God’s Providential Timing

Posted on 2013/10/28 by Shawn Thomas

I Samuel 23:26 sounds like a scene right out of an action movie: David is on one side of a mountain, and Saul and his army on the other, in hot pursuit! But just when things are about to come to a head, :27 says that a messenger came and reported to Saul: “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.” Then :28 says “Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines.”

While this text never specifically mentions the work of God, it is obvious that His hand was at work here, ordering events for the purpose of delivering His anointed, David. The attack of the Philistines, and Saul’s withdrawal from the pursuit of David, came at “just the right time” — and it was not an accident! It was God’s providential timing! Continue reading →

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Not of This World

Posted on 2013/10/26 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 11:9 says, “By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land …”. The Bible tells us that Abraham lived in the Promised Land, but he was different than the inhabitants of that country were. He lived as “an alien”, a foreigner, because of his faith in the Lord.

If we are to live lives of faith which please God, we will live the same way in our world: as “aliens and strangers” as I Peter 2:11 says.

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Prayers You Don’t Want Answered!

Posted on 2013/10/25 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 106:15 says: “So He gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease among them (literally ‘a leanness into their soul’.”
The Psalm describes how Israel had seen God’s work in the Exodus, but “quickly forgot His works” (:13) and then “craved intensely in the wilderness” (:14). They despised the manna that God had provided for them, and asked for meat instead. This verse says that God gave them what they asked for — but it led to devastating results.

THIS is why we should always pray regarding our requests, “If it is Your will.”

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Not Worldly Wisdom

Posted on 2013/10/24 by Shawn Thomas

In I Samuel 23, David had inquired of the Lord as to whether he should go up and attack the Philistines, who were oppressing the town of Keilah. God told him to go. But when David told his men, :3 says they were hesitant: “But David’s men said to him, ‘Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?'”

What David’s men said “made sense” from a worldly viewpoint. Here they were, “outcasts” in their own land, as Saul was seeking David’s life. They were “barely making it” as they were — and now David wanted them to “go on the offensive” and go up to Keilah to fight the Philistines? It really didn’t seem prudent. And yet :4 says that when David “double-checked” with God, that was exactly what He told him to do. So David led his men up to Keilah and attack the Philistines, and :5 says that they won a great victory.

This is a good reminder to us that sometimes God leads us do what does not seem “right” or “prudent” from a cautious, earthly standpoint.

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Inquire of the Lord First!

Posted on 2013/10/23 by Shawn Thomas

As I Samuel 23 opens, David is told that the Philistines are attacking and plundering Keilah. Verse 2 says, “So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines?'” It is of note here that David did not just decide in his own mind to go up against the Philistines. Instead, he “inquired of the Lord” first. This is a good example for us!

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“The Little Condo on the Prairie” (Oct. 22, 2013)

Posted on 2013/10/22 by Shawn Thomas

Homeschool, household chores, and a preaching trip to Beggs, America mark this week’s installment of the “Little Condo”:

OVERHEARD DURING MATH
Cheryl & Michael’s math lessons could probably fuel their own comedy show. I get a lot of chuckles out of listening to their interaction from the other room. This week’s highlights included: Continue reading →

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A Spiral of Compromise

Posted on 2013/10/22 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 106:35-37 says: “But they mingled with the nations and learned their practices, and served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and daughters to the demons.” Much of Psalm 106 describes the sin of the people of Israel in the wilderness. Verses 34-39 detail how they compromised themselves by taking on the evil practices of the nations around them. But :35-37 especially describe HOW this sad state came into being. It didn’t happen all at once; there was a certain and sure progression, deeper and deeper into compromise:

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Grace For Those Who Fall Short

Posted on 2013/10/21 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 106:3 says: “How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times.” If only we did! Unfortunately this rules out every one of us: NONE of us practices righteousness at ALL times! “There is NONE righteous; not even one”! (Romans 3:10)

This is why the grace of God is so important

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Sing Praises to Him

Posted on 2013/10/20 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 105:2 instructs us: “Sing to Him; sing praises to Him.” Notice some things about this verse which instruct us regarding our worship of God:

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By Faith He Lived

Posted on 2013/10/19 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 11:9 says of Abraham: “by faith he LIVED as an alien in the land of promise.”
It is one thing to step out initially in faith (as it says in :8 that Abraham did); it is another to LIVE in an unfamiliar land, with people surrounding you who do not support that faith, with no tangible “results” to see — and to do it for some period of time, as Abraham did.

Yet this is exactly what WE are called to do! Continue reading →

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