I am in sunny and unseasonable warm Granbury, Texas this week retreating with some wonderful women from Stonewater Church. We covet your prayers as we seek to untie knots to spiritual freedom and learn to live truly free in Christ.
I love forward to coming back and reading all your comments. This story keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?
I love forward to coming back and reading all your comments. This story keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?
16 Comments:
Good Morning Girls,
Wendy, I hope you find some relaxation and fun "retreating" with the women at Stonewater Church.
I believe we have all experienced some spiritual freedom this week as we have shared topics from jealousy to praise. Wow!
It has really been a great week. I have enjoyed reading your blogs and have grown from what God has given you to share. Thank-you for sharing; this is a wonderful group.
This morning, I came across a beautiful praise video from Third Day... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR_OjKe7sJI
I wish I knew how to embedd it into my own blogg. If you get the chance, check it out.
Love,
Nancy
Nancy, I just sent you a comment to hopefully help you post a song on your blog. Let me know if it works.
I was struck by David's acts of kindness today.
"One day David asked, 'Is anyone in Saul's family still alive - anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?'" (2 Samuel 9:1).
"David thought, 'I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me'" (2 Samuel 10:2).
Kindness: the quality of being warmhearted, considerate, humane and sympathetic; forgiving; charitable; understanding, generous; willing to overlook a mistake; agreeable.
In today's reading we see David go the extra mile to extend kindness to others. He actually goes out of his way and makes a special effort to 'love on' the lost and forgotten.
The original Greek word for 'kindness' used here is 'grace'. Grace is a demonstration of love that is undeserved, unearned and unrepayable.
We see so much of God's grace demonstrated through David's actions. Did you recognize the Lord's kindness to us as we traced David's heart?
David seeks out the forgotten. He is the one who initiates the connections.
In the example of Mephibosheth David originally asked, "Is there anyone...anyone to whom I can show kindness..?" David didn't ask if there was anyone qualified or anyone worthy. He is offering acceptance based on unconditional love.
Upon hearing that Jonathan's son is a cripple, Mephibosheth's handicap didn't disqualify him from receiving kindness. David doesn't withdraw his request, ask "How badly is he crippled?" or "How did this happen?" No, David's first statement is one of longing for the lost to be found, "Where is he?" Sound familiar?
When Mephibosheth is brought to David, he immediately calls him by name. He longs to know him personally.
David summons Saul's servant Ziba and restores to Mephibosheth all that belonged to him through lineage.
David welcomed Mephibosheth at his table and treated him as a son.
I'm rejoicing today that the Lord came looking for me. That I am not forgotten. That although unworthy, I am accepted with unconditional love. That I was pursued, sought after and found. That God knows me by name. That He desires to have a deep relationship with me. That He is restoring me and returning the years the locust have eaten. That He welcomes me to His banqueting table and calls me His daughter.
I believe it was Charles Swindoll who expressed that the tablecloth of David's grace covered Mephibosheth's lame feet. The tablecloth of God's grace covers and cleanses my sin.
Is it any wonder that David is called a man after God's own heart!
Have a blessed weekend all,
Hugs,
Joy
Good Morning Everyone~
I will be lifting you up in prayer, dear Wendy, this weekend!
Thank you for serving us gals!
What a week it has been...it just keeps getting better! Joy, I love what you wrote this morning on kindness...You do have a way with words. I hope you're working on a book! :)
There is nothing more I can add to what Joy said re: kindness, so I'm going to bank this morning on the beginning of 2 Sam chapter 10.
"Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No!......" Look what followed out in the next sentences right before our own eyes! Can you see how easy it is for others to misjudge our motives? How often do minor misunderstandings lead to friction among God's people? Misunderstandings not only cause the disruption of fellowship between individual believers, but unchecked misunderstandings cause church splits as well. Unresolved misunderstandings do not shrink and go away---they just snowball! How tragic is this?! How can we minimize misunderstandings? We have to work to keep them from even starting, by following guidelines in our Bible, God's Word.
Good communication can nip problems in the bud. This will help to keep us from wrongly judging the motives of others and having our own actions misinterpreted. Honest and open communication is absolutely necessary.
Keeping communication lines open is even more important today, especially as we know the Devil has his forces trying to do everything possible to bring confusion and dishonor on God's people by separating Christians...husbands from wives, children from parents, and church members from each other.
We will give an account in the Day of Judgment for every idle, judgmental statement we have made.
Matthew 12:37.
So many wise lessons in God's Word. I LOVE READING THE BIBLE with you all!
Off to walk now...pretty soon I will have to go first-thing as it'll be so-ooo hot! This past week we've been in 100 degree weather!
enJOY the weekend...God is Good...All of the time!!!
Will listen to your song now, Nancy! :)
Praying for you all, my special sisters in the LORD! Lori - AZ
Good Morning Sweet Friends,
Wendy, I am praying for you and the wonderful women who will be "sitting at the table" of your teaching this weekend.
Nancy, Joy, & Lori, I love what you girls wrote.
I was first introduced to the story of Mephibosheth at a concert by Casting Crowns and Leeland. Leeland wrote a song based on this message called "Carried to the Table." I can't help but cry every time I hear it. Who am I that God would carry me to His table to sup with Him through the sacrifice of His only son, Jesus?! He is so amazing!
I am including the URL to the YouTube video for the song. Hope you paste into your URL bar and check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pum11nM5MrU
Blessings on your weekend everyone! I am heading to the "United Tour" concert tonight by Michael W. Smith and Stephen Curtis Chapman. I can't wait!! Based on what others have said, I am taking a bunch of kleenexes, too.
Happy day!
Lori - I just wanted to post that I am visiting Chandler,AZ this weekend to attend a friends wedding! I did not realize how close Meza was. Small world - and the weather has been great although it surely does get hot out here quickly. Love your comments - always gets me thinking on the readings more.
Kristen - that song and video was truly touching. I forwarded it to alot of people in my email contacts.
David for me is foreshadowing Christ. He is kind and forgiving. He is not following the law to a T like previous leaders, but offering grace and love.
Prayers to Wendy and the women she is fellowshipping with this weekend. And also to my sister bloggers in Christ!
Morgen - MN
Lori, I will be in Tucson May 5-12 taking care of my 98 yr old mom. Wish there were some way we could meet and share a hug.
This has been quite a week... so many lessons. You ladies are amazing. I am praying for everyone. Still remember Mary W from SC who has cancer, taking chemo and her husband who just had open heart surgery and is not doing well.
Good Evening Ladies,
I am just plain pooped. We had our ladies retreat at church last night and today. Guess what it was on... the book of Ruth. How great was that with everything we have been reading lately? I went to this retreat just needing for God to fill my soul with answers. By this afternoon I thought I was going to have to take about some stock in Kleenex. As I sat listening in the final moments of the retreat I heard what I needed to. It was in Ruth 4 vs 14-15 “The women’ said to Naomi: "Praise be to the Lord,’ who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer.’ May he become famous throughout Israel! 15) He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law,’ who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons,’ has given him birth."
I have been so upset about my divorce and all the hopes and dreams of growing old with my husband are dead. It isn’t that I doubted God. It is that I am mourning the loss of a 24 year love affair of my heart that will never be again. God’s word is true and He will fulfill it. In verse 15, he tells me He will renew my life and sustain me in my old age. Ladies, I got my answer at the close of the retreat. What is so amazing is that Naomi and Ruth are a lot like my mother-in-law and I!
As I look back on my weekend, I found what I needed in the promises of my Father. My heart is much lighter tonight. My eyes hurt from all that crying, but I am glad that I was able to let it go.
Wendy, prayers for you and those ladies you are with this weekend. May they be led to just the right place in the Father’s word. Travel safe friend.
Have a beautiful weekend friends,
Diane
Good Afternoon All,
Oh my Diane, my heart just goes out to you...I'm so sorry for this pain you are going through. God is all-knowing and He knows your pain too. He hates seeing His children upset, so you've got to know it is part of a bigger picture. His hands are on you. I'm so glad you were able to let it out at the retreat. Laying it all before Him...getting it off of your chest. I'm praying for you.
Brandee, I've got something that my sister-in-law uses that just might do the trick with your sinus problem...email me as I can't leave messages on your blog. (boohoo) princemesa@cox.net
Oh Sheryl...perfect weather for a wedding and yes, you're very close. Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler--all suburbs surrounding the Phx. Metropolis. Used to be that Mesa was a small town [well, maybe not as small as your darling little community, Nancy!]and we didn't even have to lock our doors, growing up. Chandler was farmland! There was actually land between the towns! Not anymore tho!
Jan, I've been to Tucson twice; it is about 2 1/2 hours from here...
It would be fun to see face to face! :)
Oh, how lucky you are Kristen! I know the concert will be AMAZING! I would LOVE to be there!!!
We actually have some teenager's coming over here for dinner/ late evening! Oh boy!
Until our next chat!
:)
Hugs,
Lori -AZ
Thanks, Joy!
Thanks so much, Wendy, for your wonderful wisdom and humor!
Keep me in your prayers as I find a way to tell my story about my boys.
Had a great lunch with you-
Dana Haedge
Happy Weekend Sisters~
I did not have much time this past week to read all your comments and to post my thoughts, but I have been keeping up with the reading and reading Wendy's post everyday. The reading on Thursday was my favorite of this past week and I look forward to another week with you all :)
God has blessed us here in TN was a absolutely gorgeous weekend! Yesterday we had family pictures made and they turned out to be the best ones we have ever had taken! I can't wait to see them all online when they get uploaded and get some ordered. Today we are planting our very first garden. Tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, cantaloupe, yellow peppers, squash, okra and some herbs. YUM! I am excited to get it going and planted.
Hope you all have a wonderful Lord's day!
Praising Him,
Brandee
Happy Sunday Dear Friends~ I'm actually ready early this morning and still have some time before heading off to church. As I walked this morning my mind could not get off of today's chapters. Our dear, dear David, our Godly Hero - that walked with God, our King - who always kept his feet in alignment with our Savior. A man of God's own heart. Oh, doesn't this clearly show us that something like this could happen to anyone?
Satan is lurking around each one of us, in great anticipation...ready to pounce at any chance he gets! He is smart enough to not allow us to think about the consequences...He's a master trickster, waiting for the right moment to allow our toe to touch the quicksand of temptation! And, before we know it, we are head-under!
As David "notices the woman of unusual beauty taking a bath..." he foolishly gives in to one temptation and the entire future of his family and all of Israel is affected.
This reminds me of a study they did in my son's Wed. nite small group. I read the book that the leader was presenting to the teenagers. They were taught that when they "saw" something that was inappropriate...that they were to immediately look away and not give in to this. No matter how much we teach our kids, or how many "tools" they have...Satan is there waiting...
I realize today just how important it is to pray over our husbands and sons/daughters with this very issue. Just because things seem to be fine, does not mean that they will be able to fight temptation at any given moment.
God forgave David, but...forgiveness does not remove the results of sin.
Lifting you guys up in prayer this morning and already looking forward to our upcoming week together! Sure do love you guys!
:)
Lori - AZ
Good morning and a blessed Sunday to all of you.
I, too, am still on the journey and drinking from the deep well of your comments every day.
God's brilliance just makes me smile...just this far into the journey you are all threaded through my life as if you are friends I've known forever: Joy's eloquence, Lori's exuberance, Chef Diane's gentleness, Wendy's vision & obedience...just to cite a few. I learn and am enriched by all of you. This journey has been such a blessing to me.
I wish you all a day of deep connection with our Lord...myself, I plan to dance like David as our praise team leads us into worship today!
God is Good! All the time!
All the time...God is Good!
And all the sisters said AMEN!
Singing & dancing in praise,
Liz
AK
Diane: prayers, hugs, encouragement and the wiping of tears I send to you...
You're searching in the right place for your help. Jesus rescues.
Morgen
My sweet bloggy sisters,
Thank you for your hugs, tears and emails. You have been so encouraging to me. It's funny, I have three sons, two at home. Boys think it isn't manly to cry.
When I was with my sisters this weekend, I let the flood gates open. :-) I want each of you to know something.
TEARS DON'T COMPROMISE YOUR STRENGHT. Cry it out sisters!
Cyber hugs and thank you,
Diane
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