💥 Podcast: David behaves himself wisely as Saul tried to kill David: (patience, endurance, love even of enemies)

 

(This podcast was previously published on, November 14, 2021)

 

I Samuel 19

1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:

Saul is in a very difficult position.  He is king of Israel although God has removed HIS Holy Spirit from Saul and has given an evil spirit from the Lord to Saul to torment Saul.

The army loves David.  The people love David.  Saul's son, Jonathan, loves David.  Saul's daughter, Michal, loves David and has become David's wife.

I Samuel 19

4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he (David) shall not be slain.

(But Saul will not keep his word and immediately Saul continues his goal to kill David.)

7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.

9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.

14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.

17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

David has the Holy Spirit of God.  Samuel, the prophet of God, has the Holy Spirit of God.  Now they are together as king Saul seeks to do David harm.

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The work of the Holy Spirit:

John 14:26  Jesus says:  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever HE shall hear (from God), that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.

Was Jesus with the people of God in the Old Testament?  Yes.

I Corinthians 10:1-4   Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

John 1:1-4  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made. In HIM was life; and the life was the light of men.

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Proverbs 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

 

***

 

Philippians 4:6-8  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

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James 4:6-7  But HE giveth more grace. Wherefore HE saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

 

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

***

 

Proverbs 11:28  He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

 

***

 

Luke 18:1  And HE (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

 

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I Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

*** 

 

2 Timothy 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please HIM WHO hath chosen him to be a soldier.

 

  

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💥 Luke 19 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

² And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

³ And he sought to see Jesus who He was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

⁴ And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see Him: for HE was to pass that way.

(He made an effort to see Jesus ... he got himself into a position to see.)

⁵ And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

⁶ And he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully.

⁷ And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

⁸ And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

⁹ And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

¹⁰ For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

¹¹ And as they heard these things, He added and spake a parable, because He was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

¹² He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

¹³ And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

¹⁷ And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

¹⁸ And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

¹⁹ And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

²⁰ And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: ²¹ For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

²² And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
²³ Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

²⁴ And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

²⁵ (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

²⁶ For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

²⁷ But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

²⁸ And when He had thus spoken, He went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

***

²⁹ And it came to pass, when He was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, ³⁰ Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. ³¹ And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

³² And they that were sent went their way, and found even as He had said unto them.

(The Word comes to pass as HE said ... That is what happens concerning The Word.)

³³ And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

³⁴ And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

³⁵ And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

³⁶ And as He went, they spread their clothes in the way.

³⁷ And when He was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

³⁸ Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

³⁹ And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto Him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

⁴⁰ And He answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

***

⁴¹ And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, ⁴² Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

⁴³ For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, ⁴⁴ And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

(The above is yet to come.  The destruction of Jerusalem.)


***

⁴⁵ And He went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
⁴⁶ Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

***

⁴⁷ And He taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy Him,
⁴⁸ And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

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💥 Podcast: David and king Saul

 

(This podcast was previously published on, November 13, 2021)

 

Even before David fought Goliath, God had chosen David to replace Saul as king and David was anointed by the prophet Samuel as king, replacing Saul. 

I Samuel 16:13  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

The Holy Spirit had been removed from Saul and the Holy Spirit was given to David, and Samuel the prophet of God had anointed David by the Word of God to be king over Israel.  

Though God had made these changes, they didn't come to pass in the eyes of the people until later. Saul remained king and David was little known.  But in the spiritual kingdom David replaced Saul as king and it would be seen by all in time.

In the meantime, Saul keeps David with him and even makes David to be in charge of his army.  

(But David is already anointed by God as king to replace Saul. I Samuel 16)

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I Samuel 18

5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

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And God has removed the Holy Spirit from Saul, and God has given HIS Holy Spirit to David.

So David has the Holy Spirit and Saul has been given, "an evil spirit from the Lord."  

I Samuel 16

14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he (David) loved him (Saul) greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

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But now Saul has his eye on David and Saul is going to try to kill David.

I Samuel 18

10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he (Saul) was afraid of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.  

(That would cause Saul to hate and fear David even more.)

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I Samuel 18

20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

(Saul kept sending David to fight the Philistines in hopes that the Philistines would kill David.  But the Lord with with David and he was victorious against the Philistines.)

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Saul sets it up for David to marry his youngest daughter and to fight Philistines.

25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.

27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.

30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

And Saul continued as David's enemy and tried many times to catch David and to kill David.  But God was with David.

2 Samuel 3:1   Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Ephesians 2:8-10  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

10 For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

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Galations 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 

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Psalm 32:8  (God says) I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with MINE eye.

 

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I Timothy 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

 

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Psalm 48:14  For this God is our God for ever and ever: HE will be our guide even unto death.

 

 

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💥 Luke 18 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

² Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
³ And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
⁴ And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
⁵ Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
⁶ And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

⁷ And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?
⁸ I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?

(Things will get so bad toward the end, even faith will come into question ... and except the time be shorted there would no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  Matthew 24)


***

⁹ And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
¹² I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

***

¹⁵ And they brought unto Him also infants, that He would touch them: but when His disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

¹⁶ But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

¹⁷ Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

(child-like faith)


***

¹⁸ And a certain ruler asked Him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

¹⁹ And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

²⁰ Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

²¹ And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

²² Now when Jesus heard these things, He said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow Me.

²³ And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

²⁴ And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, He said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

²⁶ And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

²⁷ And He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.


***

²⁸ Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed Thee.

²⁹ And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.


***

³¹ Then He took unto Him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
³² For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
³³ And they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death: and the third day He shall rise again.

³⁴ And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.


***

³⁵ And it came to pass, that as He was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
³⁶ And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
³⁷ And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
³⁸ And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
³⁹ And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

⁴⁰ And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto Him: and when he was come near, He asked him,
⁴¹ Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?

And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

⁴² And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

⁴³ And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

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💥 Helped and restored by God

Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ

Psalm 18:30  As for God, HIS way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: HE is a buckler to all those that trust in HIM.

Recently a woman who says she is a Christian stopped by my house, and I was very grieved by her way of life. In the past the Holy Spirit has reminded me of things to share with her.  I did share those things and  believe she could have been helped by them.  But she has obviously chosen to go her own way instead of in the way of God. 

During her recent visit, I was given nothing at all to share with her. It was as if "it is over".

Later I was reminded of Titus 3:10-11 and think I was being shown the situation with this woman:
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

After this woman left my house, I was so sad and troubled and cried out to God to please restore me. In the night I woke with what we're told in Psalm 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear THEE (God), and of them that keep THY precepts.
 

A companion is someone we spend time with, share with, travel with.  I cannot be a companion with this woman for I want to be led by God, to go in the way of God, and she is going in her own way.  

 

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A couple days later, I went to get my hair cut at a new place. The woman who cut my hair, Tricia, commented about how much hair I have and said something like "You're not going to go bald any time soon." I told her I had been bald a few years ago. She asked "Cancer?" I replied "Yes." When she asked what kind, I told her about the bladder cancer, the recommended treatment of chemo with bladder removal, my asking God if I might be spared having my bladder removed, and how HE led me to chemo with radiation. She seemed interested in all of this and didn't try to change the subject.

We talked about various things as she cut my hair, mostly secular, but I wasn't troubled by anything she said.

As I was paying for the haircut, I noticed a small plaque near the desk with a paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 12:9 in which God told Paul that HIS strength is made perfect in weakness.

 
When I left I found myself thanking God, for I realized the sadness I had been feeling was gone, and I was again joyful.

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The following day, I saw a post on Next Door from a woman, Mary, who asked if anyone had recommendations for automatic litter box brands. (She is getting a new kitten.)

When I read this I remembered I had just seen 2 automatic litter boxes in my basement. My cats prefer non-automatic litter boxes. I decided to test them and they still work fine.  At the time, I thought "I wish I knew someone who could use these". So I responded to Mary that I had an automatic litter box she was welcome to have for free and she could see if her kitten liked it. I told her the brand, which happened to be one recommended by others who responded to her post.  She called and we had a pleasant short talk.

When she came to pickup the litter box, Mary said how much she appreciated getting this and insisted on giving me some money for it. I was happy to see this, not because I wanted the money but because I felt it showed a good heart in her, not the greed I have seen in others in the past who were offered something free.

After I helped her load the litter box into her car, she asked "Where do you go to church?" I told her I don't attend a church group but that I am a Christian!  I was surprised when she replied "Yes", in a tone as though she already knew that. Although I don't recall having said anything that would have let her know this, somehow she recognized I am a Christian. 

 

(Later I was reminded of a dream Joan Boney had received many years ago and shared.  In this dream there was a war going on. Everyone on both sides looked the same and we couldn't tell our "army" from the other "army."  So God gave us a password. When we spoke that password we knew which people were in our army.)

Mary went on to say that she was looking for a church to attend but hadn't found one yet. That evening I felt led to send her a link to our blog and podcasts. Her reply sounded very happy to know about these. If she is of God, I feel sure she will enjoy and can benefit from reading the blog and hearing the podcasts.

Again, I found myself thanking God for the opportunity to meet this woman and to get to share something that might be helpful to her.

 

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These seemingly "chance" encounters have been enjoyable to me, and I think God has used them to help restore me.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, HIS way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: HE is a buckler to all those that trust in HIM.

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Another way I've been helped by God recently ...

In mid-August I started seeing blood in my urine. This continued happening every 4-5 days.  

 

In 2022 I was diagnosed with a very high-grade, muscle-invasive bladder cancer and there was blood like this.  Although the prescribed treatment for this cancer is chemotherapy followed by surgical removal of the bladder, I asked God if I might be spared having my bladder removed.  HE led me to another treatment, chemotherapy with radiation therapy.  Treatment was completed in January, 2023, and followup tests have been done every 6 months since, with no cancer found.  (For a more complete account of what God did in this:  Led by God and Delivered by God in dealing with cancer.)

 

Although I reminded myself that the urologist had told me that I might see blood at times because of radiation cystitis (a side effect of the radiation therapy), I was terribly shaken, for blood in urine was the only symptom I had when there had been serious cancer.  Thoughts started coming, one after another, of things other than radiation cystitis that might cause blood (up to and including that maybe I was dying and needed to quickly get all my affairs in order!)   I cried out to God for help.

HE gave me several scriptures, including:

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose.

Hebrews 13:5-6 ... for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Isaiah 41:10, 13 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of MY righteousness.
13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

I typed them on my phone's NOTES so I could review them easily during the day and also recorded them on my phone and played the recordings through the night for several nights.

I was calmed tremendously by focusing on these scriptures. 

The extent that I was helped was obvious on September 21 when I went for my 6-month follow-up CT scan and blood tests. When the results were available for me to see online, there was no fear to look at them. These tests are pretty comprehensive, checking for more than just bladder cancer, and there's usually a little concern that something else might be found, and I have often asked God for courage to look at the results. 

But on September 21, inwardly I had a strong assurance that if something else was found, God was with me and would work it out according to HIS will.  It is hard to express how solid this was in me, and I have no doubt it is because of the scriptures I had been given to meditate on.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, HIS way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: HE is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in HIM.  

No cancer or other serious problem was found by the tests.  The urologist looked in my bladder the following week and said my bladder looks as expected for a person with radiation cystitis.  He went over that some blood is "normal" with this condition and then told me what symptoms would indicate cause for concern going forward.

 

 

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💥 Podcast: David and Goliath

 

(This podcast was previously published on, November 12, 2021)

 

I Samuel 17

1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

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When David hears the boasts made by the Philistine, Goliath, David is horrified and says:

I Samuel 17:26    What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

How dare this heathen to think he can overcome God and the armies of God? That is unthinkable.  It is unthinkable also today to think of any child of God being overcome by this world and it's people and the problems of this world.

Philippians 4:6   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

When we do this thing, God will help us and we overcome all by that which God brings to us by HIS Holy Spirit.

I John 4:4   Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.

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I Samuel 17

32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, HE will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.

(David had previous experience with God which equipped him for the battle.)

And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

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I Samuel 17

38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. 

And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

When we have experience with God and understand faith and how it works through the word given us by God in the battle, we know we will win by that which God has given us as we do HIS Word and HIS will.

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I Samuel 17

41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and HE will give you into our hands.

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I Samuel 17

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. 

And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

The battle was the Lord's.  The Lord caused the victory.

David did not do this by himself.  God was with David and had prepared David and led David in what he did.

When I read this story in 1975, after God caused me to be born again, I was certain God would uphold whatever word HE gave to us and HE would not allow any WORD from HIM to fail.

I knew all we had to do was do what that Word which God gave us said to do and to do all of that Word given to us.

I knew that we were to do the following:

Joshua 1

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 Have not I commanded thee? says God.

Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Psalm 28:7  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in HIM, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise HIM.

 

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Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 

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2 John 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

 

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2 Thessalonians 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

stablish: make stable, firm, settled

 

(Comments from Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ:

As we go through this life, things happen or thoughts come which cause us to be fearful, unstable or shaken.  When we turn to God, asking HIM to help us, HE is faithful to give us what we need to "stablish" us, making us stable, firm, settled.) 

 

 

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