The strange woman is a crafty lady...well not a lady...woman. She is subtle in trapping her prey. Her victims are oblivious to her schemes. Wisdom, though, displays similar tactics. The difference is motives. Strange woman's are for evil and her gain. Wisdom's is for righteousness and blessing. It seems foolish that anyone would even choose the strange woman over wisdom. As I read about that harlots tricks, I think of how I should try those same things and apply them to wisdom for good. I should make wisdom and righteous just as if not more attractive than evil.

Proverbs 1-3
God, i love how you work in an unhumanistic way...you said.."the fear of the lord is the beginning of knowledge." in other word i must realize you know it all and i don't before i can know it all. :) then there's the verse..."let not mercy and truth forsake thee." it struck at how you can't give mercy until you know the truth. In other words i must admit my guilt before i can be cleared of my guilt. I cant receive pardon if i dont think i need forgiveness. Perhaps thats what u want me to remember tonight...the truth and the mercy that followed when you saved me. I love u abba!

Song of solomon

I must confess that if it weren't for a sermon explaining it when I was a teenager, I would be completely lost in this story. It certainly is hatd to piece toghether...
Two obsevations...1 I'm glad we use different similies to describe beauty these days. :) Don't think my breasts being described as roes (deer) is too flattering. 2. Love the verse "I AM MY BELOVED'S AND HIS DESIRE IS TOWARD ME." I guess you could take that verse 2 ways...God is mine and His desires are always toward my best interest. Or I am God's and He is absolutely nuts about me. I lile both thoughts actually. I kniw everything You do, Abba, is for my own good, and that's because You're crazy about me. You enjoy my presence. You like to walk with me . Man am I a lucky girl! I love You too, Lord!

Psalms 119....the largest chapter in the Bible, and nearly every verse talks about the law, statues, testimonies, or judgments. All the same of course. Proves how important Your word is, Lord. Your law provides: wisdom, comfort, direction, strength, protection, purpose, defense, happiness....just to name a few.
The verse..."I thoghts on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testimonies." caught my spirit. I continue to ask, Lord, for Your direction in every little path I take throughout the day. Abba, I know I am so horrible at making and thinking about this request in the morning, but help it to be "my meditation all the day." Help me be bold to witness and quick to give You praise all the time. Help me to REALLY think on all my ways and if they are pleasing to You. I love You, Abba. I need You today...everyday!!!

Purpose

Today is my birthday!! Yeah, I'm 30!! So hard to believe. I still feel so young. I never get depressed about birthdays, in fact, I look forward to them, but this one just seems surreal. Anyway, this morning as I was driving I was talking to the Lord and thanking Him for the 30 years I've been alive and healthy to boot! I also thought about the great blessing of having a purpose, a reason to live. I have met many that feel like they are going through the motions of life and in the end it's all over. Thank you that the years I have had so far have had purpose, and I pray that years to come will continue to have purpose. I thought it so fitting when I came across these verses in my Bible reading from Psalms 115

115:3-8
But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
They that make them are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them.

How does that relate to what I just said...well the last verse ties it all together. Those worthless idols were just that, worthless, no purpose. They had all the likeness of something purposeful, but they weren't and God said that those who make them and worship them are just the same. I know I don't bow down, create or make any of those silver and gold idols--though I am guilty of putting other things before You sometimes, Lord, and things put ahead of You are idols, but, Abba, I don't want that empty feeling of being useless ever in my life. Help my hands, my heart, my eyes, my ears, my feet, everything to be fulfilling the exact purpose You have for me in my life. You deserve it, and to top it off, it sure makes me feel good too!

Serving Him & Giving

I Chron. 28
28:9
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

I think this is the cry and admonition of all godly parents. "Choose God...know Him...be blessed by Him don't turn from Him." David wanted Solomon to have the same close relationship with God that he did. I pray the same thing for Destiny, my step-daughter. Such benefits that come from serving Him. Yes, there are hard times, but God loves you and wants to go through them WITH you. His arms are opening and willing to embrace you, but if you decide to mock His love and turn it away, his hand of judgment is thrown. God knows your heart. He sees what others cannot. Serve Him.
When I think of how I so want this in those who I influence---Destiny or anyone for that matter, I think of how God so wants this in my own life. Lord, You see my short comings, and I'm sure wish so much that I wouldn't be so stubborn and to instead have that "willing mind." Forgive me, Abba, when I grieve You. Help me to change and desire to serve You more especially by learning to serve my own family more and to have the right attitude as a wife. I want to do better at seeking You for everything, even the small decisions. A constant awareness of You in my day, my life.

29:9
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

I noticed this verse because right now our church is going through a difficult time financially. But I see how God is using it to bring revival to our preacher's life and hopefully to many families in our church. But I see the requirement here....with a perfect heart. The greatest giving can come from those whose hearts are perfect before the Lord. So I believe the right process of events is happening in our church right now, and that is an encouragement.

God's Thoughts and Direction

Wow! It surely is overwhelming when I stop and try to think about how much God thinks about me.

139:17
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
139:18
[If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

That certainly is the highest form of flattery. To know that I am a constant awareness in God's mind. He doesn't "misplace" me or forget what's happening in my life. He knows everything I am doing. That's hard to fathom that He does that for me, but harder to fathom that He does for everyone at the same time. My mind hurts thinking about it. :)


143:8
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Every time I read the word "lovingkindness", I think to myself....awww that's so sweet! Thinking about this verse...hear thy lovingkindness. How in the world do I hear that? I think that means to sit still and be quiet....listen for God's still soft voice. When I hear Your lovingkindness like that I am also able to "know the way wherin I should walk." Abba, may my every step today be prefaced with You in mind---desiring Your direction to lead me even as simple as a route to walk or drive, to know that I am in the pathway of someone You have brought my way. Lead me, Lord, lead on.

145:17-19
The LORD [is] righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

What a great prayer promise!

Permanent Decisions Effects

2 Sam 24, 1 Chron 21

24:1
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

21:1
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
21:2
And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know [it].
21:3
And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they [be]: but, my lord the king, [are] they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

It seems these verses are contradicting themselves in a way. Did Satan provoke him or God...that "he" in 1 Samuel is a little confusing. Anyway, obviously God didn't want him to number Israel, Joab knew this and warned David, too. But whatever the case, David is reacting to his emotions, rather than what he knew was right. The people suffered because of it. The prophet Gad told him he would have to choose between three curses: 7 yrs of famine, 3 months fleeing from enemies, or 3 days of pestilence. David chooses the pestilence. I don't think he realized that 70,000 men would die as a result and more could have died if he had not cried to God and built an altar.
This is another wake up call reminding me that my sins hurt more than just me. When I act out of emotions and do wrong, it may seem good on the temporary but the long term effects hurt me and others badly. Help me, Lord, to stop and think when I am angry, grieved, upset, or whatever emotion is overwhelming me--to not react, but have a plan to do what I know is right.
I remember a quote, "Don't sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate." Good admonition.

1 Chron 22
Here David changes gears. He is now preparing for the permanent. Though he cannot build a temple for God, he makes preparations for his Solomon to do so. This is a mark of greatness...when you prepare for those who come behind you and not just looking out for yourself and what's happening in your lifetime.
So Lord after reading these passages, I realize that every decision should be made with the future in mind. The future of not only myself, but the future of those that follow behind me.

Shortly after god had delivered d avid from the hand of saul, david writes a song...part of it says..."thy gentleness hath made me great." i certainly am not "great", but i completely agree that it is only by your gentleness that i am anything. This reminds me of that potter's wheel. The potter only makes gentle movements to mold the vessel. Yes, sometimes they are cutting and intrusive, but always gentle.
Another part of the song..."thou hast enlarged thy steps under me that I cannot fall." I envision a dad as he lets in tottering daughter step on his feet as he walks. Thats what I picture with You, God. I'm standing on Your feet as You hold me up. You truly have, Lord, kept me from falling and making alot of stupid decisions. You have kept me safe in normally unsafe conditions. Thank you abba for always gently leading me as I stand on Your feet.

Justice Not Fairness

1 Samuel 19-21

Absalom has been killed by Joab, and David mourns for him. In my opinion, I think he waited too late to let Absalom know how important he was to him. For over what...20 years, I think. He avoided him. A little too late, David. Joab, one of David's captains, becomes quite upset with David because he's sad that Absalom is dead and is upset that they got the victory. I see here David kinda going through a depression. I see this in others lives often. They become passive about incidents in their lives, as David did, and then when grief comes it overwhelms them--not wanting to deal with problems on the immediate timing, but then lose it when it all falls apart. I don't know maybe I am judging David a little too hard. Not my place to judge, I guess.
After Joab ranting at David, I must confess that I am thoroughly confused at the incidents following....going after king of Sheba, Amasa, and old wise women....I tried to read it slowly and I still didn't understand what was going on.

In Samuel 21, though, it explains about a famine that happened in David's time. God explains that it is because of Saul's disobedience in killing the Gibeonites. David comes to the remaining Gibeonites and asks them what can be done to appease them for what Saul had done. They don't want gold or silver; they want the sons or grandsons of Saul that are living. David promises to send them over. Seven men are killed by the Gibeonites.
I don't know what to think of this....hmmm....when I sin,others often have to pay for my sins, too. The consequences don't just fall to me. I think of the legacy Saul left behind. Sometimes when people pass on their greatness is remembered and continued, instead remorse and punishment is left behind of Saul. What an awful inheritance to gain. "Your dad, grandad disobeyed God and now we're going to kill you." I guess some would think that is unfair. But it's justice. Justice isn't about fairness...it's about equating actions with the consequences. It's a natural law of nature as well. If I chose to poison my garden with harsh chemicals, not only do I lose out on my harvest, but I destroy the potential harvest of those who wish to plant after me. The only way to make it better is to completely tear up the ground and put down fresh dirt. This makes me think of what Jesus did for my salvation. I was ruined. I was fully deserving of justice, but He took the punishment. In His doing so, he ripped up the ruined ground in my heart and put a new start there. Thank you, Jesus. You are sooooooooooooo good to me.

A variety of psalms

Thou hast put gladness in my heart more than in the times their corn and wine increased.

I think about that verse and how true it is for a christian focused on You. I am happier in my lowest times more than the wicked in his highest

I must admit that David is not my favorite person from the Bible. It seems that in his latter years he lost his boldness and quickness to do right by judging his own family. His daughter Tamar is raped. He is wroth but he chooses to do nothing about it. Absalom is ticked and waits 2 years for justice until he decided to take matters into his own hand and kill amnon. Absalom is gone for 3 years...David doesn't seem to care. He's back in Jerusalem and still David doesn't want to see his face. Absalom has repentant heart but he us ignored until he ultimately decides to rise against David 40 years later.
I see a version torn relationship between david and his children.
I know Absalom is not without fault either. He let bitterness consume him.
Two sides to this story that were both the wrong choice....ignoring justice and taking justice into your own hands.
David had no reaction because if grief. Absalom reacted out of anger and bitterness. Because of this not only did David have a daughter raped but he lost two sons too.
This teaches me to rule those under me by principles not by my emotions. Ignoring a situation only makes things worse too. When its in my authority administer justice and do it quickly according to principles and decided consequences not emotions.

I hate it when you try to do good for someone and they take it as bad intentions. Well I say I hate it, but I can't think of a specific incidence right now where that happened to me. Here David was trying to do something nice for the king of Ammon, but husband servants accuse David's me coming to bear gifts as spies and shave half their beards and rip their clothes to their buttocks. How's that foe appreciation? Not only that put they hire the syrian to go to war against Israel. Wow! So much for trying to do something nice.
After that (still reading chronologically) I read the psalm that David says he I weary of crying. His throat is dry from all the tears. I can relate to that. Perhaps he was so weary of always trying to do the right thing and seeming that so much turmoil came in return. As he wrote "my enemies wrongfully"
What do I get from these passages...hmmm...im certainly not alone in those times I have felt rejected. As David did, it is at those times I need to draw to my Saviour and feel His presence stronger than ever before.

I read the wonderful story about mephibosheth. Love how this represents how God invited me, the forgotten to come and sit at His table and enjoy His goodness. Noticed this time about Ziba, the servant that was secondarily blessed because David decided to show kindness. Abba, You are so kind... Always looking for those who have been the outcasts of society...willing to make them royalty. Thank You.