1 Samuel 25:32-33 - “Then David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.” NASB
Some of Nabal's men heard their master insult David's men and went and told Abigail. She quickly had the men gather supplies to give to David for his kindness. They set out to meet David to repay him for his kindness. Abigail saved her husband's life that day and she saved David from shedding innocent blood.
You may not have even wanted the protection but you needed it? I am quite sure we all have had Abigail's help us in our lives. The question is have we thanked God and them for their kindness? David said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed…" David realized the LORD was protecting him and He sent Abigail to stop him from committing a horrendous sin. Have you ever wondered how many times the LORD has protected you? Who was the Abigail the LORD used to protect you from yourself? Today would be a great day to give Thanks to the LORD and the person He sent to help you. Think About These: Always remember that a man is not rewarded for having brains, but for using them. Give Thanks for all the bad things that never happened to you. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Acts 5:38-39 - So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." NASU
Gamaliel said, "…stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."
Have you asked for God's will to be done in the matter you're planning? Look at what the apostle Paul says in Romans 8:27 - And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. God has a plan for you and me and it would be wise for us to be on the same page with Him. How will this happen? It will happen when we take our time, pray to God and ask Him to direct our steps. Prov. 16:9 - The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps . NIV Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV You can have assurance of doing God's will when you renew your mind with God's Word. This is another reason for years I have been telling Christians to read their Bibles. It is the best way to renew your mind and also to plan your life according to God's Will.
Remember the words of Gamaliel - "for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." We should tell them we will pray for them and ask God to direct their steps and lead them according to His will and not theirs. Think On These: We cannot do everything we want to do, but we should do everything God wants us to do. The trouble with most people is every time they think, they think only of themselves. Matt 6:9-10 - Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth (or through me.) Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Judges 6:11-12 – The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.” Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
Gideon was anything but valiant at this time. In fact, he was just the opposite. He is hiding from the Midianites as he is threshing the wheat. You wouldn't expect a valiant person to be hiding. The Lord tells him to tear down his father's idols and because he was afraid he does it at night so that he can't be seen. Tearing down these idols under the shadow of darkness so you can't be seen doesn't sound like a valiant man to me.
When something has happened to you or is happening to you now that you don't understand be patient. Give God time to complete His plan. Gideon didn't understand why God had allowed the Midianites to conquer the Israelites and not just once but on numerous occasions. The Israelites were living in fear at this moment of the Midianites.
The angel of the Lord tells Gideon that God has allowed this to happen so that He can use Gideon in a mighty way. There it is. The answer to our question in a nutshell, "Why has all of this happened?" It has happened so that God can use Gideon in a mighty way. Whatever you're being challenged with today and you're not sure why God is allowing it to happen try thinking this way. God is using you to conquer this in a mighty way.
Excuses are the first things to come out of Gideon's mouth as to why God is wrong. What excuses do you use when telling God you are not ready for your trial? Are you too old for this? Do you lack the education? You are financially not able? Your spouse will kill you? You will get fired? Yes, too many times we are just like Gideon. God wants to use us and we want to give Him excuses. Whatever test God is allowing to happen to you right now know this: If God brings you to it, God will get you through it. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be Still and Know That I am God." In other words He wants us to relax and trust Him no matter what situation challenges us.
Now what are you waiting for, stand up and tell God you are ready to be used by Him in a "mighty way". Lets go conquer our own modern day Midianites. Think On This: There are thousands of ways of pleasing God, but none without trusting Him. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 1 Kings 19:11-12 - So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. NASU
God had Elijah go and stand on the mountain. The Lord passed by Elijah. Elijah saw a strong wind, earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in any of them. Where does the Lord have you standing right now? Is the Lord trying to get your attention as He was with Elijah? In our world today we know that strong winds, earthquakes and fire all bring about destruction. God wasn't in the destruction. God was in the peaceful and refreshing gentle blowing. God wanted Elijah to really know Him. Could God have been in the strong wind, earthquake, or fire? Yes, He could have been in them. He was behind the wind at the time of the Israelite's Exodus from Egypt and He was in the fire that burned up Elijah's sacrifice. God wants all of us to see Him. He wants us to be His helpers. Elijah was helping the Israelites to be free from the false prophets and the lies they were expressing about God.
You will be able to stand where God wants you to stand when you know more about Him. The best way to really get to know God is by learning about Him through reading the Bible. God may have you standing right now in the fiery trial and tribulations like He did Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. They were being tried because they would not worship anyone or thing. They would only worship the Almighty God, Maker and Creator of Heaven and Earth. You may be standing in some fiery trial in order to help your faith become stronger. If God has you standing in a trial then you need to know that He is watching over you and it is your faith in Him that will get you through it. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a Heavenly GPS installed at our baptism and every time we got off course we could hear this voice tell us to make a U-Turn as soon as it is legally possible? Has God been telling you to make a U-Turn or stay the course you are doing great? God gave Elijah some work to do. He had to go and anoint three men. What is it that God wants you to do? Do you know some people that need to be anointed by the Lord today? The best way to forget about your own struggles is to get busy serving other people and that is exactly what God had Elijah do.
Think On This: The person who is all wrapped up in himself is overdressed. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word To Read Other Pump Ups You Can Go To My Website. www.SeragosPumpUps.com John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…."
Sometimes you may make the gifts personally or you purchase them and give them to the one you love. Some gifts will be expensive and some inexpensive but what really matters is you took the time to think about the one you love.
They were put in the same vases that once housed dozens of roses. What was so great about those dandelions? They sent a message to our moms that she was loved and thought of that day. If you are in love you will give.
You might have given her flowers, carried her books or your time as you walked her home from school. Maybe you cooked him a meal or attended a sporting event in which he participated.
When I would hear that the first questions that came to my mind were these: First, when did you stop giving of yourself? Second, why did you stop giving of yourself? When you answer either one or both of those questions you will know why you are not in love with your spouse any more. Maybe it has been a one way street. You have been the one giving for 5, 10, 15 years or more and there was no reciprocation. You have reached your limit in your mind and you are not going to give any more. Maybe you stopped giving because the person you were giving to was giving their love and time to someone or something else. Some people's jobs or hobbies become the new loves in their lives. When you stop giving to someone you stop loving them. Remember John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…." It doesn't get any clearer than that. God loved and God gave. When you and I love we will give. When we stop loving we stop giving and vice versa.
When you are in Love you will give. (Guys, I wouldn't try giving dandelions to your wife or girlfriend as a gift. Lol. Just Saying!) Think On This: Where there is no interest, there is no investment. Age is like love. It can't be hidden. Remember Valentine's Day is Next Week Don't Forget The One You Love. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. |
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