Grace Point Live

Love and Respect

2008-03-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

Max Lucado

2008-02-04T17:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Life Group!

We will be studying from Chapter 5 of Max Lucado's book, 'Facing Your Giants' this Sunday Feb 10th. Be sure and drop by and check us out. You will gain from the experience.

It's David and Goliath Again

2008-01-21T06:01:00.000-08:00

A Command Requiring Faith

God told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you.

A Promise of Abundance

I'll make you a great nation and bless you.
I'll make you famous; you'll be a blessing.

Obedience and a Leap of Faith

So Abram left just as God said...

Confirmation of God After the Leap

God appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your children." Abram built an altar at the place God had appeared to him.

Takes Eyes Off God and Fear Takes Over

Then a famine came to the land. Abram went down to Egypt to live; it was a hard famine. As he drew near to Egypt, he said to his wife, Sarai, "Look. We both know that you're a beautiful woman. When the Egyptians see you they're going to say, 'Aha! That's his wife!' and kill me. But they'll let you live. Do me a favor: tell them you're my sister. Because of you, they'll welcome me and let me live."

This is David's story all over again. It seems to speak to the nature of God and people. Maybe it is a warning sign for us.

Be encouraged when you are obedient and take that leap of faith.

Be in awe as God blesses your obedience in tangible ways.

Be watchful you don't take your eyes off the source of your blessings.

Be alarmed when you experience fear

Be quick to turn back to Jesus.

Raging Sauls and Desperate Days

2008-01-20T06:15:00.001-08:00

Stepping back for just a minute, I have proposed that all of us should pursue an abundant life. We defined abundance as the perfection of God's will and purpose in your life. With abundance as a target, Jesus will be our focus. Acknowledging that we can never appreciate God's abundance without the help of Jesus.

Over the last couple of weeks we talked about the classic children's bible story of David and Goliath. David was asked to take food to his brothers on the front battle lines. When he got there, he was astonished or maybe not, that his brothers and the entire Israelite army was being taunted, bullied and shamed by the Philistines. The Philistines had sent out their champion bully, Goliath. He was challenging the Israelites to send out their best and "winner take all". Every one was cowering back unwilling to take on Goliath. They amassed their total battle force and prepared to take on the giants. Enter David.

David grabbed 5 stones. 1 for Goliath and 4 for Goliath's brothers. He ran to the giant. Told him he was about to die. Maybe Goliath was laughing and threw his head back. David flung a stone, hitting his exposed forehead. Goliath goes down. David takes Goliath's sword and cuts off his head. He takes his head as proof and puts his armor in his tent. Where was David's focus as he raced down the hill to fight Goliath. Was he focused on Goliath or was he focused on God? This is so key to living a victorious life. We can not have victory while focused on the problem. We must focus on Jesus and let God work through us and others to create the abundance we so desperately crave and need!

When facing your giant, pick the absolute worse possible outcome and take it before the Father. Say, "God this situation is impossible. Unless you choose to step in I will be destroyed." Then, claim God's Word in your prayer. Shift your focus from the problem and focus on Jesus. Maybe pray, God you have said that if I pray anything in your will, you will answer my prayer. Claim the Word of God in your prayer. God is not a liar. So pray, God please save me from destruction and provide the abundant life you have promised me. Then be still and wait for the "peace that surpasses all understanding". Really! It works! Do it!

This brings us to today's story: the aftermath of David whipping the biggest baddest bully in the world as they knew it.

David is received in Saul's household because of his heroic deeds. His father has lost his #1 sheep herder. David and Jonathan immediately bond and Jonathan is totally committed to David. Out of tremendous love for David, Jonathan does a seemingly nonsense thing. He makes a covenant and transfers his right to the throne to David. Every task David is given by Saul, he does well and everyone loves him.

It would be great if the story ended here and everyone lived happily ever after. But it is only the beginning. In my life's struggles, God has been faithful. I have experienced abundance, but it's not the end. It is always the beginning of the next struggle God will use to bring me to the place of full abundance. This includes obedience and God's perfection of His will and purpose in my life. A full life with Christ just keeps getting deeper and better. The struggles are what drive me to where God can do His best work.

Facing Your Giants

2008-01-12T18:20:00.001-08:00

Life Group Friends,
We are starting a great study called "Facing Your Giants" by Max Lucado. The first chapter talks about the traditional David and Goliath story when David whacks Goliath with a stone. We covered this adventure from the Word and had a great time with it last week. You can read it on this blog's previous posting. So tomorrow, we will jump right in and cover chapter two and three.

Likely, you are way past chapter three in your reading. The book is written in true Lucado style and is pretty engaging and easy reading. As always, come prepared to contribute in body, soul and spirit. You guys and gals are the best!

Love ya,
Archie

David and Goliath - No Fear

2008-01-06T17:40:00.000-08:00

Here are my thoughts as I read God's Word from:

1 Samuel 17

David and Goliath

^{1 -3} The Philistines drew up their troops for battle. They deployed them at Socoh in Judah, and set up camp between Socoh and Azekah at Ephes Dammim. Saul and the Israelites came together, camped at Oak Valley, and spread out their troops in battle readiness for the Philistines. The Philistines were on one hill, the Israelites on the opposing hill, with the valley between them.

^{4 -7} A giant nearly ten feet tall stepped out from the Philistine line into the open, Goliath from Gath. He had a bronze helmet on his head and was dressed in armor—126 pounds of it! He wore bronze shin guards and carried a bronze sword. His spear was like a fence rail—the spear tip alone weighed over fifteen pounds. His shield bearer walked ahead of him.

Why the wait? Were they ready for battle? Did they know the scripture? Did Goliath know the scripture? Did he know people in his ranks that thought something was up?

^{8 -10} Goliath stood there and called out to the Israelite troops, "Why bother using your whole army?

This was Goliath day of fame. His ego would kill him. Likely, he had strutted his stuff for years and enjoyed victory in battle. A bully around town. Taking what he wanted. Nobody to stop him. His power went to his head. He believed the lies of others that nothing could stop him, yet what was with all this armor? Did he secretly know he was vulnerable? Was he fearful?

Am I not Philistine enough for you? And you're all committed to Saul, aren't you? So pick your best fighter and pit him against me. If he gets the upper hand and kills me, the Philistines will all become your slaves. But if I get the upper hand and kill him, you'll all become our slaves and serve us. I challenge the troops of Israel this day. Give me a man. Let us fight it out together!"

Goliath must have knew he was unstoppable. Was he confident or not? Did he just enjoy being on the local news making fun of an entire nation?

¹¹ When Saul and his troops heard the Philistine's challenge, they were terrified and lost all hope.

What a tremendous depression must have filled the Israelite camp. The evil one and his dominion were devouring the Israelites from the inside out. He was feeding their fears. God allowed Satan to have his day of fame. God allowed the Israelites to know failure. There was no doubt in any ones mind of the outcome of the battle. THE STAGE IS SET!

When catastrophe of gigantic proportions loom overhead, is when God has the biggest opportunity for establishing His preeminence. As Christians we will be David many times throughout our life. The battle will be waiting. The enemy laughing at you. Your friends saying you are defeated. Think of Job. You have to make a choice. You are weak in your flesh. You are a child of the King at heart. What will you choose to do when faced with your Goliath?

^{12 -15} Enter David. He was the son of Jesse the Ephrathite from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse, the father of eight sons, was himself too old to join Saul's army. Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the three sons who had joined up with Saul were Eliab, the firstborn; next, Abinadab; and third, Shammah. David was the youngest son. While his three oldest brothers went to war with Saul, David went back and forth from attending to Saul to tending his father's sheep in Bethlehem.

¹⁶ Each morning and evening for forty days, Goliath took his stand and made his speech.

When in battle, repetitious lies may be spoken against you. It is normal if you hear a lie enough times you will begin to believe it. Goliath spoke his lies 80 times. Each time, the Israelites began to believe it a little more. How can you battle the lies you are told? What is the best kind of lie? It is a lie that looks and feels like the truth. Think of Adam and Eve. Think of I an nothing in self, but am everything as a child of the King.

^{17 -19} One day, Jesse told David his son, "Take this sack of cracked wheat and these ten loaves of bread and run them down to your brothers in the camp. And take these ten wedges of cheese to the captain of their division. Check in on your brothers to see whether they are getting along all right, and let me know how they're doing—Saul and your brothers, and all the Israelites in their war with the Philistines in the Oak Valley."

David must have been anxious for this day. Up at the crack of dawn. The battle was about to begin. Does it seem like God waits until the last minute to show His power in battles you have fought? Why might that be? Might it be that the weak are parsed out and the faithful are left standing to receive God’s abundance? When life is the darkest, look for God to shine new light. Look for God to save you and kick Satan in the teeth. God is stronger than he that is in the world.

^{20 -23} David was up at the crack of dawn and, having arranged for someone to tend his flock, took the food and was on his way just as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the army was moving into battle formation, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines moved into position, facing each other, battle-ready. David left his bundles of food in the care of a sentry, ran to the troops who were deployed, and greeted his brothers. While they were talking together, the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, stepped out from the front lines of the Philistines, and gave his usual challenge. David heard him.

^{24 -25} The Israelites, to a man, fell back the moment they saw the giant— totally frightened. The talk among the troops was, "Have you ever seen anything like this, this man openly and defiantly challenging Israel? The man who kills the giant will have it made. The king will give him a huge reward, offer his daughter as a bride, and give his entire family a free ride."

Everyone was fearful. There was no one faithful. Everyone looked at the size, shape, complexity of the problem. There was no solution. They were confident of their impending death. Wouldn’t you be?

Five Smooth Stones

²⁶ David, who was talking to the men standing around him, asked, "What's in it for the man who kills that Philistine and gets rid of this ugly blot on Israel's honor? Who does he think he is, anyway, this uncircumcised Philistine, taunting the armies of God-Alive?"

²⁷ They told him what everyone was saying about what the king would do for the man who killed the Philistine.

Who was pushing who’s buttons? Did the troops see David’s eagerness? Maybe their perception of his naivety? They were under pressure to fight Goliath. Their superiors wanted someone to do battle for them. Or was David intentionally pushing their buttons? I think it was incredulous to David that no one was stepping up to battle, ever with the promised rewards of the king. The winner would be set for life!

But, that was not David’s motivation. He was there because God was with him and David was looking to see where God would work today! It was just part of David chasing after God that he found himself delivering cheese to the front line with an expectatious Spirit wondering how God was going to use him?

²⁸ Eliab, his older brother, heard David fraternizing with the men and lost his temper: "What are you doing here! Why aren't you minding your own business, tending that scrawny flock of sheep? I know what you're up to. You've come down here to see the sights, hoping for a ringside seat at a bloody battle!"

^{29 -30} "What is it with you?" replied David. "All I did was ask a question." Ignoring his brother, he turned to someone else, asked the same question, and got the same answer as before.

God’s light exposes the darkness of the soul. Without God we are cowards or stupid. Probably both.

³¹ The things David was saying were picked up and reported to Saul. Saul sent for him.

Those in authority will take note of individuals that confidently stand alone and above the crowd.

³² "Master," said David, "don't give up hope. I'm ready to go and fight this Philistine."

Reminds me of young Samuel hearing God’s voice as a child. God requires obedience from us regardless of the battle or the possible outcome. It’s not about us. It is all about God. If we can ever understand and appreciate how small we are and allow God to provide us the power, we will move mountains and slay our Goliaths.

³³ Saul answered David, "You can't go and fight this Philistine. You're too young and inexperienced—and he's been at this fighting business since before you were born."

Saul sees with his eyes, not with his heart.

^{34 -37} David said, "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. And I'll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine."

David’s confidence in God is based on his faithfulness, obedience and actions of the past that have allowed God to work miracles in his life. He is confident in God’s power and purpose. David lives an abundant life. Saul has nothing to loose and everything to gain. He is ready for God to step in.

Saul said, "Go. And God help you!"

^{38 -39} Then Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge. David told Saul, "I can't even move with all this stuff on me. I'm not used to this." And he took it all off.

⁴⁰ Then David took his shepherd's staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath.

David knew what he knew. He was willing to try the Kings way on for size, but when it came down to battle it was outfitted in God’s armor. Don’t you know he was contemplative while he picked the five smooth stones. He was looking into the future. He believed with God’s help, he would slay Goliath. He picked up four more stones for Goliath’s brothers. He was prepared to go the distance. He considered the possibility that the battle would not end with Goliath and he wanted to be ready.

^{41 -42} As the Philistine paced back and forth, his shield bearer in front of him, he noticed David. He took one look down on him and sneered—a mere youngster, apple-cheeked and peach-fuzzed. ⁴³ The Philistine ridiculed David. "Am I a dog that you come after me with a stick?" And he cursed him by his gods. ⁴⁴ "Come on," said the Philistine. "I'll make roadkill of you for the buzzards. I'll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice."

David’s adrenaline must have been pumping! Maybe he thought, ‘Without God I will die. Like the fiery furnace. I don’t know if God will save me, but I know He can.’ Or maybe he had no doubts. Maybe his confidence was fortified with faith and he never even considered the possibility of failure. Either way, he was obedient. The outcome of the battle did not determine the pleasure of God on David’s life.

^{45 -47} David answered, "You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel's troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I'm about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there's an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn't save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he's handing you to us on a platter!"

And the battle begins with David leading the charge. He wasn’t just single handedly taking on a giant. He became commander in chief. The entire army was following him.

^{48 -49} That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt.

David ran to battle and outpaced the entire army. There were none so eager. Can you imagine the confidence David instilled in the troops. Likely, they were remembering the God that their fathers had told them about. The God that loved them. The God that had saved their nation many times before. The God that had sent angels to battle for them in times past. They were ready to fight. It took one little scrawny shepherd’s boy accompanied by a BIG God to establish their victory.

⁵⁰ That's how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David!

God had spoken.

⁵¹ Then David ran up to the Philistine and stood over him, pulled the giant's sword from its sheath, and finished the job by cutting off his head. When the Philistines saw that their great champion was dead, they scattered, running for their lives.

Let there be no doubt. Goliath was dead. Victory was Gods.

^{52 -54} The men of Israel and Judah were up on their feet, shouting! They chased the Philistines all the way to the outskirts of Gath and the gates of Ekron. Wounded Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road all the way to Gath and Ekron. After chasing the Philistines, the Israelites came back and looted their camp. David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem. But the giant's weapons he placed in his own tent.

⁵⁵ When Saul saw David go out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, "Tell me about this young man's family."

Abner said, "For the life of me, O King, I don't know."

⁵⁶ The king said, "Well, find out the lineage of this raw youth."

⁵⁷ As soon as David came back from killing the Philistine, Abner brought him, the Philistine's head still in his hand, straight to Saul.

⁵⁸ Saul asked him, "Young man, whose son are you?"

"I'm the son of your servant Jesse," said David, "the one who lives in Bethlehem."

What story are you reminded of? There was a Savior born in the city of David, Bethlehem. He was an insignificant carpenter’s son. Who in battle, defeated the evil on. Jesus has gone before you in battle. Now it is your turn. Will you be the brother that tells others to go home or will you be the one that can’t believe no one is doing anything. Will you be the one that runs into battle with nothing but the armor of God?

Facing Your Giants - Grace Point Live

2007-12-27T17:52:00.000-08:00

Grace Point Live - 360 Life Group
Sundays 11:00 Room 280
New study starting with the new year.
You are invited!

Facing Your Giants
Max Lucado

Excerpt:
Giants. We must face them. Yet, we need not face them alone.

This profound look at the life of David digs deeply into the defeats he suffered, and the victories he won, as he faced the giants in his life. When David focused on God, giants tumbled. But when David focused on giants...he stumbled.

Goliaths still roam in our world. Debt. Disaster. Dialysis. Divorce. Deceit. Disease. Depression. These super-sized challenges swagger and strut into our lives, pilfering our sleep, embezzling our peace and robbing us of our joy. And while these giants try to dominate our lives, we know what to do! We've learned what David learned, and we do what David did. We become God focused. We pick up five stones. We make five decisions. And we take a swing.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-22T06:02:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to our Grace Point Live 360 Life Group. We have our feet planted on solid ground as we close out the year in contemplative thoughts about the wonderment of Christmas. I pray the season will bring you warm thoughts of all the blessings God has brought you this past year and amazement as you contemplate His potential for blessings in the new year. May God richly bless you and yours as you adopt His ways in your life. Archie

Now that we have God's word.....

2007-12-09T05:40:00.000-08:00

Now that we have God's word what do we do with it? Is there really value in the Bible? How can a book of words written thousands of years ago be relevant today? Why is it that people around the world are willing to die for pieces of the scripture and yet there are copies of the Bible left at church and never retrieved? What good is God's word to you personally? Does it make a difference in your life? Should it make a difference? How does it make a difference?

Consider the act of reading the Bible. One might take a history course and part of the requirements is to read some part of the Bible and report on the historical evidence of Jesus as a real person. The Bible would serve as a great history book. One might even get an 'A' grade for an excellent report. Knowledge would have be gained. Was this God's intent for your relationship with His word? Does He just want you to gain historical evidence?

Consider the following passage. What value might there be in reading this passage and will it make any difference in your life? What happens when you read God's word.

²⁴I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

We know that Christ is talking about his upcoming death, burial and resurrection. You might immediately think that there is no relevancy for me. If so, you'd be wrong. When you read the scripture and if you are a believer, you might be humbled and say, 'Thank you, Jesus for what you did for me on the cross." Knowing that Jesus spoke with many levels of depth to His words, you might consider what impact it might have on you to place yourself in Christ's role of dieing to self and living for Him.

²⁷"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸Father, glorify your name!"

We know because we have read the book, that Christ refers to his upcoming excruciating death. What significance might this passage have to you in modern day history? We might recognize that Christ has the option to either accept or reject the plan God had presented to Him. He could have chose to save Himself. Place yourself in Christ's role. How might have you responded? Consider a problem you are experiencing. How are you responding?

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." ²⁹The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Wow! A voice came from heaven that sounded like thunder. That puts a different vantage point to how I look at thunder when I hear it. Maybe it is the voice of God?

³⁰Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. ³²But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." ³³He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Be in awe....

³⁵Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. ³⁶Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Dec. 9 - Couples 360 Life Group

2007-12-04T20:43:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 33

Distress and Help

⁵ The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.

⁶ He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.

¹⁰ "Now will I arise," says the LORD.
"Now will I be exalted;
now will I be lifted up.

¹³ You who are far away, hear what I have done;
you who are near, acknowledge my power!

²⁴ No one living in Zion will say, "I am ill";
and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven.

Great Expectations

2007-11-30T12:15:00.000-08:00

I know it's not Easter, but this is where I am in my Bible reading and the passage jumped out at me. When that happens, God always has some special truth to reveal. Let's try to discover the truth together.

Jesus was cruxified and rose again. Possibly, the most important event ever for mankind. Peter heard the truth and by faith immediately.......

Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that's all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head."

Revelation of truth requires action. "Peter jumped.." It doesn't say Peter got up from where he was sitting when the commercial started on TV. It says he jumped. He jumped from surprise mixed with great anticipation. It is almost like Peter was expecting the unexpected. Isn't that the way God works in our lives. He works His way in our life such that His will and purpose is accomplished and our needs are met abundantly.

Peter "ran to the tomb." God chasers don't wait for a vote. They don't wait for others to lead the way. God chasers seize the moment. It reminds me of the proverbial hurricane chasers. You have seen them on TV. They hear there is likely to be a hurricane in an area or there is an actual sighting. All the conditions are right. They hop in the fastest transportation they have and head for the scene of where the hurricane is expected. They are anxious. They are fearful. They passionately want to be the one that gets the closest to the energy source. They want the best view. A hurricane chaser knows he will never be the same if he can just get close enough to experience first hand the power coming down. Sounds like a God chaser.

Peter "stooped to look and saw". No man comes before the Father upright and proud. When Peter stooped to look, he humbled himself before God. Then with a heart right before God, he saw. You can't see if you don't look with eyes that see. Peter didn't see what everyone expected to see. He saw truth. Jesus Christ had risen.

Having seen the truth, Peter was puzzled. God will reveal truth to you and often it takes time for understanding and wisdom to sink in. God may give instant understanding or God may requires years for you to consider the greatness of His revelation. But, always there is purpose in God's revelation. Revelation requires action.

We all have expectations in life. The Jewish people expected a Savior to come and rule the earth. They expected He would come and be their earthly king. They expected life would be great and their enemies would finally be conquered. About the only thing they got right was that their King was coming. Unfortunately, they didn't recognize Him. Their expectations were not fulfilled, because they were not open to receive the completion of their dreams. They did not have eyes to see.

What 'Great Expectations' do you have that have not been met or have they? Follow Peter's example. Wait, look and listen to what others have to say, but go to Jesus personally. Don't walk. Run to Jesus. If you don't see what you expected, that doesn't mean it's not true. It means change your vantage point. Look at your expectations in a different light from a different angle. Be humble before God. Look at your expectations in God's light. There is truth waiting for you if you have the eyes to see and ears to hear.

Identify the True Lion

2007-11-25T05:27:00.000-08:00

Lion chasers need to know what a lion looks like. Wouldn't it be silly to chase a lion, slay it and only later find out it was a dog. You slay the lion. You dress it out nicely. You make a coat from the fur and you brag about the kill to your friends. You say, 'Hey look at my wonderful lion skin coat'. They say, 'That's no lion skin. That's a dog skin.' Pretty ridiculous right, but the point is the obvious problem may not be the lion for you to conquer.

Consider my tooth ache. It was an obvious problem that had to be solved. It seemed obvious that it was a lion that had to be slain. I could kill this lion. I had the solution. I could borrow money to pay the dentist to fix my tooth. But, my tooth ache and its incredible pain was not the lion. The lion was really the problem created because I had committed to living a life of no debt. That's when it was time to get God involved. This lion was not going to be slain without God's help. That is the way life is designed from the beginning of time to get us in a closer relationship with our heavenly Father. You make the choice.

In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day

2007-11-25T04:34:00.001-08:00

"What if the life you really want, and the future God wants for you, is hiding right now in your biggest problem, your worst failure... Your greatest fear?"

I've been reading and studying a book titled, 'In a pit with a lion on a snowy day', written by Mark Batterson. It is a great book that is helping me to understand and legitimize the fact that problems are not necessarily bad. We can choose to let them be bad or we can choose to use them as the catalyst to allow God to work in our lives in the biggest way you and I have ever experienced. It really is our choice! God is alive and well. Why not seek after Him to do BIG things in your life?

The story begins in Chapter 23 of 2 Samuel, verses 20-21....

^"20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. ²¹ And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. ²² Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. ²³ He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard."

The stage is set. Benaiah is walking home minding his own business when he spots a lion. Now what do you do when you see a lion. That's right you go the other way as rapidly as possible. Especially on a snowy day. This lion is likely hungry, because it is winter time and hunting is a little tougher. What does Benaiah do? He sees a lion in a pit and goes in after him. That's just not normal for the average guy. But apparently from the rest of the passage, Benaiah is not a normal guy. He is accustom to accepting the challenges of life as opportunities to accomplish great things. Do you know any lion chasers?

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. Did He create it for personalized success in your life or personalized failure? God created the heavens, earth and you with the desire to see you live life abundantly. The entire creation is designed with you in mind and the opportunity for you to live an abundant life that brings glory to God. God wants the perfection of His will and purpose in your life to be the abundance He has created for you. God has designed your life and the environment and circumstances surrounding your life such that regardless of the choices you have made to date, you can still begin the journey toward living an abundant life. But, it is unlikely you will get there without chasing lions into pits on a snowy day.

The concept of facing a lion is centered around the idea that problems as bad as they may seem are really opportunities for God to work in a powerful way. Remember, God created the heavens and the earth. He is preeminent. He is subservient to no one or anything. He can do what He says He can do and He will do what He says He will do. Problems are a part of life. It is our responsibility in order to grow and become powerful in Christ to accept our problems as opportunities to grow closer to Christ and strengthen our grip on what it means to be a Christian. Let me share with you my last week's adventure facing a lion in a pit on a snowy day.

Pastor John at work this last week asked the question, "Are you living your life in a way that is worth telling stories about?" I am afraid of needles. No, that's not right. I am afraid of the pain that needles bring. When I was young, I got real sick. My mother took me to the doctor and he said, 'this shot may hurt a little'. It was bad. It was real bad. It really hurt. It was one of those shots where you see the pain in the face of the nurse giving it. So, I carry that fear with me. The anticipation of the pain the needle is going to bring me.

Last week I cracked a tooth. Have you ever tried to keep smiling with the pain from a cracked tooth always present in the forefront of everything you are doing? Smiles aren't cheap. They cost when the pain from a bad tooth is making the whole side of your face hurt. The solution is easy. Right? Just run to the dentist and get the problem taken care of. You might not have the ready cash to spend, but it is necessary so it makes sense to just whip out the credit card and make the pain go away. But there was a problem....

I had made a decision earlier in the year to take the Bible verse literally, "Neither a lender or borrower be". Cora agreed that would be a good thing. Well I didn't have the money for a dentist, so I (friends and family, also) began praying. I don't know what others prayed, but I prayed for God to heal my tooth. After 3 days of incredible pain. God did not heal my tooth and my prayer changed to, "God it hurts too bad to know what to pray. Please help me to pray such that I experience your abundance in this painful situation". I was in the pit with a lion on a snowy day and I wasn't coming out until God saved me. This was appropriately on Thanksgiving Day. I believe this to be in the humor of God.

So Wednesday Pastor Dave feeling compassion on me, gives me a name of guy who is a dentist and his personal cell number. I called him from the church on Friday and left a message. I'm not sure exactly what I said. But, it contained the information that I had little money and a big tooth ache. Maybe he could help? I prayed a bit and continued working while thinking I'd really wanted God to heal my tooth, because I am chasing God. I believe God is the same today as He was thousands of years ago and we serve a miraculous God. I want that God to be a part of my life and I don't want to miss anything. But, I am beginning to wonder if the lion will be the one climbing out of the pit on a snowy day.

Dentist Rob picked up my message and in God's humor immediately pushed the erase button on his cell phone. Then, I guess thought, "whoops"! So he surfed to the Grace Point website and found my email address and shot me a message that he wanted to talk. He thought he might be able to help. I got the message and gave him a call. Have you ever called a doctor or dentist and said you didn't have any money and would they treat you? I didn't expect the conversation to last very long. At this point in the adventure I don't know who Rob is and frankly my expectations are not very high, but the lion is breathing down my neck.

Paraphrased, I tell Dentist Rob on the phone, that I don't know where his beliefs are when it comes to God, but I am on a quest. I want to see God at work. I've prayed for healing and the tooth still hurts. Finally, I figure out who Rob is and his faithful walk with God. What an encouragement that was. God was at work! Rob asked me where was I? I said I was at the church and he said good. He would pack up his stuff and come right over. Do what? Yep! He said he would pick up the stuff he needed and come right over. Get the picture? I bet he's bringing needles, also. Ha!

I set up a chair in the hallway behind the stage and borrowed a spot light and mic stand to hold it. Dentist Rob showed up with a hand full of sterile tools, needles and whatever. He borrowed some rubber gloves and said he thought the stage spot light was a great idea. He said it'd be about a ten minute process and I'd be done. Awesome. I sat down. Tilted my head back and he shot me up with deadener. I lost count how many times, but I can tell you I was praying. I was praying for God's grace and an easy tooth extraction. After about an hour and in God's humor, Dentist Surgeon Rob says, "well it's time to go to the hospital. If I had a hammer and chisel I could get it out, but will need the air drills at the hospital. Let's go." Did I mention, I had little money and refused to borrow my way out of the problem?

So back to the pit with the lion on a snowy day. I made a choice to live debt free, regardless of the cost. In the pit, the cost seemed high. I had plenty of time to pray in the pit as Rob wrestled with the Lion. I wonder if he knew he was in the pit?

Before the extraction, I prayed over and over again, "God this really hurts. Thank you for the times when the pain subsides. God, please heal my tooth. But God if you choose not to, I understand you are God and whether you heal my tooth or not, I know and am confident you can. So God, please don't let me miss the truth that I will learn from this experience. God please help me to pray the prayers that will be a blessing to others."

And you know what? God is faithful. Rob and I came out of the pit and share the coat of a lion on a cold day.......

Grace Point Life Group Live

2007-11-22T08:03:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow Life Group members! I'd like to use this BLOG as a vehicle to keep our life group connected. I will begin posting thoughts about the upcoming Sunday discussion topic. We can all post thoughts about the previous week's discussion. I look forward to hearing all your thoughts as we grow stronger in our faith and better connected in the local body of Christ.