See 2 Samuel 11 & 12
Sometimes even when we get it right, we are only a few small steps away from falling. And so it was with David. Just a short time after all his patient waiting, after his wisdom and grace in handling the transition to power, he finds himself in a different place. This place was one of complacency, of power, of pride – one where the king who goes out to battle with his men decides instead to stay home. The king who kept his eyes on God now puts them on a beautiful woman. Lust sets in, and then adultery, and then murder. The spiral downward is astonishingly quick and the callousness in David’s heart shocking. How could this man after God’s own heart fall so quick and so hard?
I was at a student retreat with work this past weekend. We were talking about leadership and people that have been leaders in our lives that have let us down, that have suffered tremendous moral failures. The disappointment and hurt in the stories was palpable. There is no sugar coating, no excuses that make it okay, just raw pain and wrongdoing. It’s like a sucker punch that knocks us on our feet. Talk of forgiveness is difficult, the bitterness real, and the trust broken.
As I was thinking about how to respond to the stories these students were sharing, it took me back to the place of failure in my life, when I let God down and those around me. I remember the guilt and the shame, the lies and the pain. The disappointment that just hung in the air. Nothing I could do to change it, to reverse it, to make it better.
I reminded my students of that, that any of us can find ourselves there. There is no immunity from failure, no immunization that protects us. Temptation can find us and sin can all too easily entrap us. We are all sinners in need of a Savior and in need of grace and forgiveness. There is no time when we are more aware of that need than when we utterly fail.
The story of David’s fall is humbling in so many ways. It is scary to see the fall of a great and godly man. But the hopeful and reassuring part of the story is that it wasn’t the end of David’s story. It didn’t disqualify him from being a godly man. In spite of the sin, in spite of the loss and ugliness and horror of his actions, God still loved David. He confronted David and sought Him out, not letting David hide from his sin. And when David repented, He forgave and restored David. There were steep consequences that David would have to endure, but there were still incredible moments ahead for him. Some of the most beautiful prayers come after David’s sin with Bathsheba – prayers of restoration and forgiveness, prayers leading Israel in praise and preparation for the temple and for Solomon as king, prayers of both humility and wisdom.
Maybe part of what made David a man after God’s own heart was not that he never failed but rather even in the time of his worst failure, his heart remained tender and open to correction, aware of the need for his Shepherd.
Showing posts with label Heart Like His. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heart Like His. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Seeking a Heart Like His – Through Success
It’s finally David’s time. Saul is dead. Israel needs a new king – and David is uniquely prepared for the role. 15 chapters and many, many years have passed since Samuel anointed David, a young shepherd boy, to be the next king of Israel. David has patiently waited and trusted in God, through the running, through the hiding, through all the trials… and now it is finally his time.
I think there is no more dangerous time that when we finally feel it is our time. When we get the big job, when God entrusts us with great responsibility and great ministry, when things are suddenly coming together and it is good, all good. Success finally comes and it feels good after the hard work, after the waiting, after all the prep work, all the paying our dues – it is finally our time, time to step into God’s purpose for our lives, time to see the fruits of our labors, time to…. Time to get full of ourselves, to think we deserve it, that we made it happen; time to become arrogant and prideful, time to get caught up in the money, in the reputation, in the spotlight or recognition, time that we can easily forget about God and forget that He is the One that led us there.
Yet, David doesn’t respond that way. It is finally David’s time and he approaches it with wisdom, humility, and grace. He is told that Saul is dead. Instead of rejoicing that his archenemy was out of the way, he leads Judah in mourning for the king. He seeks God’s guidance about his next steps. Instead of demanding respect and forcing the kingship, he works to win the respect and trust of Israel – reaching out to the men of Jabesh-Gilead and making peace with Abner, one of Israel’s leaders (2 Samuel 3). His confidence remains in God and God brings him favor. “David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Israel grew weaker and weaker” (2 Samuel 3:1b). God paves the way for David to become king. In His time, the shepherd boy becomes the shepherd-king of Israel. The tender heart of David, the one who handled this transition with such wisdom, humility, and grace – that tender heart, I think, is part of what made David a man after God’s own heart.
I want to be a woman after His heart – that’s what this whole study has been about for me, seeking a heart like His. Sometimes though, I don’t handle success well. There have been times in my life when I have felt I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. I feel myself starting to step into God’s purposes in my life, I see Him starting to use me. But then I get I get overly confident. I don’t wait on Him, and I take my eyes off of Him. I start to see my reflection in the mirror, instead of His, and stop to gaze and enjoy the view. Before I know it, I start sinking in the waves and falling on my face. Oh, to walk in that humility like David did, to keep my confidence on God alone, and to let Him be glorified, to see His reflection in my life and to let others see Him at work – then I will be able to handle success well and to have a heart like His.
I think there is no more dangerous time that when we finally feel it is our time. When we get the big job, when God entrusts us with great responsibility and great ministry, when things are suddenly coming together and it is good, all good. Success finally comes and it feels good after the hard work, after the waiting, after all the prep work, all the paying our dues – it is finally our time, time to step into God’s purpose for our lives, time to see the fruits of our labors, time to…. Time to get full of ourselves, to think we deserve it, that we made it happen; time to become arrogant and prideful, time to get caught up in the money, in the reputation, in the spotlight or recognition, time that we can easily forget about God and forget that He is the One that led us there.
Yet, David doesn’t respond that way. It is finally David’s time and he approaches it with wisdom, humility, and grace. He is told that Saul is dead. Instead of rejoicing that his archenemy was out of the way, he leads Judah in mourning for the king. He seeks God’s guidance about his next steps. Instead of demanding respect and forcing the kingship, he works to win the respect and trust of Israel – reaching out to the men of Jabesh-Gilead and making peace with Abner, one of Israel’s leaders (2 Samuel 3). His confidence remains in God and God brings him favor. “David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Israel grew weaker and weaker” (2 Samuel 3:1b). God paves the way for David to become king. In His time, the shepherd boy becomes the shepherd-king of Israel. The tender heart of David, the one who handled this transition with such wisdom, humility, and grace – that tender heart, I think, is part of what made David a man after God’s own heart.
I want to be a woman after His heart – that’s what this whole study has been about for me, seeking a heart like His. Sometimes though, I don’t handle success well. There have been times in my life when I have felt I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. I feel myself starting to step into God’s purposes in my life, I see Him starting to use me. But then I get I get overly confident. I don’t wait on Him, and I take my eyes off of Him. I start to see my reflection in the mirror, instead of His, and stop to gaze and enjoy the view. Before I know it, I start sinking in the waves and falling on my face. Oh, to walk in that humility like David did, to keep my confidence on God alone, and to let Him be glorified, to see His reflection in my life and to let others see Him at work – then I will be able to handle success well and to have a heart like His.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Seeking a Heart Like His - Through Grief
For those of you who don’t know, I am currently doing a Beth Moore Bible study on David. This study is so rich and has prompted my thinking in so many ways about what it meant for David to be a man after God’s own heart and what it means to me to be a woman after God’s own heart.
It’s been hard to find time for writing lately, so it’s been awhile since I’ve caught you up on David. So much has happened – we last left David in the difficult time of waiting, waiting to be king, waiting to step into God’s purpose in his life, and running from King Saul.
After years on the run, David finds himself almost at home in enemy territory, the land of the Philistines (1 Samuel 27). When the Philistines prepare to fight Israel, David and his men prepare to join them (1 Samuel 29). The king trusts David, but the other Philistine leaders do not. They send David & his men back home – thankfully. Can you imagine fighting against the people you are supposed to lead? What kind of political campaign would that create?
But when David & his men return to Ziklag, they find tragedy. Their wives, sons & daughters have all been taken; the city of Ziklag was burned to the ground. Nothing was left. Sheer devastation. Sheer grief.
“So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep” (1 Samuel 30:4).
At this point, could things get any worse for David? God is supposed to have good plans for his life, but he’s been on the run, Saul has been trying to kill him, and now his family is taken from him, and he and his men are exhausted and grief-stricken.
There are moments when all we can do is weep, when words seem completely inadequate, when our world comes crashing down, loss sets in and everything changes.
In those moments how comforting it is to know that we have a God that weeps along with us (see John 11:35). Even when Jesus knew the end of the story, even though He knew the good plans God had in store, He wept right along with Mary & Martha over the loss of their brother. In the time of our deepest grief and mourning, Jesus is right there with us, “a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3a). He shares our grief and our struggles. He doesn’t leave us alone.
And He didn’t leave David alone. “David found strength in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6b). David cried out to Him and God responded by giving Him strength and wisdom, and God led David into battle, giving him victory over the Amalekites (the bad guys) and freeing all the hostages.
A chapter later, David loses his best friend Jonathan and mourns the death of King Saul. The grief kept piling on. But God was always present, and He continued to give David strength. He is always present with us. And He cares. He evens weeps along with us. God is good. He works all things out for good (Romans 8:28), but we have to trust Him even when we can’t see the good, even in the midst of our grief.
This has been so true in my life. Moving is a different kind of grief, and for months after moving to Texas I was overwhelmed by the sense of loss in my life – friends, family, community. But God gave me strength and His presence has been so real in my life. I’ve now been here a year and I can see how He works it all out for good. He is still writing the story, but it’s a good story, even through the challenging times.
How has God strengthened you during times of grief? Have you felt Him crying with you?
Be encouraged. “I tell you the truth…you will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy” (John 16:20).
Next, we follow David to the throne and to success and praise... Stay tuned! I have a lot of catching up to do.
It’s been hard to find time for writing lately, so it’s been awhile since I’ve caught you up on David. So much has happened – we last left David in the difficult time of waiting, waiting to be king, waiting to step into God’s purpose in his life, and running from King Saul.
After years on the run, David finds himself almost at home in enemy territory, the land of the Philistines (1 Samuel 27). When the Philistines prepare to fight Israel, David and his men prepare to join them (1 Samuel 29). The king trusts David, but the other Philistine leaders do not. They send David & his men back home – thankfully. Can you imagine fighting against the people you are supposed to lead? What kind of political campaign would that create?
But when David & his men return to Ziklag, they find tragedy. Their wives, sons & daughters have all been taken; the city of Ziklag was burned to the ground. Nothing was left. Sheer devastation. Sheer grief.
“So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep” (1 Samuel 30:4).
At this point, could things get any worse for David? God is supposed to have good plans for his life, but he’s been on the run, Saul has been trying to kill him, and now his family is taken from him, and he and his men are exhausted and grief-stricken.
There are moments when all we can do is weep, when words seem completely inadequate, when our world comes crashing down, loss sets in and everything changes.
In those moments how comforting it is to know that we have a God that weeps along with us (see John 11:35). Even when Jesus knew the end of the story, even though He knew the good plans God had in store, He wept right along with Mary & Martha over the loss of their brother. In the time of our deepest grief and mourning, Jesus is right there with us, “a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3a). He shares our grief and our struggles. He doesn’t leave us alone.
And He didn’t leave David alone. “David found strength in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6b). David cried out to Him and God responded by giving Him strength and wisdom, and God led David into battle, giving him victory over the Amalekites (the bad guys) and freeing all the hostages.
A chapter later, David loses his best friend Jonathan and mourns the death of King Saul. The grief kept piling on. But God was always present, and He continued to give David strength. He is always present with us. And He cares. He evens weeps along with us. God is good. He works all things out for good (Romans 8:28), but we have to trust Him even when we can’t see the good, even in the midst of our grief.
This has been so true in my life. Moving is a different kind of grief, and for months after moving to Texas I was overwhelmed by the sense of loss in my life – friends, family, community. But God gave me strength and His presence has been so real in my life. I’ve now been here a year and I can see how He works it all out for good. He is still writing the story, but it’s a good story, even through the challenging times.
How has God strengthened you during times of grief? Have you felt Him crying with you?
Be encouraged. “I tell you the truth…you will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy” (John 16:20).
Next, we follow David to the throne and to success and praise... Stay tuned! I have a lot of catching up to do.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Seeking a Heart Like His - Through Waiting
For those of you who don’t know, I am currently doing a Beth Moore Bible study on David. This study is so rich and has prompted my thinking in so many ways about what it meant for David to be a man after God’s own heart and what it means to me to be a woman after God’s own heart.
What must it be like to have a clear sense of where God is calling you and who he is calling you to be, only to be told, not yet? That is where David finds himself in this week’s passage (1 Samuel 21 - 24). He has been anointed as king-to-be (ch 16). He has won a great victory over Goliath (ch 17). He has become famous throughout Israel, married the king’s daughter, taken on a prestigious position in the king’s court (ch 18). It looks like this is going to happen, that he is going to be king and the pieces are all coming together. But they aren’t. He has made this great climb up the ladder from unknown shepherd to famous warrior, but Saul is still king. Instead of preparing his future successor, Saul is trying to kill David. Instead of learning the ropes and building his future administration, David is running for his life and hiding in caves, leaving his family and friends behind, seeking refuge in enemy territory, crying out to God for help (ch 21-24).
So close, and yet so far away. And yet, David doesn’t rush God. As Saul is tracking David down, David even has the chance to take Saul’s life – to hurry things along, to speed up this process. But he doesn’t. David couldn’t have taken a shortcut to the throne. His men urged him on, and yet, David is resolute. David chooses to wait on the Lord – “Who am I to raise a hand against the Lord’s anointed?”
Wow! I wish I could rest in God like that. I am queen of second-guessing. Even when I feel like I have clear direction from God, I get anxious in the waiting wondering if I am doing enough, wondering what I need to do, wondering when things are going to fall into place. I still feel somehow it is up to me, even when it clearly is not. God is sovereign. He is the one that calls us, equips us, and uses us. He is the one that works all things out for good to those that love Him and are called to His purposes (Romans 8:28). That doesn’t always happen on our timetables, but we can rest in the waiting, knowing He is at work.
I can’t help but think of the song, “While I’m Waiting” by John Waller. Hopefully it will encourage you as much as it has encouraged me during those times of waiting.
“I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait
I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it's not easy no, but faithfully I will wait
YES, I WILL WAIT…” [emphasis mine]
What must it be like to have a clear sense of where God is calling you and who he is calling you to be, only to be told, not yet? That is where David finds himself in this week’s passage (1 Samuel 21 - 24). He has been anointed as king-to-be (ch 16). He has won a great victory over Goliath (ch 17). He has become famous throughout Israel, married the king’s daughter, taken on a prestigious position in the king’s court (ch 18). It looks like this is going to happen, that he is going to be king and the pieces are all coming together. But they aren’t. He has made this great climb up the ladder from unknown shepherd to famous warrior, but Saul is still king. Instead of preparing his future successor, Saul is trying to kill David. Instead of learning the ropes and building his future administration, David is running for his life and hiding in caves, leaving his family and friends behind, seeking refuge in enemy territory, crying out to God for help (ch 21-24).
So close, and yet so far away. And yet, David doesn’t rush God. As Saul is tracking David down, David even has the chance to take Saul’s life – to hurry things along, to speed up this process. But he doesn’t. David couldn’t have taken a shortcut to the throne. His men urged him on, and yet, David is resolute. David chooses to wait on the Lord – “Who am I to raise a hand against the Lord’s anointed?”
Wow! I wish I could rest in God like that. I am queen of second-guessing. Even when I feel like I have clear direction from God, I get anxious in the waiting wondering if I am doing enough, wondering what I need to do, wondering when things are going to fall into place. I still feel somehow it is up to me, even when it clearly is not. God is sovereign. He is the one that calls us, equips us, and uses us. He is the one that works all things out for good to those that love Him and are called to His purposes (Romans 8:28). That doesn’t always happen on our timetables, but we can rest in the waiting, knowing He is at work.
I can’t help but think of the song, “While I’m Waiting” by John Waller. Hopefully it will encourage you as much as it has encouraged me during those times of waiting.
“I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait
I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it's not easy no, but faithfully I will wait
YES, I WILL WAIT…” [emphasis mine]
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Seeking a Heart Like His - Through Prayer
For those of you who don’t know, I am currently doing a Beth Moore Bible study on David. This study is so rich and has prompted my thinking in so many ways about what it meant for David to be a man after God’s own heart and what it means to me to be a woman after God’s own heart.
Today’s passage (1 Samuel 22: 1-5) finds David running for his life from King Saul. David ends up in a dark and lonely cave. While there, David pours out his heart to God. His words are recorded in Psalm 142. Listen to some of his authentic prayer:
“I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before Him; before Him, I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way… I cry to you, O Lord, I say, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me” (Psalm 142:1-3a, 5-6).
David here is young and afraid, leaving home behind, surrounded by discontents and people with their own problems. David appears to be at his wit’s end, maybe literally (see 1 Sam 21). But it is here that he opens his soul up to God, that he prays for refuge and safety, for a sense of God’s presence with him.
I love that we can come to God authentically like that, when we don’t know the answers, when we don’t know what to do, when we are weak and afraid and struggling to make sense of God’s will for our lives. David has been anointed king. He could never have imagined that great call would start out by running for his life from the existing king. He doesn’t know how God is going to work. He doesn’t know what is going to happen. So he does the only thing he knows to do – seek God. In 1 Samuel 22:3, David says that he needs to learn what God will do on his behalf.
Lately, in particular, I have been burdened so much for my grandmother and my family, hurting for them and with them, as my grandmother’s health deteriorates. It is physically and emotionally exhausting for all of us, even for me being far away. But Sunday as I came back in from church, I just sat down and prayed and poured my heart to God. Like David, I had felt completely overwhelmed, in need of refuge and peace.
It was so wonderful to be able to come before my Father, to let Him know my cares, to give Him my hurts and my fears, the questions and the anxiety. And as I laid it down at His feet, I sensed His presence and His peace all over again. I was reminded of His great love for us and His great provision. You see, He cares. In the midst of whatever is going on in our lives, He cares. He is Emmanuel, “God with us” – He knows our tears and our fears, our desires and our hopes. And He walks through it all with us.
I can't help but think that it in times like those, when we come to Him just as we are, seeking refuge in Him, that He reveals more of His heart to us, and more of His heart with us.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” - 1 Peter 5:7
“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
Today’s passage (1 Samuel 22: 1-5) finds David running for his life from King Saul. David ends up in a dark and lonely cave. While there, David pours out his heart to God. His words are recorded in Psalm 142. Listen to some of his authentic prayer:
“I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before Him; before Him, I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way… I cry to you, O Lord, I say, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me” (Psalm 142:1-3a, 5-6).
David here is young and afraid, leaving home behind, surrounded by discontents and people with their own problems. David appears to be at his wit’s end, maybe literally (see 1 Sam 21). But it is here that he opens his soul up to God, that he prays for refuge and safety, for a sense of God’s presence with him.
I love that we can come to God authentically like that, when we don’t know the answers, when we don’t know what to do, when we are weak and afraid and struggling to make sense of God’s will for our lives. David has been anointed king. He could never have imagined that great call would start out by running for his life from the existing king. He doesn’t know how God is going to work. He doesn’t know what is going to happen. So he does the only thing he knows to do – seek God. In 1 Samuel 22:3, David says that he needs to learn what God will do on his behalf.
Lately, in particular, I have been burdened so much for my grandmother and my family, hurting for them and with them, as my grandmother’s health deteriorates. It is physically and emotionally exhausting for all of us, even for me being far away. But Sunday as I came back in from church, I just sat down and prayed and poured my heart to God. Like David, I had felt completely overwhelmed, in need of refuge and peace.
It was so wonderful to be able to come before my Father, to let Him know my cares, to give Him my hurts and my fears, the questions and the anxiety. And as I laid it down at His feet, I sensed His presence and His peace all over again. I was reminded of His great love for us and His great provision. You see, He cares. In the midst of whatever is going on in our lives, He cares. He is Emmanuel, “God with us” – He knows our tears and our fears, our desires and our hopes. And He walks through it all with us.
I can't help but think that it in times like those, when we come to Him just as we are, seeking refuge in Him, that He reveals more of His heart to us, and more of His heart with us.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” - 1 Peter 5:7
“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
Friday, November 18, 2011
Seeking a Heart Like His - Through Friendship
For those of you who don’t know, I am currently doing a Beth Moore Bible study on David. This study is so rich and has prompted my thinking in so many ways about what it meant for David to be a man after God’s own heart and what it means to me to be a woman after God’s own heart.
I alluded to friendship in my last post in the Heart Like His series, but I wanted to go back and revisit it. Friendship is a lost art in our society. In the age of social networking, we include hundreds, if not thousands in our “friend” list, and yet, research continues to show that the average person reports only having 1.5 close friends. Many people report having no close friends. Think about that, no one to confide in when things get tough, no one to walk by your side or share big news.
One of the toughest parts of moving for me is leaving my friends behind. I feel so greatly the loss of people that I have shared life with, that have walked through good times and bad times with me, that have opened up new worlds and new interests to me. And even when I know I will forge new friendships ahead, it is never easy to leave other ones behind.
There are those rare friendships, though, that transcend place and time – that become constant threads through different chapters of life. I’ve been fortunate to have more than 1.5 of those – friends that I can pray with, cry with, laugh with, celebrate with, share life with. Friends that are so refreshing and special and irreplaceable. They encourage me and challenge me and teach me and inspire me. And they make my life so much more than mediocre.
David & Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18 & 20 is a beautiful picture of that kind of friendship. It may seem odd at first that David and Jonathan became such fast friends. In the first encounter between them, Jonathan makes a covenant with David. Fast friends. If we look closer at their lives, we start to see all that they had in common, why their spirits were knit together so quickly. In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan attacks the Philistines with his armor bearer and claims an important victory for Israel. Compare that scenario with David’s fight against Goliath (1 Samuel 17) and you will see that David and Jonathan had quite a bit in common – both stepped into battle courageously, both had faith that God would work on their behalf, neither was intimidated by the taunting of their enemies, and both inspired courage in others leading Israel to great victories.
Jonathan’s friendship proved invaluable to David, protecting him from Saul’s jealousy and allowing David to escape with his life. And David would never forget that – mourning over Jonathan’s death (2 Samuel 1) and providing for his family (2 Samuel 9). Some friendships are like that- they leave deep imprints on our hearts and change our lives forever.
I’m forever grateful for my forever friends.
“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” – Proverbs 18:24
“A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17
I alluded to friendship in my last post in the Heart Like His series, but I wanted to go back and revisit it. Friendship is a lost art in our society. In the age of social networking, we include hundreds, if not thousands in our “friend” list, and yet, research continues to show that the average person reports only having 1.5 close friends. Many people report having no close friends. Think about that, no one to confide in when things get tough, no one to walk by your side or share big news.
One of the toughest parts of moving for me is leaving my friends behind. I feel so greatly the loss of people that I have shared life with, that have walked through good times and bad times with me, that have opened up new worlds and new interests to me. And even when I know I will forge new friendships ahead, it is never easy to leave other ones behind.
There are those rare friendships, though, that transcend place and time – that become constant threads through different chapters of life. I’ve been fortunate to have more than 1.5 of those – friends that I can pray with, cry with, laugh with, celebrate with, share life with. Friends that are so refreshing and special and irreplaceable. They encourage me and challenge me and teach me and inspire me. And they make my life so much more than mediocre.
David & Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18 & 20 is a beautiful picture of that kind of friendship. It may seem odd at first that David and Jonathan became such fast friends. In the first encounter between them, Jonathan makes a covenant with David. Fast friends. If we look closer at their lives, we start to see all that they had in common, why their spirits were knit together so quickly. In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan attacks the Philistines with his armor bearer and claims an important victory for Israel. Compare that scenario with David’s fight against Goliath (1 Samuel 17) and you will see that David and Jonathan had quite a bit in common – both stepped into battle courageously, both had faith that God would work on their behalf, neither was intimidated by the taunting of their enemies, and both inspired courage in others leading Israel to great victories.
Jonathan’s friendship proved invaluable to David, protecting him from Saul’s jealousy and allowing David to escape with his life. And David would never forget that – mourning over Jonathan’s death (2 Samuel 1) and providing for his family (2 Samuel 9). Some friendships are like that- they leave deep imprints on our hearts and change our lives forever.
I’m forever grateful for my forever friends.
“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” – Proverbs 18:24
“A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Seeking a Heart Like His - Through Love
My grandmother turns 87 on Wednesday. She went back to the hospital last night and is not doing well. It’s been a rough road over the last seven months, in and out of the hospital, in a long term care facility, having okay days and really bad days, battling bronchitis & pneumonia, stomach problems and any host of other issues.
It’s been so hard to walk through this time with my family, to love through the incredibly tough times. I have thought so many times about how much I want to be there by her side and just as many times about how grateful I am to be at a distance and to be protected in some ways from seeing her suffering up close and personal. Then I get mad at myself for feeling that way. I miss her so much and so wish I could be there to hold her hand, to sing songs with her, to pray with her, to sit with her when the loneliness sets in.
I was thinking that so much of love is not staying at a safe distance away, but choosing to be in the mix, choosing to walk with someone through the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, through whatever comes. I have a lot to learn about that kind of love, the kind of love that steps into the fire with you and holds your hand through it all.
In seeking a heart like His, and in walking with my family through this time, I am learning more about what it means to love like that. I see my Mom by my grandmother’s side day-by-day. I see her love shine through even the toughest of days. It’s not easy and often exhausting, but she is there. What an incredible act of love that is!
There are so many different pictures of love in the story of David. We see the almost instant love between Jonathan & David (1 Samuel 18) – two men who had a common faith in God and a not-so-common blend of courage and humility. Then we see the false love of King Saul, who “loved” David because he made him feel good (1 Samuel 16:21-23). David’s music soothed his troubles. Saul’s love though would be as fleeting as a chapter, turning the page to hatred and jealousy (1 Samuel 18). Then Michal, Saul’s daughter loved David (18:28) – admired his valor and his victories, but not his passion for the Lord and the dancing in the streets (2 Samuel 6:12-16). Contrast that to David’s love for Abigail, based on her wisdom and grace in the way she intervened to prevent David from rash vengeance (25:32-40).
All these human relationships and the complexities of love remind me that even the strongest of human loves is imperfect and flawed. Even at our best, when we get it right, it still pales in comparison to God’s great love for us (Romans 8: 38-39). But I am not even close to getting it right. I read 1 Corinthians 13 and I realize how far I have to go to develop that patience and that kindness, that willingness to endure all things, and hope all things, that ability to forgive and to keep no record of wrongs, and yes, to stay in the mix and to suffer alongside.
God is teaching me what it means to love, in the most unlikely of ways. I have always loved my family and my grandmother – but my understanding of what that means is shifting and growing. I am learning how to live that love out practically day-by-day with those that mean the most to me. And in the process I am understanding new depths of His love for each of us.
It’s been so hard to walk through this time with my family, to love through the incredibly tough times. I have thought so many times about how much I want to be there by her side and just as many times about how grateful I am to be at a distance and to be protected in some ways from seeing her suffering up close and personal. Then I get mad at myself for feeling that way. I miss her so much and so wish I could be there to hold her hand, to sing songs with her, to pray with her, to sit with her when the loneliness sets in.
I was thinking that so much of love is not staying at a safe distance away, but choosing to be in the mix, choosing to walk with someone through the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, through whatever comes. I have a lot to learn about that kind of love, the kind of love that steps into the fire with you and holds your hand through it all.
In seeking a heart like His, and in walking with my family through this time, I am learning more about what it means to love like that. I see my Mom by my grandmother’s side day-by-day. I see her love shine through even the toughest of days. It’s not easy and often exhausting, but she is there. What an incredible act of love that is!
There are so many different pictures of love in the story of David. We see the almost instant love between Jonathan & David (1 Samuel 18) – two men who had a common faith in God and a not-so-common blend of courage and humility. Then we see the false love of King Saul, who “loved” David because he made him feel good (1 Samuel 16:21-23). David’s music soothed his troubles. Saul’s love though would be as fleeting as a chapter, turning the page to hatred and jealousy (1 Samuel 18). Then Michal, Saul’s daughter loved David (18:28) – admired his valor and his victories, but not his passion for the Lord and the dancing in the streets (2 Samuel 6:12-16). Contrast that to David’s love for Abigail, based on her wisdom and grace in the way she intervened to prevent David from rash vengeance (25:32-40).
All these human relationships and the complexities of love remind me that even the strongest of human loves is imperfect and flawed. Even at our best, when we get it right, it still pales in comparison to God’s great love for us (Romans 8: 38-39). But I am not even close to getting it right. I read 1 Corinthians 13 and I realize how far I have to go to develop that patience and that kindness, that willingness to endure all things, and hope all things, that ability to forgive and to keep no record of wrongs, and yes, to stay in the mix and to suffer alongside.
God is teaching me what it means to love, in the most unlikely of ways. I have always loved my family and my grandmother – but my understanding of what that means is shifting and growing. I am learning how to live that love out practically day-by-day with those that mean the most to me. And in the process I am understanding new depths of His love for each of us.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Seeking a Heart Like His
After finishing up the RuthSaga, it’s time to turn the page to the part of the legacy she left behind – the story of her grandson, David, who would become king of Israel and most importantly, a man after God’s own heart.
As I get ready to dive into David’s life, I want to keep asking that question – what made him a man after God’s own heart? He certainly wasn’t perfect – there are some pretty big moral failures in his life. He certainly had family issues and personal conflicts. But yet, there was something about his heart that stood the test of time, that saw him through the waiting to become king, the sin with Bathsheba, the trouble with his family. There was something about him, maybe about the way he tended his sheep, or the way he faced the “giants” in his life, something about the way he sought to honor God and humbled himself before Him. There was something different about this man.
Whatever that something different was, I want it. I want a heart like his. I want to be a woman after God’s heart, to live my life in a way that glorifies Him, that has the tenderness of a shepherd and the boldness of a warrior.
I think of the Brandon Heath song, “Give Me Your Eyes.” I’ve quoted it many times before as the prayer of my heart. Lord, give me your eyes for others. Give me a heart like yours. I want my desires to mirror yours. I want my life to be pleasing in your eyes. Teach me & show me.
What do you think it means to be a person after God’s heart? What does that look like for you? Share your thoughts and comments. And stay tuned for more as we delve into this study of David.
As I get ready to dive into David’s life, I want to keep asking that question – what made him a man after God’s own heart? He certainly wasn’t perfect – there are some pretty big moral failures in his life. He certainly had family issues and personal conflicts. But yet, there was something about his heart that stood the test of time, that saw him through the waiting to become king, the sin with Bathsheba, the trouble with his family. There was something about him, maybe about the way he tended his sheep, or the way he faced the “giants” in his life, something about the way he sought to honor God and humbled himself before Him. There was something different about this man.
Whatever that something different was, I want it. I want a heart like his. I want to be a woman after God’s heart, to live my life in a way that glorifies Him, that has the tenderness of a shepherd and the boldness of a warrior.
I think of the Brandon Heath song, “Give Me Your Eyes.” I’ve quoted it many times before as the prayer of my heart. Lord, give me your eyes for others. Give me a heart like yours. I want my desires to mirror yours. I want my life to be pleasing in your eyes. Teach me & show me.
What do you think it means to be a person after God’s heart? What does that look like for you? Share your thoughts and comments. And stay tuned for more as we delve into this study of David.
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