BRIGHT SPOT

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, people don't light a lamp just to put it under a bowl...Instead...Let your light shine before men that they may see the way you live and glory your Father in Heaven." -Mt 5:16

We live in a dark, dark world, one disparately in need of light. Our culture and our those around us are blindly searching for satisfaction and purpose in all the wrong places. Success, possessions, fame and recognition are to be had in plenty but the truth is that they never satisfy for long.

King David had women, fame, success and infinite material possessions, but yet he said in Psalm 16:2, "You are my Lord, apart from you I have no good thing." David recognized what our culture today has failed to so far, that making Christ your Lord is the only way to live an abundant and satisfied life (John 10:10).

As Christians we have experienced the abundant life that comes with following Christ and we need to live in a way that shows we are changed people. We shouldn't be boastful or proud in the way we live but we should never be "ashamed of the gospel" (Romans 1:16) or what God has done in our lives.

"Let your light shine." What a cool idea. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 says, "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well." When opportunities come this week to let your light shine, don't be afraid to share your life with somebody. Don't talk around the fact that you went to church on Sunday or spent time with friends from Bible study last night. Offer to pray for your neighbors and invite people into your home so they can experience God's love firsthand through your family. If we never raise "faith flags" by the way we live or in conversation, how is anybody suppose to know that it's Christ who makes us different? Most people who don't know Christ will never darken the door of a church or feel compelled to crack a bible. If you and I aren't living out God's love around and among them, how else are they going to see the light of Christ?

Max Lucado says in his book "It's Not About Me" that the "human job description can be reduced down to one simply task, to be God mirrors who reflect His glory." The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that when we look upon the Lord, "our faces should reflect like mirrors the brightness of our God." You and I can have the best intentions to shine a bright light but if we are not daily gazing upon the Savior, our light will fade and grow dull until we blend in with the darkness around us. Make sure and spend some time with the Light of the World today and them go out and reflect his love and glory for all to see!

Family Man

Jim Redmond showed the amazing heart of a Dad at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when he burst through security to help his son Derek cross the finish line after tearing his hamstring in the middle of his race.  

"When King David was old and well advanced in his years, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him.  So his servants said to him, 'Let us look for a young virgin to attend to attend to the king and take care of him'.... They searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl and found Abishag ... she took care of the kind and waited on him, but the king had no intimate relations with her."   - 1 Kings 1:1-2

In the passage above, David, the most famous and king that had ever lived lies alone on his deathbed. David's reign had been marked by incredible military and national success, but all at the cost of his family. David committed adultery early on and pitted each of his wives against each other, all fighting for the affection of the king and for the rights of the their child as the rightful successor to the throne.  David's own children had affairs with each other, killed each other, became outlaws and even tried to kill their own father.  The condition  of  David's home sounds extreme and surprising for a wonderful king after God's own heart, but it is no different that most our homes today.   For those of you that are fathers, your kids and your wife, like David's, are dying for your attention, affection and love.  David was successful in his career, socially and at the office but he failed at home.  As a result, he died a lonely death, abandoned by the family he had abandoned and comforted only but a strange teenage girl.  

I believe God gives us David's example of failing at home to show you and I that a man who fails at home, fails in life.  There has never been more of a need for great dad's who understand and live out this principle every day than right now.  Don't believe me?  Just take a second to think about the sons and daughters that are being raised in today's homes.

Today's young men don't know how to be men.  They shirk responsibility, don't know how to treat a lady, and fall into the trap of thinking their inability to be a man means they must be homosexual.  Most of today's young women don't feel loved or appreciated by their fathers and seek attention from other men any way they can get it.  They give up their bodies, settle for love from guys who are jerks, believe lies about the way they should look and have zero self confidence or self worth.  If you are a Dad right now, you have a huge job.  If you're not a father just yet, get ready because your time is coming.  

There is no higher calling in life than being a parent, and especially a Dad.  In, Jesus' last words to believers on earth he tells us to go and make disciples of all people.  Jesus did this himself in taking twelve men under his wing, spending time with them, teaching them, loving them, forgiving them, and pouring into their lives in every way possible.  I can't think of any better setting to do this in than in a parent - child relationship.  God has built into our lives an 18-year window of discipleship training with our children and that is an opportunity we can't let slip by.  If you want to be a man after God's own heart, follow his example and the example of Jesus by choosing success at home over everything else.  If your business, 401k or social standing suffer that's okay.  The impact left by your children and your children children's  will be far greater than anything you could have accomplished in ten lifetimes anyway.  

"Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your power to all who are to come."  - Psalm 71:18

Not easily broken

"Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself."  1 Samuel 18:3

Several times in the bible's account of David's life do we read about the awesome friendship between David and Jonathan.  Jonathan loved David, stayed loyal to him, and even saved David's life a time or two. 

King David understood the importance of surrounding yourself with good friends who can support and encourage you along the way.  It is pretty safe to say that David would not have experienced the success he did or his reign as king if it weren't for Jonathan.  Galatians 6:2 says it this way: "carry each other's burdens and in this way fulfill the lay of Christ."  If you look around you today, you will see hundreds, thousands and maybe even millions of people, each person a reminder that God did not design you and I to live life alone.  God has designed marriages, the family and the church around the principle that we need each other.  I love what David's son King Solomon has to say about friendships and support in Ecclesiastes 4:12; "A cord of three stands is not easily broken."  Two are always stronger than one.   It is important that you and I surround ourselves with great friends and support as we travel the ups and downs of the Christian life. 

What's your motivation?

“This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head….And the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”  -       1 Samuel 17:46

While David didn’t show too much common sense or evidence of logical thought by stepping onto the battlefield against Goliath, he did show an incredible source of motivation. Where did it come from? David’s first words to the giant above show that he was not there for himself or even for his country, he was there for the Lord.  David’s greatest desire and his ultimate motivation for fighting, and in all of life, was to see the Lord gloried and His name lifted high.

I really don’t think David was too worried about the outcome of the battle, a little scared I’m sure, but not worried.   He knew the Lord had called him to fight, he knew he had been obedient and he knew the Lord was going to be gloried by the result, win or lose.  All throughout the scriptures we find examples of the Lord using working throughout the events of history for his glory. 

David experienced an incredible sense of peace in his life, even while fighting Goliath because he remembered that the whole world, his life included, was firmly established in the hands of the Lord.  David expresses this view on life in Psalm 31:14-15 where he says, “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are me God.’ My times are in your hands.” It was the understanding that his life and survival, good or bad, success and failure, rested entirely upon the Lord that made David so willing to be obedient and brave.  This is way David was able to pray the following prayer in Psalm 31:3: “Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake or your name lead me and guide me.”   If you and I were to remember, like David that, “He’s got the whole world in his hands” we would be quick to answer God’s daily calling and brave when taking on the giants in our own life.  What is your motivation today?

Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!

"David said to Saul, your servant been keep his father's sheep.  When a lion or bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from it's mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it... the Philistine will be like one of them." 1 Samuel 17:34-36

I have often wondered what gave David the guts to go battle Goliath.  Logically it seems completely insane and I wouldn't have done it myself but why did he?.  What gave David the courage and confidence to step out on that battle field and how can we apply that same courage to the giants we face in our own life?  Looking through the scripture in 1 Samuel, I think the answer is two fold. 

The first thing David understood is that his God is a God who prepares.  From an early age whenever I had to make a big decision, my dad always taught me to look backwards, instead of forwards, and ask the question, "How has God been preparing me."  Our past experiences, trials and upbringing can provide great hints as to what God might want us to do next.  When I decided to become a teacher, my experiences working at summer camps, coaching, and growing up with three brothers reassured me that doing something with kids was part of God's plan for my life.  To David, it was obvious that his time as a shepherd had prepared him for his battle better than any military training ever could have.  He figured that those experiences with the lion and bear were not chance events but divine appointments that God has placed in his life for a reason.  Looking back is counterintuitive but vital to being in God's will for your life.  What has God been preparing you for lately?

The second thing David understood was the nature of God as a faithful father.  1 Thessalonians 5:24 says that "He who calls you is faithful and he will do it."  Matthew 7:9-10 says, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!".  

I will never forget the first time that I jumped off the diving board as a little kid.  I was scarred out of my mind, but jumped because I knew that my dad was in the water and had said he would catch me.  Although God does not promise for everything to go will our way and to protect us from all hardship, he does say that he will never leave or forsake us (Joshua 1:5).  God is such a good father. He is not going to tell you to cross the road so you can get blind sided by a car and he's not going to call to do something only to hang you out to dry. You might have to go through some battles with lions or bears in your lifetime but that doesn't mean God is unfaithful.  He's preparing you through those battles for great things in your future and he's with you every step of the way.  

When God calls, find confidence in knowing you are adequately prepared and that you serve a faithful God.

Handling Success

"David was playing his harp as he usually did..."  1 Samuel 18:10

In the Spring of 2009, the daily news was absolutely inundated with coverage of a new British singing sensation by the name of Susan Boyle.  Susan, who hails from a small, secluded Scottish village, was propelled into the worldwide media spotlight literally overnight due to her unexpected success on the reality TV show 'Britain's Got Talent'.  One glance at Susan is all it takes to realize she doesn't fit the mold of your typical pop star.  Her figure and physical features make her an unlikely candidate for musical stardom yet none the less, it took her less than a week to win over the hearts of the world. 

King David's story is strikingly similar to Susan's.  Like the singer, it took David only a single performance (the defeat of Goliath) for David to steal the hearts of his countrymen.  1 Samuel 18:7 tells us that upon Davids return from battle, women and children from all over the city flocked to the streets dancing and singing the following tune:

"Saul has slain his thousands, David his tens of thousands." 

As expected, the news of such a celebration didn't sit well with the current King, Saul.  He was angered and jealous but David stayed unchanged by the whole affair.  We don't find David out signing autographs or making appearances on late night TV talk shows, we find him in the palace, carrying out his service as the king's musician, "playing his harp, as he usually did".  David shows us that a man after God's own heart remains humble even in the face of great success.  This is extremely difficult to do, especially when so many people are singing your praises. If you want to be a man like David who is humble at heart, remember that all things, both good and bad, victory and defeat, come from the Lord. (Lamentations 3:38, "Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?") Anything success in your life is ultimately not your doing.  With this mindset we will be sure to give all glory and honor where it is due, to the Lord.  The bible says that Pride comes before the fall.  It usually doesn't take long for a cocky athlete, a prideful business owner or a know it all students to reach their demise. Continual, long term success comes to those who remain humble and let the Lord lift them up (James 4:10).  Don't ket success change you, stay true to yourself when it comes give the glory to the Lord.  

To watch Susan sing visit this URL:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z0h1NNk1Ik&feature=related

Blessings in the desert

King David is probably the most well known old testament King. You've likely heard the story of David and Goliath and might even remember when God spoke these famous words to the prophet Samuel telling him David was to be the next king of Israel:

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." - I Samuel 16:7

The Lord's words to Samuel are awesome for us today because they remind us that the Lord doesn't care what we look like or how we are viewed by others - he cares about the heart.

David is repeatedly referred to in scripture as a man after God's own heart and it is clear from reading the book of 1 Samuel that he held great favor in the eyes of the Lord. But this favor did not exempt him from experiencing great trials as well. We usually think of David as a king who had it made in the shade but this is far from the truth. While he did in fact defeat Goliath, route the Philistines and become a legend for his conquests on the battle field, David's life was far from a walk in the park. As his fame grew so did the degree of contempt towards him held by the current King, Saul. Because of this, David, God's appointed man, was forced to spend years as a fugitive before he ever took the throne. Did this mean that God had forsaken David? Not at all. Even while David was living in the desert caves and traveling from country to country, he was still God's man. God's blessing and his favor does not rest on our circumstances nor is it negated by tough times. Rather, God uses these times to prepare you for the future blessings he has in store. God used David's experiences in the desert to make him a better king, leader, father, and friend. He is doing the same with you and I.

It was early. After clearing the sleep out of my eyes, I quickly noticed the beautiful sun rays filtering through the trees as well as the large number of high school kids that were beginning to gather in front of me. I was a counselor at Kanakuk Kamps at the time and had been asked to speak at a morning devotional time called the "Launch Pad". Nervous and intimidating a bit by the crowd, I managed to fumble through my talk that morning. Hopefully at least one person heard something beneficial. Looking back, I realize that Joe and the rest of the leadership staff didn't have to let me speak but I was so thankful for the opportunity. In doing so they had given me a chance to practice speaking in front of people and improve my leadership skills.

We see a similar passion for leadership development with King David in 1 Kings 2:2-4. In these verses David gives his son Solomom a charge saying things like, "Be strong, show yourself a man, observe what the Lord requires, walk in his ways, keep his commands," and many others. David understood that the kingdom he had worked so hard to build would go to waste if there was not good ruler to reign in his place. It is no different than you and I. Bill Hybels in his book, Courageous Leadership, says that a leader is at his or her very best when they are helping those around them become better leaders. This is the best way for you and I to make an impact. A team of leaders reaching out to change the world around them will be far more effective than one super leader reaching out alone could ever be. Whereever you go and whatever you do, make sure to invest in those around you and give young leaders opportunties to fail, learn and lead.

"Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come." (Psalms 71:18)

The next generation is refereced 32 times in the book of Psalms alone. King David, the man after God's own heart, understood that passing on your leadership heritage and Christian heritage is very important to the Lord. Christ modeled this with his disciples and we need to do the same as disciplers and fishers of men.