2 Samuel

Handling The Ziphites In Our Lives - Psalm 54

11:00 AM


Psalm 54, 2 Samuel 12:1-24 

Just before His arrest and Crucifixion, Jesus dropped some bombshells on His disciples. He warned them about His upcoming death, the betrayal of one of His own, and Peter’s denials. Yet the Lord also comforted them with these words. “Do not let your heart be troubled.” (John 14:1) How could their hearts not be troubled after hearing that kind of news? Because rather than being the end, Jesus’ death was the beginning of some wonderful blessings.


After being anointed the next king of Israel, David learned firsthand about betrayal. Not only was he hunted by Saul, a man he loved dearly, but David was also betrayed by his own kinsman. Twice David came to his fellow Israelites in the city of Ziph to hide from Saul. And twice the Ziphites betrayed him by revealing where he was hiding. Yet David’s heart was not troubled. For he had already experienced some wonderful blessings from God. And David knew this time would be no exception. 


We all have Ziphites in our lives. Those close to us we turn to in times of trouble, who then use that trouble as a weapon against us. To our face they comfort, encourage, and commiserate as loved ones and friends do. But behind our backs they gossip, spread rumors, and stir up others against us. Often passive aggressive, their words are sweet, while they devise evil in their hearts. But by following the example of David and leaving our vindication to the Lord, we too can have hearts that aren’t troubled by the betrayal of others. 


David didn’t seek his own retribution. Instead he trusted in God’s faithfulness to perfectly fight for him, silence his critics, and use his pain for good. Because just like Joseph, who was betrayed by his family, what his brothers meant for harm, God used for a good greater than anyone could have dreamed possible. (Gen. 50:20) 


David also considered the source. Those who delight in betrayal and slander, Christians or not, don’t have a right relationship with God. And if they have a lack of regard for the Lord, they surely aren’t going to respect His people. Finally, David praised God for the victory he was sure to receive. For he knew the Lord promises to go before us to secure the triumph. And because of that surety, David willingly sacrificed his anger, fear, ego, and need for vengeance, laying them all at God’s feet. 


We waste so much time and energy fighting battles that are God’s alone. The Lord delivered David mightily against Saul, the Ziphites, and every other enemy. And if we’ll let Him, God will defeat the Ziphites in our lives as well! 


Pause and Reflect -

When persecution strikes and enemies surround you, do you take matters into your own hands? Do you dole out your own vengeance, crying out for retribution? Or do you keep your tongue still and your eyes on God? 


In verse 7 David credits the Lord with his deliverance “from every trouble.” Sometimes that deliverance was miraculous. Other times it came as God worked through David’s efforts to bring an end to his trouble. Think over the last couple of days. How has God delivered you “from every trouble?” 


Finally lets pray together, 

Our dearest Father in heaven above, hallowed be Thy name. O, Father how we thank you for Your faithfulness. When others hurt and betray us, You are always perfectly trustworthy. And when others fail, we can rely on Your never ending love. Father you know well the pain of betrayal and the hurt it causes. But instead of seeking our own justice, Father we pray for Your peace, perspective, and self control. May we hand the reins of vengeance over to You, who promises to deliver us from every trouble. Father in You alone can we have hearts of peace. For You are our Helper, and Sustainer of our souls. May we rest in Your love and trust in Your goodness all the days of our lives. In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen. 


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I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings. Love Lisa 💖


1 Kings

Soul Searching Sunday ~ Our Security

12:00 AM

Sunday, March 25, 2018



Week Twelve

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was 2 Samuel 20 - 1 Kings 22.

 1. What degree of control over your life do you need to have to feel secure? What parts of your life (for example, your house, job, family) do you desperately guard so that no one can take them away? Find your security in your "shield" and "high tower."

 "He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold, my high tower, my savior, the one who saves me from violence." (2 Samuel 22:3)

 2. How is your conduct influenced by the company you keep? Do you act one way around believers but become a different  person around those who are not? Write a letter to God asking Him to make you a model of Godly living.

 "Although the pagan shrines were not completely removed, Asa remained faithful to the LORD throughout his life. He brought into the Temple of the LORD the silver and gold and the utensils that he and his father had dedicated." (1Kings 15:14-15)

 3. How do you receive the warnings in the Bible against sin? Or are you comfortable with the way things are, confident that everything will work out in the end? Don't wait for a grave report - urgently seek after God. When He speaks, listen!

 "When Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in sackcloth, and fasted. He even slept in sackcloth and went about in deep mourning." (1 Kings 21:27)

2 Samuel

To Him Goes The Glory {2 Samuel 20:1-24:25}

12:00 AM


In these final chapters of 2 Samuel, David’s reign as the King of Israel is nearing its end. David was a shepherd, a warrior, a hero, a king, a psalmist, and a sinner. And through it all he never lost his faith or his desire to live for the Lord. Now in his final years, he reflects on all that God has done for him and writes a song of thankfulness and love for the Lord. "I call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised." (v. 22:4)
While researching these chapters I ran across a website called sermon notebook which teaches that in his song, David sings of a God who saves, sustains, strengthens, and secures. How amazing is that?! And as I thought about David and his relationship with the Lord, I took a look at these attributes of God that He manifests in the lives of all of believers.
God Saves: Along with His saving grace available through His Son Jesus Christ, the Lord also saves us from our enemies. “He delivered me from my enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.” (v. 22:18) Whether they be people, addictions, disease, or Satan himself, we all have enemies. Each day is filled with personal battles. But we never need face them alone. When we put our faith and trust in God, even the mightiest of foe cannot stand against His power. We can confidently cast all of our anxieties on the Lord because He cares for us and is committed to helping us win every war. (1 Peter 5:7)
God Sustains: Life is hard. We all endure periods of temptation, trials, and testing. David was no exception. He faced dark times and felt the same feelings of hopelessness that we too may feel. But David knew the secret of overcoming any obstacle was by trusting not in his own strength but in God’s. “For you are a lamp, O Lord; and the Lord illuminates my darkness” (v. 22:29) Although we may feel overwhelmed and lost, we can cry out to Him to shine His brilliant light leading us to the comfort of His loving arms. For He promises in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burdens upon the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” 
God Strengthens: David knew exactly who was the source of his strength; God. “God is my strong fortress; and He sets the blameless in His way. He makes my feet like hinds feet, and sets me on high places.” (vs. 22:33-34) “Like a hind (female deer)with strong legs and swift feet that go to high places on the mountains, so was David strengthened by God’s enabling grace.” (Moody Bible Commentary) What a beautiful picture of our God who is strong when we are weak. Who when we feel like we can’t take one more step, takes our burdens upon Himself and promises that when we trust in Him we, “will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (Is. 40:31) When we humble ourselves to the Lord and count on Him instead of ourselves, we learn that that sometimes the strongest thing we can do is to ask for help.
God Secures: In an increasingly unsafe world, there is nothing more precious than the feeling of security. And unshakable security can only be found in the Lord. He is our Deliverer, Rescuer, and Comforter. “He went from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.” (v. 22:17) David knew that because he placed his faith in the Lord, God secured not only his past, present, but also his future. And He promises the same for us. When we receive Christ as our Savior, we entered into a secured and forever relationship with Him. “You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Eph. 1:13) “The Holy Spirit is not with us temporarily. He lives within us and never leaves us. This is the reason we can be sure we have eternal security. Neither sin nor anything else can cause the Lord to forsake us because His Spirit has sealed us in Him forever guaranteeing our relationship with Him for all eternity.” (Dr. Charles Stanley) 
From the time David was a simple shepherd boy to his reigning as King of Israel, God abundantly blessed, loved, and protected him. No wonder he sang his heartfelt song to the Lord. And even though he often faltered, he always wanted to know and please God. We can learn much from the life of the man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22).  And most of all, we can trust that the same love and promises He gave to His beloved David, He freely gives to us; His beloved children. And to Him alone goes the glory! 

1Samuel

SoulSearching Sunday~Relationships

12:00 AM

Sunday, March 18, 2018



Week Eleven

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was 1 Samuel 25 - 2 Samuel 19.

 1. When did you find it difficult to share with others? When was it easy? What made the difference? Ask God for insight to recognize the needs of others and the willingness to give cheerfully. Let your giving be an offering of thanks to the LORD.

 "But David said, 'No, my brothers! Don't be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the enemy.'" 1 Samuel 30:23

 2. When did you experience the loss of a loved one? How did you respond? How do you feel now? Tell God exactly how you feel and how much you are hurting. Write Him a letter. Draw a picture. Shout aloud. God knows the pain of losing someone very precious.

 "They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the LORD's army and the nation of Israel, because so many had died that day." (2 Samuel 1:12)

3. Who are the "unlovely" types in your life? Who would you be least likely to spend time with, much less befriend? Consider the mercy shown by God to all of His unlovely, sinful, and undeserving human creations, including you.

"Mephibosheth fell to the ground before the king. 'Should the king show such kindness to a dead dog like me?' he exclaimed. (2 Samuel 9:8)




2 Samuel

Scripture Saturday ~ Our Lamp

12:00 AM

Saturday, March 17, 2018


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is 2 Samuel 22:29...

 You, Lord, are my lamp;
    the Lord turns my darkness into light. (NIV)

 Have a blessed and precious day and week everyone!

2 Samuel

The Key To Success (2 Samuel 5-7)

3:23 AM


Everyday we see advertisements for how to be successful in life.  Millions of dollars are spent each year to try and unlock the secrets of getting the most out of life.  Many seek power, position and money only to find that each new conquest still leaves life lacking and unfulfilling. As we follow David who began his young life as a mere shepherd boy, we see an example of what the world would call “ a successful life”.  Scripture, however, teaches us that David’s true success is not the gain of riches or position, but the ever increasing faith of a man who has God’s hand on his life. We can learn much from studying the character of David.
  1. David was respected by his people because he had proved his loyalty and faithfulness to them. They anoint  him King and David propers as King of Israel because his heart remained dedicated to God.  “And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.” (5:10)
  2. As supplies are provided and a great house is built for David, David does not lose focus on why he is successful.  He does not forget that his ultimate responsibility is to serve the people of God. “And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.” (5:12)
  3. David seeks the counsel of God for direction. When his enemies , the Philistines, rise up against him he does not engage them in battle until God directs him to do so.  He does not forget who gives him victory. “And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.”(5:20)
  4. David is teachable.  He longs to restore the worship and reverence of God to the people. “Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” (1 Chronicles 13:3) During the greatly celebrated transport of the ark, we read that Uzzah died because he touched the ark to keep it from falling.  David’s initial reaction is to get upset.  Likely he felt humiliated before his people, he was upset about the death of Uzzah, and he did not understand what went wrong. After all, he had the right intentions. When he learns that the family he leaves the ark with are blessed by its presence however,  he understands that the ark was not the problem.  The problem was that he did not transport it as God had directed it to be transported. David seeks knowledge from the Scriptures and summons the Levite priests to bring the ark with the reverence it was meant to have.  “Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.” (1 Chronicles 15:13-15)
  5. David leads the people in worship.  This is not mere religious pomp and ceremony. This is sincere, from the heart, unashamed worship of the Lord. “And David danced before the Lord with all his might.” (6:14)  He did not care about what people thought.  He cared only about what God thought.  When his wife criticized his behavior, David was not deterred. “ I will celebrate before the Lord”.
  6. As God blesses David, David continues to seek his counsel and to express gratitude before the Lord.  He acknowledges that he is nothing without God.  “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?” (7:18)

Are you encouraged as I am by the life of David?  I love how the Scriptures give us insight into the heart and character of a man who knew true success in life.  No matter our circumstances, we can have that same blessing and success in our lives. God wants an intimate relationship with us too.  As you read David’s prayer of gratitude, insert your own name.
“And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God!”

Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”  (7:20-22)

2 Samuel

A Secret Found in Grieving {2Samuel 1-4:12}

7:30 PM





All of us will deal with grief at some point, for you cannot love and be forever free from grieving. Some of us will grieve over the death of a loved one, while others may mourn the loss of a lifestyle, job, marriage, of even a dream of how you envisioned your life would be.

 I just recently loss my mother after taking care of her for the past 14 years and when we came to 2 Samuel, chapter 1; where David mourns the lost of King Saul and his best friend, Jonathan, I decided it was time to talk about something most people would prefer not to discuss- grief. I did a bit of research into the grieving process and found I could identify with some of all I discovered, but not all. 

I loved how Molly Fumia described the grieving process, "Grief is a journey, often perilous and without clear direction. The experience of grieving cannot be ordered or categorized, hurried or controlled, pushed aside or ignored indefinitely. It is inevitable as breathing, as change, as love. It may be postponed, but it will not be denied."

Jesus told us, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."—Matthew 5:4
God designed us so that we will feel joy and love in the presence of our loved ones, and grief when we are separated from them. Hmm..I believe I took for granted that we’ve been created with emotions until now! I’m not quite sure why this revelation is just coming to me, but just think how robotic we’d be if we hadn’t been given the ability to feel the gambit of emotions! The ability to feel all we do it truly a blessing!
Do you all rejoice along with me when you read in John 11:35, “Jesus wept” over the death of his friend Lazarus? Did He actually weep for Lazarus or for the other’s pain over their loss, for He knew He was about to raise him up and give him back to all those who loved him? Either way, it’s comforting to know that we are more like Jesus when we mourn with and for others.
It’s also comforting to know that God knows exactly how we’re feeling and hurts along with us!
While grief is an expected response to any loss, the unfamiliar emotions that arise can lead to feelings of uncertainty and fear. (Wondering if what we’re experiencing is normal)
The truth is everyone deals with a loss differently. Some may be devastated depending on the circumstances; others may initially feel numb and disconnected. Some may choose to withdraw socially, while others look for and appreciate the support others.
Although grieving is an individual experience, there are symptoms many people experience after a personal loss. (Some that might even surprise you):
  • Feels physically drained
  • Can't sleep at night
  • Forgetful and unable to think clearly. (Brain fog.)
  • Noticeable change in appetite
  • Physical distress such as chest pains, headaches.
  • Stays extremely busy to avoid thinking about his or her grief
  • Eats, drinks watches television, etc. excessively
  • Becomes withdrawn, lonely and apathetic
In all my research I discovered that there isn’t only one, or right way to grieve and no right way, or one way to comfort. My mother was ill the entire time I took care of her. Her illness grew progressively worse until even her doctors were surprised that she was still doing as well as she was. On one hand, I knew she had already outlived the doctor’s expectations, but on the other I believed she’d still keep right on going! Therefore, when the news came that she had only days (which was really hours) to live I was surprised, but accepted the reality that it was time for Jesus to take her home.

After her passing, I got so busy with trying to settle her estate that I felt I didn’t have time to mourn, but that wasn’t true. I was keeping busy to avoid the grief. I’ve had my sleepless nights, lack of energy, headaches, periods of forgetfulness, etc. From the very moment I learned that Mom was going home, I have sensed the Lord presence even more.  He IS near to the brokenhearted. He continues to exhort me to simply, “Be still…” Psalm 46:10, for He knows I’ve never been one to sit still for long and allow Him to take charge. (It’s something we’re still working on.)

But, as hard as this time has been, I find myself… thankful! (1Thes 5:18)

  • I’m thankful Mom came to know the Lord as her Savior and Lord right after she moved here in 2003.
  • I’m thankful for all the years I’ve been able to take care of her and every phone call I made each morning to simply say, “Good morning, Mom!”
  • I’m thankful that this parting is only temporary.
  • And thankful for all The Lord has taught me since her passing!
  • Thankful for the relationships with friends and family that have deepened since, but there’s still more I need to do on my end to grow them even more!
  • I’m thankful to know more of how to bless others when they are grieving.

These are just a few off my list. (I didn’t want to keep you here too much longer) BUT I did want you to know that in all I read about grieving (especially the secular articles) I didn’t read anything about giving thanks! We all know the Lord commands us to give thanks in all circumstances, (1 Thes 5:18) and I have to admit that I’ve found this one thing to be the greatest help in dealing with the loss of my mom! The greatest help!
Thank you all for letting me share it with you!

2 Samuel

Scripture Saturday~Our Reward

12:00 AM

Saturday, March 10, 2018



Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is 2 Samuel 2:6a...

 Now may the Lord show lovingkindness and truth and faithfulness to you.
(Amplified version)

 Have a blessed and precious day and week everyone!