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    “And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.”  1Sam 14:6 (KJV)

    Jonathan was a brave man. Imagine taking on the whole Philistine army with one other person. Of course, the other person was just as brave as Jonathan. And the slaughter they made that day was almost unbelievable.

    Jonathan knew something the Philistines didn’t know. He knew God was not limited by man’s limitations. Do you know that? Do you know that God can work through the most unsuspecting person? Do you know that that knowledge makes you different from other people? I don’t know how others get their things done, but I do know how Christians do it — the same way Jonathan saved the day for Israel. Here are some things you need to know about Jonathan.

    He was a man skilled in war. How presumptuous of him to enter the Philistine camp knowing nothing about how to handle a sword! But Jonathan had perfected his craft. True, God could have used him still; but his expertise was valuable in God’s hands. That’s why his armor bearer followed him so fearlessly — he knew Jonathan was prepared.

    He knew God. That was obvious: “there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” He knew, though a skilled warrior, any handicaps he might have were no hindrance to God. God was able to take what Jonathan had and make it enough for the task at hand. So he offered what he had.

    He put his faith on the line. He said, “God will work for us. I am stretched out here, Lord. It’s all yours.”

    Know your craft, know God, put it all on the line. Watch what God can do. Stretch out for Him (do your best), and watch Him make it happen. You can’t save by many or few — but He can!

    Written on December 2nd, 2010 , Old Testament, encouragement, scripture
    Keeping Our Focus

    As Christians, we have a stronger purpose in life than the average person. That stronger purpose is to lead others to Jesus, to acquaint them with our Heavenly Father as the Source of lovingkindness, understanding and forgiveness. We must always point people to the Source of our hope and strength of life.

    Job spoke the words of the searcher, words which should be ever before us: “Oh, that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to His seat!” (23:3) Let those words tear your heart and burden your soul. Let those words become an obsessive drive to answer, to reveal the Answer of Life. Whether you are employed, unemployed, or retired, live to that end. Whether you desire to be known, or are happy to be unknown in this world, live to that end.

    When we received Jesus, we took as part of the package the responsibility to lead others to Him. We may not have known it then — we should know it by now; but still, the responsibility was there. It not only is a responsibility, but a privilege, an adventure. We, unlike others, can approach our daily living with a great sense of adventure. “How may I take what I know and use it to lead others to Jesus, the Lover of my soul?” “How may I pull back the curtain of my life so others may see the Jesus I love?”

    Your testimony may be a painful experience, but that pain will show others the sincerity of your life. And it can be a great healing agent for you. Regardless, live so that others may see Jesus. In comedy, in drama, in music, in tragedy and in joy, live so others may see Jesus!

    I encourage you with the words of Peter in his first epistle, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (3:15)

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    Written on June 12th, 2010 , New Testament, Old Testament, encouragement, scripture
    David

    David and sling

    By the time David encountered Goliath, he had gained some attributes that put him far ahead of the other young men around him . . . to say nothing of the older men in Saul’s army.

    David had experience in worshipping God.  Proverbs says, “the fear (worship) of God is the beginning of wisdom.”  When you are in the fields day and night with only sheep as far as you can see, you become very lonely or you discover God.  David discovered God, and he discovered worshipping God was quite beneficial to him.  He began to know what God wanted of him.

    Practice makes perfect; and David was perfect in his use of the slingshot.  All day long he could practice his throwing.  He had a limitless supply of ammunition.  And occasionally he could practice his skill on a bear or lion.  Could you see his slingshot as equal to the tools in your hands?  If so, practice makes perfect for you; and the assignments come along to display your skills.

    When David faced Goliath, he carefully armed himself with five special stones from the river’s bed.  Most people would indiscriminately scoop up a handful of stones.  But we are training ourselves to be purposeful in our choices.   Carefully we choose our ammunition.

    And with one stone of those five, the choice stone, David quickly and faultlessly dispatched Goliath.  Worship God, use your tools, choose your ammunition, and accomplish your goal!

    David chose “the stone that the builders rejected.” Think about that!

    Written on February 5th, 2010 , Old Testament, encouragement
    Except the Lord…

    There is a passage of scripture in Psalm 127 which the Lord constantly uses with me: “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman watches in vain.” There is a real comfort and sense of security to know that you don’t have to figure everything out. You don’t have to come up with a plan on your own. You don’t have to make sure that everything is going to go right and not mess up. It is the Lord that will “build” your life and keep guard over you. If we trust him, if we let him show us, we can have that confidence and relaxation about life. Oh, yes! We do labor, but not in vain, because we are working according to the plan he has shown us.

    Years ago, when I discovered this truth and started out on a life of trust (faith), I often would hear the Lord speak to me, “Do you trust me?” He never asked me if I believed he trusted me, but rather if I trusted him. It takes some time to get into the flow of trusting the Lord, but soon it becomes a way of life. And he is so very faithful.

    That Psalm continues with saying that it is vain (useless) to get up early in the morning (as if to overwork). It’s vain to stay up late in worry and contemplate about what to do. Why? Because we trust the Lord and know that he is the architect of our day, he is the protector of our “city.”

    “Except the Lord…” What a comforting reminder that when we get close to God, he gets close to us. He has everything under control. I encourage you — I challenge you, trust the Lord with your life. You won’t be sorry. (Return to Victory Ground website)

    Written on March 13th, 2009 , Old Testament, encouragement, scripture
    You just might be the one

    In our house, we have been occupied with Purim, the Jewish festival commemorating the deliverance of the Jews from cruel Haman. This is all recorded in the book of Esther in the Old Testament. We are not Jewish, but we have been researching and learning about this very joyous time among the Jewish people.

    The central theme of the story of Esther is that she was a Jewish girl who caught the eye of the King of Persia, married him, and lived happily ever after. Every good story has a plot, has an opportunity for betterment. Esther learned that she was in a position to literally save all her people from death. Big order for a young girl. But she stepped up to the plate, she made her plans as she fasted and prayed, and she made a bold — albeit, scary — move. The end of the story is that she succeeded. The bad guy was hung, the good guy was saved, Esther was lauded by the King (her husband) and her people, and the Jewish people escaped total annihilation.

    Every story has one moment that sets the tide of events which lead to greatness. Esther was naturally afraid of this big challenge, but she had an encouraging uncle. He said to her in her doubt and fear, “Who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” That took the ‘chicken’ out of her life, and put boldness in its place.

    I don’t know what you are experiencing today. A loved one or close friend is not saved. A situation at work needs to be made right. A family disagreement needs to be cleared up. Consider this. You just might be the one to get it done. It might be that if you would pray and seek God for direction, he just might give you the tools, the plan, the courage, the opportunity to step out and be a healing agent for good. No one is fearless, no one is doubtless, but everyone has the same opportunity to overcome and push forward to victory.

    We are on Victory Ground through Jesus. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He gave us his own personal spirit to live within us. He gave us great and powerful tools to use. So ask the Lord, “Am I the one in this situation?” You just might be the one. And you just might be the ONLY one with all the right tools for victory.

    The steps you take toward victory may also lead to great rejoicing. You just might be the one! (Return to Victory Ground website.)

    Written on March 11th, 2009 , Old Testament, encouragement
    Shake it off and step up

    The story is told of a mule that fell into a dry well. The owner had no use for the mule or the dry well, so he got his neighbors to come help him fill it in and bury the mule alive. When the dirt hit the mule’s back, he was shocked. Then he decided to shake the dirt off and step up on it. With each shovel full of dirt, he would say, “Shake it off and step up.” Eventually he walked out of the well.

    Simple story, simple advice. But oh, how true it is. Remember during the hard times to “shake it off and step up.” Proverbs says, “A just man falls seven  times, and rises up again (Proverbs 24:16).” (Return to Victory Ground website.)

    Written on March 6th, 2009 , Old Testament, encouragement, scripture
    Confidence

    I am convinced that the devil and his bunch don’t draw back from God and His power. Rather they draw back when they see God’s children standing in confidence. I mean, really, they were with God in heaven, and they rebelled. I don’t think they think enough of God to be worried about Him. And they surely believe that they are winning.

    Anyway, David says a lot about confidence in Psalm 27:1-3. Verse one, the foundation of confidence; verse two, the need for confidence, and verse 3, the exercise of confidence. Verse 2 clearly says that our enemies stumble and fall when they see our confidence in God. And verse 3 says, when they do come against us, we are not afraid. The Hebrew says, “In spite of this, I will be confident.”

    Me, too. Confidence is a wonderful thing, and we have a wonderful foundation for being confident. “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” The Lord is the strength of my life, in whom shall I be afraid.” Sounds like Paul in Romans, “What shall separate us?”

    Hebrews 10:38, “if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Well, let’s not draw back, but move forward in confidence. Come on, you can do it. I will stand with you and you stand with me! (Return to Victory Ground website)

    Written on August 4th, 2008 , Old Testament, encouragement

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