmist talks of the fate of those that love and follow the Lord and those who have no regard. He admits to the Lord that he almost slipped. He almost lost sight of what is important. For a moment, he took his eyes of God and placed it on the wrong people and things. He thought too much of what life looked like at the moment with the wicked but God brought back to his remembrance what their end result would be. Yes, all of us have had those "I almost slipped" moments. Those are the moments where we may have temporarily forgotten who we are and whose we are. Yes, those moments where we get caught up in the world and take our eyes of God. Oh But God!! Yes, the but God means we don't have to stay there!! When we forget, like a loving parent does a child, God will remind us that we are His sheep and that He can catch us in our stumble to prevent the fall. Bless God!! He is the net that catches us. The key is remember that our destiny is in the Lord. His plans for us will always and forever outweigh anything the world thinks is best. For it is His plan for our lives that brings us to the greatest person we could ever hope to become.
PLEASE NOTE: The Leap of Faith Show is now the Leap of Faith Network on Live365 all week long! You can catch the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment on the network! Click Listen Live on www.leapoffaithshow.com with my girl Stubbs!
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