Isaiah 49:8f; 10 "In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land…They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.” Faith reminds us of the importance of heavenly dependence. Whatever we allow ourselves to ‘feed on’ mentally, we allow it to take root in our hearts. One of the most difficult things to do in the busyness of life is to feed on positive things. We very easily get run down, tired, irritated or even restless because of seasonal cabin fever! We as a church family are soon to embark upon a chronological journey through scripture. This is a tremendous opportunity for our families to spend time in God’s Word! Allow this journey to be a grand adventure for you, your spouse and your children. Satan has a way of allowing us to feed on negative thoughts at times. Again, whatever it is we ‘plant’ in our minds has a tendency to take root in our hearts! You’ve heard the phrase: “Garbage in-garbage out”…that’s true in many applications. Take a mental break this week: Find a quiet place; a place of solitude and allow your God of compassion to guide you and lead you beside springs of water. As a shepherd who lovingly looks out for the wellbeing of His sheep, our Lord will continually look out for the wellbeing of His sons and daughters.

Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

1 Sam 22:2 “All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.” That particular passage of scripture comes from the account of David running from Saul as Saul was seeking to kill him. Isn’t it interesting how when certain people exhibit various actions others will be attracted or repulsed by that behavior? When certain folks heard about David’s plight, they started identifying with his situation. But, it wasn't the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army -- and what an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David's men into "mighty men of valor". God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer. Although some of antiquity knew that failure was a part of maturing in God, the Greeks saw failure as disqualification (1 Cor. 1: 18f). Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God's way! We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced! The worst part about failing would be refusing to get back up once we failed. It may have appeared David quit as he was hiding out in caves with those as destitute as himself, but God was shaping him into being a king who could identify with those to whom life had dealt a heavy blow. (See 2 Samuel 9: 6-7).

Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin