OLD WEAPONS FOR NEW VICTORIES

8 David asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword of any kind around here? I didn’t have a chance to grab my weapons. The king’s mission was urgent and I left in a hurry.” 9 The priest said, “The sword of Goliath, the Philistine you killed at Oak Valley - that’s here! It’s behind the Ephod wrapped in a cloth. If you want it, take it. There’s nothing else here.” 10 “Oh,” said David, “there’s no sword like that! Give it to me!” 11 When the servants of Achish saw him, they said, “Can this be David, the famous David? Is this the one they sing of at their dances? Saul kills by the thousand, David by the ten thousand!”I Samuel 21During a very difficult time in the life of King David, a low point, a time when his kingdom was essentially gone and his life was in jeopardy, David was facing a brand new battle! It was then that an old weapon was given to him. Actually it was given back to him. He had held it in his hand and had secured great victories with it in the past. But now he had a new battle to win and God had provided an old weapon to do it with.I for one won’t be stuck in the past, imprisoned by the memories of yesterday. Whether those memories are good and inspirational or if they are bad and depressing. Either way if we concentrate on yesterday, whether it’s sentimentality or regret, the outcome is the same. We sacrifice today on the alter of yesterday. We mortgage the hope of tomorrow to the memory of yesterday.But there are advantages of past victories and weapons or strategies that we have had success with and have since discarded. More than likely we were correct and should have discarded them when we did. That does not mean that the days of their usefulness are over. I am suggesting that in the middle of a new challenge, needing a new victory there very well could be an old weapon that you put away a long time ago. I challenge you to find it, let the memories of victory and the memorials to success flood your spirit. Stand up to the challenge knowing that your God is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

HUNGRY SHEEP

-Ariel Martin

As we go through this life we are confronted with countless opportunities to change this world. John Mayer sang a hit song a couple of years ago called ‘Waiting on the World to Change’. Some of the lyrics are:

‘Now we see everything that’s going wrong, with the world and those who lead it, we just feel like we don’t have the means to rise above and beat it, so we keep waiting, waiting on the world to change’

Although I understand the message Mayer was presenting, I believe his method is all wrong. Waiting for something to happen passes up the opportunities given to MAKE something happen. If all the blacks of America chose to wait on society to give them equal rights then I would bet they’d probably still be waiting today. Instead they started a MOVEMENT, people like Rosa Parks embraced the opportunities given to them and made something happen.
Christians talk about the evil of this world and the turmoil it’s in, but what are we doing about it? God supplies the tools that are needed to rebuild wrecked lives, and He will supply the opportunities to work on those live. If we keep waiting on the world to change then we wont be following God’s will, and following his will is our purpose in life. Let’s grab a hold of every opportunity that presents itself, and exhaust it of everything it has to offer. Let’s stop waiting and start taking action. Let’s embrace every chance to witness, every chance to give, every chance to simply pass on a smile.
What else are we here for other than to give God every part of us? Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep, let’s take his order on ourselves. What’s holding us back? What’s keeping us from feeding these starving sheep? Reflect on all restrictions and obstacles that need to be removed from your life. Maybe your hearts convicted and you don’t know if you want to surrender yourself to Him just yet. Maybe that lifestyle doesn’t seem too appealing. Or maybe you just need to give Jesus a chance, get to know Him on your own. Form your own relationship with him, and fall in love. Grow with him, feed off of him. Then feed his sheep.

MAKE NO LITTLE PLANS

Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons (daughters and granddaughters) are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty. Think big.
Daniel Burnham, Chicago architect. (1864-1912)

Dance!!!

Listen and watch, think about two things, David danced before the Lord with all his might and the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Lets dance and laugh more than ever!

COME ON NOW, COME ON!

Labor day week end. What about Labor Day life time. Jesus said in Matt. 28 18 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. The Message bible says it this way,
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Holidays are great but Jesus wants to give us Holy Days for the "REST" of our lives!