“An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.  The heart of her husband trusts in her…” (Proverbs 31:10-11)

The bedrock of a successful marriage is trust.  A couple that trusts each other and trusts God is bound to find victory in their union.  Real, authentic trust that is verified and consistent allows two people to function as one.  When both individuals have full confidence in the goodwill intent and effort of the other, they are able to build dreams together without fear of sabotage.  Trust removes anxiety and fear and replaces them with security and hope.

For the single – find a mate your heart can trust.

For the married – become the person your spouse’s heart can trust.

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17-24; Psalm 31; Proverbs 31

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’: but my hand shall not be against you.” (1 Samuel 24:13)

The natural tendency of man is to think well of himself, to assume that we are good.  Saul thought he was good, and David thought he was good.  But our lives are defined by what we do, not by who we think we are.  Saul was a king attempting to kill an innocent man, and David was an innocent man who spared Saul’s life even when he had the chance to kill him.

Wicked people do wicked things, and righteous people do righteous things.  It is the choices which define who we are, not our intentions or motivations.  The sluggard who stays in bed had the best of intentions, but he still never got up.

We are what we do.  So get up and do good.  Choose to do what is right regardless of how you feel about it.  Stop waiting to be motivated and simply start moving.  Motivation is overrated.  You are what you do.

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17-24; Psalm 31; Proverbs 31

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“But a messenger came to Saul, saying ‘Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.’” (1 Samuel 23:27)

When Saul pursued David in the wilderness of Maon, it seemed as if all hope was lost.  Saul was closing in, and David’s band of warriors were quickly becoming surrounded on all sides.  As the walls closed in and the noose tightened, Saul received a message that led him away.

I don’t know the name of the messenger, but I know Who sent it.  God has a way of protecting His people in unexpected ways.  Don’t waste your life worrying – God has a zillion ways to redeem and rescue His people.  There is no worst case scenario for those who belong to Jesus.

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17-24; Psalm 31; Proverbs 31 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“…so Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to death.” (1 Samuel 20:33)

         Jonathan was a king’s son, but even with a royal lineage, he wasn’t immune to family trouble.  Jonathan didn’t want to believe his father would be so egotistically and suspicious as to hate David to the point of murder, but family can be complicated, and the truth is what the truth is.

         Jonathan remained faithful to God, honored his earthly father where he could, and showed kindness to David all at the same time.  Life was complex, but Jonathan found a way to faithfully navigate the broken world he lived in.  It is a good reminder to us that people are messy, but there is always a path to living righteously.  Jonathan is a reminder that bad fathers have good sons and that each of us are responsible for ourselves, regardless of our origin story.

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17-24; Psalm 31; Proverbs 31

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand.” (1 Samuel 17:16)

         The joke I tell my high school students is that if you need to guess a number in the Bible, it is probably forty (or maybe seven!).

The Bible is full of forties:  forty years in the wilderness for Israel, forty days in the wilderness for Jesus, forty days and nights of rain in Noah’s flood, forty days on Mount Sinai for Moses, and Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection over a course of forty days… just to name a few.

Forty typically represents a time of testing and transformation.  After a season of forty – whoever it is, rarely is the same if they endure to the end.  Goliath taunted Israel for forty days.  Only one man rose to the challenge and was transformed by it.  David entered a shepherd and left a warrior king.  Your life will have ‘forties’, too.  Who knows what God might be preparing you for?

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17-24; Psalm 31; Proverbs 31

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, yet is not washed from filthiness.” (Proverbs 30:12)

The problem with subjective standards for morality is that when the person who has to live up to the standard can also set the standard, even the filthiest behavior becomes acceptable.  Without impartial refs, the game is rigged for cheating.

The Bible is an objective standard – the Scriptures hold us all accountable to do better even when we don’t feel like we need to improve.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 10-16; Psalm 30; Proverbs 30 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

In our darkest moments, we look at the wreckage of our struggles, the fragility of our bodies, and the constant barrage of news of natural disasters and human suffering and think to ourselves, “Is this my life?”

We can wallow in the seemingly endless journey ahead of struggles and heartaches consumed by the fear that it will never end, but that is a lie.

In the LORD, suffering is temporary, and joy is eternal.

The tears will dry up, and the morning will appear.  Struggle on faithful soldier; the dawn will break soon.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 10-16; Psalm 30; Proverbs 30

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“…for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6)

         God is not restrained, but we forget.  God can do whatever He wants.  He doesn’t have human frailties or earthly bounds to His abilities or His goodness.  God saved the entire world through one Man, Jesus.  If He can do that, He can certainly use you to fulfill His will or use impossible circumstances to glorify Himself.

         We follow a God of abundance.  Abundant wisdom and abundant strength.  Don’t worry about the statistics; just follow the King.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 10-16; Psalm 30; Proverbs 30 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, but I will instruct you in the good and right way.” (1 Samuel 12:23)

         Samuel has every reason to be fed up with Israel.  They haven’t listened to reason, they’ve requested a king against God’s orders, and they’ve shown themselves to be capricious and fickle in their loyalty to Jehovah… and throughout all of these events, Samuel has been caught in the middle.

         So, what does Samuel do?  He promises to pray for them and keep instructing them in the good and right way.  Samuel is steadfast while they are impulsive.  Samuel is loyal in the face of their faithlessness.

         Don’t let others decide your direction.  Your character, your choice.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 10-16; Psalm 30; Proverbs 30 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Then Samuel said to the people, ‘Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.’ ” (1 Samuel 11:14)

         In the previous chapter, Saul had been appointed as king of Israel, and the ordinances of the kingdom had been established with all the people present, but then everyone went home.  New king, but same old life.

         In this chapter, the king (Saul) musters an army, saves a city (Jabesh), and destroys an invading nation (the Ammonites).  After the victory, the nation gathers again to renew the kingdom.  Saul’s already been king, but now he is a king who has saved them.

         Maybe Jesus is already your King, but don’t forget to renew your commitment to Him as He protects, provides, and blesses you.  You have a new King, and as your life is impacted by Him, the commitment becomes all the more real.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 10-16; Psalm 30; Proverbs 30

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision