Together We Are ALL Giant Killers – 1 Chronicles 20:4-8

4 And after this there arose war with the Philistines at Gezer. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the giants, and the Philistines were subdued. 

5 And there was again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmithe brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 

6 And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. 

7 And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, struck him down. 

8 These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. 
- 1 Chronicles 20: 4-8

Together We Are ALL Giant Killers
Don't you love it when you get a "nugget" from scripture that you have read through several times in the past?  Especially in scripture where there are so many names that are difficult to read and pronounce.  I know for me, by the time I get to the end of the chapter, my mind is usually reeling from all the names I can't pronounce that I find myself just skimming over the last lines.  The last line is where I found my nugget today.

The verses in today's devotion tell a story about some of the giants that David AND his servants killed.  We all know the story of David and Goliath but how many of us were aware of the story of Sibbecai and Sippai?  How about the story of Elhanan and Lahmithe?  Then there was Jonathan (David's nephew) who killed a giant so big, and ugly, and deformed (24 fingers and toes!), that the bible doesn't even bother to give him a name!  These giants were all killed, not by David the giant killer, but by his servants, and family, and friends – those who David had influence over.  The members of his household who had learned through David's actions, that Giants are no match when you seek after God with your whole heart!

This same kind of Power exists for us today, and if we would just tap into the strength that is available to us in God's Word and the fellowship of His church,  we would realize the ability to take on the giants in our lives, and destroy the attack that the enemy has designed for us – even the big, ugly, hairy, foul-smelling giants with 8 eyes, and 6 heads, and 7 arms!  There are no giants that we can't defeat because God has our back.

So how do we do it?  It's a simple 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

1. Be in the Word! Everyday! It's how we get to know Who God is.
2. Pray! Prayer is so powerful and it should be the force that drives the lives of each and every one of us. It's how God talks to us and how we grow our relationship with Him.
3. Worship! Praise God! Sing to Him! Rejoice when you do it and show Him that you love Him so much that the song in your heart just has to come out!
4. Serve! Be a part. Get involved. Don't just attend church but BE the church – an active, involved, serving, committed, tithing, and believing force in the life of your local fellowship.

There is real power when all four of these become a habit in your life, and I guarantee that when you finally become a Word-reading, Praying, Worshipping, and Serving Christian, that the "big-uglies" the enemy sends your way will be no match! And when God gives you the Power to slay those giants, your family members, and your coworkers, and your friends will see what God has given you the power to do, and they will have the faith that their own big, ugly, hairy, 12-toed giant can be defeated as well.  Before you know it all the giants will be on the run – addiction, fear, doubt, anger, divorce, disease, unemployment, depression, abuse, apathy, and on-and-on – they will all be on the run because of the power of God that is spreading throughout our land!

Prayer
Father I thank You that I was able to see that giant slaying is not just for the Davids of this world, but that we ALL have it within us to defeat the enemy.  I pray that as we take on the giants in our lives, that we will not fear or be distracted by how big, or scary, or messy the situation, but we will stand firm in our faith in You.  I thank You for the Victory that is ours by the power of Your Holy Spirit!  Giants beware for my God is a mighty God!

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

Hope and Encouragement

7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us;

8  we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed ; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

9  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 

11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
– 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (English Standard Version)

Hope and Encouragement
It's only just barely Wednesday and already, this has been a long and tiring week – at least it has felt that way to me!  The rainy weather has my old friend arthritis playing havoc on my body, and work has been crazy, and even though I got them done last night, the stresses of having to get the taxes done has taken its toll, and the fact that I've been neglecting my school work and the semester looms ahead has me all stressed out, and-on-and-on, etc., etc., (now would be a good time for someone to play me a hauntingly sad song on the violin).  Add not feeling well and having no energy to the mix, and all I wanted to do today was crawl back into bed and sleep until weekend.  I know I can't do that though (sigh), . . . and so I press on.

How about you?  Has your week been as crazy, and tiring, and stressful as mine?  We all have different things that we are going through, and we are all affected in many different ways.  We can choose to give in to the pains, and the pressures, and the stresses, and use them as an excuse to escape from the world, but I think the Lord would rather we remember His Word that says, ALL of this happens "...so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies." 

He does not, and He will not, give us more than we can handle (even though it may seem too much when we are in the moment), but He wants us to continually look to Him for our strength – our energy – our peace – our rest – our healing, and our delivery.  Christ IN us can do anything!  He will be our champion when we feel like we can't do one . . . more . . . thing.

He will be our smile and He will be our joy when we are so distraught, and sick, and tired, and stressed, and it seems like life has no meaning.  He will carry us when we feel like we are too weak to move.  He is so that we can be!  So let's look to Him today! Let's cry out to Jesus with eyes and arms and spirits lifted up! Let's show Jesus that we believe what He says and we are willing and ready to receive the life that only He can give us. 

Because according to God's Word to us, we may be afflicted in every way – but we will NOT be crushed. We may be perplexed about our situations – but if we look to Him we will NOT be driven to despair. We will be persecuted by the world – but because He is our Lord we will NOT be forsaken. We may, from time-to-time be struck down – but because of His shed blood, we will NOT be destroyed. 

He is our Deliverer, and He is our Redeemer, and He is our Portion! 

Thank You Jesus!

Prayer
Lord, I am so tired.  I have had a tough week and I need You right now.  I need You to help me to do the things I need to get through my day.  I know that in You I can do it all, and so I am asking You to be my strength and my energy today.  I need You to carry me a few steps so that I can get the momentum from Your love and joy.  Just a jump-start Lord – that's all I need right now, then I can carry You with me throughout the rest of my day. Thank You Lord – You are always there for me, and You never neglect me.  I love You.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

Blending Our Voices – Romans 15:5-6

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 

6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
– Romans 15:5-6

Blending Our Voices
Our God is the God of endurance and encouragement – and boy do we need Him!  In a world that emphasizes promoting individual accomplishments, the Bible tells us that we need each other, so that together, we can glorify God.  It is clear to me though, that in order to be able to do that, we need to be in God's Word everyday, so that we can take advantage of His encouragement; to keep on enduring . . . together, and to put aside our own agendas and ideas of how the world should revolve.  The key is to strive towards harmonious living in unity with Jesus.  It isn't about you, and it isn't about me - it's about you and me IN Christ - that's how we will glorify our Father.

This has always been tough for me because I have always been a by-myself kind of guy.  I have always found it easier to handle things on my own so that I can have control over how things are done.  I guess I just like to have things done a certain way, and of course my way is always the right way (NOT!).  Letting go of pride in my life is not easy, but I am finding that as I move out of my comfort zone and I try to participate in ministries and in things like small groups, Bible studies, and other church activities, I am able to see that if Christ is the center of our efforts, the group thrives and the small part that I can play helps to make it all work.  God can then move and He is glorified through the concerted efforts of the group, and not the individual efforts of the group members.  It takes everyone working together to be successful, and in that, the individuals are then ministered to – by the other members.  It really is a wonderful concert and we are all designed by our Father to work best as members in His orchestra.

Prayer
Father I thank You for helping me to let go of my pride and to be a small part of something bigger than myself.  I am learning how to let go of my own ideas of how things should work and I am growing in You because of my relationships with other people.  I pray that as I continue to join myself to others, that I can bring peace and harmony to the relationships and that together we can grow in You and learn how to live, united in Christ.  

Have an awesome day everyone!

–Richard